Tax payment due Friday

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Treasurer's Office (CTO) has reminded the general public and business owners to settle their dues for the last quarter of the year, as soon as possible.

To be exact, they only have until this Friday, Oct. 20, to settle their taxes and other fees, either at City Hall or at the Business Permit and Licensing Office's (BPLO) satellite office.

The BPLO satellite office is at the ground floor of Robinson's Galleria, which is located at the junction of General Maxilom Ave. Ext'n. and Sergio Osmeña Jr. Blvd. at the North Reclamation Area.

Payment can also be made online via www.cebucity.gov.ph.

City Treasurer Mare Vae Reyes said that after Oct. 20, the CTO would impose a surcharge of 25 percent and an interest of two percent per month on the unpaid amount until it is fully paid.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Rey Gealon said his proposed ordinance that amends the City's tax code to exclude vehicles that deliver goods from paying a vehicle permit or "pass-through" fees is now up for approval.

The amending ordinance was in response to the appeal by the United Delivery Riders of the Philippines (UDRP)-Cebu Chapter last February for the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu to scrap the rider’s delivery permit fee.

Dennis Derige, UDRP-Cebu coordinator, said the P1,000 annual permit fee is an additional financial burden to the delivery riders, who are suffering amid the soaring inflation rate in the country.

In response, Gealon sought for the council to amend Section 58 of the "Omnibus Tax Ordinance of the City of Cebu" to exclude vehicles of delivery riders from paying the annual fixed tax.

Last Sept. 25, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’  Marcos, Jr. issued Executive Order (EO) 41, which makes the same exemption. Since then, the  National Union of Food Delivery Riders-Cebu called for the immediate implementation of the order.

Gealon, however, said he already filed his proposed amendment even before the issuance of EO 41.

 “I deemed it proper and in order that such benefit be granted to our financially-struggling delivery riders. This is part of our social legislative agenda,” he told The FREEMAN. (CEBU NEWS)