Bohol government now imposes tax on limestone mining

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The Bohol Provincial Board on Friday unanimously approved on third and final reading an ordinance imposing extraction fee on large-scale mining of limestone in Garcia-Hernandez town.

The move was seen as a challenge of the provincial government to eventually collect such fees that, for a long time, the mining company has been paying to the national government and not to the local government.

There are two companies currently operating in limestone-rich Garcia-Hernandez: the Philippine Mining Service Corporation (PMSC) and the Bohol Limestone Corporation (BLC).

PB Member Elpidio Jala, author of the ordinance amending the local law on sand and gravel extraction, said that imposition and collection of fees from limestone mining in this town is now mandated in the new ordinance.

The amendment under section 35 (a) of the law provides: “All permits holders, except those for gratuitous permits, shall pay in advance to the Provincial Treasurer and extraction fee of not more than ten percent of the fair market value per cubic meter of sand, gravel, quarry resources and other minerals in the locality at the time of removal of extracted from the public lands, mining areas or from the beds of seas, lakes, rivers, streams, creeks and other public water within its jurisdiction pursuant to section 38 of Local Government Code of 1991 also known as Republic Act No. 7160.

Citing RA 7160, Jala said all concerned LGUs can now benefit from the amended ordinance, adding that the barangay where the mining, quarrying or extraction is located has a share of 40 percent from the total fees collected while the municipality/city where the barangay belongs and the provincial government shall have 30 percent share each.

Also amended are the regulatory fees — such as extraction of quarry resources as well as on truck operators of delivery trucks or vans — was increased to P2,000 from P1,000.

The filing fees are also increased to P5,000 per year for industrial permit; P4,000 (commercial permit); P3,000 (gratuitous and special permit); and P2,000 (deed of assignment, special power of attorney and registration documents).

The new rate of concession fees are as follow: P10,000 for commercial and foreshore permit; and P20,000 (industrial permit). The docket fee for filing of protest is now P2,000; and verifications fees are now pegged at P5,000 (for commercial and special permits); P5,000 (industrial); and P3,000 (gratuitous).

Annual tax for every delivery truck/van is now priced at P1,000 for 8- and above- wheeler; P800 (six-wheeler); and P600 (four-wheeler).

The amended ordinance also provides for its effective implementation, and that the governor may direct the municipal mayors to help monitor quarry and mining operations in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Jala added that limestone mining officials were already informed of the new rates, under the amended law, and they promised to present documents explaining why they have not been paying the required fees to the provincial government ever since. (FREEMAN)