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Saturday, January 14, 2006
Tom vows to use telco’s tax for housing project
By Aurelia l. Castro
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Local taxes paid by Smart Communications Inc. to Cebu City will all go the Gawad Kalinga housing project initiated by the mobile phone company and sister company, Philippine Long Distance Co. (PLDT).
This was announced by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña during the inauguration of PLDT-Smart Gawad Kalinga (GK) Village in Barangay Budlaan.
Hundred percent
The mayor said “100 percent” of the local taxes the Smart Communications Inc. will be paying to Cebu City will be given to the GK village.
“At last, Smart is now paying. We’re the first one to collect from Smart,” Osmeña said.
PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. president and chief executive officer Napoleon Nazareno described Osmeña’s announcement as an “out-of-the-box” idea.
“That is really very laudable for the mayor to do that. We are all the more happy for that enlightenment,” he said.
A lot
Nazareno said PLDT and Smart pay a lot of business and property taxes.
Smart public affairs head Ramon Isberto said Osmeña’s announcement is encouraging for the people as they now know where their taxes will go.
“We can’t calculate yet how much tax we will be paying the City Government but the principle is very interesting. The PLDT-Smart GK Village will benefit,” he said.
Tony Meloto, GK Foundation executive director, was glad to hear the mayor’s announcement. (with UC Intern Melissa Saludsod)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 14, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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