Increase tax, fees collection tackled in dept. mgrs mtg

ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL - City Mayor Aniano P. Antalan underscored ways to increase income from taxes, permits and other sources in his meeting with the department managers on Monday, July 7.

Antalan stressed the need to collect the growing tax arrears from Samal Casino Resort Complex owned by Ekran Berhad SDN of Malaysia that has ballooned to more than P40 million since it ceased operation in 2000 due to the Asian financial crisis, problem on flights between Philippines and Taiwan and Kuala Lumpur and Davao, and the peace and order situation during that time.

He said the tax delinquency of Samal Casino Resort has greatly affected the local income of the local government unit, constricting the financial capabilities to deliver basic services to the people.

He even emphasized the possibility of promoting the mothballed casino resort in Samal for rent or for sale in order to obtain income from the business establishment that currently remains idle.

In the same meeting, Antalan pushed for the construction of a new terminal and market for Samal Island in the fivehectare lot intended for the project located at Sitio Maag, Brgy. Penaplata, Samal Dsistrict.

Antalan was impressed by the clean, beautiful and gaining market of the Municipality of Maramag, Bukidnon after his visit to the place for a benchmarking and team building together with the employees.