Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama challenged the City Treasurer’s Office to collect P5 billion from renewals and new business permit applications.
The five-fold increase was announced as the city opened its one-stop shop for payments at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall 3 yesterday.
“We have to see to it that the objective of quick and fast issuance (of permits) shall be accomplished. From what they have reached, which is P1 billion, I challenged them to reach P5 billion,” Rama told reporters yesterday.
He said 2015 will be a busy year in looking for funds to support City Hall’s P13.4 billion budget in order to implement important projects and programs.
The renewal and application of new business permits will run until Jan. 23.
The one-stop shop at the mall is open at 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. except on Sundays.
Rama said the one-stop shop is a “City Hall family affair” with City Administrator Lucelle Mercado and City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete overseeing it.
The mayor also urged all taxpayers to religiously pay their taxes.
“Don’t be tax evaders and masters of tax avoidance,” Rama said.
He said he has tasked the City Legal Office, headed by City Attorney Jerone Castillo, to be active in going after tax evaders.
City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the staff would work hard to meet a P5 billion collection target.
“We will do our best,” she said.
Cuevas reminded taxpayers to pay on time to avoid a two percent monthly interest and 25 percent surcharge as penalties.
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One-stop shop for business permits opens
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