Bacolod sets up tax payment counters, biz help desks in malls

BACOLOD City – The city government has set up land tax payment counters and business permit help desks in various shopping malls for the convenience of local business owners and taxpayers.

Starting this week, the City Treasurer’s Office-Land Tax Division and the Business Permits and License Office (BPLO) have deployed personnel to accommodate payments and respond to permit-related queries, respectively, for the incoming year.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said in a statement on Thursday the city government aims to help enterprises in preparing for the processing of their business permits for 2021 through the “BPLO On-The-Go” mall campaign.

“Our policy is to make it easy and convenient for businesses to deal with the city government so that we can create an enabling environment for them to grow and help accelerate our economic recovery program,” he added.

The help desks are in SM City, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, and Robinsons Place from Nov. 18 to 20.

The next stops will be in Gaisano Grand, 888 Chinatown Premiere, and City Mall Singcang on Nov. 23 to 25; and City Mall Mandalagan, Lopue’s Mandalagan, and Lopue’s East on Nov. 26, 27, and 30.

BPLO head Stela Rose Rayos said their personnel will answer queries about business permits and give out application forms for 2021 to those who can present a photocopy/machine copy of their 2020 business permit.

Meanwhile, the Land Tax Division opened a temporary satellite office on the first floor of Ayala Malls Capitol Central to accept advance payments for the 2021 real property tax (RPT).

Between Nov. 16 and 27, payments are being accepted from Mondays to Fridays.

Starting Nov. 28 until Dec. 30, payments will be accepted daily – from Mondays to Sundays – except on Dec. 25.

Clients are requested to bring their previous year’s official receipt or tax declaration.

Leonardia said the innovation will make the city’s services more accessible and convenient to its clients in line with the administration’s thrust to keep Bacolod “business-friendly”.

Assistant city treasurer Arlene Memoria said those paying in advance will get a 20-percent discount, if the tax due for the whole 2021 or, at the very least, for the first and second quarters, are fully paid before Dec. 31.

“The service at the mall provides an additional venue for payors so they don’t need to flock to the Government Center. This way, social distancing protocols can be better observed,” she added.

Meanwhile, the City Treasurer’s Office at the Government Center will continue to receive RPT payments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on regular working days as well as every Saturday of December.

On Dec. 30, payments will be received from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PNA)