Crushing plant operators told to pay taxes, other fees

CEBU, Philippines — Sand and gravel crushing plant operators and processors in Cebu Province who fail to comply with the required tax payment and accreditation would get a cease and desist order from the Capitol.

In a meeting last Wednesday, Governor Gwen Garcia has given the sand and gravel crushing plant operators and processors in the province until October 28 to comply with the required tax and secure necessary accreditation documents to continue with their businesses.

Garcia reminded them of the existing provincial ordinance which imposes a 10 percent tax of the local fair market value per cubic meter on ordinary stones, sand, gravel, earth and other quarry resources extracted on public lands in the province as well as the need to secure a governor’s accreditation at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).

“Kamo, after nag-estorya ta karon nagsabot ta, unya di gihapon mo mokuha. Mo-issue ko ninyo og cease and desist unya akong patabangon ang PNP (Philippine National Police) to enforce it because mao ni ang balaod.  Ordinansa mani sa probinsya, 2008 pa. So, kinahanglan gyud mo mokuha og governor’s accreditation bisan pa og ang inyong gikuptan, permitee ba kaha mo, issued sa MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau), magpa-credit mo sa inyong crushing plant,” she said.

Under the amended Section 124 of the Revenue Code of Cebu, the Capitol has to collect tax equivalent to 10 percent of the local fair market value per cubic meter of all ordinary stones, sand, gravel, earth, and other quarry resources extracted on public lands within its territorial jurisdiction, including holders of permits, licenses, contracts or agreements issued by entities other than the Province of Cebu.

Garcia said the governor’s accreditation fee costs P2,000 per year for cement plants, pulverizing plants, marble plants, crushing plants, batching plants, and the like as provided under Section 210 of the Revenue Code of Cebu.

For his part, Provincial Treasurer Atty. Roy Salubre said that operators and processors has to secure an accreditation permit from PENRO in order for them to be given a corresponding volume of 10,000 cubic meters. After that, they will proceed to the treasurer’s office to pay the given volume and the said office will issue a delivery receipt (DR) that will be used upon the transportation of minerals.

To monitor and avoid any incidents of recycled DRs, Garcia explained that they need to apply for another DR once the given volume is consumed.

She added that those operators and processors holding permits issued by the MGB 7 must also secure the governor’s accreditation and pay the same tax.

However, holders of gratuitous permits issued by the province of Cebu are exempted from the 10 percent tax.

Garcia said the tax collected will be used for infrastructure projects and for funding the installation of water systems as well as other programs for the indigents, youth, women, senior citizens, students, barangay health workers and tanods, day care workers, and barangay animal health aides. — GAN (FREEMAN)