Guico Admin. Spikes on TRC Considered the Sad Plight of People – Solon

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The proposed amended tax revenue code (TRC) that will fund projects of the administration of Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico, III considers the economic plight of the people as they lock horns with economic hardship from the pandemic and other financial scourges.

“Actually may pagtaas na iyon pinagaralan din naming mabuti iyan na hindi rin makaka-apekto sa mga negosyante sa mga tao,” according to Board Member Vici M. Ventanilla.

Photo is internet grabbed.

He cited however the necessity to pass it due to the reduction this year of the national tax allotment (NAT) that saw the provincial government lost P700, 000, 000 from its P6 billion 2022 budget to the present budget of P5.3 billion.

One of the reasons why the amendment this year is being pursued because the last revision and implementation of the Code was in 2012.

There were limitations of the schedules of taxes on real properties like an increase of up to five percent when they hammered the law according to the solon from San Carlos City.

“May limitiation din kasi iyan gaya ng mga taxes five percent,” he told Northern Watch Newspaper.

The new TRC will fund more projects under the Guico Administration.

When former Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and the Sanggunian Panlalawigan approved the TRC in year 2011, it was met by aggressive opposition from Pangasinenses led by Abono Partylist Chairman Rosendo So who protested on its prohibitive increases.

Its implementation was delayed up to 2012 because of the uproar by the protesters.

As mandated by the Local Government Code (RA 7160), general revision of local government unit (LGU) tax codes should be made every after three years.

During the time of Governor Espino, public hearings saw real estate developers, real estate brokers, real properties organizations and Bureau of Internal Revenue officials were asked to present the zonal valuation of properties in the different cities and municipalities throughout Pangasinan. After the public hearings and additional review, the SP enacted a provincial ordinance that approved the Proposed Schedule of Market Values.

Under the RPT scheme, municipalities receive the biggest share of 40%, while the 35% goes to the province, and 25% to the barangay. In the case of cities, the province has no share and taxes are shared only by the city with 75% share and the barangay with 25%.