“Call center style” in paying taxes in Cebu City?

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is considering a “call center style” in paying taxes to make the process more convenient to taxpayers in city.

“The paying of taxes should be friendly,” Rama said during his regular press conference yesterday.

“Unya kuan naman karon, cyber space naman ta, information age naman… daghan kaayo mga internet café, daghan kaayo mga call center, then we will adopt a call center style,” he said.

He is also exploring the possible participation of barangay officials in the process.

“We will bring our CTO (City Treasurer’s Office) to the barangay level… to supervise whether things are being done in order,” he said.

On top of this, he is also eyeing at a “reverse set-up” in paying taxes, as well as spot auditing.

“A reverse set-up in paying business permit and even renewal or termination. Bayad una niya paghuman post assessment, unya og naay deficiency bayad balance, kun naay manubra estoryahon basin i-donate pa,” Rama said, adding, that he would want the new system in place as soon as possible.

Rama urged taxpayers to be mindful of deadline.

“Please, calling the attention of taxpayers… as I have said, do not wait for the 23rd (of January). Everyday is a deadline day. What you can do today, do it now,” he said.

The mayor earlier challenged the city treasurer’s office to collect P5 billion from payments of business permits, real property taxes, business taxes and regulatory fees this year.

“It’s up to them on how they will come up with the amount… they have reached last year P1 billion, I challenged them to reach it to P5 billion this year,” he said.

City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas welcomed the challenge.

“Among paninguhaon lang g’yud nga ma-achieve ang target,” she said. — Mechelle P. Florita/JMO (FREEMAN)