Gov. Pineda, Mayor Pineda and Board Members David-Dizon and Dimson observe the operations of the ITAX project launched in Sta. Rita, Pampanga on Tuesday. Joining them are Engr. Dizon and former Mayor Salalila.
Photo courtesy of Jun Jaso
STA. RITA, Pampanga – This 4th class town recognized for its effective streamlining of business permit hosted on Tuesday the launching of the Integrated Taxation Management System (ITAX) pushed by the provincial government.
Sta. Rita Mayor Yolanda Pineda led municipal officials in welcoming Gov. Lilia Pineda, who funded the ITAX project designed to improve the collection of Real Property Tax (RPT).
Mayor Pineda said “they are honoured” and vowed to support the project aided by a German software technology. Her town was earlier cited by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for being the second most effective in streamlining businesses among the municipalities in Central Luzon.
Gov. Pineda stressed the ITAX will allow the “effective and transparent” collection of the RPT. Last year, the Pineda government launched the tax mapping scheme for the same intention.
Engr. Romeo Dizon, provincial assessor, said the software made in Germany to be distributed in the 18 towns of Pampanga “is free.” He added that the ITAX was earlier successfully launched in La Union province.
Dizon said the province is “80 percent” dependent on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). The ITAX, he added, will allow the first-class province “not to depend much in IRA but on local tax collections.” Last year, Pineda also launched ITAX in Minalin town.
Ryan Concepcion, IT consultant of Pampanga, said ITAX had drastically improved the RPT tax in the several provinces.
Concepcion said when La Union started to use the ITAX in 2007 the provincial government recorded some P69 million in collection or an increase of about P6 million. He added that the North Luzon province collected some P295 million RPT in 2011.
Gov. Pineda said Pampanga, “despite its progress and several investments” had collected some P24 million in annual RPT collection for the past 10 years.
She said the ITAX will improve the RPT collection and “may generate” at least P1 billion when “properly and fully launched.”
The towns of San Luis and Macabebe will be the next targets of the ITAX project.
Board Members Jun Dimson and Fritzie David-Dizon, former Sta. Rita Mayor Arthur Salalila and Guagua Councilor Tonton Torres graced the launching at the municipal hall.
