Cebu City 3rd in tax collection efficiency

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City ranked third in the collection of business tax and other fees and charges, besting 13 other cities in the region, for the 2013.

City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas received a communication from the Bureau of Local Government Finance last August 26 informing the city about the status of its tax collection efficiency.

“I’m happy at least ang among efforts nakit-an na bitaw. We exceeded our target, and of the 16 cities, we ranked number three,” she said, adding that they could still improve their collection this year to achieve a much better ranking.

The target business tax collection last year was P1.09 billion, and the city after actual collection reached P1.18 billion.

BLGF-7 said the City Treasurer’s Office achieved in 2013 a collection efficiency of 107.77 percent.

In particular, actual fees and charges collection reached P415.44 million, which is greater than the target collection of P335.72 million, or a collection efficiency of 123.75.

“The said achievement would not have been possible if not for the invaluable contributions, unselfish support and commitments of all local officials,” read the BLGF-7 letter.

Cuevas said that for 2012, the city was not able to perform really well.

“For this year, I’m confident nga nindot pud atong collection,” she said, adding that they are intensifying real property tax collection as well.

Upon hearing the report, Mayor Michael Rama said he commended the Cebuanos for religiously paying their taxes and the CTO for the achievement.

The BLGF-7 commu-nication did not reveal which cities ranked higher or lower than Cebu City.— /RHM (FREEMAN)