GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/03 November) — The city government is optimistic in meeting its target collection for real property taxes this year.
Rodilon Lacap, acting head of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), said Friday they have sustained their intensified tax campaigns in the city’s 26 barangays to remind property owners of their obligations.
He said they are presently targeting to surpass by yearend its total realty tax collection last year that reached P238.56 million.
The city posted a collection efficiency of 117.01 percent in 2016 based on its target collection of P203.87 million, he said.
A mall in General Santos City. The local government aims to attain a higher real property tax collection this year.
MindaNews file photo by BONG SARMIENTO
Last month, the Department of Finance’s Bureau of Local Government Finance recognized the city government as the top performer among first class cities in Region 12 in terms of real property tax collection.
Real property tax is one of the main sources of revenues of local government units.
Seventy percent of it forms part of the city’s revenue and eventually goes to the general fund, which is allotted for various priority projects and programs.
The remaining 30 percent goes back to the barangays as their share.
The city government has been conducting annual public auction of delinquent real properties in a bid to recover their unpaid taxes.
Maritess Sevilla, CTO’s local treasury operations officer, said they have also linked up with barangay councils, through their treasurers, to help improve their real property tax collections.
She said they have enhanced the rollout of the Barangay Incentive Program, which rewards barangays that have met their tax collection targets.
“We’ve been conducting barangay tax campaigns since March in all barangays,” Sevilla said.
Lacap attributed their efficient collection to the increased awareness among residents or property owners regarding their tax obligations.
“More people are aware of their responsibility and obligation to pay taxes and have manifested concern to their properties,” he said.
He assured that the local government utilizes all collected taxes in the implementation of priority programs and services for the people. (MindaNews)
