Politics behind opposition to revenue code

Thursday, January 26, 2012

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia said Wednesday there are politicians that exploit the situation relative to the implementation of the revised Revenue Code.

“We know that some have questions which are normal and expected but we want to make the public aware that there are politicians who are exploiting the situation and it is a sad commentary because, supposedly, if a politician wants to serve Bacolod, he should look at the welfare of Bacolod instead of muddling this with politics,” he said.

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“We would understand if businessmen have concerns, but when politicians come into the picture, that is highly questionable,” Leonardia said, referring to a radio interview of former Bacolod representative Monico Puentevella over RMN where he said he is filing a complaint before the Department of Justice questioning the New Revenue Code of Bacolod City.

Puentevella also invited other taxpayers to join him in filing the case.

Leonardia will hold a dialog with the business groups in Bacolod City in response to some queries regarding the New Revenue Code of Bacolod.

Leonardia said in initial talks with some business leaders in the community, he advised them to look into the motive of the person. He also asked them not to allow themselves to be used as political tools or even propaganda materials of politicians.

“I believe that most of them are aware that the more appropriate venue will be a forum with the incumbent city officials. We will meet with them for a dialog and hopefully we can come up with a deeper understanding of the Revenue Code and the rationale behind its implementation,” he said.

Under the Local Government Code, a local government unit must amend its Tax Code every five years.

Leonardia was elected mayor in 2004 and has been re-elected twice.
In 2008, city officials tried to amend the Code within the five-year period stipulated in the Local Government Code but due to some technicalities, the measure did not push through.

“If the code was amended in 1993, taxes would have accumulated and the taxpayers will be paying higher rates. It is better for them to be paying just now, as against if they had started paying since 1998 and onwards,” Leonardia pointed out.

“So there are very valid legal basis how the new code is implemented. The last Revenue Code was regressive – as the income increases, the taxes decreases, which is not a healthy basic principle in taxation because the Local Government Code encourages that it should be progressive,” Leonardia said.