THE City of San Fernando was named by the country's finance department as the leading local government unit in Central Luzon to have attained the highest total local revenue growth for the Fiscal Year 2018.

This underscored the notable performance of the city treasury in actual collection from different income sources for the whole year.

The Bureau of Local Government Finance Region III of the Department of Finance (BLGF-DOF) awarded the recognition to the city during the recent Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors (Regata) Conference in Nueva Ecija.

The recognition was presented to Mayor Edwin Santiago, Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, and Councilors BJ Lagman and Ariel Carreon during the September 16 flag raising ceremony at city hall.

Besting all other cities in the region, City Treasurer Mary Ann Bautista showed in a report by the BLGF-DOF, noting the city attained a total local revenue growth rate of 29 percent for 2018 which equates to P1,144,060,850.32 total actual collection, compared to P883,605,587.25 in 2017.

The agency said the figures covered collections from real property taxes, business taxes, regulatory fees, user charges, economic enterprises, and other taxes.

Bautista, meanwhile, said the increase in collection may be attributed to the implementation of the Revised Revenue and Market Code as well as the update on Schedule of Market Values.

She said "the accomplishment is more because of the strong support of the city officials, hard work and perseverance of treasury personnel, and, the concerted efforts of all regulatory offices of the city."

Santiago, for his part, said the increase in collection performance will assure Fernandinos of better programs and services for the upliftment of their living conditions.

"Sa Syudad San Fernando, pinaniniwalaan natin na ang blood life ng bawat lugar ay ang buwis na ating nalilikom sa iba't-ibang aspeto upang makapagbigay tayo ng serbisyo't programa para sa mga Fernandino. Ngayong nakita natin na may magandang pagbabago sa ating collection performance, asahan din nila na mas pagagandahin pa natin ang ating serbisyo," he said.

Apart from the City of San Fernando, there were other 14 cities in the region that were assessed by the agency to have attained significant increase in their growth rates. (PR)