BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan on their third and final reading recently and unanimously approved the ordinance revising Provincial Ordinance No.101, series of 2010 known as Updated Revenue Code of Mountain Province in order to significantly increase locally generated funds to ensure local fiscal competitiveness.
Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen said the timely approval of a revised revenue code of the province is pursuant to the mandate of the Local Government Code of the Philippines for the updating of local revenue codes within three to five years so that the prescribed rates will conform with the prevailing situation and for the province to be able to implement more development projects and to enhance the delivery of basic services to the people.
“Generating revenue is needed to sustain the operations of the provincial government, thus, the timely move of the provincial board to amend the existing revenue code of the province,” Mayaen stressed.
Before its final approval, however, the governor intends to review the full details of the ordinance to ensure that the fees are justifiable to all stakeholders. “Any adjustment on fees should be done with justifiable causes so as not to further burden our people, considering the sky rocketing cost of living,” Mayaen added.
Updates on the ordinance include the following: for those engaged in business on printing and publication and on business enjoying franchise, they have to pay a Governor’s Permit fee amounting to P1, 000.
A Governor’s Permit Fee amounting to P2, 000 shall be imposed on the extraction of sand and gravel and other quarry services and on proprietors, lessors, or operators of amusement places.
Furthermore, a Governor’s Permit Fee of P1, 000 and stickers at cost plus 20 percent mark-up shall be imposed on operators of delivery trucks and vans regardless of the number of tracks and vans.
The SP had also decided to increase the Service Fees charged by the Provincial Government Offices, Service Fees for Agricultural Services, Equipment Rentals, Charges on Provincial Lots and Buildings specifically the rental of the Multi –Purpose Building from P800.00 to P1, 000 per day and ENRO Charges for Concessionaries. The ENRO Charges for Concessionaries include the increase of Filing Fee from P200.00 to P300.00; Governor’s Permit of P700.00 to P2, 000.00; Inspection/ Verification Fee of P350.00 to P500.00; Application fee of P100.00 to P200.00 and a fee of P2.00 per tree shall be imposed for contracts and projects.
Moreover, the legislative body imposed additional Hospital Services Fee for services of facilities rendered by the Provincial Hospital specifically on board and lodging. Patients who used to avail of the De Luxe/Suite Room with charge of P550.00 will now be charged P1, 000 per day. The 500.00 per day charge to Private Room will increase to P800.00 per day while the P400.00 per day charge Regular Ward remains. Also, Medical Certificate to be issued by the provincial hospital is free if is used for athletic and enrolment purposes. Others who will secure a Medical Certificate for other purposes will have to pay P50.00 while senior citizens who will present their Identification Cards will be given a 20 percent discount.
Furthermore, some of the Ambulance Fees on the transportation of patients from the provincial hospitals will increase while other transportation charges per trip remain.
Meanwhile, some Charges on Provincial Government Facilities and other fees not stated above were not subject to revision.
The ordinance crafted by the SP shall take effect on January 1, 2015 once the governor shall have affixed his signature approving the said order.
By Dexter A. See
