THE Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), formerly the Philippine Tourism Authority, conducted a road show in Bacolod City to invite investors in tourism enterprise zones (TEZ).
Atty. Joy Bulauitan, TIEZA Assistant Chief Operating Officer, came to Bacolod to represent TIEZA chair, former Pampanga Representative Mark Lapid, to update the business sector, tourism officers, city and barangay officials about TIEZA’s guidelines for the designation and supervision of TEZs and the administration of incentives under Republic Act. 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009. The forum was attended by tourism officers in Bacolod and in the Province of Negros Occidental, businessmen, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, Councilors Sonya Verdeflor, Caesar Distrito, El Cid Familiaran and Catalino Alisbo, Bacolod Tourism Cultural and Development Council chair Atty. John Orola, Jr., Bacolod City Tourism Officer Imogene Kanaan and many others. Bulauitan said that TIEZA will designate TEZs to invite investors with five hectares of land and with a minimum of $5 million capital investment to register as a TEZ so they can enjoy fiscal or non-fiscal incentives. Investors can enjoy income tax holiday, gross income taxation, tax free importation of capital equipment, tax free importation of goods and services and the like. “We will also issue visa and work permits for foreigners who will work inside the zone,” she said. She said that Bacolod has a lot of potential because it is a prosperous city. There are a lot of investors and hotels and other tourism related enterprise. Carla N. Canet Sun Star Bacolod
0 Comments
THE Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), formerly the Philippine Tourism Authority, conducted a road show in Bacolod City to invite investors in tourism enterprise zones (TEZ). Atty. Joy Bulauitan, TIEZA Assistant Chief Operating Officer, came to Bacolod to represent TIEZA chair, former Pampanga Representative Mark Lapid, to update the business sector, tourism officers, city and barangay officials about TIEZA’s guidelines for the designation and supervision of TEZs and the administration of incentives under Republic Act. 9593 or the Tourism Act of 2009. The forum was attended by tourism officers in Bacolod and in the Province of Negros Occidental, businessmen, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, Councilors Sonya Verdeflor, Caesar Distrito, El Cid Familiaran and Catalino Alisbo, Bacolod Tourism Cultural and Development Council chair Atty. John Orola, Jr., Bacolod City Tourism Officer Imogene Kanaan and many others. Bulauitan said that TIEZA will designate TEZs to invite investors with five hectares of land and with a minimum of $5 million capital investment to register as a TEZ so they can enjoy fiscal or non-fiscal incentives. Investors can enjoy income tax holiday, gross income taxation, tax free importation of capital equipment, tax free importation of goods and services and the like. “We will also issue visa and work permits for foreigners who will work inside the zone,” she said. She said that Bacolod has a lot of potential because it is a prosperous city. There are a lot of investors and hotels and other tourism related enterprise. By Carla N. Canet Ginlaragway ni Councilor El Cid Familiaran nga makahuluya sa isa ka highly urbanized city and paggamit sang Police Station 2 sang isa ka Taxi Cab agud nga maglagas sang carnapper nga amo ang nag-hold up sa kay Celso Bernabes, isa man ka taxi driver nga ginkuhaan sang amo nga Taxi Unit sang suspetsado sadtong nagligad nga semana.
Suno kay Familiaran nga dapat pa dasigon na sang Bids and Awards Committee ang pagbakal sang Patrol Cars para may gamiton sa Police Operation. Natingala si Familiaran nga wala pa sang may nabakal nga Patrol Cars tungod sang Febrero pa gin-umpisahan ang proseso sang pagbakal sang salakyan. Nagapati si Familiaran nga wala makahisayod si Mayor Evelio Leonardia sang nagakatabu angot sa procurement sang mga Police Vehicles. Samtang, ginpasalig naman ni Bids and Awards Committee ukon BAC Chairman, Atty. Goldwyn Nifras, nga ang Bacolod City Police Office ang maka-angkon na sang salakyan antes matapos ang ini nga tuig kon may yara lamang sang kwalipikado nga bidder sa tion nga masuguran na ang Invitation to Bid. Madumduman nga may natabo na nga Pre-Bid Conference sang nagligad nga mga binulan, apang indi naman kwalipikado ang isa nga nagpasakop diri. Madumduman nga gin panginwala sang Bids and Awards ang gin-alegar nga pagbakal sang anum ka mga Fortun bilang patrol cars sa diin ini ang lunsay "under power". Sa pihak nga bahin, gin-konfirmar ni Atty. Nifras nga na-pirmahan na ni Acting Mayor, Jude Thaddeus Sayson, sang nagligad nga semana ang purchase request para sa pagbakal sang sini nga salakyan. Ang papeles ang magalabay pa sa Accounting Office kag Budget Office antes ang pagtigayon sang Pre-Bid Conference. Nagapati si Nifras nga indi na ma-pending ang request for patrol cars sang BCPO tungod ini ang gina-proseso na. Magic Eye Bridaga News Bacolod City had just approved its Revised Revenue Code which, unless stopped by higher authority will be implemented January next year. There was an earlier attempt to pass a new tax code but SM City filed a case claiming that there was no adequate public hearing. The measure was withdrawn so the city had to start all over again. This time the Sanggunian insured that there were public hearings. I got several feedbacks about the proposed code precisely because of these hearings.
The passage of this measure is not without controversies even before its approval. During one of the hearings, there was indication that SM will again challenge this code but on what grounds was not clear, but my informant knows of the plan of SM and in fact SM’s representative was challenged on this plan. Ironically, the city has been more than generous to SM and this is perhaps the best time to express public disappointment on the city’s favoritism for SM. When SM opened the city rerouted the traffic and forced vehicles, especially jeepneys to pass along and through SM. The intersection of Rizal and San Juan streets was closed forcing all vehicles coming from north of San Juan to turn right then to SM and then turn left and then left to return to San Juan. This diversion is almost a kilometer long and considering the cost of fuel these days (and rising) the city is playing favorites to the financial advantage of SM. The way to cut short or avoid this diversion is to get inside the compound of the Bishop’s House then turn right to Rizal to return to San Juan. This involves about 50 meters but that is fuel lost just the same. The city should remove the barricade it erected at San Juan-Rizal to divert traffic to SM and allow us who have no business with SM to proceed to our destination. This is crazy – force people to go another kilometer for what would take 10 meters. I think the city should explain this forcible traffic diversion that favors one business establishment that we now know is unwilling to help the city or is blocking progress to serve its financial objectives. This is not good business practice or governance. Another controversy is within the council. The code was passed at the time when the presiding officer was the number one councilor, El Cid Familiaran, because Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson was acting City Mayor in the absence of Mayor Bing Leonardia who was abroad. Familiaran comes from the opposition because his Monopal party lost. During the voting, the proponents got only eight votes out of 14 members and although it had the majority, Familiaran declared the proposition lost. This created a controversy because the eight believed that the majority was enough while Familiaran insisted that 2/3 vote was necessary. The eight overruled Familiaran and declared the proposition passed. This should have ended normal legislative proceedings until the differences of opinion came out in the media. Familiaran insisted he was right with words that somehow riled the majority. Councilor Homer Bais came out insisting the majority was right under the provision of the Local Government Code and then hurled a challenge that in case Familiaran proves himself right, Bais is willing to resign on condition that if Familiaran was proven wrong Familiaran should also resign. Touché! The majority went on the rampage while Familiaran appears alone to fight the battle of the opposition. Where are the others who voted against the code? The battle spilled over to the political field. Due to the insinuation that he was still batting for the Monopal, Familiaran declared that he had resigned from the camp of Monico Puentevella and that he is now with the resurrected Liberal Party which is right. As the highest elected politician in the LP he has an influential post there. What is not clear is whether his opposition is a party stand or his alone considering that businessmen are active members and officials of the LP in Bacolod. Then Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez jumped into the fray with a comment that the SP should have conducted more public hearings to which acting Mayor Sayson retorted that Golez must have been “misinformed.” Did Sayson mean “uninformed” or was the word “misinformed” a calculated term to indicate that the congressman was fed with wrong information to create a cleavage between the political allies? Was the term “misinformed” intended to telegraph a confirmation of the parting of ways? Was it necessary for Golez to say what he said or could he have said it in such a way as not to feed on the speculation of a break or undermine the claim of the majority that indeed there were public hearings? Indeed there were eight public hearings and various sectors submitted position papers which were collated and considered. There were five sessions on the second reading alone.* MODESTO P. SA-ONOY Visayan Daily Star The Revised Revenue Code was validly passed in its 3rd and final reading by the Sangguniang Panlungsod last November 11, 2011, according to Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman, Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government.
He explained that Under Section 458, par. 2 (ii) of the Local Government Code, it clearly says that revenue ordinances passed by the SP needs a majority vote of all the members, which means that the SP having a 14-member council, needs 8 votes and in this case it got the required number of votes. The claim that it needs 2/3 votes, therefore it is a 'lost ordinance' citing paragraph 2 (xii) of the same section of the code is clear ignorance of the law and they do not understand the local government code, as it refers to "tax exemptions, incentives or refiefs to entities engaged in community growth-inducing industries." In the case of the Revised Revenue Tax Code, it only needs majority of the council members, which means 50 + 1. Councilor Dindo Ramos, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Food Government also argued and supported the opinion of Councilor Distrito, as he in fact, appealed the ruling of the then presiding officer, El Cid Familiaran. Councilors Em Ang and Homer Bais wondered why they are still continuing to say that it had lost, when in fact the ruling of the chair was overruled, a new votation was called and he declared it as ordinance "passed" in 3rd and final reading. Councilors Al Victor Espino and Bobby Rojas had argued that under the SP Internal Rules and the Local Government Code, any ruling made by the presiding officer, can be appealed and overruled by a majority vote of the SP, which was overruled in this case by a vote of the majority of all members of the SP. The SP can even override the veto of the Mayor, much more that the SP can overrule the decision of the acting vice mayor. Councilor Carl Lopez also argued that, the essence of a deliberative body is the rule of the majority, and having the majority rule, the minority should respect considering that special sessions even held to give ample time to all the councilors to explain and participate in the deliberation of the said proposal. Councilor Espino also explained that as author of the ordinance, the said proposal was filed more than one year in the SP, 8 public hearings were conducted to various sectors, all the position papers were consolidated and some of the proposal were even considered, and five sessions days were held for the 2nd reading alone of the said ordinance. Edith B. Colmo Negros Daily Bulletin The Revised Revenue Code passed recently by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod conforms to the provisions of R.A. 7160 or the Local Revenue Code, Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino said yesterday.
City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos said the old Local Revenue Code of Bacolod is now outdated and all the taxes and fees contained in it are obsolete and no longer attuned to the economic condition of the city. She said R.A. 7160 was passed by Congress so local governments will have a uniform implementation in all cities. Bacolod instead had passed a Revenue Code in 1993 which was not in accordance with R.A. 7160 that was already in effect then, she added. Since Bacolod chose its own graduated table, Badajos said she found out that it is as if the higher gross income a taxpayer declares, the lower is his tax due. So it was regressing, and this is not the provision of the law, she said, adding that taxes should be progressive, not regressive. Bago has higher rates compared to Bacolod because it started right, she added. Badajos also said the newly-passed Revenue ordinance will take effect in January 2012. Councilor Caesar Distrito said the Revised Revenue Code was validly passed on its third and final reading by the SP Friday. Distrito was reacting to reports that acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran still considered the ordinance “lost” since it did not meet the required two-thirds votes. Familiaran clarified that, although he declared the ordinance as “lost” during the session Friday, he submitted to the SP when it overrode his ruling. “I did not say I was right or wrong, but I had to rule,” he said. His decision was based on the legal opinion of lawyers he consulted, he added. Acting Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said this is a long overdue legislative requirement. He said that if there are any complaints against the ordinance, they can be raised before the Department of Justice, but there will be no suspension of the collection. Badajos said they can still continue to collect, unless the DOJ rules that the provisions in the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod are not in accordance with the provision of R.A. 7160, and render it null and void from the beginning. That is the time when they will make the adjustments and give credit certificates to tax payers who have paid, she said. Espino said they did not pass the ordinance hurriedly. As its author, he said, the proposal was filed more than a year ago in the SP, and eight public hearings were conducted with various sectors, all position papers were consolidated, and some of the proposals were considered, and five session days were held for its second reading alone, he added. Espino also said that if it is questioned, he is confident that it will stand on its own merit. He said he believes that this will only be politics, but they have to make a stand even if their political future may be jeopardized. Meanwhile, Distrito pointed out that Section 458, par. 2 (ii) of the Local Government Code clearly says that revenue ordinances passed by the SP need a majority vote of all the members, which means that the SP having a 14-member council, only needs 8 votes, and in this case it got the required number of votes. Councilor Dindo Ramos appealed the ruling of Familiaran during the session, while Councilors Em Ang and Homer Bais wondered why reports continue to say that it had lost, when, in fact, after the ruling of Familiaran was over-ruled, a new votation was called, and he declared it as an ordinance “passed” on third and final reading. Espino and Councilor Roberto Rojas argued that under the SP Internal Rules and the Local Government Code, any ruling made by the presiding officer, and even the veto of the mayor, can be appealed and overruled by a majority vote of the SP.*CGS CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star The Revised Revenue Code was validly passed in its third and final reading byt the Sangguniang Panlungsod last November 11, 2011, asserted Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of the SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government.
Distrito explained that Under Section 458, par. 2 (ii) of the Local Government Code, it clearly says that revenue ordinances passed by the SP need a majority vote of all the members. Since the Bacolod SP is a 14-member council, eight votes already constitute a majority, he pointed out. The claim that the SP needs a 2/3 vote to pass the revenue code is clearly ignorance of the law, according to Distrito. He explained that the 2/3 votes pertains only to "tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs to entities engaged in community growth-inducing industries." Councilor Dindo Ramos, the Vice Chairman of the Committee of Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, supported the opinion of Distrito, as he in fact appealed the ruling of the then presiding officer, El Cid Familiaran. Councilors Em Ang and Homer Bais wondered why oppositors of the measure still continue saying that it was a 'lost' measure when in fact after the ruling of the chair was over-ruled, a new votation was called and the chair declared it as ordinance "passed" in 3rd and final reading. Councilors Al Victor Espino and Bobby Rojas argued that under the SP Internal Rules and Local Govenrment Code, any ruling made by the presiding officer can be appealed and overruled by a majority vote of the SP, which was exactly what happened in this case. The SP can even override the veto of the Mayor, much more that the SP can overrule the decision of the acting vice mayor. Councilor Carl Lopez also argued that the essence of a deliberative body is the rule of the majority, and having the majority ruled, the minority should respect, considering that special sessions were even held to give ample time to all the councilors to explain and participate in the deliberation of the said proposal. Espino, author of the ordinance, explained that the said proposal was filed more than one year in the SP, eight public hearings were conducted to various sectors, all the position papers were consodilated and some of the proposals were even considered, and five session days were held for the 2nd reading alone of the said ordinance. Carla Canet Sun Star Bacolod By a vote of 8:3 from the 14 councilors in favor of the approval of the Revised Revenue Tax Code (RRTC) of Bacolod City, is more than enough that the said Ordinace has to implemented next year.
At a presscon yesterday, Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson, acting city mayor said, although Councilor El Cid Familiaran has declared it a "lost ordinance, it was overruled by the SP. Bacolod City has been implementing tax collection not within the conformity with RA 7160, because the tax code being followed in tax collection does not also conform with RA 7160 since 1993. The approval of the Revised Revenue Tax Code (RRTC) will be in conformity with RA 7160, however, it would mean increase in tax charges. Bacolod has not increased the taxes but only upon the approval of the RRTC. If others consider it a lost ordinance, then they can question this to the Department of Justice, maybe more on political consideration, Sayson also said. While councilor Caesar Distrito considers the declaration of Acting Vice Mayor/Presiding Officer El Cid just an ignorance of the law to declare it a "lost ordinance". But Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran answered that he is now with the Liberal Party and no longer with the Lakas (MONOPAL). He said the minutes of the SP sessions should show that he makes his decisions based on his sound judgment. "There were many measures I had supported that were not that of my former partymates,"he added. "That is only his opinion," Familiaran said when asked for his reaction to the statement of Distrito "ignorance of the law." Familiaran said he did not say he was right or wrong, but he had to rule. Although he declared the ordinance as "lost," yet he submitted to the motion of the SP to override his ruling, he said. He said he is not a lawyer, so he consulted several lawyers. His decision was based on their legal opinion. He also said Councilor Sonya Verdeflor moved for a subsidiary motion to defer the approval of such decision to the DILG to know if it is allowed to clear the two interpretation. Councilor Homer Bais challenged Coun. Familiaran, that he will resign as councilor if proven in the DOJ that the approval of the revised revenue tax code was illegal. At the same time he challenge Coun. Familiaran to resign from the service if their complaint against the SP members who voted for the approval of RRTC will prosper. Councilor Al Espino, chairman, ways and means committee, and chair, technical working group of the revised revenue tax code, said "the local government tax code must be followed. This is long overdue already. We know this move will affect our political future. The reason why previous legislature did not touch it. But we have to stand on the right choice. Bago City has been implementing correctly RA 7160, same thing with Tagbilaran City. There is no reason why we should not conform with RA 7160 because it is a law," Espino stressed. While City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos said, the Bacolod City government has been defying the tax code because it did not implement the yearly 10% increase in tax collection. RA 7160 must be implemented. Now that the revised revenue tax code was approved, new tax schedule will be implemented soon January 2012. Sayson said, if there will be complaints in the DOJ, then let it be, but collection under the revised tax code will go on. We will adjust if the court so decides we were wrong. But am confident the court will confirm our approval of the new tax code because it is already within the conformity of RA 7160, and the Local Government Code. Edith B. Colmo Negros Daily Bulletin ACTING Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday said that his action relative to the Revised Revenue Code was based on his sound judgment.
He said the minutes of the SP sessions would show that he makes his decisions based on his sound judgment. "There were many measures that I had supported that were not those of my former partymates," he added. "That is only his opinion," Familiaran said when asked for his reaction to the statement of Councilor Caesar Distrito citing "ignorance of the law". Familiaran said he did not say he was right or wrong but he had to rule. Although he declaredthe ordinance as "lost", yet he submitted to the motion of the SP to override his ruling, he pointed out. He said he is not a lawyer, so he consulted several lawyers. His decision was based on their legal opinion, he said. He added that Councilor Sonya Verdeflor moved for a subsidiary motion to defer the approval of such decision to the DILG to know if it is allowed and to clarify the two conflicting interpretations. He further clarified that he is now with the Liberal Party and no longer with the Lakas or Monico Novero Palermo (MONOPAL) team. (CNC) Aprobado na sa Third kag Final Reading ang New Revenue Code sang syudad sang Bacolod matapos ang mainit nga pag-debate sadtong biernes nga adlaw sa tunga ni Acting Vice Mayor kag Presiding Officer El Cid Familiaran kag SP Floor Leader Homer Bais. Suno kay Familiaran nga nagpagwa siya sang ruling nga ang Ordinance ang makabig nga lost ordinance tungod ang pagpasar sini ang wala nagakasanto sa two-third votes ukon dapat napulo gid ka mga konsehal ang maga-aprobar sini sa kabug-osan nga katorse ka mga miembro.
Apang ang mga konsehal nga natu-on sa mayoriya kasubong ni SP Member Bais, Dindo Ramos, Caesar Distrito kag iban pa ang nag-oponer sa Ruling tungod sila nagapati nga "simple majority" lamang ang kinahanglan. Ginaduso ni Bais nga sa 14 tanan ka mga miembro, bastante na ang walo nga maka-aprobar sang Ordinansa. Sa interview sang Brigada Balita, ginpahayag ni Familiaran nga nakahimo siya sang desisyon tungod iya man gin-konsulta sa mga kilala nga mga abogado diri sa syudad sang Bacolod kag nagapati siya nga husto and iya desisyon. Magluwas sa tatlo nga nag-insister nga iduso ang ordinansa, ang iban pa nga nagpabor amo sanday Councilor Em Ang, Roberto Rojas, MOna Dia Jardin, Al Victor Espino kag Carl Lopez. Ang nagboto naman nga batok sa Ordinansa amo sanday Catalino Alisbo, Sonya Verdeflor kag Elmer Sy. Nag-gwa naman sa session si Councilor Archie Baribar sang ginaboto-botohan ang New Revenue Code. Ginkalipay naman sang mayoriya ang pagpasar sang Ordinansa tungod mahimo nga magasaka na ang collection sang syudad sa mausnod nga tuig. Magic Eye Brigada News |
Categories
All
|