BALON DAGUPAN NEWS

MAYOR Belen T. Fernandez lauded the education and information campaign on tax updates mounted by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Pangasinan Chapter on January 19 at Emerald Hall of CSI Stadia.

“I commend our PICPA Pangasinan president Luz De Guzman for mounting a worthy and notable education and information campaign on tax updates. As an entrepreneur, teaching tax updates is invaluable because this would help enhance and equip people and their businesses with the knowledge that they can soon rely on in the future, hence it is important that we must be consistently aware of the updated tax rules and regulations,” said Fernandez.

Revenue District Officer Fely C. Simon of Revenue District Office 004 lectured on tax updates along with Dean Estelita C. Aguirre, president, ASEAN Federation of Accountants (AFA).

Fernandez acknowledged that she depended heavily on the sound advice of De Guzman and many of the PICPA members on many matters relating to her good governance initiatives in putting the city in order.

“Our city was in near financial ruin because of poor fiscal policies when I assumed as Mayor in 2013 but we worked so hard to bring the entire city government in the pink of health, with the help of so many learned and compassionate individuals, many of whom come from the accountancy profession,” said Fernandez.

She added that there were strong temptations urging her to focus on improving revenues to fund city’s projects by increasing taxes, “but I turned all these down and instead followed the sound advice of our local finance team to just focus on efficient tax collection”.

Without increasing taxes, the city government made an impressive turnaround in its fiscal status even as it boosted the benefits of government workers, built more roads, more schools, repaired day care centers and elevated roads and pathways in many flooded schools.

“We are now able to send 500 indigent college scholars to universities of their choice, feed thousands of children who are nutritionally deficient, provide medicines and medical services and buy musical instruments for many young people who have the talent and flair for music,” said Fernandez.

She added that the city was also able to purchase equipment for disaster and emergency response, trucks that would haul wastes, boats that would be used by fishermen and gadgets that would increase the catch of fishermen.

“The allowances of our volunteers were also increased.  Our streets are now well-lit and our city is now more peaceful for many who come to work, study and engage in business. This is where all of our taxes go:  efficient service, public convenience, the common good, the general welfare of our people,” said Fernandez underscoring that the tax is the lifeblood of the city. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)

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