‘PPP key to Iloilo City’s economic stability’

By John Noel E. Herrera

As the Iloilo City Government recognized its leading taxpayers, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas thanked the private sector “for being a great partner of our local government” and emphasized how the partnership with the private sector helped sustain the city amid the COVID-19 pandemic and became the key for the city’s progress.

“Despite the pandemic, Iloilo City was able to get a surplus of almost P500 million and that is because of our businessmen who continued to support the city government,” Treñas said during the Awards Night of Iloilo City Top Taxpayers on Thursday, Aug 25, 2022 at the Iloilo Convention Center, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The mayor also said that they deemed it necessary to recognize the huge contribution of the business sector particularly the taxpayers who helped the city by diligently paying the required taxes amid the challenge of the pandemic.

Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, who was one of the special guests at the event together with Senior House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, also said that as a former mayor she cannot “overemphasize a secret to the success of the city – that is the good relationship between the local government unit and the private sectors, the business sectors.”

“Tonight, as the city recognizes its top taxpayers, let me thank both the local government and the business sectors for staying strong and continue working together amidst the pandemic, to ensure that your constituents have the best of their interests put forward in terms of safety, overall access to health, access to vaccines, access to support and opportunities, for recovery from the setbacks brought about by the pandemic,” the vice president said.

Duterte also lauded the city for not just being a significant part of history, but also one of the major economic hubs in Western Visayas.

The recognition of the top 10 taxpayers for both corporate and individual in Iloilo City was the highlight of the city’s 85th Charter Day celebration.

Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) was hailed as the top taxpayer of the city for the corporation category, while SPS. Romeo Go and Jill Go was the top taxpayer for the individual category.

Here is the full list of Top Taxpayers in Iloilo City:

CORPORATION

1. Panay Energy Development Corporation
2. Megaworld Corporation
3. SM Prime Holdings Corporation
4. Panay Power Corporation
5. Heva Management Dev’t Corporation
6. Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation
7. Robinsons Land Corporation
8. More Electric and Power Corporation
9. Avon River Power Holdings Corporation
10. Travelers International Hotel Group, Inc.

INDIVIDUAL

1. SPS. Romeo Go and Jill Go
2. SPS. Lynn S. Kho and James Kho
3. SPS. Theodore M. Valderrama and Eufemia Wilmett Wuthrich Valderrama
4. SPS. Marcelino M. Florete Jr. and Susan C. Florete
5. Vicky Yap and SPS. Winston Vicente Yu Yap and Genivie Servidad Yap
6. Wu Bing Huai
7. SPS. Emilio S. Diez and Gina D. Diez
8. Marilyn Uy Ong
9. Robert U. Po
10. SPS Tomas Cheng Chua and Sonita Uy Cheng Chua

In 2021, Iloilo City posted more than P400 million in tax surplus, which exceeded the projected collection and savings from personnel and operating expenses.