THE Mabalacat City Government received P750 million as shares in tax paid by locators inside the Clark Freeport in 2019, said Mayor Crisostomo Garbo.
The mayor said the amount represents the two-percent shares from the five-percent tax on gross income earned or GIE by Clark investors.
The city’s income from the Freeport had increased because of the massive growth of investments inside the Freeport, he added.
“We are only expecting P600 million but we got P750 million in 2019,” Garbo said.
With the guidance of former Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, who is now the vice governor, Garbo said the city officials decided to share their revenues to other Pampanga town with less income.
“As part of my blessings na pinagkakaloob po ng ating Panginoon, on the 15th [of February] we are scheduling the distribution of 16 ambulances to different local government units,” he said.
Garbo said 11 towns of Pampanga were identified by Governor Dennis Pineda as recipients of ambulance worth P1.8 million each.
Aside from the 11 municipalities in the province, the mayor said they will also give ambulances to Mabalacat’s sister cities of Balanga in Bataan province and Olongapo City, the towns of Bamban and Capas in Tarlac province and the provincial government of Pampanga.
“Nissan po ang brand [ng ambulance]. Kumpleto po yung gamit niyan may pang resuscitate, may oxygen, mayroong pang minor surgery,” Garbo said.
Garbo said they decided to help other towns in Pampanga and other parts of Central Luzon which are part of the Metro Clark Advisory Council
The local government spent P26 million for the acquisition of the 16 ambulances, the mayor added.
Garbo said with the ambulances, LGUs may help their respective constituents in emergency situations.
“Kasi yun po ang pangangailangan na talagang makakatuong po sa kanila in any eventuality. Alam niyo po marami tayong pinaghahandaan ngayon. We don’t know because of this climate change iyan po ang pinaka importante ngayon kasi in any eventuality mayroon po tayong pangtulong,” Garbo said.
Under the directive of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Ano, local government units should help each other in times of calamaties and emergency situations, the city official added.
“Dapat united po ang mga galaw ngayon ng mga local government units especially by the directive of DILG Secretary Ano na sa lahat ng eventuality or any disaster kailangan nagtutulungan and lahat ng mga LGUs,” Garbo said.
Mabalacat City has 16 fleets of ambulances at present, according to Garbo.
All of Mabalacat City’s 27 villages also received rescue vehicles and garbage trucks front the city government, he added.