By NITZ ARANCON And SHIELA MAE BUTLIG Correspondents THE capitol is moving to write off the penalties and surcharges on real property taxes in an effort to boost its collection efforts. Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano yesterday called on the provincial board to pass an ordinance that would do away with the penalties and surcharges being imposed on delinquent real property taxpayers so the capitol could focus on ridding itself of liabilities. Emano did not say how much accumulated penalties and surcharges. A capitol source however said the uncollected real property taxes, including penalties and surcharges, have amounted to some P206 million, excluding Jasaan town’s Pilipinas Kao Inc.’s taxes. The Gold Star Daily checked with the capitol’s treasury division, and initial computations showed the total basic and Special Education Fund (SEF) real property tax delinquencies at P215,968,605.04. The total penalties for both basic and SEF amount to P82,423,020.28. Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez hailed Emano’s call, and committed to support the proposed measure. “We will ask the provincial board to get rid of the penalties provided that they (delinquent taxpayers) will pay their remaining (tax) liabilities,” said Pelaez. Speaking during his 2nd State of the Province Address, Emano said it would no longer be possible to collect all the penalties and surcharges that have piled up through the years. “Patong-patong na nga mga penalties ug surcharges... Imposible na nila na mabayran,” Emano said. The capitol’s stance was a stark contrast from its bullish position last year when it waged a legal battle in an effort to force Pilipinas Kao in Barangay Solana, Jasaan town to pay some P631.5 million in real property taxes. In February 2014, the capitol tried to auction off buildings and machineries of Pilipinas Kao but there was no taker. It is still under litigation. Emano said he “inherited” a nearly bankrupt capitol from his predecessor, Mayor Oscar Moreno, prompting him to step up tax collection efforts in the province. He said Moreno left the capitol with only some P500 thousand, and some P100 million in still unliquidated cash advances after releasing some P53 million as payment for heavy equipment which he called “illegal.” Emano said this forced the capitol to tighten its belt. Now, he said, the capitol would intensify its tax collection campaign through the condonation of real property tax penalties and surcharges. Pelaez said the provincial board would approve the ordinance sought by Emano but would see to it that only those who would pay the basic real property taxes would benefit from it “arondilimo-accumulate angilangmgabalayronon.” Emano delivered his annual report during a session of the provincial board at the capitol grounds. His father Vicente, a former governor and mayor of the city, did not come. His mother Aloma however came to listen to the two-hour annual report. Emano spoke about the capitol’s gains in terms of tourism,  infrastructure, education, agriculture,  health care, transportation,  cooperatives, and peace and order. He however made his subordinates ––provincial tourism and provincial environment ang natural resources officer JosefinoBascug, provincial engineer Mark Lester Bolo, school board secretary Lionel Maandig, provincial veterinarian  BenjieResma, Misorcares program coordinator MarydelUcot,  provincial planning development staff chief Stanley Oriarte, provincial cooperative  chief Alberto Acain, and peace and order and development  chief Fernando Vincent Dy––speak about the details. Some highlights of the annual report:
  • the capitol spent millions to step up the campaign to protect the environment;
  • some 82 kilometers of roads were opened in outlying barangays, and 21 kilometers were concreted using the 20 percent development fund; and
  • Misorcares served 411 thousand people or an average of 1,040 a day in 13 months.