Caloocan hits nearly P.5 B in tax collection

Caloocan City collected nearly half a billion in taxes after the extended deadline on Jan. 31, exceeding its P300-million collection target by over a hundred million, an elated Mayor Enrico Echiverri announced yesterday.

Records from the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and Real Property Tax Division (RPTD) at City Hall showed a total collection of P427,324,954.83 by the end of January this year.

Of the total, some P172-million came from real property tax payments.

Echiverri said the tax collection turnout only proves the overwhelming support of the city residents and business owners for his administration.

The mayor said the city’s collection target of P300 million is twice the amount of revenue collected for the same period last year before he took over the reins of government.

He set this amount as a challenge to the taxpayers of the city in helping increase this year’s tax collection.

Echiverri assured the public that the taxes they paid will be used in improving the delivery of the basic services by the city government. The mayor said he will continue the programs and projects he initiated.

"My administration remains steadfast to the commitment I made when you gave me a landslide victory in the May 2004 elections. Expect to see more dramatic improvements in the city in the coming years," Echiverri said.

Meanwhile, Malabon City Mayor Tito Oreta announced yesterday that the city government posted an increase of 13 percent in its tax collection over collections made in the same period last year.

City treasurer Ernesto Pabustan said total tax collections generated as of Jan. 31 was a little over P65 million compared to only over P57 million collected last year.

City Planning, under Engr. Rolando Lansang, posted the highest collection increase among the other offices. Its collection this year has doubled to over P2 million compared to collections of only P1.1 million for the same period last year, Oreta said.

"Slowly but steadily, Malabon is moving on the right track due to the changes we have initiated and instituted after assuming office in July this year," Oreta said.