The city government of San Pedro, Laguna has just received an award.
But it’s a citation no one, not even Mayor Art Mercado, has been expecting.
The recognition came from the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), an attached agency of the Department of Finance (DOF).
The award: inclusion in the Top Ten Component and Independent Component Cities in the Philippines by the BLGF in terms of "Year-on-Year Growth in Local Source Revenues."
That San Pedro, Laguna is among the few cities in the Philippines (and one of two cities in Laguna province) to be chosen for this award is remarkable.
For one, it is one of the smallest cities in Laguna province in terms of land area.
Not only that, in contrast with its neighbors in Laguna province which have made big strides in attracting industrial and commercial investors, San Pedro City has become one of the densest cities in the province.
This fact, while earning San Pedro City the nickname “Dormitory City,” has also brought challenges to the local government, especially in terms of earning local revenue.
“Ang San Pedro po, ang liit-liit na nga po ng ating area, tapos puro residential pa, and we’re hard put in attracting investors to our city,” was how Enelyn Abaigar, head of the San Pedro City Treasurer’s Office, put it in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
A big deal
So being honored by the BLGF is a morale booster for officers and staff of the San Pedro City Treasurer’s Office.
This recognition can be considered a “seal of approval” from national government agencies that the local treasury is on the right track in efficiently collecting and managing the various local dues and taxes.
These, the local city treasurer explained, include real property taxes, business taxes, community taxes (popularly known as “cedulas”), annual annual fixed tax, professional taxes, and amusement taxes, as well as fees collected from various LGU transactions and franchises and the rental of various LGU facilities including the Pacita Astrodome.
“Hindi po namin expected ito, lalo na’t buong Pilipinas ang saklaw ng award na ito ng BLGF. And this is just in terms of local revenue growth,” Abaigar enthused.
“Tuwang-tuwa po kami kasi, among the LGUs here in Laguna province, iilan po kaming nakapasok sa criteria na ito. So talagang maipagmamalaki po namin na ‘Una sa Laguna’ [the official wordmark of San Pedro City under Mayor Art Mercado] ang ating lungsod.”
Tax caravans
So how was the city government able to achieve this recognition?
Abaigar said it is because the main focus of her office is to ensure that every San Pedrense household and business can pay their dues, no matter how small, to the city government.
This is accomplished through regular tax caravans conducted in each of the city’s 27 barangays to encourage residents and businesses to pay local taxes.
“Every first quarter po natin ginagawa itong tax caravan. Umiikot kami sa lahat ng barangay to remind our constituents na kailangan nilang magbayad ng local taxes,” Abaigar explained.
The City Treasurer’s Office also involves local officials to the barangays, particularly the Barangay Treasurers’ Office, and gives incentives and awards to barangays who consistently top in revenue collections.
“Yung top three barangays po ang binibigyan natin ng appreciation for their efficient and effective collection of local taxes. Last year po, ang binigyan natin ng recognition ay ang mga barangay ng San Roque, Landayan at Langgam,” she related.
Hassle-free
Aside from efficient collection of local duties and revenues, Abaigar added that the City Treasurer’s Office also keeps to Mayor Mercado’s directive to provide fast, hassle-free services to local taxpayers.
“Ang lagi ko pong sinasabi sa ating mga staff, minsan ilagay natin ang sarili natin sa kalagayan ng ating mga taxpayers. Hindi po ba, kapag mahaba ang pila tapos makikita mong tila walang ginagawa ang mga tauhan namin, hindi na po gaganahan ang iba na magbayad ng local taxes?” she explained.
“On the other hand, kapag mabilis ang proseso, iisipin ng mga tao, yun naman pala, okay naman palang magbayad ng buwis kasi walang hassle.”
Revenue growth
The City Treasurer’s Office’s continued drive to ensure that local duties and taxes are paid properly has led into an impressive revenue growth for San Pedro City – money that, Abaigar emphasized, can (and has been) put into use for Mercado’s extensive social welfare agenda.
Data released by the San Pedro City Treasurer’s Office revealed that the city’s local income grew from P1.9077 billion in 2023 to P2.8794 billion in 2024, a significant 50.94-percent increase.
“Itong paglaki ng income ng ating lungsod is already remarkable, given na hindi lamang tayo ang isa sa pinakamaliit na mga lungsod sa lalawigan ng Laguna, tapos puro residential pa,” the official added.
“At take note, ito po yung income na ginagamit natin ngayon para ibalik sa tao through social services. Kasama na po rito, for example, yung free school uniforms at supplies para sa mga estudyante sa lungsod.”
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