The Manila City government on Thursday reported it earned P4.61 billion in taxes in January this year, exceeding its collection of P4.53 billion for the same month last year despite giving refunds of around P200 million in realty taxes.
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the Office of the City Treasurer collected the most revenue for January 2018, earning P2.5 billion, P400 million more than what it earned in the same period in 2017.
The amount is more than half of the OCT’s target of P4.87-billion tax collection this year, Estrada said.
The City Treasurer attributed the higher tax collection to their intensified campaign against erring taxpayers.
For his part, Estrada expressed his gratitude to the residents who dutifully paid their taxes for 2017.
“The city government was able to meet its performance target set by the Department of Finance. And because of this I would like to extend my appreciation to all Manileños for their support,” Estrada said.
The former President was optimistic the City of Manila will be able to reach its target revenue of P14.8 billion for 2018, as many of its departments continue to post higher collections.
According to Assistant City Treasurer Ma. Jazmin Talegon, the city of Manila already met 100 percent of its Bureau of Local Government Finance total locally-sourced income target for 2017.
As an attached agency of the DoF, the BLGF is mandated to assist in formulating and implementing policies on local government revenue administration and fund management.
It is also tasked to exercise administrative and technical supervision and duty coordination over the treasury and all assessment operation of local government.
According to Estrada, the OCT’s improved overall collection efficiency from last month is a major factor in city’s tax gains.
“Of course, we cannot achieve this significant increase in collection without the full cooperation of our city taxpayers,” Estrada said.
The taxes are “very vital in the accomplishment of our programs and projects for the benefit and satisfaction of our citizens,” the mayor added.
The City Treasurer said they will deduct the “overcharged” tax from the billing of the affected taxpayers.
Second on the earnings list was the Department of Assessment, which collected P1.3 billion last month.
Estrada also said he decided to extend the deadline for business taxes, permits and licenses from January to Feb. 9 in consideration of establishments who were unable to pay their taxes.
For 2018, the City of Manila is targeting to generate P1.39-billion in income from its general services, with P1.3 billion expected to come from its sale or lease of patrimonial properties under joint-venture agreement.