Capitol starts impounding vehicles without stickers

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial government will start impounding today commercial trucks with no stickers.

“Magsugod name og impound ugma (today) og mga truck nga wa kabayad,” said Capitol Security Officer Loy Anthony Madrigal.

Madrigal said it is the Provincial Treasury Office which has the authority to extend the deadline.

The office is tasked to keep a registry of vehicles subject to the tax, collect taxes and fees, and issue the stickers.

But since the office has not yet given him an extension advisory as of yesterday afternoon, Madrigal said they will start impounding subject vehicles without the Capitol-issued stickers today.

“Two weeks na man pud ni nato sige og balita ug inform ang mga truck owners. Igo na siguro na,” he said.

As of last Friday, Madrigal said over 800 trucks plying the provincial road had secured the tax sticker from the treasury office. Each sticker costs P550 as mandated by the province’s Revenue Code.

Article H of Chapter III of the Revenue Code states that the Capitol can impose annual fixed tax on every truck, van or “any vehicle used by manufacturers, producers, wholesalers, dealers or retailers” used in transporting goods in the province.

The law also provides an annual fixed tax of P550 per vehicle. Failure to comply with the law will mean impoundment of the vehicle with a fine from P1,000 to P5,000.

Under the law, the province can impose an additional 25 percent in surcharge and another two percent per month if the owner refuses to pay the tax.

The Capitol will also impose a P50 fee for each day during the duration of the impoundment.

Madrigal said they have already given the owners of the vehicles ample time to comply with the provision of the Revenue Code.

With the deadline already up, Madrigal’s team will be out to start apprehending trucks without the sticker today.

Madrigal said they do not have the exact figures as to how many trucks use the province roads.

But based on their regular checkpoint, he said an average of 50 trucks pass through these roads every hour from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The ordinance also gives authority to Municipal Treasurer’s Office to impound vehicle once the sticker is not displayed on the windshield.

“Lisod gyod og di mo-comply. Labi na tong mga sakyanan nga naay perishable goods. Kung ma-impound, madaot ra. So maayo nga mokuha na lang,” Madrigal said.

He disclosed that the province has already issued stickers to 800 trucks since September and collected a total of P500,000.

He said the number of 800 trucks owners who secured the mandatory stickers was the biggest since the revenue law was implemented in 2008.

Madrigal, however, clarified that operators can still acquire the stickers at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office. (FREEMAN)