BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc. is dutifully paying in full its tax obligations to the province of Nueva Vizcaya and to all other government entities as well as in cases as may be directed by the court.
Bradley Norman, OceanaGold country director, made the affirmation to correct the misinformation published by a Manila-based daily that OceanaGold had an unsettled tax obligation with the province of Nueva Vizcaya.
“The misimpression that OceanaGold is remiss in the payment of real property taxes arises from the fact that the issue of where to pay them is currently uncertain and is yet to be decided by the court,” Norman said.
Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces have both sent OceanaGold real property tax assessments, which put OceanaGold in a dilemma.”
The issue is the subject of a case pending before Branch 142 of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City. The case will decide the boundary-jurisdiction confusion between Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino and where the real property taxes should be paid.
“Unless a concrete information from an authorized third party surfaces, we have no preference as to which of the two provinces should receive the real property taxes, both of them have equal rights to pursue what benefits they perceive as rightfully theirs. Our only wish is that as always our taxes would benefit the whole region.” Norman said.
He assured affected parties in the dispute that OceanaGold was ready, willing and able to pay all applicable taxes.
“From the start of the tax dispute, OceanaGold deposited to the court the full amount of real property taxes for 2013. The company likewise moved for the court to authorize the deposit with the court the amount of real property taxes for the year 2014.” Norman said, while awaiting the decision of the court.
Norman said it was ironic that OceanaGold should be reported negligent in paying its taxes.
“The company is one big supporter of Nueva Vizcaya’s tax campaign launched last year. We in fact have been cited for topping the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s list of taxpaying corporations in the province. The BIR district office said OceanaGold is one of the highest tax- paying companies in Cagayan Valley,” he said.