Council: Taxes for Carreta cock breeding questionable

Carreta barangay officials have required breeders of fighting cocks operating in their barangay to pay taxes, and that the amount is based on the breeder’s annual sales, but the City Council has found this highly questionable.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, head of the city council’s committee on budget and finance, said it will be difficult for officials of barangay Carreta to find out how much is the annual income of a breeder of fighting cocks.

Pesquera said the proposed ordinance of barangay Carreta did not specify how the barangay officials can determine the correct annual sales of a particular breeder.

"If no such provision is included, the imposition of the tax will then be made to rely solely on the declaration of the breeder himself. This will allow breeders to evade the payment of higher taxes," Pesquera explained.

Also, the committee composed of councilors Nestor Archival, Gabriel Leyson, Christopher Alix and Rodrigo Abellanosa, wondered on why Carreta barangay officials just singled out the breeders of fighting cocks to be taxed.

"One cannot help but wonder why the breeders of fighting cocks are being singled out. What about taxes for other livestock like raising chickens, which are more profitable? The omnibus tax ordinance should anticipate future businesses and should not limit its application to existing ones," they said.

Another way for Carreta to earn income is to have the rooftop of their barangay hall rented after office hours for P30 per hour. But the committee suggested to ask for a higher rate, particularly events done at nighttime wherein there is much need for supply of electric power.

The law provides that all proposed ordinances in the barangays should first pass before the municipal or city councils, where the barangays are located, for review before the law will be implemented. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV