LA TRINIDAD Mayor Artemio Galwan identified the dynamic financial activity of the town as a major contribution to the better fiscal standing of the first class town of Benguet.
Galwan discussed this during a radio program coordinated and co-hosted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Cordillera (DILG-CAR) with DzWT on January 19.
He said the revised revenue code became an integral part of the town's developmental efforts.
Guided by the revised revenue code, La Trinidad was able to increase its income of P130 million in 2007 to P160 Million in 2009. The first time mayor shared that in the year 2000, there were only about 2,000 establishments with valid business permits.
Through an intensified information and education campaign by a task force and sometimes even personal explanations by local officials, some 2,600 new permits were added to the list, the official said.
With these resources and a great deal of help from partner-agencies and from the barangays, the mayor reported that the municipal government has improved and continues to improve at least four high schools, built or improved more day care centers than required by law, provided assistance to Typhoon Pepeng victims from rescue to rehabilitation to securing a relocation site for them.
The municipal government is, Galwan said, also reclaiming government properties especially around the municipal building to step up earning opportunities for the municipality.
There are still unfinished projects and programs, which he said, his municipality has set out to accomplish including the building of a senior citizen's center and more prospects to increase local government units (LGU) income.
These, Galwan said, will result to better services for the people.
When asked whether the municipal officials would push for La Trinidad to become a city, the mayor said his town does not meet the area requirement but if and when a law that automatically converts capital towns into cities is enacted, La Trinidad will surely take that opportunity to become a city.
He also called on stakeholders to attend a forum-consultation about the temporary traffic scheme, emphasizing that it is temporary while waiting for suggestions and feedback from the people most affected by it.
He also reported that there were no accidents in the mentioned area since the experimental period. (Cris Rimando)