Mayor Lim appeals to President Aquino on Smart Communications Inc.’s tax

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has turned to the Office of the President for help on a city ordinance granting local tax exemptions to a giant telecommunications firm.

In an appeal, Lim had asked the highest office in the land to overturn the decision of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima junking an appeal made by the mayor in May to declare as unconstitutional Manila Ordinance No. 8229, which exempts Smart Communications Inc. from real property taxes on all machinery and equipment and the local franchise tax.

De Lima had said the issue was beyond her jurisdiction and that the issue had become “moot and academic” because Smart eventually paid nearly P40 million to the city government for telecommunications tower equipment built in the city as far back as 2001.

In his appeal, Lim said De Lima’s decision was without authority because it was given beyond the 60-day deadline prescribed by Section 187 of the Local Government Code.