By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Antique provincial government aims to boost its annual income by PHP119.86 million through the proposed revision of its current revenue code.
Board member Victor Condez, the proponent of the 2023 Revenue Code of the province of Antique, emphasized the necessity of updating the code, which has remained unchanged for 18 years. The proposed amendment successfully passed its second reading during the regular session on Monday.
The provincial board initially endorsed the ordinance during its first reading in September 2023, followed by a thorough process of public hearings and consultations.
Among the salient provisions of the proposed ordinance are the increase in fees on provincial government services and the use of equipment.
The fees are considered outdated because the prevailing code was approved in 2006.
Condez said the PHP119.86 million income will come from the proposed rental of the Binirayan Hostel of PHP855,200; heavy equipment and material testing amounting to PHP3.3 million; old capitol building function room, floating cottage and “Balay na Bato” for pictorial amounting to PHP530,400.
Other sources include the rental of the Sports Development Complex, PHP2.27 million; environmental fee and other permit applications for quarry, PHP2.47 million; room, board, oxygen and other facilities at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital, PHP107.89 million; sale of fruit tree and vegetable seedlings, PHP1.33 million; and veterinarian health certificate, vaccination, and livestock and poultry projects at PHP1.22 million.
Antique Provincial Planning and Development officer Bienvenido Nallos Jr., in a separate interview, said the additional income will go to the various programs, projects and activities of the province.
“The more collections we have, the more services there will be for the people,” he said.
He said Governor Rhodora Cadiao prodded the local finance committee and the provincial board to revisit the revenue code so that the provincial government could enhance its services with the increase in collection. (PNA)
