THE Cebu City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) is targeting to collect P8.9 billion in taxes this year, a city official said on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020.
This is P700 million higher than the City’s income last year, which was P8.2 billion.
Jerone Castillo, CTO officer-in-charge, said the City will continue to implement the ease of doing business system to encourage taxpayers to pay their taxes.
As the City’s treasury achieved 100 percent of its P8.2 billion target last year, Castillo said they will double their effort this year.
Under one roof
On Jan. 2, 2020, the Cebu City Government started issuing business permits valid for two years to at least 40,000 permits holders.
Castillo is also hoping they can start to occupy the City’s Financial Center, which is located on a three-story building near the City Hall, within the first week of January.
Once functional, the three-story building will house all the finance components of the City, such as the treasury, budgeting, assessor’s, accounting, as well as the payment of establishments at the South Road Properties.
The Barangay Affairs Office (BAO) will also occupy a space in the financial center.
Castillo said the City Financial Center building still lacks electrical connections.
In previous interviews, Castillo said the City would partner with the 80 barangays using a new digital integrated system designed to monitor businesses operating within their areas.
Castillo explained that all identified properties and business establishments will be put under one database per barangay so that the CTO can monitor existing and new businesses in every part of the city.
Pilot areas
The pilot areas for the integrated system are Barangays Guadalupe and Banilad.
Castillo also reiterated their plan to allow payment of tax dues at depository banks, namely Landbank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and Veterans Bank.
Aside from the digital integrated system, Castillo is also pushing for the passage of an ordinance that will grant amnesty to business owners with unpaid taxes.
If the ordinance is passed, delinquent taxpayers will only have to pay the basic taxes for their businesses and properties as the penalties will be waived.
The ordinance, authored by Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, is still being scrutinized by the City Council. (JJL)