Pasay mayor wants dog, bike tax repealed

Manila, Philippines -  Pasay Mayor Antonino Calixto is asking the city council to repeal sections of the city’s revenue code that imposes taxes on dog and bicycle owners.

In a letter addressed to the city council, Calixto requested that the council repeal Sections 82 (dog license fee) and 83 (bicycle license fee) of the Pasay City Revenue Code (Ordinance 1614), which was approved in 1999.

He said the city veterinary office’s budget covers the registration and vaccination of all dogs in the city. As for the bicycle tax, Calixto said his administration is encouraging the use of bicycles to fight pollution and promote healthy living.

According to the ordinance, the P30 bicycle tax would defray the cost of the bicycle license plate while the P20 dog tax would be used to cover the cost of maintaining a city registry of licensed dogs, their descriptions, and registered owners, as well to cover the cost of anti-rabies campaigns and other programs.