CITY Council committee on ways and means chair Councilor George Goking on Friday urged real property owners to pay their taxes early.

He said the deadline for the payment of Real Property Tax (RPT) in Cagayan De Oro City is set on January 20, 2022.

In an earlier statement, Goking issued an advisory reminding real property owners to pay their 2-percent basic real property tax (RPT) before Jan.20 and business permit before December 31 deadline to get the 20% discount.

A 20-percent discount is automatically accorded to early taxpayers for their real property dues as mandated under the City Tax Ordinance, it said.

Goking however, reminded that while the city gives discounts to early taxpayers paying their business permits before deadline, the late payment is charged with a 2-percent per month penalty on the unpaid amount until the delinquent tax shall have been fully paid.

Goking said even businesses are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, he still hoping that the real property taxpayers were able to pay in advance to avoid penalties and surcharges.

“I am urging those who have not paid to pay their taxes before the scheduled deadline to avoid fees,” said Goking.

Meanwhile, Goking said that sustainability is also very important during a crisis.

“We need to plan, work together especially that the number of Covid 19 positive cases is now increasing, prevention is much better than cure,” he stressed.

Goking also appealed to the business sector to take care of their employees as part of their social responsibility.

Goking, for himself usually providing free vitamins to his workers and their families even as the highly transmissible Covid variant is now circulating as pronounced by the Department of Health.

“We need to boost our immune system as one way to protect our health,” said Goking, adding that new variant is also a big threat to the economy.

The IATF loosened the stage level of quarantine last December 2021 and that’s the time businesses were given the chance to recover, according to Goking.

“People may again lose their jobs if not handled properly, he cited.

He stressed the there is a need to balance health and economic problems, as he called for cooperation among all business sectors to address these. (Ben Balce)