Parañaque reports record tax collection

Parañaque City posted a gross income of P1.6 billion last year due to strengthened and strict implementation of tax collection schemes, Mayor Florencio Bernabe announced yesterday.

The amount, Bernabe noted, includes local taxes collected amounting to P1.2 billion from January to December 2004.

"Business and real property taxes contributed much to this very high revenue collection," he said, assuring that the government will return the favor through projects and programs that will benefit everyone.

Bernabe said tax collection for the first three months of 2005 is also going well though figures are yet to be released by the Office of the City Treasurer.

He lauded officials and employees of city hall’s Land Tax Office, Business Permits and Licensing Office, Assessors Office, Engineering Department and Building Department for a job well done.

"Significantly, real property tax collection from July to December 2004, which covered Bernabe’s first six months in office, increased by as much as 38 percent compared to the same period in 2003," City Treasurer Liberato Carabeo said.

Real property tax collection during that period, he explained, amounted to P560.7 million compared to 2003’s P403.8 million.

Carabeo said this achievement reflects the serious intent of the city government in implementing effective governance, which is aimed at delivering better services.

Bernabe said the city government will continue to transform Parañaque City into a progressive model city.

The money, he assured, will be used for projects like the expansion of the Parañaque Community Hospital and the modernization of its equipmment and facilities.

"Paranaque’s major thoroughfares, including Dr. Arcadio Santos (formerly known as Sucat Road) and Ninoy Aquino Avenues will be lighted and its sidewalks enhanced," Bernabe said.

The East and West service roads of the South Expressway, will also be lighted while the Old Sucat Road will be concreted.

Bernabe said a new police station will be erected in the area while elementary school buildings in Sun Valley and Vitalez will be expanded.

The mayor further bared plans for land distribution to informal settlers as well as the construction of more day-care centers, the improvemment of barangay halls, and concreting of the Seaside Road in Barangay Tamb