THE city government of Dagupan has defined its strategy in 2009 to counter the anticipated ill effects of the global economic meltdown: Intensify tax collection. No increase in taxes. No new taxes.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. outlined the strategy in a talk with media amid fears of drastic economic slowdown in the city.

He said he will not recommend any new tax measure to the city council this year and will hold off any scheduled or proposed increases in tax levels.

The mayor has expressed confidence that just like in 2008, the city can hold on and implement its programmed projects for 2009 without increasing the taxes.

He said that despite the financial crisis in 2008, Dagupan was able to implement its various projects, mostly socio-economic, that helped improve the lives of the Dagupenos.

Fernandez, however, stressed that Dagupan should be more flexible and more imaginative in the light of reports that many overseas working Dagupenos would be sent home as a result of deepening recession all over the world.

Citing records of the City’s One-Stop-Shop, he said the city did well in the collection of real property taxes, miscellaneous revenues and in business permit fees.

But he conceded that the city’s Malimgas Market continues to be in the red compelling the city to continue subsidizing its operations.

The market’s revenues are not even enough to pay off the amortization of the P280 million loan obtained by the previous Lim administration from the Land Bank of the Philippines for its construction

The mayor vowed to continue studying options that would attract occupants to the Malimgas Public Market. –LM

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