Several business groups in Bacolod City will file a separate appeal before the Department of Justice next week asking for the review of the Revised Revenue Code of Bacolod City.

Ben Ortega, president of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, yesterday said they are filing a separate appeal from that of Puentevella, since they are an apolitical group.

He said they do not want people to think that this was initiated by somebody else but it is just their duty to protect their members and customers.

Earlier, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella filed a 75-page appeal before the DOJ asking the Secretary of Justice to declare the Bacolod Revenue Code as illegal and of no force and legal effect.

Ortega said that during their dialog with the city officials Thursday, they agreed to form committees that will revisit the computation of the new tax rates, which they feel is too high.

Their committee will meet with the retailers and wholesalers group tentatively on February 2 at the BFCCCI building, he said.

Frank Carbon, president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said they will meet with Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson today, who was designated by the mayor to represent the city, for the review of the new tax rates.

He said that, in their first meeting today, they will prepare the parameters and mechanics on how to go about the review. They hope to resolve the matter in 30 days, he added.

Diego Malacad said he will also file a 16-page petition against the exorbitant collection of taxes before the DOJ in behalf of the Federation of Bacolod City Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association.

In their petition, they will ask the DOJ to direct the city to revert back to the 2011 tax rates since the new rates are too heavy, he said. If there are any increases in taxes, it should be reasonable, he added.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Center urged Bacolod City taxpayers not to pay their taxes as a sign of protest against the New Revenue Code of Bacolod that increased high tax tariff affecting not only businessmen but also ordinary Bacoleños and Negrenses, in a press statement issued to the DAILY STAR.

The group also called on Bacoleños, businessmen and ordinary tax payers to unite by launching a mass protest in any form to stop the implementation of the New Tax Ordinance of Bacolod City.

Meanwhile, Puentevella, in his 75-page, complaint titled “Rolling Hills Memorial Park, Inc. versus the City of Bacolod and Evelio Leonardia,” in his capacity as mayor of Bacolod, claimed that the publication, posting and hearing requirements for tax ordinances as required under the Local Government Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations were disregarded and not complied with.

Puentevella said he is blaming the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, who hurriedly passed the tax ordinance, except for Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar, Sonya Verdeflor, Elmer Sy and Catalino Alisbo

who did not support it.

Leonardia said it is more appropriate that the businessmen themselves should be the ones filing the case. “If we are proven wrong we will abide with what is legal,” he said.

However, it is clear that Puentevella is just taking advantage of the sentiments of the businessmen to the detriment of the less fortunate since the old Tax Code was regressive, he added.

Leonardia said it is the Local Government Code of the country requires that the Tax Code should be progressive where taxpayers who have more income should be paying more taxes.

He said he believes that Puentevella’s meeting with the businessmen at

the Sea Breeze hotel last week was an attempt to make them appear like his political tools and propaganda materials.

“I am happy that they (businessmen) took the more appropriate step of sitting down with us last Thursday, in response to their questions and concerns concerning the Revenue Code,” Leonardia said.

During the dialog Thursday, City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos came up with a very clear presentation which, among others, had shown that when one talks about the new tax rates of Bacolod, and compare them to tax of Talisay, those San Carlos, Bago and Kabankalan, it is not excessive, he said.

On the other hand, Puentevella said he is not yet sure what position he will be running for in the 2013 elections and he is still praying for discernment.*CGS

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