Mandaue posts tax collection increase in 2011

CEBU, Philippines - With its aggressive implementation on tax collection, the Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office reported an increase of taxes collected on real property, business and license for the first seven months of this year compared to 2011.

Mandaue City Treasurer Regal Oliva said in a press conference that the city is targeting to collect a total of P1.6 billion on all kinds of taxes for the entire year.

Last year, he added, the government has collected P900 million for the city’s taxes.

He further cited that as of July 31 this year, there is a 28 percent increase on real property tax collection and 23 to 27 percent increase for business and license tax compared to the same period in 2011.

He said that they anticipate further growth of the tax collection by the yearend.

Although the government initially received hesitations from taxpayers when they started to fully implement the professional tax collection, he also said that the community and professional taxes accounted for 300% increase from last year’s tax collection that is considered to be the highest increase noted for 2012.

The professional tax ranges from P55 to P300 depending on the type of profession.

Oliva noted that for the past four to five years, the government recorded that 47% of the real property taxpayers are delinquent while 7 to 10% are reported for business and license taxes.

He also commended the Mandaue City taxpayers since they have been vigilant in their delinquencies and have complied with the requirements of the City Treasurer’s Office.

“We have been very strong in implementing tax collection in Mandaue. We’re even stronger than Cebu City. We are happy that the taxpayers have been cooperative. That’s why we tend to give prestige and honor to them,” he stated.

In line of the 43rd Charter Day Anniversary of the city and the 75th Anniversary of the Mandaue Presidencia, the City Treasurer’s Office shall celebrate the La Presidencia Awards, acknowledging 34 outstanding taxpayers from different sectors in the city.

Oliva said that San Miguel Brewery Inc. and Visayan Electric Company have been the top corporate and business taxpayers for four consecutive years under the administration of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Other taxpayers who were included in the top ten list of corporate taxpayers are San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation, Golden Great Value Properties, Inc., J. King & Sons Co., Inc., Everjust Realty Development Corporation, Profood International Corporation, Tai-Pan Development Corporation, A.D. Gothong Manufacturing Corporation, Pilipinas Makro Incorporated and San Miguel Corporation.

On the other hand, Zuellig Pharma Corporation, PMFTC Incorporated, JS Unitrade Merchandise Incorporated, Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils. Incorporated, Aboitiz Construction Group, Incorporated, United Laboratories Incorporated, San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation, Monde Nissin Biscuits Corporation and Kareila Management Corporation will be awarded for the top 10 business taxpayers.

The government will also award new business establishments that have delivered a capitalization of at least P25 million such as Rajawali Resources and Holding Incorporated, Mandaue Cebu Marine Products Corporation, Right Ideas Craft Corporation and Worldwide Building Solution, Incorporated.

Top 10 individual taxpayers in Mandaue City are James Yu, Erramon Aboitiz, Joseph Alquizola, King Kee Ko, Victor Chiongbian, Gerard Tan, Lester To Chip, Vicente Ong Jr., Hyman Yap, and Raymond Ong.

The Outstanding Taxpayer’s Awards will be held on September 6, 7 PM at the Cebu International Convention Center.

The Mandaue Citizen’s Handbook will also be launched on the same day of which one book will be distributed for each household in Mandaue City starting next month.  (FREEMAN)