MAKATI City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay boasted last Tuesday that the city has surpassed by 16 percent its 2022 revenue target, posting a total of nearly P21 billion in revenue collection.
“Things are definitely looking up for the city,” Binay said through a statement. “The significant increase in our locally-sourced revenue collection from business and real property taxes in 2022 is a clear sign of the strong trust and confidence of Makati residents and the business community in the city government.”
The mayor said that collections from local revenue sources have increased by nine percent compared with 2021.
Based on the report from City Treasurer Jesusa E. Cuneta, the bulk of collections came from “Business Tax” with about P9.13 billion, up by 10 percent from 2021.
“Real Property Tax” came in second with nearly P8.15 billion, or seven percent higher than total RPT collection in 2021.
The city official said revenue generated from realty taxes surpassed the target by around 70 percent following an “intensive” information drive targeted at villages and condominiums to remind real property owners to settle outstanding tax obligations to the city.
Spearheaded by the Office of the City Treasurer, the campaign tapped the assistance of the barangay government as well as building and condominium management.
Cuneta said the support and cooperation of barangay leaders have been instrumental to its successful outcome. She expressed gratitude to these officials “who even took charge of the delivery of notices to concerned taxpayers, making sure these reached the intended recipients.”
More robust, sustainable
Binay thanked the city’s taxpayers and investors for “their unstinting support and cooperation as we gradually recover from the pandemic.”
“We can confidently look forward to a more robust and sustainable local economy this year,” she added.
Binay said the city’s continuing financial stability will ensure the continuous delivery of quality services to Makati citizens, and the effective implementation of major programs aimed to accelerate Makati’s transformation into a “smart city.”
On the other hand, revenue from other local sources also increased, including fees and charges, P744.2 million (three percent) and economic enterprises, P340.7 million (66 percent).
Records of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) show that as of December 31, 2022, there have been 4,439 new business registrants and 34,590 business permit renewals. The new enterprises chalked up a total of P29.02 Billion in capital investments. Registered businesses in the city also reported total sales of P1.42 Trillion in 2022.
In October last year, Makati was awarded as the second top-performing local government unit in the country and also the second top-performing city in Metro Manila, based on the 2021 locally sourced revenues. The city was also recognized into the Local Revenue Generation Hall of Fame, based on its revenue generated from local sources from 2018 to 2020.
Implemented reforms
SINCE July 2016, the city government has implemented reforms at City Hall to facilitate business registration and promote transparency, including an aggressive campaign against fixers.
For five straight years, the city government received an “unmodified opinion” from the Commission on Audit after a review of its annual financial statements for fiscal years 2017 to 2021.
In June 2020 at the height of the pandemic, the city established an online assessment and payment portal through which residents and business owners can pay their real property and business taxes, using their smartphones or laptops. This eliminated the need for them to go to City Hall and risk exposure while lining up at the counters.
In October 2021, Makati launched its first satellite office at the fourth floor of the SM shopping center at the commercial and business district.
Last December, the facility was transferred to a bigger area at the third floor of the mall, where it is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Among the services offered are: issuance of local citizen card application; issuance of Individual Mayor’s permit and health certificate; updating of vaccination record and issuance of digital vaccination certificate; and, payment of business and realty taxes.