15 Mandaue schools operating 'illegally'

CEBU, Philippines - Fifteen of the 48 private schools in Mandaue City were found to be operating illegally after they failed to secure a business permit and pay taxes to the city government.

Newly-installed city treasurer Regal Oliva said that most of the 15 schools who failed to pay tax dues to the city government claim to be non-stock, non-profit institutions.

These schools are the Cebu Doctor’s University, University of Cebu–Lapu-Lapu-Mandaue, Sacred Heart School, St. Joseph Academy, St. Louis School of Mandaue, Colegio de la Immaculada Concepcion, UV Gullas College (Mandaue Academy), Mt. Olive Christian Academy Inc., Assembly of God Christian School Inc., Child Learning Program Inc., St. Genevieve Learning Center, Fatima Child Development Center, Little Dominic Learning Center, Maternelle Academy Inc. and the IBALE Center for Academe Inc.

Oliva said that most of these schools claim they do not sell stocks and are not doing business for profit but they failed to declare this before the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in fact some of them have venture into other businesses other than the school that they have been operating.

But UCLM owner Augustos Go yesterday that these accusations are nothing new as they faced the same problem with the Cebu City government before, he also said he is willing to sit down with Oliva and Mayor Jonas Cortes.

He also insisted the school is not required to secure a business permit as it is a non-stock, non–profit entity.

Likewise, the Mandaue Academy which is a sister school of the University of the Visayas, through their budget officer Gil Jumao-as, said that their school is also a non-stock, non-profit corporation.

He also said they have not yet received any demand letter from the city government.

Cebu Doctor’s University lawyer Sonny Mercado said that they will only comment on it once they have also received the demand letter.

“Yield to us your book of accounts or sue us so that the court can determine if your businesses are operating non-stock, non-profit,” Oliva said.  

Aside from their failure to secure their business permits from the city government, the school also allegedly failed to pay regulatory fees such as fire and sanitation, among others.

“Unya kinsa may tigkuha sa ilang basura nga ang syudad man? Kinsa pud ang motubag sa alarma sa sunog kon maigo sila sa sunog diba ato mang fire department?  Busa kuha sad tawon mo ug regulatory fees oy,” Oliva said.

These schools, together with the Cebu International Convention Center and almost all night bars in the city, are just among the establishments that failed to secure their business permits and pay taxes due to the city government.

In a recent tax verification it was found that only 7,800 business establishments in the city secured business permits while about 8,000 did not.

Oliva, who only assumed his post last June 9, said that his greatest challenge as the new city treasurer is to come up with the P1.5 billion target  for 2012.

“It’s high time that the city come to these businesses aron  maningil as others did not pay their taxes kay way naniningil nila, that is why we will be visiting all businesses in the city,” Oliva added.

He also wants to auction the properties of the delinquent taxpayers, increase community tax certificates from P5 to 6 and enforce all ordinances in the city that charge fees to violators.

Oliva also said that he also intended to raise the city’s tax as he also found that Mandaue City is now far behind its neighboring cities in terms of tax rates. —/BRP (FREEMAN)