[ Manila Bulletin Online ] December 1, 2008
CoA records show Bulacan collected P1.8 B in 2007
MALOLOS CITY — For the second consecutive year, Bulacan was the top income earner among the 79 provinces of the country in 2007.
Records of the Commission on Audit (CoA) show that Bulacan collected P1.807 billion in gross income in 2007.
Bulacan was followed by Negros Occidental which collected total revenue of P1.674 billion, and Cebu which had P1.657 billion.
In 2006, Bulacan was also the top earner with P1.7-billion gross income.
The province had maintained its good record in tax collections every year. It garnered third place in 2003, and second place in 2004 and 2005. The province was then headed by Governor Josie Mendoza dela Cruz. Provincial Treasurer Belinda B. Bartolome said the vigorous implementation of the various programs initiated by the provincial government for efficient tax collections had made Bulacan the No.1 province in gross income. Since 2003, Bartolome said, the Provincial Treasurer and Assessor’s Office (PATO) has established a Real Property Assessment and Tax Payment Assistance Centers at strategic areas in the barangays. This makes it convenient for taxpayers to pay their obligations. She said that more field workers were assigned to conduct tax-mapping activities together with "tax balitaan."
This is intended to monitor developments in tax declarations of real properties and help the homeowners understand the scheme and facilitate payment of correct taxes. Bartolome said that the continuous updating of data, particularly reclassification of lands according to use, resulted in additional income for the province.
Incumbent Gov. Joselito "JonJon" Mendoza expressed hope that Bulacan will be able to maintain its distinction as one of the local government units that do not depend much on internal revenue allotment (IRA) as its source of income.
