BACOLOR -- The local government units of Santa Ana, Bacolor, Guagua and Sasmuan formally embraced the German-made Integrated Taxation Management System (iTAX) that aims to boost local Real Property Tax (RPT) and streamline collection with that of the Provincial Government of Pampanga.
Governor Lilia Pineda led the individual launching of the integrated data base of the iTAX system with Bacolor Mayor Jomar Hizon, Sta. Ana Mayor Rommel Concepcion, Sasmuan Mayor Nardo Velasco and Guagua Mayor Dante Torres.
The system features integrated processes done in the municipality as well as digital maps and information that assist in tax collection.
The German-made system aims to fully solve problems in RPT computations and fully digitize other tax collections in the municipalities.
Pineda said that the system will greatly boost collection systems, remove corruption and keep data records up to date.
"This iTAX will actually show how progressive Pampanga is in terms of collections. This system will ensure that people pay the right taxes and government units get the right share," the governor said.
She added that the system also ensures an updated and readily available data record of collections.
Sta. Rita town, which launched the system last year, recorded almost 50 percent hike in its RPT collection for 2013. The town collected P2,821,393.07 RPT in 2013 compared to P1,883,537.77 in 2012, which was an increase of 49.79 percent.
The other iTax-using towns of Macabebe, Minalin and San Luis recorded increases of 17.28, 10.40 and 27.89 percent, respectively, in the same period.
The Pineda administration embraced the iTax system two years ago to improve Pampanga's RPT collection, which was at some P28 million in 2010.
At present, there are only 300 municipalities out of the 1,500 all over the country that use the iTax system.
The iTax is present in some 11 provinces of the country, with Pampanga being the fourth province in Luzon to implement the system along with La Union, Pangasinan and Mindoro Oriental.
Other provinces with iTax systems are Negros Oriental, Cebu, Southern Leyte and Leyte in the Visayas and Misamis Oriental, Lanao Del Norte and Zamboanga Del Sur in Mindanao.
Governor Pineda said other towns that will implement the iTax system are Lubao, Magalang, Arayat and Floridablanca.
Pampanga's revenue on RPT is projected at P45 million this 2014 due to the implementation of the iTax in the four local government units alone, the governor said.