MCIAA pays city P101M in taxes

CEBU, Philippines - A representative of Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority yesterday turned over two checks amounting to a total of  P101 million to the Lapu-Lapu City government, representing its business tax payment.

City treasurer Elenita Catagcatag personally received the checks from MCIAA property division manager Alvaro Derramas.

"This is our obligation. We programmed this (payment) already last year," Derramas said.

Mayor Paz Radaza said the amount will go to the city's general fund and will be used for several projects like building classrooms.

Catagcatag told reporters yesterday that MCIAA still has to pay P202.8 million in business taxes. This amount includes business taxes due this year.

Meanwhile, MCIAA's unpaid real property taxes still stand at P1.3 billion, the treasurer said. This amid a recent Supreme Court ruling exempting some airport properties, such as buildings, runways, taxiways and lots used for public or governmental purposes, from being taxed.

The Lapu-Lapu City government has yet to receive a copy of such ruling, reportedly issued by the SC First Division last Friday.

"We can't say what legal action to take for now," Radaza said, although she clarified that the city government does not have to return the real property tax payments already made by MCIAA before the SC's recent decision.

"From the start, the city and MCIAA agreed that payment will be made for properties not covered by the pending case," she said. —  (FREEMAN)