Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano is confident that the city will surpass last year’s tax collection of P6.8- B even as they have also initiated various reforms to encourage investors and keep their businesses going despite the pandemic.
In an interview over ANC with anchor Mimi Ong, the mayor said that they project their revenue to reach P7.1 billion this 2021.
“For this year’s 1st quarter we have a 99% collection efficiency rating,” Mayor Emi pointed out.
“As the travel hub of the country where there were plenty of businesses that are based in our city, I could say that our revenue collections were not as robust as in the previous years before the pandemic, thus our financial standing has been greatly affected, but we are confident that we can ride through this (economic) storm” she noted.
The mayor likewise, explained that they have undertaken some initiatives to help big, medium and even small firms to survive the pandemic.
Some of their initiatives include no imposition of surcharges and interests as prescribed by the Bayanihan Act and extension of payments for Business and Real Property Taxes without surcharges and interest.
“We are continuously finding ways on how we can best help our traders and keep their businesses running despite the pandemic. In fact, Pasay is fast gaining reputation as business-friendly city” Mayor Emi said, adding:
“We want them to keep doing business as usual in this most challenging times. In fact, we’ve repeatedly extended the deadline for the payment of business and real property taxes to help them.”
She also added that the city hall has also gone fully automated on almost all essential departments to make business transactions easier and faster for the transacting public.
“We’ve also undertaken initiatives as we embarked in an automation of all other essential services at the City Hall,” Mayor Emi said.
According to Mayor Emi, among these automated services are online registration for business permit applications, also for building permit as well as for real property assessment.
“We also accept online payments. Our digital initiatives have provided convenience in doing business in Pasay City Hall. It is very timely as well because of the pandemic,” she stressed.
