City to pass collection task to bry. treasurers

THE Cebu City Government plans to devolve real property collection to the barangays.

Ofelia Oliva, financial adviser to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, told barangay officials they will soon be responsible for the collection of real property taxes.

This was a turnaround from 2011 when barangay treasurers were not allowed to collect community tax certificates because of the shortage of cedulas by about 5,000 stubs.

Because of the shortage, barangay treasurers were not deputized to collect community taxes from business establishments in the barangay. This is one of the sources of income for barangays.

But just last week, Oliva said the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) plans to train barangay treasurers in preparation for their deputization to collect real property taxes.

This is to encourage the barangays to be efficient in collecting taxes.

“Collect more and get more,” said Oliva.

Thirty percent of the real property tax goes to the barangays.

“We want to devolve the collection because the barangay treasurers know better the real properties in the area,” said Oliva.

CTO will be giving each barangay the list of all real properties and the assessed value.

“There are more delinquent taxpayers than there are prompt taxpayers,” said Oliva.

CTO will be conducting pulong-pulongs to train the barangay treasurers along with the assessor’s office and Department of Education, which has a one percent share from real property taxes used as special education fund.

While she is no longer part of CTO, Oliva said she will help train the barangay treasurers as Rama’s financial adviser.

“Even if I’m no longer with the City Government and I am receiving salary from Dumaguete City, I will still help you. Unya papahawaon pa ko ninyo (And you are going to drive me away)?” Oliva joked about the repeated order for her to vacate the post of CTO in-charge of office.

When the City Government distributed the financial assistance to the barangay officials last Tuesday, it was the first time Rama recognized Emma Villarete as head of CTO.

He also referred to Oliva as City Hall’s financial adviser.

Rama promised that the 2013 budget will be a barangay-oriented budget.