Malabon sets P1B revenue goal, wants old tax policies updated

The Malabon government is setting its sights on a long-overdue update of its revenue-generation policies in a bid to earn P1 billion for the first time in the city’s history.

In line with this ambitious goal, Mayor Antolin Oreta III said he was hopeful that the city council would review and amend the city’s revenue code, comprehensive land use plan, franchise code and zoning ordinances.

At the same time, he pushed for the creation of a local investment incentive code, culture and tourism promotion code, health and sanitation code, gender development code, disaster management code and a local solid waste management plan.

In an interview, Oreta noted that many of Malabon’s revenue-generating measures were severely outdated.

“We haven’t raised taxes for the longest time. The last time I think was in the mid-’90s. That includes the real property and business tax. Our fees also need to be brought at par with the times,” he said.

“For example, in our cemeteries, I only recently learned that for the longest time, we have been charging just P200 for the use of the city’s facilities for the dead. I don’t think that’s feasible anymore,” Oreta told the Inquirer.

He expressed optimism that the ordinances, along with other projects of the administration aimed at streamlining processes in the City Hall, would contribute to his aim of increased revenue-generating capacity, the creation of an environment conducive to job creation and investment, the rationalization of the city taxation system, provide for the efficient delivery of health, education and social services, and the establishment of mechanisms to limit the impact of disasters and calamities.

With the implementation of these ordinances and programs, Oreta expressed hope that the city’s revenue would shoot past the P1-billion mark for the first time in its history. In comparison, the city has drafted a P880-million budget this year, with less than half of the amount coming from local taxes and fees and the rest from its internal revenue allotment.