Iloilo business groups oppose more taxes

ILOILO CITY—Business groups here have warned against raising real property taxes, saying this would drive investors away.

“The gains made in promoting the city as business friendly, competitive and livable will be diminished,” said Joemarie Agriam, Western Visayas governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Agriam said the city should continue to keep itself business friendly with low taxes to entice more investors. He said this would, in turn, result in bigger revenues from business taxes and permits.

In a joint statement, leaders of eight business groups have called on the city government to instead improve tax collection and scrap the plan to raise real property taxes.

“The city can also look into expenditure management,” they said in a statement. “As most companies would do when profit margins start dipping, expenses should be managed accordingly,” the statement added.

The statement was signed by Juan Jose Jamora III, chair of Iloilo Business Club Inc.; Donna Rose Ratilla, head of the Iloilo chapter of PCCI; Fanny Uy, head of  Iloilo Multi-Sectoral Business Organization Inc.; Valerie Maravilla, head of  Ilonggo Producers Association; Ramon Cua Locsin, head of Federation of Filipino Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panay Inc.; Felipe Uygongco, head of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc.; Francis Chung, head of Philippine Retailers Association of Iloilo, and Herminio Maravilla, head of Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. in Iloilo.

The offices of the city treasurer and assessor are pushing for an increase in real property taxes ranging from 60 to 113 percent effective next year.

City officials have noted that the last increase in real property tax was in 2006 and it was not fully implemented because of the  aftermath of Typhoon “Frank.”

They said the increase was necessary to fund the city’s programs and projects.