The Bacolod Sangguniang Panglunsod deferred the implementation of controversial Ordinance 454 of 2008, or the Revised Local Revenue Code, during its regular session on Wednesday.
This, after City Mayor Evelio Leonardia requested the deferment to familiarize the taxpayers with the revised rates of the 2009 Revised Revenue Code.
He also requested deferment of Ordinance 454 pending further consultations with the concerned sectors.
“I would like to reassure our people that I am a man who listens and some of our people can reason with,” Leonardia justified his recommendation.
The city mayor, however, claimed that when the ordinance was being evaluated, the circumstances were different, pointing out that the national government itself “then confidently reassuring us that we will not be affected by the financial global crisis the way other countries have been affected.”
For the moment, the ordinance is on hold. But there were also reports that several business groups in Bacolod had opposed what they considered as an untimely and excessive increase of taxes when the financial situation in the city and the province of Negros Occidental was bearing hard on their businesses.
In short, they pointed out that while other areas and local government units usually declare a moratorium on tax increases, Bacolod instead raised its taxes beyond the rate allowed by the Local Government Code.
P1 B to pump-prime Negros Occidental
The provincial sugar industry’s task force received word yesterday from engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways that P1.016 billion has been allocated for infrastructure projects in Negros Occidental.
The projects are supposed to begin in March. This means that 50 percent of the manpower will come from areas where the infrastructure work will be undertaken.
Board member Enrique Miguel Lacson, task force chairman, asked members of various government agencies how they can mitigate the effects of the industry’s dead season on sugar farm workers.
Sonny Oropel, first engineering district head, said P288 million has been set aside for the First Engineering District, mainly for roads to be built in his area to pump-prime the economy.
The fund was broken down into P161 million for infrastructure projects in the first congressional district; P66 million for the second; and P6 million for the third.
Second Engineering District head Lea Delfinado also submitted a breakdown of the P216 million. Haydee Alunan added that P375.4 million more were allocated to her area. She also submitted a breakdown of these projects.
Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, asked the mayors to help the task force in profiling the number of sugar workers in their town and cities.
Gov. Isidro Zayco welcomed the report about the P1-billion DPWH fund for the province. He said it could be a timely injection of the necessary funds that could tide over the farm workers during the forthcoming extended dead season or “tiempo muerte.”
The Department of Labor and Employment also reported during the Feb. 3 meeting of the task force that it has approved P12 million in livelihood projects for various parts of the province.
The task force is also asking for the release of the uncollected social amelioration funds for sugar workers to be distributed by the DOLE for additional help to the workers during the extended dead season.