News briefs

Cebu City Night market

A PORTION of Colon Street will be closed to vehicular traffic starting this Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The temporary road closure from the corner of Osmeña Boulevard to Jakosalem Street is intended for the night market, one of many activities lined up to celebrate Cebu Business Month from May 25 to June 15.

The night market is one of many programs aimed at revitalizing Cebu City’s downtown area.

The City Council approved the road closure  in last Wednesday’s session. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles

No to tax incentive

THE Cebu City Treasurer’s Office opposed the proposed 20 percent tax cut for property owners who install water cisterns, reservoirs and water tanks in their buildings .

City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva said the Cebu City government does not even grant the same tax incentive to those who pay their real property tax dues on time.

She said this will also reduce the revenue share between the city and the barangays.  About 70 percent of  total tax revenues go to the city with 30 percent to the barangays.

Councilor Michael Rallota proposed the 20 percent tax break in a proposed ordinance to the City Council.

Rallota, also Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president, said the proposed ordinance will cover commercial, industrial, residential and institutional properties of land owners.

“The construction of rainwater catchments will also serve as alternative source of water during the summer months especially when the El Niño phenomenon will set in,” the draft ordinance said.

Oliva said the cistern requirement is already mandated by City Ordinance 2103 for houses and buildings including those in subdivision, commercial, industrial, institutional, government offices and other projects exceeding P250,000.

Oliva said the draft ordinance should be reviewed by the City Legal Office. If the legal office upholds the legality of granting the 20 percent tax cut, Oliva said this should be granted gradually or  5 percent tax when the cistern is set up and remaining 15 percent if the lot owners pay their real property tax ahead of schedule. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Red tape penalties

A RESOLUTION penalizing City Hall employees for delayed processing of documents and transactions will be filed this week in the Cebu City Council.

City Councilor Jose Daluz III said the resolution stemmed from last week’s decision by Pro-Poor and Pro-Inay pharmacies to stop giving free medicines to beneficiaries of the City
Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program (Champ).

The two pharmacies are trying to collect the P11 million the city government owed to them under the program.

Daluz said he wants the City Accounting and City Treasurer’s Offices to complete processing of payments within five days.

Daluz, who chairs the budget committee, said the city government needs more accounts to process the documents faster.

He said he will also propose that their offices be redesigned for the convenience of both clients and personnel alike. Correspondent Fatrick Tabada