MABALACAT CITY Top officials of the city government here cited benefits of the recently approved updated Local Revenue Code (LRC) 2023.
During a radio interview by city information chief Jay Pelayo IV on RW95.1FM, City Administrator Franco Madlangbayan and City Accountant Oscar Deang Jr., explained the benefits and justification of the updated local revenue code for 2023.
The updated LRC was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod led by Vice Mayor Gerald Guttrie Aquino.
Madlangbayan said the big projects of the city government in 2023 include the purchase and construction of a new city hall building at the three-hectare lot along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Mabiga.
Aside from this, the officials also cited the building of a health and wellness center, the putting up a state-of-the-art command center, slaughter house, and the improvement of the city’s public market in Barangay San Francisco.
Deang said the adjustments made were allowed by the law by virtue of Republic Act 7160 or “An Act Providing for a Local Government Code of 1991,” which allows cities to update their revenue codes.
Mabalacat transitioned from a municipality to a city in 2012.
The city accountant also clarified that tax adjustments are aligned with the revenues of the payors and their ability to pay.
He added that the city only applied an average of 35 percent increase to its rates as opposed to the recommendation of up to 50 percent adjustments.
“This is still lower than the rates of the neighboring cities like Angeles and San Fernando,” Deang said.
With these adjustments, the city is projecting to gain about 100 million to its local revenues which will be utilized for the projects and services of the local government.