Improved revenue tops Benguet gov’s first 100 days

La Trinidad, Benguet (Oct. 4) — Improving the revenue and revenue sources of the Province of Benguet tops the initial achievements of the elected governor in his first one hundred days of office.

This was what governor Nestor B. Fongwan said when asked, what he considers as his achievements in his first 100 days as governor of the province. “Development has its costs and to be able to push thru plans and programs for developing the province, the sources of support have to be identified and made feasible and possible.

He said that in his initial assessment of the province’s revenue sources, he believed that the province should be collecting the franchise taxes of the large companies and corporations operating within the province instead of it being paid to the national coffers or in other towns where their administrative offices are located.

The governor gave as a concrete example of this kind of move to improve the province’s revenue, the collection of the business tax of Luzon Hydro for which an initial P2.3 million has been deposited in favor of the town of Bakun in Benguet.

He said that this collection was made in coordination with the town officials of Bakun. The source was identified and their right to a share of the business tax from a company operating in their jurisdiction was asserted and recognized. The initial amount is now deposited with the Regional Trial Court of Makati City.

Also, he believes that the franchise taxes of companies doing business or located in the province should also be paid or shared to the province. Recently the province was initially paid P4million share in franchise tax by the TRANSCO.

Fongwan also said he considers the preservation or protection of the environment in the province as a major program. Related to this is the organization or re-organization of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council to study and validate extent of damages; the Bird-Flu Task Force to monitor for any threat of the flu in the province; and the Task Force Asin-Hydro to assist the landowners in the area with their claims. Aside from improving coordination lines with the department of environment here he has also initiated the appointment of a provincial environment officer.

He has also given priority to the rehabilitation and repairs of neglected provincial heavy equipments (formerly the PEMSO) much needed in emergencies like road clearings during typhoons. He is presently having a provincial property cleared developed to house these equipments: 3 payloaders, 1 bulldozer, 3 dump trucks, and 1 soil compactor.# Via NORDIS