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Friday, March 29, 2024

Marawi city hikes tax haul by 220%

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MARAWI City in Lanao del Sur is able to increase its tax collection by 220 percent from P2.107 million in 2016 to P6.734 million in 2016, according to the Commission on Audit.

The agency, however, said the city government deducted withholding taxes on compensation and fees from suppliers which had been remitted in full to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Similar observations were recorded for the collections of city personnel contributions to the Government Service Insurance System, Pag-IBIG’s Home Development Mutual Fund and Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

The CoA credited the positive findings on Marawi City to the policy reforms initiated by Mayor Majul Gandamra, who assumed office on July 1, 2016.

“The new administration of the city government of Marawi is consistently deducting/withholding and remitting to the GSIS, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth the premiums, contributions and other amounts due to these agencies in compliance with respective rules and regulations,” the report read.

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Before Gandamra’s assumption as mayor, CoA noted non-remitted contributions and collections from city government employees ballooned to P92.509 million as of June 30, 2016.

A breakdown of the city’s delinquencies showed non-remitted taxes to BIR stood at P47.494 million, GSIS at P38.26 million, Pag-IBIG at P3.704 million and PhilHealth at P3.05 million.

“The delayed remittance of the monthly premium contributions …may result to unnecessary penalties, surcharges, and interests. Furthermore, the members/employees were deprived of the benefits and privileges due them,” the agency warned.

An audit observation memorandum was issued to the former city officials to settle all mandatory obligations and submit a written justification for the delay of payment.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways said it will immediately start the reconstruction of damaged infrastructures at the “ground zero” of Marawi City.

“Our teams are ready to work with the assessment to have it completed as soon as possible,” DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines already gave clearance to proceed for construction of damage and loss assessment at the remaining 10 cluster areas comprising 47 barangays within the main battle area.

Villar, along with Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, Undersecretary Karen Olivia V. Jimeno and Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra entered some buildings at the main battle zone that was left in ruins by five months of fighting between soldiers and Islamic militants.

As head of the Sub-Committee on Reconstruction of the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), DPWH spearheads the immediate repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction of national roads and bridges, public schools, and government buildings.

The team is composed of the AFP, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Energy, Department of Information Communications Technology, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and Office of Civil Defense.

A total of 49 barangays under clusters 1 to 10 were covered by first batch of damage and loss assessment conducted by all concerned agencies from October 15 to October 28 which will be the basis in coming up with immediate short term plans pending the crafting and approval of the Marawi Comprehensive Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan.

Villar said that both the local and national government are continuously working together in creating a strategic masterplan with long-term and holistic plans and initiatives.

 

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