Bar owner opposes plan to raise tax

CEBU - A bar owner has opposed the proposal of Councilor Jose Daluz to increase to P10 the P1 social amelioration tax in the city and questioned if the councilors themselves are willing to pay the amount when they go to recreational establishments.

“They are not even paying the P1. How much more with the P10?” reasoned Nancy Casia of Bayanihan and Ballroom Disco in a public hearing during the City Council’s session yesterday.

Of the 40 plus bar owners in Cebu, only Casia appeared in yesterday’s public hearing.

Casia said she would volunteer to pay P450 as amelioration fee to the city, as long as she will be assured that she gets to collect the P10 from the customers. However, this scenario is reportedly foggy, she said. 

Bayanihan reportedly has the lowest prices of beer, soft drinks, and junk foods. Customers can also dance for free.

The proposed ordinance aims to collect more tax from night clubs, casinos and other gaming businesses, fighting cockpits, karaoke clubs, massage parlors, beer houses, motels, drive-ins, and discotheques so that the city can fund more programs for indigents and socially-disadvantaged.

Establishments that would be covered by the law would no longer be made to pay the 30 percent amusement tax.

But while Casia opposed the proposed measure, Ronald Diola who represented the business sector, said the proposal could not have come at a better time when hardships of the destitute and malnourished are too hard to ignore.

Diola reasoned that the payment of the P10 social amelioration fee will surely be a help to augment the plight of the socially disadvantaged.

The council has asked the stakeholders, as well as the customers, to submit position papers that would be considered during the final deliberation on the Daluz’ proposal.

Daluz had said that among the programs that could benefit from an increased social amelioration tax are the supplementary feeding programs, capacity building of City Nutrition Scholars and other health staffs, continuing education of parents and guardians, and the purchase of seeds and seedlings. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO (THE FREEMAN)