MARAWI City Mayor Majul Gandamra has announced that the revenue collection of the city marks significant progress alongside its expenditures for the implementation of various initiatives.
“People have come to realize that their taxes and other fees that they pay contribute a great deal in the improvement of their city,” said Gandamra, adding that this has been shown by their willingness to pay their taxes.
Gandamra said that better delivery of basic and social services to constituents was made possible through this commendable collection of taxes, such as property fees, business registration, among others.
In his State of the City Address Friday, August 27, Gandamra detailed that through the taxpayers’ fund, assistance for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, disadvantaged sectors of the city, and victims of calamities were provided through the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD).
“The construction of buildings and facilities situated in the City Hall complex was also made to happen,” according to the chief executive.
Gandamra said that the revenue collection was the source as well for the completion and procurement of some school facilities, like the foundation of gymnasiums and concrete stages in different public schools, distribution of laptops and printers to educators in line with the modular or blended learning modalities amid the pandemic.
Salary rates for the City Hall employees were duly pulled up and standardized considering their previous compensation was outdated and is worth being well-compensated, said Gandamra.
He emphasized that actual funds visibly go to where it should be.
“To make it straight, the taxes you paid and your contribution to the local government really concretely go somewhere,” he said.
Gandamra expressed his gratitude to businesses and real property owners for their sincerity in living out their responsibility in society as taxpayers.
“That is why I am greatly thanking our business entities and real property owners who are continuously paying taxes and supporting the initiative of our local government in generating local funds in addition to the Internal Revenue Allotment from the national government to achieve real change here in our city,” Gandamra said. (CRG/PIA Lanao del Sur)
