Barangays in NCR urged to help counter fiscal crisis

The national president of the Liga ng mga Barangay has called on all barangays in the National Capital Region to do their share in alleviating the country’s financial crisis.

Following an earlier call he made to barangay officials at the recent launching of the "Metrowide Suyod Buwis sa Barangay" project at the Makati Park and Garden, league national president James Marty Lim said barangays can make a significant contribution to the government’s campaign to improve its fiscal position.

"As leaders of the most basic units of Philippine society, barangay officials can play a key role in making their constituents embrace the concept of bayanihan during this time of financial crisis. The first thing barangay officials can do is to help step up tax collection in their respective localities and to identify new sources of revenue. All these will increase the efficiency of income collection and revenue generation at the barangay level," Lim said.

To achieve these objects, the "Suyod Buwis" project has launched task forces that will conduct door-to-door and street-by-street interviews among household members and owners of business establishments in the various Metro Manila barangays.

Respondents will be asked about issues and concerns about tax payments. Constituents will also be encouraged to cooperate in increasing local revenues by paying their taxes and fees on time.

Under the project, even cigarette vendors, food kiosks and other small enterprises dotting the metropolis would be required to pay the necessary fees.

Proponents of the project, which is being undertaken by the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas and the Department of Interior and Local Government, believe that a thorough inventory of all business establishments and/or taxable sources throughout Metro Manila would improve the collection of taxes, fees and charges in the barangay level and help raise for barangays needs.

A memorandum of agreement to support and implement the Metrowide Operation Suyod Buwis Project was signed by the Liga ng mga Barangay presidents of NCR chapters after the formal launching to immediately activate the campaign.

Lim hopes the project can be enforced in all 42,000 barangays nationwide.