Transport groups and members of affiliate organizations under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros staged a rally yesterday in front of the Bacolod Government Center pushing for the deferment of City Ordinance No. 565, or the Revised Revenue Code.

Several drivers and operators of public utility jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs in Bacolod City led by Bayan-Negros also asked the city government to review the new Tax Code which it implemented last month.

Christian Tuayon, Bayan-Negros secretary general yesterday said they are pushing for the deferment of the implementation of the new Tax Code, claiming that the increase in regulatory fees under the new Code is exorbitant and violates the 10 percent hike ceiling.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said they will wait for the result of the cases filed before the Department of Justice on the matter.

Bacolod City Police director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz together with other policemen observed maximum tolerance and asked the rallyists to hold a peaceful assembly, considering that they have no permit to hold it in front of the Bacolod Government Center.

Ernie Pagayon, United Negros Drivers Operators Center chairman, said the regulatory fees for jeepney drivers and operators increased by about 300 percent and that of tricycles by about 400 percent.

He said they are asking for the reduction of these regulatory fees imposed on them claiming that they were not consulted about it.

If the city will continue to impose the new rates, this will be an added burden to the consumers and passengers, he added.

Pagayon said they hope the city will also grant them a reduction in regulatory fees and they are also planning to file a case questioning the constitutionality of the new Tax Code, he said.

In their petition, Bayan-Negros also asked members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to defer the passage of the new code and that they be given an opportunity to discuss their petition.

Sayson asked the rallyists to wait for the final decision of the DOJ on the cases filed by the business groups on the matter.

As to their request for deferment, the Ordinance is already considered enforceable, he said and asked them to pay partially their regulatory fees and other obligations before Feb. 15, 2012, to avoid being imposed a penalty of 25 percent.

Leonardia said the city has ongoing talks on the new Tax Code with the business groups.

“On our side, we are open. We will see the result of the talks between the city and the different sectors,” he said.

Leonardia said the issues presented by the protestors are the same issues raised in the legal protest before the DOJ which will be resolved accordingly. When it reaches a point that the decision becomes final and executory, they will follow the order, he said.

But the law requires that they should pay under protest, Leonardia said. They will be refunded in case they win the case, he said.*CGS

back to top