City’s collection rose by 26.45 %

By Antonio M. Ajero
COLLECTIONS of the Davao City government for 2012 jumped by an unprecedented 26.45 percent over a year ago.
Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said the collection performance surprised her and credited the aggressive efforts of teams under acting city treasurer Anastacio P. Jardin Jr. and business and licensing division chief Tristan Dwight Domingo for the high collection.
“We also thank the taxpayers for their cooperation in the city government’s tax collection effort,” Inday Sara said in a text message to Edge Davao.
The good news was initially broken by acting city administrator Zuleika Lopez while presiding over the Davao City Watershed Management Council, in behalf of the lady mayor.
As of January 22, she said, the city government had already collected P415,653, 930. This was P84,854, 321, or 26.45 percent, more than the P320,799,609 recorded collections as of January 22, 2012.
Lopez said, though, that the final figure will be available on January 31 yet after the collection data are collated.
The city administrator echoed Mayor Sara’s statement crediting the aggressive collection efforts of the Jardin-led city treasurer’s office and the recent streamlining of the systems involved in the processing of application for, and renewal of, business permits.
Lopez said the current good business climate in the city is another factor behind the increased tax collection.
Business and licensing division chief Domingo said “the bulk of revenue we generated was from local taxes on the gross sales/receipts of business, and the regulatory fees such as, but not limited to, occupational permit fees, building permit fees, electrical fees, garbage fees, health certificate fees, laboratory fees, mechanical permit fees, mayor’s permit fees, plumbing fees, sanitary permit fees, signboard permit fees, solid waste management fees, zoning fees, fees on stickers, tax clearances and others.