Wednesday, March 12, 2008 City collects P242M in revenues for Jan-Feb period
THE Davao City Government through its Business Bureau was able to generate P242 million in tax collection in January to February, this year, which is close to 50 percent of tax collection last year of P580 million.
Lawyer Johpee Agustin, business bureau chief of Davao City, said they noted a tremendous increase in the collections even as she said that normally more taxes are collected in the first three months of the year.
But Agustin said this early several new business registered with their office and most of these are involved in operation of Internet cafes with two new ones for call center operation.
She said they expect an increase this year although she did not give any percentage. Compared to the past two years, Agustin said permits issued in 2007 was about 30,174 higher than in 2006 with only 20,199.
Agustin also said they have been finding ways to increase the tax income of the city and one of this is the intensification of collection on occupational permits.
This has been incorporated in the tax code of the city long before, but was not given focus.
With the 30,000 establishments in Davao City, she said a sizeable amount would be collected with regards to occupational permit.
Based on the tax code she said the occupational permit applies to all employees in government or private offices whose place of work is based in Davao City.
Agustin said in 2006 they were able to collect P1.8 million but it doubled in 2007 with P3.9 million. In January 2008, the collection was pegged at P1.6 million and it increased in February 2008 to P2.6 million.
