Friday, May 8, 2009 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Merlinda A. Pedrosa
THE City Council decided to repeal City Ordinance 474-2008, the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod, barely four months after it took effect on January 1.
In its regular session at the New Government Center, the Council dispensed with the first, second, third, and final readings and approved the ordinance authored by Councilors Dindo Ramos, Alex Paglumotan, and Celia Flor to rescind the measure that the council approved on December 10, 2008.
The trio said the ordinance's implementation created numerous complaints from the business sector and the general public. Salient provision of the ordinance was the 10 percent increase in business taxes.
They added the measure was approved when the global economic crisis was not expected to greatly affect the operations of business enterprises in Bacolod.
"Considering the effect of the economic crisis on taxpayers and business establishments, they find it difficult to meet the increase in taxes imposed by (the ordinance). The general welfare is the primary and utmost concern of the City Government of Bacolod."
The city earlier suspended the implementation of the 10 percent business tax hike following complaints from businessmen. Tenants and concessionaires of SM City Bacolod also filed a case before the Department of Justice (DoJ) questioning the ordinance.
It was reported earlier that DOJ already allegedly ruled in favor of the complainants, although the city said it has yet to receive an official copy of the decision.
Paglumotan said after the City Council repealed the Revised Revenue Code, they will have a caucus with Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the city treasurer to re-craft a code that is relevant to the present situation in the city.
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