The City Council passed the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod City on third and final reading during its session Friday.
Councilor Al Victor A. Espino, chairman of the council’s committee ona appropriations and finance and committee on ways and means, authored the ordinance. He said the ordinance was supported by eight councilors, namely Councilors Homer Bais, Caesar Distrito, Dindo Ramos, Carl Lopez, Mona Dia Jardin, Bobby Rojas and Em Ang. Councilors Catalino Alisbo, Elmer Sy and Sonya Verdeflor voted against the ordinance, while Councilor Archie Baribar was out of the session hall when they divided the house. Councilor El Cid Familiaran, acting presiding officer, first ruled the ordinance as a lost ordinance when he cited a provision in the Local Government Code that its passage needs a 2/3 vote. However, Bais and Distrito contested this ruling, saying that it only needs a majority vote and that out of the 14 members of council, the vote of eight is already considered a majority vote. There was a heated exchange, especially between Familiaran and Bais, but in the end, the ordinance was considered approved. Bais said a majority vote prevails because this is what the law provides. He also assured the business sector that this ordinance is not going to hurt them financially. He cited that there are fees and taxes in other cities like Cadiz, San Carlos and Talisay, which are higher than those in Bacolod. He said the updating of the rates is within the allowable level. “We have not maximized what was allowed under the law. Our rates were even leveled to a municipality and not as a highly urbanized city,” Bais pointed out. Under the law, the local government is mandated to update its revenue code every five years. It took Bacolod 18 years to update this code, he said. Espino said he was grateful that the ordinance was finally passed, as this will bridge the gap on the shortfall on the city’s internal revenue allotment. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod
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The Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod City was passed on third and final reading yesterday by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod after a heated exchange between the acting presiding officer and the floor leader.
Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who acted as presiding officer, ruled the ordinance as a “lost ordinance”, citing a provision of the Local Government Code that its passage needs two-third votes. However, Councilors Homer Bais, Dindo Ramos and the other SP members, who voted in favor of the Ordinance, contested the ruling, saying that it only needs a majority vote. Out of the 14 members of council, the vote of eight is already considered a majority vote, Bais said. Those who voted in favor of the ordinance were Councilor Caesar Distrito, Bais, Ramos, Carlos Jose Lopez, Mona Dia Jardin, Roberto Rojas, Em Ang and Al Victor Espino, while those who voted against it were Councilors Catalin Alisbo, Elmer Sy and Sonya Verdeflor. Councilor Archie Baribar had left the session hall earlier to catch a flight to Manila when the City Council decided to divide the House. Despite the heated exchange between Familiaran and Bais, in the end, the ordinance was considered approved. Familiaran said he declared the measure as “lost” because they did not only pass the Revised Revenue Code, but also the tax exemptions. “Based on the Local Government Code, if you grant an exemption that will require two-thirds votes,” he said. Familiaran said that, as presiding officer, he had to give a ruling. If they want to approve the Ordinance, they should have asked first the opinion of the Department of Interior and Local Government as to the number of votes required, he said. Bais said a majority vote prevails because this is what the law requires. He also assured the business sector that the Ordinance is not going to hurt them financially because other cities like Cadiz, San Carlos and Talisay are charging fees and taxes that are even higher compared to those of Bacolod City. The updating of the rates is within the allowable level since they have not maximized what was allowed under the law, he said. “Our rates were even leveled to that of a municipality, and not as a highly urbanized city”, he added. Bais said that, under the law, the local government is mandated to update its revenue code every five years, but it took the City of Bacolod 18 years to update its Code. Espino, chairman of the SP Committee on Environment and Ecology and author of the Ordinance, said he is grateful that the Ordinance was finally passed as this will bridge the gap in the shortfall of the city’s Internal Revenue Allotment. They have already listened to the cross section of the business sector, he said, adding that the level of the tax rates provided in the Ordinance is only 71 percent of one percent, which adopts the rates of a municipality and not of highly urbanized cities. Espino said he had expected that this will be met with opposition but the city has to act, considering the financial challenges it will be facing next year with the shortfall in the IRA that is going to hit hard the city’s coffers. Earlier, he also said they need to enact the Ordinance for effectivity on January 1, 2011.*CGS CARLA GOMEZ Visayan Daily Star The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City passed the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod City on second reading during its special session yesterday.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the SP Committee on Appropriations and Finance and Committee on Ways and Means, said they intend to pass the measure, which he authored, in their regular session on its third and final reading today. “I believe we will have this enacted for effectivity on January 1, 2012,” he said. Espino said that before the approval of the ordinance, the request and suggestions given by the stakeholders, particularly SM City Bacolod, were incorporated in the ordinance, and the requests for tax exemptions were also evaluated and included, while the tax on idle lands was removed upon the request of CREBA and, instead, the municipal rate was adopted in the imposition of the real property taxes that is based on the Local Government Code. He said “The proposed ordinance had been in the pipeline since 2010 and we have conducted at least eight public hearings together with the stakeholders who will be affected by the ordinance.” And just this week, they conducted two special sessions to debate and deliberate on the ordinance, he added. Espino said “We have allotted enough time to evaluate and discuss the requests of the stakeholders in the position papers that they have submitted and we came up with solutions and included their requests in the ordinance.” The ordinance was supported by Councilors Homer Bais, Em Legaspi Ang, Roberto Rojas, Dindo Ramos, Caesar Distrito, Mona Dia Jardin and Carl Lopez, while Councilors Archie Baribar, Sonya Verdeflor, Catalino Alisbo and Elmer Sy voted against the ordinance. Espino said Councilor Keith Ramos had to leave early because he had an entrance examination to take. When asked for his opinion, acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who presided over the special session, said he is not against the increase in taxes as long as it does not exceed 10 percent. Familiaran said a tax increase should be the last recourse. If the city’s income has decreased, there are many measures it can take, he said. The city can implement cost-cutting measures by doing away with unnecessary expenses, and by generating funds from the Vendor’s Plaza and Annex building at the Libertad Market by having them leased to interested businessmen, Familiaran said It can also have the vacant offices at City Hall leased to national agencies, he said. Familiaran cited for example that Valenzuela City, an industrial and residential suburb in Metro Manila which has the same population as Bacolod, had no tax increase for five years, yet its annual budget increased from P900 million to P2.1 billion due to its collection efficiency. Bacolod, on the other hand, had no tax increase for 18 years.*CGS Dapat na gid karon nga padasigon sang Bids and Awards Committee ukon BAC ang pagbakal sang anum ka mga patrol cars para sa operasyon sang Bacolod City Police Office ukon BCPO.
Suno kay Councilor El Cid Familiaran, Chair sang Committee on Security and Police Matters, nga halos malapit na sa isa ka tuig ang request sang kapulisan sa pagbakal sang salakyan apang tubtub karon wala pa ini matigayon. Personal nga gin-follow-up ni Familiaran sa BAC ang pending request kag iya natukiban nga may “change order” sa pagbakal tungod ang gusto sang syudad nga dekalidad ang pagabaklon nga mapuslan nga operasyon. Gin-ako ni Familiaran nga apektado na ang mobilisasyon sang kapulisan tungod ini pa nga mga patrol cars ang ila ginahulat. Base sa ginhimo nga Invitation to Bid sang Bids and Awards Committee, and presyo sang mga patrol cars and nagalab-ot sa 3.5 milyones pesos. Madumduman nga sang bulan sang Febrero, nagsulod ang request for new patrol cars apang liwat naman nga nagdihon sang Invitation to Bid ang BAC. Sa pihak nga bahin, naga-apelar si Familiaran sa tanan nga mga Mall Management sang syudad nga magdihon sang Security Plan tungod manug-abot na ang bulan sang Disyembre. Gintumod ni Familiaran and mga security agencies nga naga-deploy sang mga security personnel sa tagsa ka mga mall. Ini agud nga malikawan ang pagluntad sang mga kinawatay sa mga shoppers nga magadagsa naman sa mga Mall kag iban pa nga mga Department Stores. Sang damlag pa, nagpatigayon sang inspection ang Firearms, Explosives, Security Agencies and Guard Section ukon FESAGS sa tanan nga mga mall kag may nakita ini nga bayolasyon. Ginkonfirmar ni Familiaran nga sa ginhimo nga inspection, isa diri nga naka-komiter sang bayolasyon kag ginpa-idalum ini sa “reprimand”. Naga-apelar man si Familiaran nga pasangkaron ang “police visibility” sa maabot nga Christmas Season. Magic Eye Brigada News BACOLOD City Councilor El Cid Familiaran said Tuesday he is expecting there will be a possible downgrading of casual plantilla to job order status with the reduction of the city's 2012 budget by P75 million.
He said, during the budget hearing, it was presented that there will be a reduction of the budget for wages of casual employees by P40 million and an increase of budget for job order employees for P24 million. The city will be facing a rough sailing in its budget next year due to the reduction of its internal revenue allotment which is apparently aggravated by the conversion of 16 new cities. He said the city needs to set its priorities and should start observing "cost cutting" or austerity measures next year in order to cope with its basic needs. "We need to cut the unnecessary expenses of the city and focus on the important and vital services," he said. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Member El Cid Familiaran recently passed a resolution requesting the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Bacolod Director Eliseo Orendez, in coordination with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to consider conducting training for first aid on emergency and disaster response for barangay tanods and barangay health workers in the city.
The health condition of our people in the barangays and the emergency situation, including the constant threat of disaster to communities and barangays call for not just an innovative, but creative and pro-active response from the appropriate offices in the city., Familiaran said. He added that as frontline service is provided by the barangays, barangay tanods and barangay health workers, more often than not, were found to be inadequate in quickly responding during emergency calls and during possible danger that may be brought by disaster or calamities. Said resolution also provides that training for barangay tanods and barangay health workers such as cardio-pulmonary or unconscious victims, bandage wrapping and injuries, and spine board, handling in possible patients during a simulation, drill on vehicular incident are considered very useful in times of emergency situation. Familiaran also expressed that equipping them on disaster management and or flooding and water rescue skills training for coastal barangay tanods are likewise of useful importance for an effective and efficient response also on emergency situation. Magic Eye Brigada News BACOLOD City Councilor El Cid Familiaran filed a resolution requesting Bacolod Interior and Local Government director Eliseo Orendez, in coordination with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, to conduct first-aid training on emergency and disaster response for barangay tanods and barangay health workers in Bacolod City.
The resolution said the health condition of the people in the barangays and emergency situations, including the constant threat of disaster to communities and barangays, call for a creative and proactive response from the appropriate offices in the city. As frontline service providers of the barangays, barangay tanods and health workers are sometimes found ill-equipped in quickly responding during emergency calls and on possible danger that may be brought by disaster or calamities, it said. The resolution said trainings for barangay tanods and health workers like cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on unconscious victims, bandaging on wounds and injuries, and handling of possible patients during simulation drill involving vehicular incident are considered very useful in times of emergency situations. Equipping them with training skills on disaster management and/or flooding and water rescue are likewise important for an effective and efficient response during emergency situations, it added. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City will hold special sessions starting tomorrow to discuss the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod City, Acting Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said yesterday.
Familiaran said they have scheduled the special sessions on Tuesday and Thursday but since the Department of Interior and Local Government has requested them to move their regular session from Wednesday to Friday, they may also have a special session on Wednesday for the Revised Revenue Code. He said some members of Council want some clarification on certain issues regarding the Local Revenue Code so this can be discussed during the special sessions. Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonradia, had appealed to the SP, during his State of the City Address, for the early passage of the Revised Revenue Code and said that it is essential for the Code to take effect by January 1, 2012 because it will have a definite bearing on the city’s revenue collection for the next budget year. Leonardia also appealed to the business community and the general public to accept the revision of the Local Revenue Code in the light of realities that it is long overdue. The Code was last amended in 1993, or 18 years ago, he added. Leonardia said other cities of similar stature as Bacolod had amended their Revenue Code three or more times in the last 18 years while Bacolod has never done so. “We need more resources now to provide for the growing needs of our fast growing city,” he said. The amendment of the Local Revenue Code has become even more imperative today in the light of the “double whammy” that is sure to hit Bacolod and all other cities because of the creation of 16 new cities and the reduction of the national revenue collection three years ago which is the basis of the city’s Internal Revenue Allotment, Leonardia said. CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star We the People are to be Blamed!
From the very start of the State of the City Address of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, one could see a pattern clearly unfolding that in many ways, he was trying really hard to imitate what President Aquino tried to do during his State of the Nation Address last June, 2011. Mayor Leonardia was speaking over the heads of his audience and did a poor job in imitating President Aquino. While discussing his imagined successes, he would pause for a moment and introduce distinguished personalities in the audience. What came to our mind right away was that he was probably beclouding his claims of accomplishment, he would distract his audience with his side comments. He discussed the successes of the call centers and other I.T. programs, when in truth and in fact - the credit should have been given to former City Councilor Atty. Jocelle Batapa. It is a matter of record that he was even absent when the first call center in Bacolod City was opened! Atty. Batapa, if he had been honest enough, should have been extolled to the high heavens for the monumental success of the call centers in Bacolod City. One of the more important items which he failed to present to the people of this city was what he had done and intends to do until the end of his term was how he would deal with the horrendous garbage problems which have been the main cause of flooding in many areas in the city. Also, the deplorable state of our "corrugated city streets." More so, on the problems of the Persons with Disabilities and how to fund projects for this sector which has made very obvious the fact that the city coffers must be empty. This has been evidenced by the lack of any office for the sector which is mandated in a national law! He should inform the people and be transparent enough to explain why ONE HALF OF ONE PERCENT OF THE BILLION PESO BUDGET has yet to be allocated for this sector. Where are the funds? Could Mayor Leonardia or even Councilor Em L. Ang reveal to the people where the funds have flown? Her father, the late VERY HONORABLE CONSTANCIO LEGASPI must be now turning over in his grave with the manner that Councilor is discharging her duties and responsibilities as the Chairperson of the PWDs! Why did Mayor Leonardia not inform the people of this city on the reasons behind the fact that the salaries and wages IS ALWAYS DELAYED! In fact, he should have mentioned as to how many casuals and job order employees are now employed by the city! Is the city overstaffed? It would be nice if Mayor Leonardia can be transparent on this issue. After all, was he not given an award by the DILG for good planning, for accountability and transparency? Is this a sign of good governance? We have a copy of the resolution of Councilor "El Cid" Familiarian who presented a resolution before the City Council recommending that the Masskara Festival should present an accounting of all the festival expenses for several years now. The sad part of this resolution is that it was "SHOT DOWN" by the majority of the Councilors! Again, the so-called TYRANNY OF NUMBERS in the City Council has shown its strength in not approving the resolution of Councilor Familiaran. Is accounting for the funds of the Masskara a MILITARY SECRET? It really pays to be a bosom friend of the DILG Secretary Jess M. Robredo! He talked about the "building boom of Bacolod City" where the credit for this accomplishment should have been given to the business sector of Bacolod City! The title of this column is, "WE, THE PEOPLE ARE TO BE BLAMED" for what is now going in this city as the businessman and the private sector seem to be afraid to castigate the administration of Mayor Leonardia. This gives credence to the talks in this city that Mayor Leonardia is vindictive and has sown fear and apprehension among many of our citizenry so that they are now afraid to criticize the present dispensation for all its failings which has been evident in the unfavorable COA Audit reports that have questioned many of the expenditures of the funds in the city coffers! Some businessmen that we have talked with even claim that those that have made the mistake of criticizing the present administration have had visits from buildings inspectors, health inspectors and even audits by the licensing office and many more offices. If this is true, then Mayor Leonardia must have adopted the principle of "SOMOS OR NO SOMOS"! They even say that in order to get a business permit, after finding fault with the goings on in the City, the applicant would "have to pass through the eye of a needle"! Our unsolicited advice to Mayor Leonardia is to develop his own style in delivering his SOCA and not to make a poor imitation of President Aquino! Our contention is that whatever is being allowed to happen or not happen in this city is that WE THE PEOPLE ARE TO BLAME FOR NOT HAVING THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT!* William H.O. Streegan Negros Daily Bulletin |
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