LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza assured her administration will not impose new taxes.
However, she said it could be a last resort.
For now, her administration will focus on identifying and collecting from those who have not been paying taxes so she could meet her P1-billion target annual income.
"There are many avenues of revenue generation that the city can tap without necessarily straining the coffers of our investors and constituents. What’s important is for us to contain this," Radaza said, adding she has ordered a review of the city’s tax mapping program to identify the tax evaders.
She said locators and operators of canteens at the Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ) are on top of the list because some of them are not paying taxes while earning millions of pesos.
She admitted the Office of the City Assessor and the City Treasurer are reviewing the city’s tax rates to come up with possible amendments.
Target
However, it won't be an option if she meets her target income through intensified tax collection.
The City Government estimates its tax collectible from MEZ and the Mactan Cebu International Airport to reach more than P1 billion and the City is awaiting the decision of the court handling the case.
Last year, members of the 11th City Council entertained the idea of revising the tax rate, which is still based on the values set in the early 1990s.
Radaza said taxes collected should go back to the taxpayers through prompt delivery of basic services and infrastructure.