Mayor Carmelo “Pogi'” Lazatin, Jr. on May 9, 2024, recognized Angeles City’s Top 30 taxpayers from 2020 to 2023, noting their vital contribution to the city’s essential social services.
Former President and now Pampanga Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, one of Lazatin’s inspirations in public service, was the guest of honor. A renowned economist, Macapagal-Arroyo has notable projects which helped Angeles City in its growth and progress.
“Sentimental po (ako) ngayong gabi dahil matagal na po nating gustong parangalan ang mga negosyante sa siyudad. Napakalaking tulong po ng tax na kanilang binabayad para sa revenue ng lungsod na ginagamit po natin sa ating essential social services,” Lazatin, who was joyful to honor the taxpayers despite the challenges of the pandemic, said.
The top 30 top taxpayers include businesses under sole proprietorship, corporations, and Real Property Tax (RPT) received plaques of recognition.
The top taxpayers cited in the three categories have all been consistent for the past three years. Topping the Corporation Category was Converge ICT Inc., Asumco Paint and Hardware for the Individual Category, and Premier Central Inc. in the RPT Category.
The mayor also reminisced the battle cry of his father, former Pampanga First District Representative and former City Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin when he ran for mayor in 2013, saying Angeles City should remain business-friendly.
This became his first marching order when he took office in 2019 as city mayor and up until now, promising not to raise the RPT and business taxes but instead efficiently collect taxes.
“Noon po, hindi ko pa masyadong maintindihan kung anong ibig niyang sabihin dahil bago pa ako sa pulitika. Pero ngayon po, with two terms as city councilor and two terms as mayor under my belt, I finally understand finally see the wisdom in my father’s words,” Lazatin shared.
During the first six months of Lazatin’s stint as mayor, the city government had a Php200 million surplus, resulting in government employees receiving an additional Php7,000 bonus in 2019.
For the past five years, the city government consistently increased its local revenue sources while being business-friendly under Lazatin’s stint, having an increase of more than Php68 million for RPT and more than Php206 million for the collection of business taxes.
In addition, Lazatin also mentioned the benchmark programs allocated for the continuous increase in collections such as the Walang Plastikan, Plastik Palit Bigas Project; Bale Pusu, the shelter for homeless elderly females; the rescue operations for mentally-challenged individuals; the Balay Silangan Reformation Center for person tested positive for drugs; the Home for the Girls and for abused women; and, the first Double A National Meat Inspection Service-accredited slaughterhouse.
Further, with the 1 percent share of RPT collections allotted to the Special Education Fund, the city government purchased and distributed free uniforms, socks, shoes, bags and school supplies to students in public schools yearly.
It also became possible for the city government to utilize these collections to purchase mobile bus clinics intended for the house-to-house vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the Department of Health (DOH) to hail Angeles City as the area with the most efficient vaccination program nationwide.
Lazatin also mentioned the relief assistance from the business sector through the collected taxes and established and implemented pioneering and trail blazing programs.
“Hindi po sapat ang isang parangal para tumbasan ang kontribusyon ninyo sa pag-unlad ng Siyudad ng Angeles. Nevertheless, on behalf of the City of Angeles, I would like to offer my sincerest thank you to our partners on the business sector,” Lazatin expressed.
Also present during the event were Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, and department heads and chiefs of offices. (Angeles CIO)
