Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino yesterday said there are very positive results from businessmen regarding the proposed amendment to City Ordinance No. 565, or the Revised Revenue Code, as there were no opposition from them during a committee hearing on the matter yesterday.
Espino said none of them expressed opposition, but endorsed the measure during the public hearing conducted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Ways and Means that he chairs. He said he was informed by Frank Carbon and Ben Ortega, presidents of the MBCCI and BFCCCI, respectively, that they have endorsed the amendment that was proposed. Espino said the amendment was also endorsed by the Northern and Southern Chinese Chamber of Commerce, he added. They all support the measure, except that there was a comment from SM that it will submit its own position paper on Monday, while the Bankers Association of Bacolod will submit theirs today, he said. Espino said they proposed an amendment of 37.5 percent of 1 percent. from the original tax rate of 57.5 percent of 1 percent of the gross business tax. The businessmen had asked for as low as 30 percent of 1 percent, he said. But they deemed it beneficial to give the businessmen a lower take off rate of 37.4 percent, which is the take off rate of the municipalities, instead of giving them rebates, Espino said. “In effect we will be more competitive over all other neighboring cities,” he said. Espino said the ordinance amending the Revised Revenue Code for 2012 has already been passed on first reading. He said he expects that after the collation of all the data and the discussion done yesterday, it will be introduced in the session next week. Hopefully, after complying with requirements, like publication, it will be enacted, by the latter January 2013, he added. In his opening statement at the hearing, Espino said that if he were asked, he would not have gone for any revision in the Revenue Code because he believes it is legal, it is transparent, and the committee observed all process under the law. “We are not rocks, or immovable objects, but I would rather be like the bamboo which is pliable, or willing to listen to the needs of the businessmen,” Espino said. He gave credit to acting Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who was authorized by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and himself, to conduct the hearings with the businessmen on the amendment of the Revenue Code. Also present at the hearing were acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, City Legal officer Joselito Bayatan, a representative from the City Treasurer’s Office, and the Negros Distributors Association, among others. BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO THE VISAYAN DAILY STAR
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