Chiong eyes P650M income next year

CEBU, Philippines - The City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong is targeting a P650-million income for the city next year.

“We can’t reach P650 million this year. But I’m so sure we will get that next year,” said Chiong.

Chiong said it will become possible through the increasing real property taxes brought about by the progressive industries of Naga. KEPCO, which operates coal-fired power plants, for one, is giving P157 million in taxes for the city. Salcon Power Corp, which operates the Naga Power Plant Complex, has also millions in taxes that go to the city’s coffers.

 Chiong said this may increase if the winning bidder of the power plant complex will upgrade its deteriorating thermal plants.

Last week, Chiong and hundreds of Naga residents protested in front of SPC to address their concern on the hazardous fumes coming out from the two old coal plants. The two plants had been there since 1980.

Chiong said he does not mind if they won’t get an income from the state-owned Naga Power Plant Complex while it is being upgraded, what matters most is that they will have clean air to breathe.

SPC, for its part, had assured the public that while it could afford to purchase the billion-peso property, it could also afford to buy new power plants. As of last week, SPC paid P1.143 billion for the property.  (FREEMAN)