CEBU, Philippines - As chair of the committee on ways and means of the Tacloban City Council, I am relaying this responses over numerous inquiries from taxpayers about renewal of business permits and payments of real property taxes, among others. The City Council has approved the following ordinances:
1. Extending the deadline for the payment of business taxes, and renewal of business permits and licenses for 2014, until June 20 this year;
2. Condoning the unpaid or delinquent real property taxes and business taxes, including interests and penalties, for 2013 and prior years;
3. Suspending the collection of real property taxes for calendar year 2014;
4. Suspending the increase of the rates of taxes, fees and charges, and the collection of socialized housing tax, idle land tax and garbage fees for 2014;
5. Waiving of all fees for electrical permits for reconnection of power lines, via the electrical cooperative; and
6. Waiving of building permit fees and charges for reconstruction, rebuilding, demolition and repair of infrastructure and houses damaged by typhoon Yolanda.
These ordinances were unanimously approved last Dec. 11. (FREEMAN)