ANGELES CITY – “Sentimental po [ako] ngayong gabi, dahil matagal na po nating gustong parangalan ang mga negosyante sa siyudad, napakalaking tulong po ng tax na kanilang binabayad para sa revenue ng lungsod, na ginagamit po natin sa ating mga essential social services.”
Thus, spoke a grateful Mayor Carmelo “Pogi'” Lazatin, Jr. as the city government gave recognition to the Top 30 Taxpayers from 2020 to 2023 during awarding rites at the Grand Palazzo Royale here on May 9.
Guest of honor was former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whom Lazatin called as one of his inspirations in public service, citing her notable projects as a renowned economist which helped Angeles City in its growth and progress.
The Top 30 Taxpayers recognition covered businesses under sole proprietorship, corporation, and real property tax (RPT).
Under sole proprietorship, the Top 10 for 2020 were Asumco Paint and Hardware, Angeles S.T Mart, Enrod Copper Decor Product, K Servico Trade Inc., Gehal Apartment Rental, Freeway Commercial, SPF Fastfood McDo, Grand Palazzo Royale Banquet and Reception Hall, PQS Enterprises — McDo Sto. Rosario, and Hamby Fastfood.
For 2021: Asumco Paint and Hardware, Freeway Commercial, Hamby Fastfood, Ai-Ho Enterprise, NBH Hardware, Super S Fastfood, R.M. Dela Cruz Construction, SPF Fastfood McDo, Angeles Filipino Enterprises, and Enrod Copper Decor Product.
For 2022: Asumco Paint and Hardware, Ai-Ho Enterprise, Freeway Commercial, Hamby Fastfood, SPF Fastfood McDo, MS Cruz Builders and Trading, Super S Fastfood, R.M. Dela Cruz Construction, Angeles Filipino Enterprises, and Enrod Copper Decor Product.
For 2023: Asumco Paint and Hardware; Tailg Marketing, K-Servico, Affordacare Plus Trading, Freeway Commercial, SPF Fastfood McDo, Hamby Fastfood, Ai-Ho Enterprise, NBH Hardware, and Super S Fastfood.
Under the corporation category, the Top 10 were for 2020 were SM Department Store, Toyota Angeles Pampanga Inc., Angeles Electric Corp., SM Hypermarket, San Miguel Brewery Inc., Metro Retail Stores Group Inc., Monde Nissin Corp., Premier Central Inc., Le Mans Stellar Motor Corp., and Allianz PNB Life Insurance Inc.
For 2021: Converge Information and Communication Technology Inc., SM Department Store, SM Hypermarket, Toyota Angeles Pampanga Inc., Metro Retail Stores Group Inc., San Miguel Brewery Inc., Fibernet Konstrukt Corp., Allianz PNB Life Insurance Inc., Premier Central Inc., and Calfurn MFG. Philippines Inc.
For 2022: Converge Information and Communication Technology Inc., SM Department Store, Toyota Angeles Pampanga Inc., SM Hypermarket, Metro Retail Stores Group Inc., San Miguel Brewery Inc., Fibernet Konstrukt Corp., Premier Central Inc., Allianz PNB Life Insurance Inc., and Calfurn MFG. Philippines Inc.
For 2023: Converge Information and Communication Technology Inc., San Miguel Brewery Inc., SM Department Store, Toyota Angeles Pampanga Inc., Metro Retail Stores Group Inc., SM Hypermarket, CS Modern Workforce Inc., Metroworks ICT Construction Inc., and Fibernet Konstrukt Corp.
Under the RPT category, theRTop 10 for 2020 were Premier Central Inc, Northbeacon Commercial Corp., Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc., Vicsal Development Corp., T.G.N. Realty Corp., Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc., AC Beautiful Island Realty Development Corp., Angeles Electric Corp., 8990 Luzon Housing Development Corp., and Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc.
For 2021: Premier Central Inc., Northbeacon Commercial Corp., Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc., Vicsal Development Corp., T.G.N. Realty Corp., Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc., AC Beautiful Island Realty Development Corp., Angeles Electric Corp., 8990 Luzon Housing Development Corp., and Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc.
For 2022: Premier Central Inc., Northbeacon Commercial Corp., Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc., Vicsal Development Corp., Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc., T.G.N. Realty Corp., AC Beautiful Island Realty Development Corp., 8990 Luzon Housing Development Corp., Angeles Electric Corp., and Timog Silangan Development Corp.
For 2023: Premier Central Inc., Northbeacon Commercial Corp., Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc., Vicsal Development Corp., Juan D. Nepomuceno & Sons Inc., T.G.N. Realty Corp., AC Beautiful Island Realty Development Corp., 8990 Luzon Housing Development Corp., Angeles Electric Corp., and Timog Silangan Development Corp.
In his speech, Lazatin reminisced about the battle-cry of his father, former Pampanga 1st District representative and former City Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin when he ran for mayor in 2013 that Angeles City should remain as business-friendly as possible.
Thus, the junior Lazatin’s first marching order when he assumed the mayoralty in 2019 and extant until now — not to raise RPT and business taxes, rather increase efficiency in the collection of taxes.
“Noon po, hindi ko pa masyadong maintindihan kung anong ibig sabihin niya dahil bago pa ako sa pulitika. Pero ngayon po, with two terms as city councilor and two terms as the mayor under my belt, I finally understand and finally see the wisdom in my father’s words,” Lazatin shared.
To recall, the city government, during the first six months of Lazatin’s stint, had a P200 million surplus, where employees received an additional P7,000 bonus in 2019.
For the past 5 years, being business-friendly under Lazatin’s stint, the city government consistently increased its local revenue sources, having an increase of more than P68 million for RPT and more than P206 million for the collection of business tax.
In addition, Lazatin also mentioned the benchmark programs allocated for the continuous increase in collections such as the Walang Plastikan, Plastik Palit Bigas project; Bale Pusu, the home for homeless female elderly; the rescue operations for mentally-challenged individuals; Balay Silangan reformation center for persons tested positive for drugs; Home for the Girls and for abused women; and the first Double A National Meat Inspection Service accredited slaughterhouse.
Further, with the 1% share of RPT collections allotted to the Special Education Fund, the city government purchased and distributed free uniforms, socks, bags, and school supplies to students in public schools yearly.
It also became possible for the city government to utilize these collections to purchase mobile bus clinics intended for the house-to-house vaccination during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading the Department of Health to hail Angeles City as the area with the most efficient vaccination programs nationwide.
The city government, Lazatin said, worked hand-in-hand with the business sector through the collected taxes and established and implemented pioneering and trailbrazing programs.
“Hindi po sapat ang isang parangal para tumbasan ang kontribusyon ninyo sa pag-unlad ng siyudad Angeles, nevertheless, on behalf of the city of Angeles, I would like to offer my sincerest thank you to our partners in the business sector,” enthused Lazatin. Angeles CIO
