THE City Government of San Fernando led by Mayor Edwin Santiago on Thursday recognized the contributions of its investors and stakeholders in the development of this city by promptly paying their taxes.
According to City Treasurer Mary Ann Bautista, the annual “Stakeholders Night and Recognition of Top Taxpayers” is the city government’s way of recognizing the companies and business establishments which settle their dues and obligations on time.
A total of 69 awards and seven special citations were given to the investors and micro, small and medium entrepreneurs and market vendors and barangays during the recognition.
Recognized for the top five real property tax payers were San Miguel Brewery Inc., SM Prime Holdings, San Miguel Beverage Packaging Specialist Inc., San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation and Robinsons Land Corporation.
San Miguel Brewery Inc., ARC Refreshments, UNAHCO Feeds, Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines Inc., and PMFTC Inc. were cited as top business taxpayers in the manufacturing industry while Emperador Distillers, Inc., Optimized Solutions, Inc., Toyota San Fernando Pampanga, Inc., Zuellig Pharma Corporation and United Laboratories, Inc. were cited in the wholesaler, dealer and distributor industry.
Also recognized as top business taxpayers on retailer industry were Mandurriao Star, Inc. (SM City Downtown Department Store), Waltermart Supermarket, Inc., Kareila Management Corporation (S&R), Star Appliances Center, Inc., and Super Value Inc. (SM City Pampanga Supermarket) while Toyota San Fernando Pampanga Inc., Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Inc., The Red Systems Corporation Inc., Ajinamoto Philippines Corporation and Manila North Tollways Corporations were cited in the contractors and independent contractors sectors.
Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation, Solana Land Development Corporation, PASUDECO, Robinsons Incorporated Department Store and SM Prime Holdings were likewise cited as top business taxpayers for services, and Sunlife Grepa Financial Inc, The Philippine American Life and General Insurance, Eastwest Bank Corporation, Sunlife of Canada, Inc. and BPI Family Bank San Agustin Branch were recognized in the banking and financial institutions.
Meanwhile, San Fernando Electric Light and Power Corporation was awarded as top franchise taxpayer and SM Prime Holding Inc. (Sky Ranch Pampanga) as top amusement taxpayer.
Barangays that have the highest collection on community tax---Malpitic, Calulut and Telabastagan were likewise honored---while San Jose, Dolores and Quebiawan villages as barangays were cited for the highest real property tax collection.
Seven agencies, organizations and corporations namely Doña Martha Foundation (Victory Liner), Genesis Transport Services, Bataan Transit, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region III, Bureau of Local Government Finance, Department of Trade and Industry Pampanga and Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants Pampanga Chapter, were also given special citations for their significant contributions to San Fernando.
Bautista said that the taxes paid by the awardees help in improving the delivery of public service to Fernandinos and extended the resources of the city government.
She added that with the promptness of their payment, the city treasury was already able to reach almost 75 percent or around P830-million of the total P1.4-billion target for 2017.
Santiago, for his part, extended his gratitude to all businessmen who chose to do business in this city and trusted the potential of the city and its officials.
He stressed that their taxes, which he described as “blood line of the local government,” provided additional programs and projects for the benefit of Fernandinos.
Santiago also noted that the simple awarding ceremony manifested the strong partnership between the government and the private sector.