DESPITE changes in leadership, the Cebu City Treasurer's Office (CTO) will continue to intensify its tax collection for the City Government next year.
Starting Tuesday, December 11, assistant City accountant Arlene Rentuza will sit as acting city treasurer for a year.
She replaced former acting city treasurer Veronica Morelos, whose term expired on Monday, December 10.
“Para ni dili ma-vacuum ang position and we can function normally, labi na nga ang treasury ang lifeblood sa agency. Primarily, we will do what were mandated to do which is to collect taxes. That is the primordial concern of our office,” Rentuza said.
Rentuza's designation was stated in a special personnel order issued by the Bureau of Local Government Finance last December 3. The designation was also based on the recommendation made by Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
Prior to her stint at the CTO, Rentuza was detailed to the Internal Audit Office for six years during former mayor Michael Rama's term.
She also temporarily worked for a temporary administrative position in CTO shortly after the assumption of Mayor Osmeña in 2016.
A few months later, she was assigned back to the City Accounting Office, which was her mother office.
Following her new designation, Rentuza will be replaced by lawyer Mark Jason Tirol, who will now sit as acting city accountant.
Morelos, on the other hand, will return to the Office of the City Administrator.
She was designated as temporary acting city treasurer on December 9, 2017 following the retirement of then city treasurer Tessie Camarillo.
“My position as a treasurer is just a reassignment ra man. Ang akong appointment gyud is assistant city administrator for administration. Mao jud na akong position title,” Morelos said.
Shortly before her term as acting city treasurer ended, Morelos was recognized by the Department of Finance for collecting P1.8 billion in taxes, exceeding the City's target collection.
“Mobalik na ko sa akong old assignment.
As for specific duties and functions, we'll just have to wait for the mayor's order,” she said.