New tax chief to raise tax target in 2018

The Cebu City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) is expected to collect more taxes for the City Government as its new chief assured that they will intensify its tax collection next year.

This, as Mayor Tomas Osmeña said there will be a massive operation against business establishments that don’t pay correct taxes to the City Government.

Osmeña also designated City Administrator Nigel Paul Villarete as acting chief of the City Planning and Development Office in concurrent position, saying the previous head of office was “lousy.”

In the Regional Special Personnel Order 98-2017 issued by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) 7, Assistant City Administrator Veronica “Jovy” Morelos was designated as acting city treasurer of the City effective yesterday until Dec. 10, 2018.

Morelos replaced Tessie Camarillo, who retired from the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) service because of health reasons.

As of yesterday, Camarillo was already instructed by BLGF 7 to turn over the office to Morelos including the cash, properties and equipment, books of accounts including cash books and accountable forms, among others and clear herself of all the accountability as acting city treasurer.

In an interview, Morelos said Osmeña particularly asked her to focus on intensified tax collection.

By doing it, she said majority of the workers in the CTO might be required to go out and collect taxes.

“The marching order is to bring in the money by collection of revenue,” she told reporters.

She will also work on the revision of the tax rate of the City as mandated under the Local Government Code.

Aside from it, Morelos said the City Assessor’s Office is also working on the revision of market value of the real properties in the city.

Morelos is no longer new to the office as she was previously assigned to the CTO when she started her career in the City Government.

For his part, Osmeña said the City will continue to run after establishments that are not paying correct taxes.

“I think half of the business establishments in Cebu (City) don’t have business permits, so if you ask if there is a lot, yes, it’s more than a lot. It’s massive,” he said.

Meanwhile, Osmeña said he has to replace Maricon Encabo and transfer her to another department due to her performance.

Villarete said his appointment is just temporary, while Osmeña is still in the process of choosing the new head of the office. /