LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The provincial government here said its strict implementation of tax ordinances generated P28.5 million in taxes and fees from quarry operations from January to May this year in the province.
GUICO (FB)
Gov. Ramon “Mon-mon” Guico III noted that the collection in the first five months this year almost doubled last year’s total collection which reached P15.52 million.
“I think this is because we have been more diligent and we are now stricter in implementing the ordinances that we have passed early this year and late last year,” said Guico.
The governor also cited the higher collection was also due to the increase in mineral extraction fees and the collection of administrative and road maintenance fees from quarry operators.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a provincial tax ordinance that amended the province’s Revenue Code and increased mineral extraction fees from P16 per cubic meter (cu.m.) to P50 per cu. m.
The ordinance also imposed administrative fees ranging from P50 per cu. m. to P250 per cu. m., depending on the volume of minerals loaded on the truck.
In addition, road maintenance fees ranging from P100 per cu. m. to P300 per cu. m. per truckload were collected, also depending on the volume of minerals being hauled.
Under the ordinance, 40 percent of the taxes collected will go to the barangay where the resources were extracted, 30 percent will go to the town or city, and 30 percent to the province.
“You know, some entrepreneurs are using this new policy to double, triple, quadruple, or exponentially increase their profits (in selling sand and gravel) at the expense of the provincial government,” said Guico.
But the governor said that stakeholders should be aware that the increase in the sand and gravel that they buy should only be from P60 to P100 for every cu. m.
“If you do the math, we only raised P34 per cu. m. Then we added P250 for big trucks for road maintenance and another P250 for administrative fees. So, all in all, that’s P34 × 20 cu. m. for big trucks, and that’s P680 plus P250 administrative fee plus P250 road maintenance fee, it’s P1,180, right? Divided by 20, that’s P59. So, in one cu. m. of sand and gravel only P59 should be added,” said Guico.
The governor had earlier warned quarry operators in the province that they have to pay the new taxes and fees being imposed on quarrying activities, or else they cannot operate in the province.
“If you do not agree with the new fees and you keep on complaining, don’t quarry here in Pangasinan,” the governor warned. “Go to other provinces. And don’t destroy our roads, bridges, and mountains here in Pangasinan.”