BALANGA CITY, Bataan – This component city of Bataan was rated No. 1 among 13 cities in Region 3 in terms of collection efficiency in real property tax, business tax, fees and charges for the first half of 2008.
The Bureau of Local Government Finance showed that Balanga City got a collection efficiency rating of 100.34 % in real property tax, followed by Cabanatuan with 94.13 % and on third place is Munoz with 90.08%.
In the collection of business taxes, Balanga also topped the list with 102.51%. San Jose del Monte (Bulacan) is second with 99.10 % followed by San Jose (Nueva Ecija) with 89.28 %.
In the collection of fees and charges, the Bureau also rated Balanga City No. 1 under the Department of Finance with a rating of 158.31 % followed by Munoz with 115.43 % and Tarlac with 99.39 %.
Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III attributed the good performance to massive information and collection efforts of the treasurer’s office under Lito Evangelista.
The city treasurer said that they continuously send reminders to tax payers. “And this paid of,” he said.
The mayor added that he conducted regular meetings and coordinated almost everyday with the city treasurer.
“Every day, I browse over the records through my computer even when in the car or in the house and from the hard copies submitted to my office. So I know how much money comes in and out,” Garcia said.
He also said the passage of the new Local Revenue Code implemented this year contributed to the good collection efficiency of the city.
“During the barangay week, we also presented our plans and programs. Nakita ng mga tao na sa maganda pupunta taxes, so they are willing to help out through the payment of fees and taxes,” Garcia said.
From the city budget of P371 million and Internal Revenue Allotment of P184 million for 2008 and from lending sources, Balanga implemented various projects worth more than P37 million for the first half of the year.
Infrastructure projects like school buildings and renovation of the city hall got a share of more than P11.5 million. The Bagsakan center and the fish section of the public market had a funding of P9.4 million.
Expenditures for health services in the form of financial assistance were placed at P8.6 million; for peace and order P6.2 million; and for garbage and other trucks went P1.3 million.
