Real property tax collections in Pampanga are expected to increase from the present P278 million collectibles per annum to P400 million or even up to P500 million once the tax mapping project is fully completed in the province.
This was the projected estimates of Provincial Assessor Engr. Romeo M. Dizon who oversees the on-going conduct of tax mapping in Pampanga.
Dizon explained that the tax mapping aims to “identify, purge and straighten out all existing records of real properties within the territorial jurisdiction of the province”.
The tax mapping, according to him, would enable the provincial government to increase its local resources as this would mean more real property tax collections from land, buildings and machineries throughout the province.
“Maraming mga real properties ang hindi binabayaran ng kaukulang tax dahil hindi nakalagay sa tax declaration ang kanilang actual use,” he stated.
Dizon said that properly trained tax mappers go out to various municipalities to assess and appraise real properties based on their actual use.
“Sinusuyod lahat ang mga real properties sa barangay so the owners would pay the corresponding tax based on the actual use of the land, building or machinery. We aim to straighten out our existing records and ensure that the actual uses of the properties are properly reflected in the tax declaration. ”
Governor Lilia G. Pineda earlier ordered the completion of the tax mapping project particularly in first class municipalities of the province by the end of June.
Dizon related that the governor recently called the barangay and municipal officials of the target priority areas for a meeting in barangay San Pablo 2nd in Lubao to impress upon them the benefits and advantages of the immediate completion of the tax mapping project.
Pineda, according to Dizon, got the commitment of local officials to provide the necessary support and assistance to the tax mappers and ensure the immediate completion of the necessary field work.
Along with the provincial board members, the governor explained to the local officials the value of assessing real properties as this would determine potential income and collectible revenues for the province, municipalities and barangays.
The first class municipalities of Apalit, Arayat, Candaba,Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Macabebe,Magalang, Mabalacat and Mexico are the priority areas in the said project.
Initially, around 200 tax mappers were hired and trained to conduct the field work but at present only 142 remain. Thus, Dizon said he plans to further augment the work force and hire and train additional 50 workers to speed-up the process.
Once the fieldwork is completed in June, immediate computerization of inputs will follow.
“The governor is optimistic that someday, our province will reach the point wherein we would be self-sufficient in terms of local revenues and would not entirely depend from the national government for funding.”
Dizon said that with the completion of tax mapping and the subsequent increase in tax collection, more development programs and services will be implemented for the benefit of the general public.
“We all know that taxes are the backbone of the government’s financial stability and an increased tax collection would mean strengthened capability for public services.”
He added that once the computerized system is in place, concerned authorities would be able to properly monitor any unauthorized changes or alterations made on the tax declaration of real properties.
“We could also link up and exchange information on real property tax with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) to solve the problems on delinquent tax payers and tax evaders.”
Governor Pineda wants this project to be her one of her legacies in the province as the computerization of real property tax records would minimize, and eventually eradicate corruption, Dizon ended. (Pampanga PIO)
