Parañaque to push tax claim versus NAIA

It is final. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be sold to the highest bidder this Friday as the Parañaque City government enforces its tax claim against the airport.

But for it to actually collect its P650 million land tax claim, Parañaque said it is willing to take another drastic action in case there is no taker – close the airport’s runway down.

"If we have to, we will (close the runway down)," said Patricio Asoy, Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez’s executive assistant for legal affairs.

But in a separate interview, NAIA General Manager Edgardo Manda urged Parañaque officials to wait for the decision of the Court of Appeals on the legal issue on whether or not the NAIA should pay taxes to the city.

The Parañaque City government made the decision after the NAIA administration continued to refuse to pay its tax liability, which the latter is disputing before the Court of Appeals.

"This is part of our campaign to raise funds with a minimum target of P1 billion to finance various infrastructure projects of the city government," added Parañaque public information officer Mar Jimenez.

"They (NAIA) cannot blame us because we are doing this for our constituents," said Jimenez.

NAIA is not entirely within the jurisdiction of Parañaque as part of it is in Pasay’s territory. Pasay also has a tax claim against the airport.

The P650 million represents NAIA’s supposed unpaid land taxes some three years back. NAIA initially paid its dues to both city governments but later stopped doing so and questioned the taxes on the basis that is a government corporation.

"Just because they are a government corporation does not mean they are exempted from paying taxes. We ourselves are paying dues to the GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) for our employees," said Jimenez. – Jose Aravilla and Rey Arquiza