SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- The municipality of San Jose collected  P183,286,457.77 in local revenue taxes and fees in 2023, which is  7.57 percent higher than the previous year’s collection.

Filipinas N. Castillo, local treasury operations officer, attributed the increase to the growing number of businesses and compliance from business owners.

“By the fact na tumaas [ang collection natin], ibig sabihin tumaas ang bilang ng compliance. Mayroon [din] kaming increase na 180 [business] establishments [this year].

[“By the fact that [our collection] has increased, it means that the number of compliance has increased. We [also] have an increase of 180 [business] establishments [this year],” said Castillo.

This development, Castillo explained, is a result of the local government’s revenue generation program. Under the program, the local government spearheaded by the Municipal Treasury Office (MTO), performs thorough tax mapping to identify delinquencies.

“Right after January, nagkakaroon kami ng tax mapping. Naglilibot [ang aming team] sa mga business establishment for the purpose of discovery, kasi yung iba doon mo lang makikita na [may mga] business pala na hindi registered at ‘yong iba naman hindi nakapag renew [ng kanilang permit],”

["Right after January, we conduct tax mapping. Our team visits business establishments to discover businesses that are unregistered or have unrenewed permits,”] she shared.

The MTO also examines books or business ledgers starting in 2022 which contributed to the increase of local collection.

“Yung nakikita naming mga malalaking business establishments na kaduda-duda [at] hindi nagddedeclare ng tamang income ay binubuksan ang books. Mayroong team ng examination of books, [pinapadalahan ng liham ang business owner] at pupuntahan sila [para] tingnan ‘yong books,”

[“We examine the ledgers of big business establishments that are suspiciously declaring incorrect income. We have a team who sends a communication letter to the business owner and visits them to perform the inspection,”] Castillo highlighted.

With the MTO’s partner agencies such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, PAGIBIG, PhilHealth, Social Security System, and the Department of Labor and Employment, their team performs a joint inspection to remind the public of their obligations.

“Pag dumadalaw kami sa mga business establishment, gina-guide talaga namin sila. Hindi lang naman tayo after sa pangongolekta sa kanila. Ang sinasabi namin, dapat kapag nagnenegosyo ay laging legit ang business. Mas magandang nagnenegosyo ka ng legal

["When we visit business establishments, we make sure to guide them. We are not after the collection. We remind them that a business should always be legitimate and legal,”] Castillo emphasized.

The LGU’s local revenue comes from business tax, fees and charges, and real property tax. These collections are being used to fund the local government’s projects and programs for the welfare of the public.

“Ang collection natin ng local revenues particularly ay bumabalik sa taong bayan sa pamamagitan ng mga proyekto natin…we have financial assistance, burial benefit, mayroon tayong mga birthday gift para sa mga senior citizen, scholarships [at iba pa]. Bumabalik din sa taong bayan kung ano ang ibininabayad [ng mga tax payer],” 

[“The collection from the local revenues is given back to the public through government projects. There is financial assistance such as burial benefits, birthday gifts for senior citizens, and scholarships. The tax that the taxpayers give returns to them,”] the treasury officer underscored.

The renewal period for business owners in the municipality started on January 2 until January 20, 2024. Castillo urges all business owners to register before the deadline to avoid surcharges and penalties. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)