Why exempt Capitol from tarpaulin fees?
The Capitol won’t get a quick “yes” from the Cebu City Council on its request to waive advertising fees for the installation of tarpaulins for the province’s 443rd founding anniversary on city roads.
A resolution making the request was referred yesterday for study to the Cebu City’s Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC).
The banners were to be hung from sidewalks and center islands of Escario Street from the Capitol grounds to the Capitol parish church grounds from July 1 to Aug. 15.
The Capitol is celebrating its anniversary on Aug. 6.
The resolution was sponsored by Councilor Jose Daluz III.
During floor discussion, Councilor Noel Wenceslao said the celebration doesn’t involve Cebu City residents.
Article continues after this advertisementCouncilor Rodrigo Abellanosa asked to refer the matter to CHAC.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Office of the Building Officials (OBO) charges P4 per sq. meter of tarpaulin mounted on public streets.
OBO also charges a P50 advertising tax for each banner and requires a bond equivalent to 50 percent of its cost to guarantee that the signs will be be taken down after the prescribed period.
City Hall earns hefty revenues from charging private companies and other institutions for hanging promotional banners from lampposts in the street.
The council agreed to send the request to CHAC.
Daluz said that while Cebu City’s charter marks its independence from the Capitol, “the city is still part of the province for so many years.”
In an interview, Mayor Michael Rama said he doesn’t see anything wrong with putting up Capitol tarpaulins on city streets.
He also said it was ignorant of the council to say that the city has nothing to do with the province’s celebration.
“That’s why I want to revisit the Charter to allow Cebu City to vote for the governor. Mandaue City is highly urbanized but it can still vote for the governor,” he said.
Rama said while Cebu City is already independent from the Cebu provincial government, the city remains to be a part of and is in fact located in the heart of Cebu province.
