Ease of paying taxes has allowed the city to hit its PHP2.6-billion collection goal for 2024, a city executive reported Wednesday.

The city’s collection last year also exceeded the PHP2.3 billion in 2023, said Fernando Ragma, assistant treasurer, during the “Ugnayan” program facilitated by the Public Information Office (PIO).

Bulk of the revenues, at PHP1.2 billion, is from national tax allocation, which is more than 50 percent of the total.

Other collection came from local taxes at PHP573.7 million; fees and charges, PHP374.4 million; real property tax, PHP137.4 million; and miscellaneous fees like entrance fees to park and parking fees, PHP72.7 million, among others.

Around PHP70 million of the miscellaneous fees was generated from the entrance fees of Botanical Garden, where tourists are charged PHP100 while locals at PHP50.

Fees from disposal of assets reached PHP31.5 million.

“The city government is doing different efforts to make tax payments easy and accessible,” Ragma said.

Ragma said tax payers may also pay through online mode as well as bank transfer.

“Mas madali na po ang pagbabayad at pagpa-process kaya na e-engganyo ang taxpayers (Payment and processing have become easier which encourages the taxpayers),” he said.

The local government also opened two more business one stop shops (BOSS) at the main Health Center in T. Alonzo barangay and at the center mall.

These are on top of the ones at the city hall and at the SM mall.

Tax payers also enjoy the discount for early payments on real property tax as well as amnesty for delinquent tax payers.

“We have one case where the property tax was delinquent and the owner had it assessed. It was PHP11 million but with the amnesty that allowed the removal of penalties, interests and surcharges, the tax dropped to PHP6 million,” he added.

For this year, the city government’s budget is PHP3 billion and Ragma is optimistic of breaching this again. (PNA)