Mandaue treasurer wants hike in taxes

MANDAUE City Treasurer Regal Oliva has asked the City Council to enact more revenue-generating measures, including an ordinance penalizing business establishments that operate with no permits.

Oliva said he needs the support of the local legislature to hurdle the “challenging” task of meeting revenue targets to fund the P1.89 billion 2014 budget which Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes signed in December.

The budget is P290 million more than the 2013 budget.

Oliva said they have to maximize collections.

In a press conference, Oliva said 5,000 business establishments failed to secure business permits last year, depriving the city of income. In 2012, about 8,000 business establishments failed to secure business permits.

“It won’t do anything if we keep on padlocking these business establishments without imposing penalties after their closure,” Oliva said.

He also suggested raising the fair market value of real properties which has not been amended since 1973 as well as tax rates which were set in 1991.

“We are a highly urbanized city and yet our rates for business taxes is still way below our counterpart cities,” Oliva added./Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza