Proposed tax amnesty to undergo more review

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia’s proposed Tax Amnesty Ordinance will undergo another round of inquiry by members of the council.

The council deferred the measure for another week as councilors will need more time to look into its provisions further. It was supposed to be passed for third and final reading during yesterday’s session.

Garcia’s proposed ordinance aims to grant amnesty to taxpayers on interest, penalties, and surcharges arising from their failure to pay real property taxes and business taxes.

With this, the taxpayers will be able to clear their records on their tax delinquencies with the Cebu City government.

“I just wanna give more time to the councilors to look at the ordinance, the amendment of the ordinance kay basin naa pa sila’y lain concerns,” said Garcia.

During the session, some councilors brought up the idea that with granting this amnesty, it may be unfair for those establishments that are diligently paying their taxes.

“One of the concerns of the councilors kay they thought (this ordinance) is catered to a particular establishment but dili baya (but it’s really not),” said Garcia.

Although Garcia said that most of the business owners are all in favor of this amnesty, he added that this ordinance would really be a big help to the private individuals who are having a hard time paying their tax dues.

Garcia shared those who usually have pending real property tax are those who have inherited lands from their parents.

“Ila mama ug papa walay bayad-bayad unya karon they have to pay for the burden, this is not only for one individual, kay daghan kaayo tag-iya og yuta nga ga pending ilang real property taxes,” he said.

In these cases, since some of the penalties to be paid are more than the principal value, the taxpayers would end up not paying their taxes.

“In order gyud para nako nga naa gyud tay amnesty to give them a chance,” said Garcia.

This proposed ordinance will be deliberated and discussed in another council session this Friday.  JMD (FREEMAN)