Cebu City among top cities in local revenue collection

CEBU, Philippines —  The Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) has recognized Cebu City as among the top performing cities in the Philippines in local revenue generation for the year 2019.

BLGF regional director Jessie Doctolero on Tuesday awarded four certificates of recognition to the city government. The awards were received by acting city treasurer Mare Vae Reyes and acting city assessor Noel Wenceslao.

The BLGF recognized Cebu City for placing fourth among all the cities in the country in the 2019 collection efficiency of locally sourced revenues.

According to BLGF, the city’s collection efficiency was 145.1 percent with a total revenue collection of P5.199 billion as against its collection target P3.585 billion in 2019.

The city ranked eighth among all the cities in the 2019 highest nominal locally sourced revenues with an LSR (locally sourced revenue) collection of P4.458 billion.

Meanwhile, it ranked second among all cities in the 2019 year-on-year growth in locally sourced revenues with 38.6 percent or P4.458 billion compared to P3.216 billion in 2018.

Reyes said the recognition was more on the city’s LSR, stating that the revenue sources include taxes and the fees/charges imposed by the city government.

“Ang atong awards nga nadawat is more on the locally sourced revenues nato like when we say our revenue source kay mainly ang source (are) taxes, real property taxes, and then di sad nato kalimtan ang atong mga fees and charges like OBO (Office of the Building Official) fees, CCTO (Cebu City Transportation Office) fees, parking fees, Civil Registrar, Market fees, hospital fees. So, tanan-tanan nga charges nga kita mismo sa Cebu City Government ang ni-impose,” explained Reyes.

“This encompasses all collections, except lang sa atong IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) na national ang nihatag. I would say that it is a joint effort not only from the City Treasurer's Office ug ang Assessor's Office na nakadawat pud silag award, but sa tanan nga department sa Cebu City government nga naka-contribute gyud because if one department will not impose fees and charges rightly or what is indicated in our ordinance, dili gyud ni nato siya makab-ot nga mga awards,” she added.

Reyes said because of the recognitions received by the city government, the City Treasurer’s Office was also challenged to aim higher.

“Nalipay mi at the same time na challenge mi. We have to do better. We are very much hopeful and positive that we could do better,” she said.

The city’s total final revenue performance target for 2021 is at P3.193 billion. — FPL (FREEMAN)