CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The provincial government of Pampanga has collected P35,720,000 from the quarry industry for the month of June alone.
Records from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) showed that the June collection is higher compared to the P29,620,000 collection on the same month last year.
According to PG-ENRO Chief Arthur Punsalan, the collection for the month of June this year is the highest monthly collection in the history of the quarry industry.
Based on Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance, the provincial government is entitled to collect P400 per truckload; P150 of which goes to sand tax and the other P250 will be charged as administrative fee.
Since 2010 until June 2016, the provincial government has recorded 4,489,662.5 truckloads for six years since. With these, it has collected a total of P1,795,865,000 and this is divided into an administrative fee of P1,122,415,625 and P673,449,375 sand tax.
According to PG-ENRO Chief Arthur Punsalan, 40 percent of P673,449,375 sand tax are given to the barangay, 30 percent to the municipality and the remaining 30 percent goes to the provincial government.
The revenues came from the aggregated sum of the quarry collection-P1,795,865,000 plus derivatives such as weighing scale fees-P107,739,000; accreditation of motor vehicles-31,887,445; and quarry fees from sand and gravel permits-4,914,628.79.
Since Gov. Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda assumed her post as governor of Pampanga in 2010, the provincial government has collected a total of P1,940,406,073.79 in the quarry industry.
Punsalan added that the provincial government will continue to pursue transparent and effective collection as the funds collected are being used for its programs on health, education, and infrastructure among others.