AC council eyes tax incentive code for ‘green’ businesses

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The city government of Angeles is planning to replicate this city’s tax incentive code on business establishments using renewable energy sources.

This was disclosed by Angeles City Vice-Mayor Bryan Matthew Nepomuceno during the press conference of the “Enerhiya Para King Panyulung” Energy Summit at Best Western Bendix Hotel yesterday.

According to Nepomuceno, the local council of Angeles City is currently formulating the tax incentive code that will benefit business that are using or will be using renewable energy sources.

He said that they are now benchmarking San Fernando’s investment incentive grant on investors and micro, small and medium enterprises who are and will participate in the local government’s greening program.

“Sa kasalukuyan po, ang siyudad ng Angeles ay ginagawa po ang aming incentive code at isa sa mga bine-benchmark o ginagawang basehan po namin ay ang City of San Fernando na kasalukuyan ng ipinapatupad itong ganitong insentibo,” he said.

Under City Ordinance No. 2011-020 or the 2012 Investment Incentives Code, businesses in manufacturing, services, industrial estate, agri-business, heritage sites, eco-tourism, waste management facilities, businesses that produce and develop renewable sources of energy enjoy 100 percent tax incentive for five years.

The code aims to encourage more business owners to shift to renewable energy and become environment-friendly as part of the city government’s program to preserve Mother Earth.

“Ito ay napakagandang programa because we have been advocating for the preservation and protection of the environment and this is a clear and straight program to implement kaya gusto namin na maipatupad din ito sa aming siyudad,” Nepomuceno said.

Aside from its environmental benefit, Nepomuceno also said that the tax incentive code may also serve as a good invitation for investors to come to the city.

Nepomuceno also said that the city government will participate in the renewable energy summit to be held on October 24 to get knowledge on how to efficiently use solar energy.

He also expressed support on such programs that aim to simultaneously protect the environment and provide development for the community.