City followed procedure on new Tax Code

THE City of Bacolod has followed all procedure in the passage of the revised Revenue Code.

Councilor Al Victor Espino said it has been proven that they did what was legal and that they followed all procedures.

Espino said the opinion or resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) signed by Secretary Leila Delima denied the motion for reconsideration of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Representative Monico Puentevilla together with Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson will continue their dialog with the businessmen believing they will reach an agreement.

Espino said although the political and legal questions have already been answered, he believes the city should be responsive to the needs of the businessmen.

The proposal is to come up with a new slate or tax table, erase the 2012 rates and not give rebates, start in 2013 and give new rates to the businessmen.

The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and industry (MBCCI) and Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (BFCCCI) will talk about the proposal and will give their opinion.

During their last meeting, before the DOJ opinion came out, the MBCCI and BFCCCI were already prone to accept the proposal, they will only be taxed with 40 percent.

Under the New Tax Code, it is 50 percent of 1 percent while starting next year it will be 40 percent of 1 percent with no rebates.

Espino said they will give the funds generated from New Tax ordinance and give it to the poor who needs services: traffic; to improve the plight of the relocation sites; to light the city; and collect garbage more efficiently.

Meanwhile, Espino said he disagrees with Puentevella’s statement in a TV interview saying that “Bacolod has the highest local taxes in the whole Philippines.”

Espino explained that prior to the hearing and implementation of the Tax Ordinance, a study was made to check the local taxes of neighboring cities, and found out that Bacolod is collecting lower taxes compared to San Carlos, Bago, Talisay and Iloilo.

If Puentevella believes that Bacolod has the highest taxes, he should have paid his taxes in Iloilo and Cebu cities, where Rolling Hills Memorial Park Inc. has branches, Espino added. (Carla N. Canet)