Capitol’s income up by P370M in 2015

CEBU, Philippines - The revenue collection of Cebu province has increased by over P370 million last year compared to the P2.44 million collections in 2014.

Based on the data from the office of the provincial treasurer, bulk of P2.81 billion revenue in 2015 came from the Capitol's Internal Revenue Allotment. The Capitol has an IRA of P2.3 billion. The province's economic enterprise generated P276.61 million, P146.6 million from tax revenue, and P42.5 million from operating and miscellaneous revenues.

 The biggest revenue from among the economic enterprises of the province was generated from the district hospitals amounting to P187. 68 million. These include hospital fees, P61.4 million, and medical, dental and laboratory fees, P126.32 million.

Since 2013, hospital collections increased by around P45 million. Last year, it collected P142.4 million while P145.6 million in 2013.

 Emmanuel Guial, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Treasurer's Office, attributed the increase to more indigents availing of government hospital services through Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, medical assistance program (MAP) of the Department of Health and Pagcor.

 "Nidaghan ang admission sa atong hospitals while availing our medical services through PhilHealth, MAP and Pagcor so nidaghan atong collection on top sa kadtong ka-afford pagbayad," he said.

 Indigents have been enjoying access to free medical care and hospitalization in the 12 District Hospitals and four provincial hospitals through Capitol's Point of Care program.

 Under the program, indigent patients who are non-PhilHealth members will, upon admission, be automatically enrolled and would then be able to avail of the benefits right away.

 The Capitol is paying P2,400 PhilHealth premium for each of the barangay officials and workers, which include the lupon and community volunteer workers, barangay health  workers (BHWs), barangay nutrition scholars (BNS), day-care center workers (DCCWS) and barangay animal-health aid staff (BAHAS).

 "Aron dili totally ma-alkanse ang provincial government, so mo-claim ta PhilHealth, MAP ug Pagcor," Guial said.

Other Capitol's economic enterprise is the Cebu South Bus Terminal where the province is collecting parking fee, receipts from lease of properties and miscellaneous income amounting to P67.2 million; Larsian Fuente, P7.8 million; rentals of province-owned properties, P12.2 million, among others.

 Moreover, the Real Property Tax also increased last year to P62.3 million from P55.4 million in 2014. Guial attributed the collection efficiency due to massive information dissemination.  (FREEMAN)