The Marikina City local government passed on Tuesday, Dec. 28, an ordinance which exempts all local footwear and leather goods manufacturers in the city from paying tax as the country continues to grapple with the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a set of photos posted on the city's official page, Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro can be seen signing Ordinance no. 110, Series of 2021 or the Ordinance Granting Business Tax Exemption and Relief to Local Footwear and Other Leather Goods Manufacturers of Marikina.
The signing was held in an event attended by officials from the local government and heads of various shoe-making and leather goods groups such as Tony Andres, president of the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc., and Corazon Espiritu, chairperson of the Marikina Bags and Leather Goods Association.
The ordinance states that all shoe and leather goods makers in Marikina, including those about to establish their own shoe-making business, will be given tax exemption and relief.
Teodoro said that the city feels the hardships brought about by the pandemic, especially to its shoemaking industry wherein Marikina is known for.
He said that he hopes the ordinance will at least lessen the burden the businesses carry amid the pandemic and that it will help boost the shoemaking industry of Marikina.
Besides the Ordinance No. 110, the city government also passed two more ordinances that aim to alleviate the adverse economic effects the pandemic has caused to its residents.
On Oct. 29, Teodoro passed City Ordinance No. 089, Series of 2021 or the “Tax Amnesty on Delinquent Business Tax Payment” which gives business owners until Dec. 31 to pay their business tax through the City Treasurer’s office or through the Marikina Online Services without any incurred penalties.
Teodoro first announced the cancellation of penalty fees on Oct. 10 after several Marikina market stall owners informed him that they could not afford to pay their rent because of the financial burdens brought about by the pandemic.
He urged the Marikina City Council to enact an ordinance pertinent to the stall owners’ appeal.
City Ordinance No. 009, Series of 2019 was also passed by the Marikina City Council which offers a 20 percent discount on all full property tax payments made before Dec. 31 and a 10 percent discount on property tax payments