In a move to reinforce public trust, Iloilo Provincial Administrator Dr. Raul Banias assured top taxpayers that their contributions are being handled with utmost integrity, promising that every centavo is accounted for and used to benefit the province.
Banias made this declaration during the awarding ceremony for the province’s top taxpayers. “We assure you that not a single centavo of your money is wasted,” he said at the gathering.
According to Banias, the province’s current budget stands at ₱5 billion, with 90 percent (₱4.5 billion) coming from the National Tax Allotment and 10 percent (₱500 million) from local taxes, specifically the Real Property Tax.
He also highlighted the province’s commitment to addressing the social concerns of its residents.
Among the significant projects funded by one percent of the collected taxes is the Special Education Fund (SEF), which aims to improve and support public education.
Part of the SEF budget is allocated to reading literacy programs, with the goal of ensuring that 80 percent of the province’s Grade 3 learners can read proficiently.
Jean Marie Umadhay, the chief of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, underscored the importance of recognizing the top taxpayers for their contributions.
According to a report from her office, the province achieved a record-breaking collection of ₱1,327,426,617.83 in Real Property Tax in 2023, surpassing the Bureau of Local Government Finance’s target of ₱938,171,601 and achieving a collection efficiency of 141.49 percent.
This 2023 collection is higher compared to ₱1.302 billion in 2022. Additionally, the collection rate for district hospitals in Iloilo increased by 143 percent, with actual collections reaching ₱5.3 million against a target of ₱3.1 million.
The Provincial Treasurer’s Office awarded several categories, including the Top 20 Real Property Tax Payers (Individual Category) for CY 2023, Top 20 Real Property Tax Payers (Corporate Category) for CY 2023, Top 3 Taxpayers of Annual Fixed Tax on Delivery Trucks and Vans for CY 2023, and Top 3 Taxpayers of Amusement Tax for CY 2023.