22 February 2006
QC bursar bares formula for improved tax collection
By Sunshine D. Robles
QUEZON City Treasurer Victor Endriga, shared some strategies of that premier Philippine city to Dagupan City on how to increase revenue twofold in a lecture he delivered Wednesday at the City Museum.
Endriga revealed that in 2001, Quezon City was the most financially distressed local government unit in Metro Manila, and probably nationwide, with a cash balance of negative P10.35 million in the general fund. This was left by the predecessor of QC Mayor Feleciano ‘Sonny’ Belmonte.
“But now Quezon City is the richest city not only in Metro Manila but also in the entire country as authenticated by the Commission on Audit (COA. It beat Makati and Manila in terms of revenue collection from year 2002,” Endriga proudly said.
Endriga advised the city government to focus on business tax collections noting that Dagupan is a hub of commerce.
He said that the city could utilize the “presumptive income level approach” on business establishments implementing a schedule of minimum gross to make gross tax declaration more realistic and current.
For the real property owners to religiously pay their taxes, Endriga said QC undertakes auction sale of real properties every quarter. At least 20 delinquency letters a day are also prepared by each employee assigned in the Real Estate Division.
He stressed the need to reassign permanent employees every now and then to avoid familiarization with taxpayers, while noting that the connivance between employees and taxpayers is a major problem in tax payments.
As another incentive, the Quezon City government also set up a lounge area for taxpayers awaiting assessment and payment processing where they enjoy free flow of coffee and ice tea while watching cable TV. Dagupan City’s one-stop business center has a similar amenity for taxpayers, except for the free-flowing coffee and ice tea, it was noted.
Quezon City, Endriga added, utilizes the Geographical Information System (GIS) for taxmapping real properties which is also currently implemented by Dagupan City.
QUEZON City Treasurer Victor Endriga, shared some strategies of that premier Philippine city to Dagupan City on how to increase revenue twofold in a lecture he delivered Wednesday at the City Museum.
Endriga revealed that in 2001, Quezon City was the most financially distressed local government unit in Metro Manila, and probably nationwide, with a cash balance of negative P10.35 million in the general fund. This was left by the predecessor of QC Mayor Feleciano ‘Sonny’ Belmonte.
“But now Quezon City is the richest city not only in Metro Manila but also in the entire country as authenticated by the Commission on Audit (COA. It beat Makati and Manila in terms of revenue collection from year 2002,” Endriga proudly said.
Endriga advised the city government to focus on business tax collections noting that Dagupan is a hub of commerce.
He said that the city could utilize the “presumptive income level approach” on business establishments implementing a schedule of minimum gross to make gross tax declaration more realistic and current.
For the real property owners to religiously pay their taxes, Endriga said QC undertakes auction sale of real properties every quarter. At least 20 delinquency letters a day are also prepared by each employee assigned in the Real Estate Division.
He stressed the need to reassign permanent employees every now and then to avoid familiarization with taxpayers, while noting that the connivance between employees and taxpayers is a major problem in tax payments.
As another incentive, the Quezon City government also set up a lounge area for taxpayers awaiting assessment and payment processing where they enjoy free flow of coffee and ice tea while watching cable TV. Dagupan City’s one-stop business center has a similar amenity for taxpayers, except for the free-flowing coffee and ice tea, it was noted.
Quezon City, Endriga added, utilizes the Geographical Information System (GIS) for taxmapping real properties which is also currently implemented by Dagupan City.
