Aguilar called on city residents to settle unpaid real property taxes that have accumulated through the years to avoid further penalties. The city government has given delinquent taxpayers until October to settle their obligations.
The mayor said there is a need to conduct a public auction as mandated under Section 174 of Republic Act 7160 to finance and support the implementation of various programs and projects of the city government.
Programs such as free education to pre-school and more than a 1,000 college students, health care and other basic social services to the poorest of the poor will be severely affected should taxpayers be remiss in their obligations to settle and pay their taxes on time.
Aguilar explained that revenues collected by the city government has been used to support and finance skills training, livelihood programs for women and out-of-school youths to improve the living conditions of the city’s less fortunate residents.
Also, revenues paid by taxpayers will redound to infrastructure such as schoolbuildings, additional classrooms, road improvements and housing to the needy.
Aguilar reiterated her appeal to taxpayers to settle and pay their taxes on time to bring their community to progress.