ANGELES CITY – Angeles City Government posted a budget surplus of P192,961,702.95, as a result of Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr.’s implementation of sound fiscal management and drive to intensify collection of business and Real Property Tax (RPT).
This is the first time in 13 years the City Government realized a budget surplus.
Genoveva Dizon, City Accountant, said the budget surplus is composed of P146,171,415.07 in the General Fund; P21,235,966.30 in the Appropriation and Utilization of the 20% of the Annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for Development Projects; and P25,554,321.58 share from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Mayor Lazatin said the budget surplus will be allocated for Supplemental Budget No 1 for his health programs, such as the improvement of Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC), also known as Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA), as he eyes to transform Angeles City as the ‘most caring City’ under his watch.
He added that part of the surplus will be allocated to the improvement of schools in the City; strengthening of anti-drug related programs, peace and order efforts; infrastructure development; and social projects – livelihood programs for farmers, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and solo parents, social pension for elderly and solo parents, as well as feeding programs for undernourished children and day care centers.
“I appeal to all of you to help and trust my administration. For I vow that I will lead this city to progress, where the marginalized, the middle class and rich can build a better future together,” he said.
Meanwhile, City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat said the City’s total revenue increase by 10.86%, from P2,067,684,939.68 in 2018 to P2,292,170,100.52 in 2019.
As a result of Mayor Lazatin’s move to monitor all the business establishments in the City through the continuous inspection of Business Permit and Licensing Division (BPLD), his administration’s business tax collections reached P243,015,041.80 for the month of July to December 2019, while P167,656,687.36 was collected in the same period in 2018, with a 44.95% increase. This has been possible although the Mayor promised he will not impose an increase for business taxes.
“This is part of our aim to provide a responsive government for all the sectors of society. We are happy that such increase in collections was recorded despite our pronouncement that my administration will not increase taxes,” he added.
Furthermore, for tax revenue, the City collection rose 17.94% to P1,000,977,091.66 in 2019, while P848,751,800.68 in 2018. For the RPT alone, a 5.66% increase was recorded from the P226,093,630.47 collection in 2019 versus P213,988,131.89 for the same period in 2018.
The Mayor also reiterated the City in his administration will remain business-friendly.
According to him, his leadership will merely motivate the City Hall employees to do their mandate and help infuse the needed resources to the City’s coffers.
It can be recalled last December 2019, the Mayor sought the approval of the City Council, led by Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, for the approval of Supplemental Budget No. 5, or the releasing of P9.1 million for the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) of some 1,308 permanent, casual, and contractual employees amounting to P7,000 each. Apart from this, they also received their P3,000 Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) bonus.