QC revenue collection up 44%

The Quezon City government’s gross revenue collections went up 44.2 percent during the first six months of this year, with business taxes representing the city’s top money earner.

Records showed that taxes collected from January to June 2002 amounted to P4.066 billion compared to the P2.8 billion revenue collection of the previous administration.

Business tax collections rose to P1.5 billion from P793.2 million. They contributed 58 percent of gross collections. The manufacturing sector was the main source of business tax revenues.

"Although (manufacturing sector) establishments comprise only 10 percent of businesses in the city in terms of numbers, they contributed as much as 28 percent of business taxes paid in fiscal year 2002," Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in an accomplishment report.

Tax payments from retailers also increased by 175 percent, from P131 million to P360 million, which has been attributed to the city government’s effort to align its tax rates with other cities in Metro Manila.

Increases were also experienced by the city in regulatory fee collections from P42.3 million to P78.4 million representing an 85.1 percent increase; 98.4 percent increase in transfer tax collections with the P49.3 million managed by the previous administration almost doubling to P97.9 million under the present administration.

The rise in revenue collections is attributed to aggressive measures being pursued by the city government.

Delinquent taxpayers were penalized by offering their properties for auction and creation of systems that would minimize the dissipation of revenues due to corruption. Incentives were provided to taxpayers who voluntarily offered to pay their full year’s taxes in advance.

Meanwhile, delinquent tax payers in Caloocan City have only until Monday to settle their obligations or their property would be auctioned by the city government on Oct. 22.

Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo said more than P700 million worth of real properties with overdue taxes would be put on the auction block.

"The city government has exhausted all efforts and given delinquent payers enough time to settle their dues," he said.

The mayor said a list of properties, their respective owners and tax dues were published in widely circulated newspapers for three consecutive weeks last July. Letters were also sent by the city treasurer’s office to property owners informing their of their obligations. – Pia Lee-Brago, Jerry Botial, Pete Laude