[ Manila Bulletin Online ] June 15, 2008
By FERDINAND F. CASTRO
Mayor Nazareno airs hope that revenue trend will continue
SANTA ROSA CITY, Laguna – This city has breached the P1-billion mark in terms of income.
The city treasury reported a gross revenue of P1,0666,672,325.15 for the fiscal year 2007. Of the total revenue, P933,743,599.70 is allocated for the general fund, and P132,928,725.45 is earmarked for the Special Education Fund.
The 2007 income represented a modest 6.89 percent increase from the R997,875,637.01 total income generated in 2006.
The increase is almost double the income of R625,180,794.88 the local government unit generated in 2004, the year that Santa Rosa was converted into a city.
The city treasury said 42 percent or R446,373,449.37 of the total revenue represented the collection of business license tax and permit fees.
Among the top business taxpayers in 2007 were Toyota Motor Phils. Corp., Honda Cars Phils. Inc., Ford Group Phils., Panasonic Industrial Asia PTE Ltd., Phil. Branch, Monde Nissin Corp., Nissan Motor Phils., Metro Manila Shopping Mecca Corp., Supervalue Inc., San Miguel Foods Inc., and SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
Real property tax collection, meanwhile, totaled R272,477,117.74 or 26 percent of the total annual revenue.
The top realty taxpayers were CocaCola Bottlers Phils. Inc., Pilipinas Nissan Inc., Toyota Motor Phils, Inc., Monde Nissin Corp., Aichi Forging Co. of Asia Inc., SM Prime Holdings Inc., Honda Cars Phils. Inc., Amtrust Holdings Inc., Panasonic Manufacturing Phil. Corp., and Greenfield Development Corp.
The remaining income came from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) which amounted to R248,893,123.00 (23 percent) and other sources which totaled P98,928,635.04 (9 percent).
City Treasurer Laura Sy attributed the revenue increase to the diligence of the City Business and Licensing Office (BPLO) and the City Assessor’s Office.
She also cited the cooperation of the various companies and real property owners in paying the tax to the city government.
Mayor Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno, meanwhile, said she is optimistic that the steady increase in the city’s revenue would be a continuing trend.
She said that with the implementation of the Local Government Finance and Development Project, revenue collection will be more efficient, and this will result in better social services and infrastructure facilities for the city’s 266,943 residents.
Santa Rosa City is the fastest rising investment center in South Luzon with three large-scale PEZA accredited economic zones located in the city.
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