Lapu-Lapu did well in education, social services in 2009

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City achieved notable gains in 2009 in the areas of education, social services and infrastructure development as a result of the city’s sound fiscal and financial situation.

“We expect even better,” Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza said in his accomplishment report.

Radaza, who is ending his third term as mayor in June 2010, said more efforts are needed to sustain the city’s momentum of growth and progress to better serve the residents.

City treasurer Elenita Catagcatag, in her report covering 2001 to 2009, showed that the city’s collection of taxes had reached an all-time high.

In the yearly comparative report of the city treasurer’s office from January-December, Catagcatag said the city collection from business taxes and other fees in 2009 collected was P364,793, 336.85; in 2008, it was P362, 729,580.11.

In January this year, the city’s total income was nearing P140 million from combined taxes and the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share.

In the income statement from month of January 2009 and 2010, the city’s revenue amounting to P137,248,909.75 came from local collections of P101,496,692.75 and IRA share of P35, 752,217.00 as of January 2010.

Breaking down the revenues sourced out locally, the city treasurer’s office collected P91,044, 326.86 from business taxes and other fees; P4,208,642.46 from realty taxes; “P3,140,683.29 from the shares of the economic zones and P3,103,040 from other incomes.

Lapu-Lapu hosts several resorts and international hotels, and economic zones, numbering from 18 in 2001 to 32 at present.

There are now 6,159 business establishments in the city compared to 3,254 in 2001.   (FREEMAN NEWS)