Belmonte releases P289.4-M barangay property tax share

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has turned over some P289.4 million to the city’s 142 barangays as their share in the real property tax for the first quarter of the year.

The amount brought to P1.3 billion the total real property tax shares transferred by the city government to the barangays since Belmonte assumed office as the city’s executive. It was only during Belmonte’s administration that QC barangays are finally getting their share in the collection of the city’s real property taxes.

Of the 142 barangays, South Triangle in District IV, which houses most of the country’s television stations, got the lion’s share of P8 million.

Barangay Socorro, which covers the Cubao area, came in second with a total share of P7.6 million. Barangays Bagumbayan and Ugong Norte also received bigger shares, with P7.2 million and P7.1 million, respectively.

Also included in the top 10 are Barangays Apolonio Samson, Sto. Cristo, Greater Lagro, Doña Imelda, Loyola Heights and Matandang Balara.

Belmonte noted that since the bulk of the city’s collection comes from the first quarter when the city government offers 20 percent discount to residents who settle their annual real property tax obligations, the barangays received a bigger share this quarter.

Belmonte reminded all barangay executives to allocate their money to worthwhile projects beneficial to their constituents.

The Local Government Code of 1991 mandates that barangays are entitled to a 30 percent share in the collection of real property taxes. However, poor fiscal management from previous administrations has hampered the distribution of the barangay share.