The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Puerto Princesa City has approved an ordinance granting a 10% discount on real property tax payments, alongside adjustments to business tax deadlines aimed at easing financial pressure on taxpayers.
Councilor Modesto Rodriguez II, author of the measure, said the relief was designed to help residents amid rising costs.
“Sa panahon ng crisis ngayon kung mapapansin nyo, namimigay tayo, ang gobyerno ng ayuda sa mga poorest of the poor, okay naman yun. Pero ang clamor din ng mga kababayan natin na taxpayer ay ano naman yung suporta o tulong na maibibigay natin sa kanila dahil sa panahon ngayon, lahat apektado,” Rodriguez said.
He said the 10% discount was based on a recommendation from the City Treasurer’s Office.
“So yun, in the form of an ordinance, of tax relief, yun yung suporta o tulong na maibibigay natin sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Rodriguez linked the measure to the state of national energy emergency declared through Executive Order No. 110 by Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
“Ang effectivity ng ordinance na ito ay hangga’t hindi nili-lift ng pamahalaang nasyunal yung national emergency crisis,” he said.
Under the ordinance, taxpayers must settle all previous delinquent accounts before they can avail themselves of the discount.
“Kailangan i-fully pay nila yung mga kakulangan nila,” Rodriguez said.
Meanwhile, the proposed discount on business taxes was set aside after consultations with stakeholders, who instead pushed for extended payment deadlines.
“Yung sa business tax, what we did was we kept it on file kasi nung public hearing namin, sabi nila mas malaking tulong daw itong instead ng business tax ay i-extend na lang yung deadline ng payment ng tax ng second quarter at saka third quarter,” Rodriguez said.
He added that businesses were concerned about penalties for late payments.
“Kasi nga naman pag na-late sila doon, 25% na. So mas malaki yung penalty nila. Kaya sabi nila mas hiningi nila na yun na lang,” he said.
Under the adjustment, the second quarter business tax deadline was moved from April 30 to May 31, while the third quarter deadline was moved from July to August.
