ANGELES CITY — Former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo congratulated the city government under the leadership of Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. for its notable growth rate of 10.5%, which is much greater than the national growth rate of 7.6%.
Arroyo revealed this during the city government’s awarding of top 30 taxpayers, where she served as the guest of honor.
“I am not surprised by what Pogi talks about, the achievements of Angeles City, because today, Angeles City is one of the top highly-urbanized cities outside the capital,” she said.
The lady lawmaker also underscored the share of the taxpayers in the achievements of the Lazatin administration. “He will not achieve what he has achieved, if not for your share – your taxes, which you have honestly paid to the city government.”
“Congratulations to all of you, you shared in the achievement of Mayor Pogi Lazatin,” Arroyo added. “I am very happy to see a city like Angeles City is much better than many other cities in the Philippines. In fact, one of the best cities in the Philippines in growth rate, in services, and in the quality of its taxpayers.”
It was during Arroyo’s time as President from 2001 to 2009 that the Philippines experienced its “golden years” with a gross domestic product growth rate of 4.5%.
Lazatin said that for the past five years since he took office, the city had a P200 million surplus, where employees received an additional P7,000 bonus in 2019.
He also made good on his promise not to raise real property and business taxes but instead efficiently collect taxes.
For the past five 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. Angeles CIO
