QC to recognize top taxpayers

The Quezon City government is preparing an elaborate testimonial and recognition night for the city’s top taxpayers on Oct. 10 at the grand ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Galleria.

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and city treasurer Victor Endriga will lead city officials in a ceremony that will highlight the city’s 69th founding anniversary and pay tribute to the business community.

“There are more than 60,000 business establishments and 400,000 real property owners in the city today. Their tax payments earned for the city the prestige and recognition of being the richest city in the country for the past five years. Without them, the massive infrastructure projects of the city will not be possible,” Belmonte said.

Ten firms will be honored for being the city’s “premier” taxpayers, those who topped the annual list of taxpayers from 2003 to 2007. Heading this category is SM Retail, Inc. followed by Manila Electric Co., ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., GMA Network, Inc., Mercury Drug Corp., Araneta Group, IBM Phils., Pacific Paints (Boysen) Phils., Nestle Phils., Inc. and Jollibee Foods Corp.

Fifteen firms will also be recognized as the city’s top taxpayers for the fiscal year 2007: Golden Arches Dev’t Corp. (McDonalds), Citibank, N.A., Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Ayala Land Corp., Robinsons Land Corp., Manila Water Co., Regan Industrial Sales Inc., Fonterra Brands Phils. Inc., San Miguel Corp., Coca Cola Bottlers, Phils. Inc., Capitol Steels Corp., Chemrez Inc., Pilipinas Makro Inc., National Bookstore Inc., and Zesto Corp.

The premier taxpayers from 2003 to 2007 in the real property category are SM Prime Holdings, Inc., Megaworld Corp., Araneta Group of Companies, Robinsons Land Corp., ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Manila Electric Co., Nestle Philippines Inc., Citibank, N.A. and GMA Network Inc.

The 16 honorees in the real property category for 2007 are Ever Gotesco Resources & Holdings, Inc., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Chevron Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine National Bank, Phinma Property Holdings Corp., Pilipinas Makro Inc., Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp., New San Jose Builders Inc., Solid Manila Corporation, National Bookstore Corp., Regalia Group Corp., Rustans Supercenter, Inc., S & R Membership Shopping, Uniwide Sales, Inc. and Paramount Holding Equities, Inc.      – Perseus Echeminada