For 3rd quarter of 2009: This year's city revenues up P700 million from last year

CEBU, Philippines - The revenue collection of the Cebu City government from January to September 30 this year reached P2.5 billion, or over P700 million more than its collections for the same period in 2008.

The city only collected P1,744,568,962 in revenues during the first nine months of last year.

Acting city treasurer Ofelia Oliva said the total revenue collection of Cebu City last year, including the taxes that were collected in October, November and December was only P2,637,582,255.

“I’m sure that we have more revenue collections this year,” Oliva said because there are taxpayers who will pay their taxes during the deadline of the payment on October 21 for those who chose quarterly payments for business taxes.

Mayor on-leave Tomas Osmeña said Oliva is more active in revenue collection than the previous city treasurers, including Bureau of Local Government Finance regional director Renee Empaces who used to be the acting city treasurer for several months.

Osmeña recommended for the relief of Empaces after he was not satisfied by her performance.

Oliva is credited with introducing many ideas in the collection of taxes such as the advance tax collection for 2010 of those suppliers in City Hall by deducting the amount from their payments.

The amount, however, was not included in the revenue collections for this year but this was placed in a trust fund to ensure that it can only be used in 2010.

Oliva is also coordinating with the city legal office for the collection of taxes from those schools and hospitals in the city that claim to be proprietary, meaning they are not obliged to pay taxes.

“We have some developments about that but I will not divulge yet now,” Oliva said. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP    (FREEMAN NEWS)