Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Vice guv: P5M quarry funds a 'vindication' By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Vice Governor Joseller Guiao on Monday expressed vindication over the P5-million quarry collections the administration of Governor Eddie Panlilio has generated in five days.
Guiao said the stiff increase in quarry income just shows the potentials of the quarry industry to raise the provincial revenue greatly.
He added that the legislative body will initiate measures to institutionalize a system of collection and monitoring of quarry taxes.
However, Administrative Assistant II Artemio David Jr. of the Licensing and Fees Division here disclosed that with the new system, their office can no longer monitor the receipts being purchased.
For the last five days, at least 20 quarry operators purchased the receipts, which was why they were able to collect P5 million.
It was learned that the highest purchase was from a quarry operator in Porac, amounting to P75,000.
Records showed that total quarry collections per day on as of June 29 was P45,000; P1,215,000 (July 2); P1,395,000 (July 3); P1,155,000 (July 4); P1,035,000 (July 5); and P1,350,000 (July 6) respectively.
Panlilio said he did not expect the province to collect this much, this early, adding that "there is money in quarry."
However, the governor failed to explain that the new system imposed by his administration prompt quarry operators to buy receipts in advance before they even haul the sand and deliver it to their clients.
Although there is no doubt that the provincial treasury has collected P5 million, a source from the Provincial Licensing Department (PLD) explained that the receipts bought in advance "may not necessarily be used in five days."
The source also said there is a possibility that the law of supply and demand on sand and gravel will dictate how many days these advance receipts would be fully utilized.
PLD records showed that the collected P5-million quarry revenue represented an average of 3,333 truckloads of sand per day.
Based on existing regulations governing quarry operations, 50 percent of the P300 fee per truckload will go to the provincial coffers to cover administrative costs while the province, the municipality and the barangay will get the remaining 50 percent.
