JP-LGU improves tax and fee collection

Graph showing comparative revenue figures. - JP-LGUgraph

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ

AN improved tax collection system launched at the beginning of 2011 is now benefiting the coffers of the Jose Panganiban municipal government under Mayor Ricarte Padilla.

Called the electronic business permit and licensing system (EBPLS), the scheme has boosted the local government’s revenue drive by enabling the treasury office to collect the right payments from all forms of local taxes and fees.

The LGU’s public affairs office told MWBuzz that the EBPLS was the result of a computerization program sought by Padilla upon assuming office in July 2010 after winning the mayoral election held about two months earlier.

After almost six months of planning, the scheme was launched on January 1, 2011.

Figures from the municipal treasurer’s office showed that for the month of January 2010 when William A Lim was still the mayor, revenue collection was only P1.85 million.

When tax and business fee collection was computerized under the EBPLS beginning January 2011, the total amount of revenues generated as of the end of this month hit P2.53 million, P674,499 or 36.4% better than the P1.85 earned in January 2010.

And revenue collection for the month of January 2012 alone jumped to P3.4 million, up 34.8% or P880,065, from the January 2011 collections.

The January 2012 figure was 86%, or P1.6 million, better than the revenues collected in January 2010.

It is expected that the January 2012 collection would be surpassed by revenues generated for the whole month of January 2013.

Among the biggest taxpayers in the municipality are the Indian-owned chemical factory Pan Century based at Baranggay Osmenia and the Johson Gold Mine Corp at Baranggay Bagong-bayan.

The municipal treasury is also enjoying increased local tax and fee collections from the town’s bustling commercial activities boosted by the growing number of retailers and small-scale business activities that included three hotels and shops.

Kassandra Et Robin of the JP-LGU public affairs said that individuals and the business and industry sectors paid the right amount of taxes and fees during the past two years as they felt confident the money would be spent by the municipal government wisely for the benefit of the whole community.

This was also boosted by the local treasury office’s intensive tax drive on the back of Padilla’s computerized tax collection scheme, she said.

Padilla explained to MWBuzz last April that the computerized system has totally eliminated “haggling” or “tawaran” on the amount of taxes or fees to be paid by individuals and business entities.

“Pag sinabi po ng computer na isang-libo ang assessment na dapat bayaran, ito po ang halagang kelangang bayaran … otherwise, the computer will not accept payment less or more than what is due…” he said.

“Kasi po noon, pwedeng tawaran ang halagang dapat pagbayaran, lalo na po kung ang tumatawad ay negosyante or kilalang tao …”

“Ang tanging dapat lang na gawin ay kausapin si mayor at seguradong okay na ang discount …”

“Because of this so-called revenue leaks, malaki po ang nawala sa kaha ng bayan … pero ngayon, nagawan po natin ng paraan sa pamamagitan ng ating computerization program,” Padilla said.

He said that with the increase in tax and fee collection, the LGU is now able to pursue important community projects and LGU programs aimed at enhancing the welfare of Mambulaoans.

Email the writer: ahernandez@thenational.com.pg  and alfredophernandez@y7mail.com