For those of you living and working here in the Philippines, be aware that starting January 1, 2023, lower tax rates will charged on individual taxpayers as confirmed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), according to a recent GMA Network news report. Now is a good time to approach a certified expert on taxation if you want to see how this upcoming development will affect you.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA Network news report. Some parts in boldface…
Individual taxpayers will be charged lower tax rates starting next year, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Friday.
Individuals earning purely compensation income, including non-business/non-profession related income and sole proprietors, “can look forward to a higher take-home pay in 2023,” according to the BIR.
The taxman said the lower income tax rate is pursuant to Republic Act 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which took effect on January 1, 2018.
Starting January 1, 2023, those with annual taxable income below P250,000.00 are still exempt from paying personal income tax, while the rest of taxpayers, except those with taxable income of more than P8 million, will have lower tax rates ranging from 15% to 30% by 2023.
To maintain progressivity, the BIR imposed a 35% tax rate on top individual taxpayers with annual taxable incomes exceeding P8 million, up from 32% previously.
The income tax on the individual’s taxable income shall be computed based on the following schedules, effective January 1, 2023, and onwards:
The taxation reference from GMA’s news report.
Compared to the income tax rates imposed during the initial implementation of the TRAIN Law in 2018, the new annual income tax rates for individuals significantly decreased by 5% for those with taxable income of more than P250,000.00 up to P2,000,000.00, while a 2% decrease in tax rate was noted for those with taxable income of more than P2,000,000.00 up to P8,000,000.00.
The above article ended stating that employers must use the revised withholding tax table to calculate the withholding taxes on their employees’ compensation income taking effect on January 1, 2023.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this new development? When was the last time you consulted with a tax expert for insight about your income tax returns? Do you think this new development will boost the national economy as a whole somehow in 2023?
If you are running a business in Las Piñas City and you need more time to settle your dues with the City Government, then you should be delighted to know that the deadline for paying business permits, licenses, taxes, fees and charges has been extended all the way to March 31, 2022 as a result of a move done by the City Council with the approval of Mayor Imelda Aguilar, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Pinas City Council, headed by Vice-Mayor April Aguilar, has extended the deadline for the payment of business permits, licenses, taxes and other commercial and industrial fees and charges until March 31 without interests, penalties, and surcharges.
Mayor Imelda Aguilar immediately signed the resolution passed and approved by the City Council to give local businesses relief, ease their burden, and help them to recover from the severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aguilar endorsed the letter of Wilfredo Gaerlan, chief of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), requesting for the extension of the deadline of the payment of business permit and licenses.
The vice-mayor, upon receiving the endorsement of the mayor, convened the City Council to pass a resolution after learning of the decrease in business permit and license renewal due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) due to the Omicron variant.
The City Council heeded the call of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) for local government units to extend the period of renewal of business permits and payment of real property tax until the end of the first quarter given the surge in COVID-19 cases.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are managing a business in Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this recent development? How helpful is the extension for you and your business?
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It’s been two days since cinemas around Metro Manila officially reopened which is a welcome move not because I personally want to watch movies on the big screen inside the theater but because the local cinema industry will contribute to the economic recovery of our nation from this ongoing COVID-19 crisis. That being said, I urge you readers – who got fully vaccinated locally – who love watching movies to take time out to support the local cinema operators and their employees by visiting their venues, buying tickets over the counter and watch movies on the big screen while following the local health protocols (note: local cinemas have invested a lot in making their venues safe and sanitized).
Be reminded that streaming will NEVER match the grandeur and immersion of the cinema! The cinema is always better than streaming. Movie venue choices aside, local moviegoers now have the opportunities to watch A Quiet Place Part II and the big blockbuster Dune (2021).
Going back to the topic of economic recovery, there is no doubt that the COVID-19 crisis combined with all the restrictions imposed by the local, regional and nation authorities brought down the national economy in 2020 along with all the economic sectors and the employees. All of these also translate into a major loss of tax revenue for the local governments, provincial governments and the national government.
In the case of the local cinema industry, the shutdown of cinemas since the pandemic started in March 2020 resulted a huge, collective industry loss of revenue according to a BusinessWorld report. I’m talking about many BILLIONS of Pesos lost!
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of the BusinessWorld report. Some parts in boldface…
The cinema industry had P19 billion in foregone revenue from March 2020 to September this year, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson Mary Liza Diño-Seguerra said in a Teams video interview.
The loss had ballooned to P21 billion as of Oct. 11, Charmaine N. Bauzon, president of Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines, told PTV News.
Local government units, which charge 10% amusement tax per movie ticket, lost P1.09 million daily from the country’s more than a thousand movie screens, according to estimates by the National Tax Research Center.
“We earned P11.5 billion yearly from the box office [before the pandemic],” Ms. Seguerra said. “We sold about 52 million tickets each year.”
Cinema operators get 50% of ticket sales, while the other half goes to producers, who then give as much as a quarter to the distributor, who’s in charge of marketing and distributing the film to the public.
Last year, cinemas in areas under a more relaxed quarantine made a measly P327,000, Ms. Seguerra said.
Take note that before the pandemic started, the local cinema industry as a whole had a work force of 300,000 employees and those who lost their jobs and income really suffered. In the City of San Juan, the Manila Bulletin reported about the reopening of local cinemas there with Mayor Francis Zamora issuing statements and leading the inspection on the venues. Posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin article.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora led the inspection of cinemas in the city starting with the Greenhills Promenade Cinema.
Zamora inspected the health and safety protocols of the cinema such as the disinfection process of the establishment and the procedure of buying the tickets, which can be done before entry to the cinema or online, new seating arrangements with strict physical distancing, and the guidelines of actual movie viewing under the new normal.
“I know how Filipinos miss watching movies in silver screens which have been shut down for almost two years due to the pandemic, but now the long wait is over. With the approval of the IATF, we are allowing the opening of our cinemas in the city, provided that we take extra care and observe stringent protocols as we are still facing threats of COVID-19 despite the easing of restrictions to Alert Level 2,” Zamora said.
“I want to personally make sure that our cinemas in San Juan will be safe for all of us, not only for the moviegoers but for the employees of these establishments as well,” he added.
During Alert Level 2, the operational capacity of several businesses has been increased to accommodate more customers. It has also eased down quarantine restrictions in various indoor establishments and recreational venues including movie houses and cinemas.
Under the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines, cinemas can accommodate up to 50 percent of its maximum venue capacity, but only those who are fully vaccinated will be allowed entry into the cinemas.
For added insight, posted below are two news videos for your viewing…
Once I again, I urge you readers based in Metro Manila and in nearby provinces who got fully vaccinated to come out to support our local cinema operators and make a contribution to economic recovery as you enjoy watching on the big screen again.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Now that cinemas within Metro Manila have reopened, are you planning to revisit them and watch movies on the big screens anytime soon? Does Dune (2021) interest you a lot? When was the last time you saw a movie inside the movie theater? Do you realize that as a paying customer, what you pay helps not only movie producers and cinema operators but also their employees and the varied government units (that collect amusement taxes)?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
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Are you a vlogger based here in the Philippines who made a lot of money recently? Be aware that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is on the lookout for vloggers they might find taxable. The other day, it was reported by the Manila Bulletin that the BIR is paying close attention to a certain unidentified couple who allegedly earned between P50 million to P100 million (US$1 million to US$2 million based on the latest foreign exchange rates) that past few years and the deletion of their social media channel was seen to be a move to avoid taxation. It should be noted that the BIR launched a campaign focused on social media influencers or SMIs.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin article. Some parts in boldface…
A couple, who reportedly raked in multi-million pesos from video blogging (vlogging), abruptly deleted their social media channel in what the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officials believe to be an attempt to avoid paying taxes.
Based on the initial investigation of the BIR, the couple earned P50 to P100 million in the past two years which enabled them to buy luxury vehicles and built a mansion somewhere in Metro Manila.
BIR sources said the couple deleted their channel days after BIR Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay announced a crackdown against social media influencers (SMIs) who have been receiving earning huge sum of money from social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook by compelling them to pay taxes.
The couple, BIR officials said, had more than 11 million subscribers. The names of the pair were withheld pending the outcome of the investigation.
But the BIR said it will still run after the couple, saying deleting the social media channel will not excuse them from paying taxes.
Vloggers are classified as self-employed subject to 12 percent value-added tax if annual income is P3 million and more, eight percentage tax if less than the amount and tax exempt if not more than P250,000.
Dulay advised vloggers to be truthful in their income tax declaration to avoid facing tax evasion charges.
The article ended stating that social media influencers cannot hide their respective income because the “tax authorities of countries where the social media platforms are based are obligated to furnish the BIR with their salaries under a tax treaty agreement with the Philippines.”
For the newcomers reading this, the penalties for tax evasion has been updated this year in accordance to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act. A person found guilty of tax evasion, the financial penalty is now P500,000 to P10 million. Imprisonment will be 6 to 10 years.
In closing this piece, let me ask you readers: Do you believe that the BIR’s search for qualified vloggers or SMIs to tax is good for the Philippines? Do you believe that your favorite vloggers or SMIs have a legal obligation to pay taxes? Do you believe that the affected vloggers/SMIs will react by promoting/favoring the politicians or potential election candidates who oppose the current administration?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
And then there is the local stock exchange. While many investors are constantly looking on different directions and varied factors to decide what to do with their respective investments, the COL Financial Group recently revised its end-of-the-year estimate for the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) but their new prediction still points to a higher count than what the current index shows.
Online stockbroker COL Financial Group expects the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) to end the year at 8,100, slightly lower than previously projected, supported by optimism for faster economic recovery and earnings growth.
COL chief equity strategist April Lynn Tan said their forecast for PSEi has been reduced from 8,300 considering the lower earnings incurred by property companies as their mall operations are affected most by the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The National Capital Region (NCR) will be placed under the most restrictive ECQ from Aug. 6 to 20 to prevent the spread of the more infectious Delta coronavirus variant.
This, after the one implemented from May 17 to April 13, 2021 to stem the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) surge.
“We cut our earnings forecast and fair value estimates for the property companies given that they are part of a lot of the big holding companies that also dragged our fair value estimates. (But) an 8,100 target is still significantly higher from where we are today. That is why, we keep on saying that the negatives are priced in,” Tan said in a virtual press briefing Monday.
She said companies are “coping well” with the pandemic, adding that almost all sectors, except the property sector, reported higher year-on-year earnings.
“The reason why companies were able to deliver higher profits in the first quarter of this year compared to last year even though we are still in the pandemic is because they have adapted to the pandemic scenario by cutting cost and of course they also benefited from the lower tax rate, thanks to the CREATE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives) law,” Tan said.
President Rodrigo Duterte last March 26 signed into law the CREATE Act reducing the corporate income tax rate by 5 to 10 percent for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other corporations.
Moreover, Tan said they remain bullish of the stock market on the back of efficient vaccination efforts and inflation reaching its peak.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are an investor, what can you say about COL Financial Group’s end-of-the-year prediction for the Philippine Stock Exchange? Are you confident that the economic stakeholders, the businesses and investors will emerge stronger starting with the end of the next ECQ period until the end of the year? Is the CREATE Law positively impacting your business and/or investments?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
You must be wondering how much of a price did the nation pay as a result of the 2-week ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) ordered on NCR Plus (National Capital Region plus the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal).
The answer? P180 billion in terms of economic losses according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) accounting for 1% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) article of April 15, 2021. Some parts in bold…
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has estimated that the country lost 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) during the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in National Capital Region (NCR) and four nearby provinces.
During the Laging Handa public briefing Thursday, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said the economic loss due to the half-a-month ECQ in NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal (NCR Plus) is equivalent to PHP180 billion.
Earlier, Lopez said around 1.5 million Filipinos had no jobs during the ECQ in NCR Plus, and only 500,000 jobs were brought back when the quarantine classification for areas was downgraded to a less strict modified ECQ (MECQ).
“We want to see lower Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases and lower utilization rate of (Covid-19 beds) before we ease the status to GCQ (general community quarantine),” he said in Filipino.
The DTI chief also downplayed speculation that the reopening of economic activities and business establishments became the ‘super spreader’ of Covid-19.
To manage the rate of infection of the coronavirus, Lopez said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will not allow high-risk and non-essential activities and gatherings.
He added the government must slow down the daily Covid-19 cases while increasing the health care capacity to relax community quarantine status in the NCR Plus.
Clearly, the 2-week ECQ period on NCR Plus was damaging not only to the businesses and people of the affected region but on the Philippine economy as well. What we cannot see yet is exactly how many more people – specifically those who lost jobs in NCR Plus because of ECQ – fell into poverty. Take note that the more people fall into poverty, the more costly it becomes for the local government units (LGUs) and the nation government to provide support to them using taxpayers’ money.
If you do the math, a single week of ECQ on NCR Plus costs P90 billion. Can you just imagine the dramatic cost to the nation had ECQ went on for a full year of 52 weeks? Do not forget that all the unemployed bad need jobs and income.
Right now, the national government and varied forms of governing units are still struggling to balance themselves between economics and public health during this COVID-19 (China virus) pandemic that has lasted over a year now. No matter how you do your business, how you make your important transactions, follow the health protocols to avoid getting infected with the China virus.
By the way, whenever possible, support the business joints in your local community whenever you need to buy or consume something. By the way, never let the Political Left fool you with their propaganda related to economy and the pandemic.
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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Yesterday, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez announced that the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act is aimed to reduce the corporate income tax which should lead to creating more jobs as well as attracting investments.
Given the dramatic fall of the Philippine economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CREATE bill could be the big solution to boost the economy and pave the way for recovery. For almost a year now, the said pandemic caused a lot of people to lose their jobs and much of their income. A lot of businesses closed down as well.
For your reference, here is a long excerpt of the news release about the said bill published via Philippine News Agency (PNA). Key words are highlighted in bold:
The recent bicameral approval of the game-changing CREATE Act can also provide a big boost to the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) Task Force chaired by the DTI and co-chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which was signed last Feb. 5 by several agencies.
“The landmark tax and incentives reform bill that we expect to be signed by the President is expected to bring in (a) massive inflow of investments that will create more jobs, especially as we focus efforts in the National Employment Recovery during this period of the pandemic and beyond. The passing of CREATE will firm up the tax and incentive reforms that will make the investment climate significantly more attractive than the current tax and incentive regime,” Lopez said in a statement.
He said the bill will certainly encourage more investments with the lowering of the corporate income taxes rate from 30 percent to 20 percent for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and 25 percent for large corporations.
“Modernizing the incentives system likewise makes the incentives such as income tax holiday (ITH), special corporate income tax rates (SCIT) or enhanced deductions (ED), available to industries considered strategic, critical or export oriented,” he added.
The Trade chief said the length of incentives, such as four to seven years of ITH plus five or 10 years of SCIT or ED, will depend on the nature of industry, export or domestic oriented, degree of technology and value adding, and geographical location, with additional years outside the Metro Manila and urban centers.
“There is also (a) longer transition period for those currently granted incentives. Thus, incentives are now made more performance-based, focused and timebound,” Lopez said.
CREATE is a bill certified urgent by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte upon the recommendation of the economic team led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.
Lopez also thanked the legislators at the Senate and the House of Representatives, with Sen. Pia Cayetano and Rep. Joey Salceda, respectively, as principal authors, for the hard work of the committee members in bringing the CREATE bill to fruition.
“The passing of CREATE will unleash the growth potential of investments by removing uncertainties during the period that the bill was under deliberation,” Lopez said. “Based on our estimate and those from Cong. Joey Salceda, CREATE can bring in over PHP200 billion of new investments that can generate 1.4 (million) to 2 million incremental jobs.”
CREATE will help boost investments in the Philippines, which would support the 2021 target of the Board of Investments (BOI) of PHP1.25-trillion investment approvals.
A report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) had also estimated that the Philippines bucked the trend in Southeast Asia, and had increased its foreign direct investments (FDIs) during the pandemic by 29 percent last year.
Meanwhile, the NERS 2021-2023 is a medium-term plan anchored on the updated Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 and ReCharge PH by expanding the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan initiative and improving access and security of employment.
The strategy also takes into consideration the changes in the labor market brought about by the pandemic and the fast adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe) technologies.
“NERS shall also consolidate all measures, programs, and institutions that influence the demand and supply of labor, as well as the functioning of labor markets,” Lopez said.
Members of NERS Oversight Committee include the Departments of Transportation (DOTr), Tourism (DOT), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Science and Technology (DOST), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Agriculture (DA), Agrarian Reform (DAR), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and National Security Council (NSC), as well as the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS), Departments of Finance (DOF) and Budget and Management (DBM), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said: “This JMC (joint memorandum circular) will fortify our collective undertaking as a Task Force working to develop a policy environment that encourages the generation of more employment opportunities, improves employability and productivity of workers, and supports existing and emerging businesses.”
Lopez further stressed the importance of continuing with the calibrated and safe reopening of the economy to allow the country to regain the growth momentum that it had before the pandemic.
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Thank you for reading. If you find this post engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Yesterday the City Government of Las Piñas announced that property owners in the city who have not settled their dues have until May 15, 2021 to avail of the Tax Amnesty which is the result of the approval of City Ordinance No. 1729-20 (Series of 2021).
The Tax Amnesty covers all unpaid property taxes as well as Local Government interests, penalties and surcharges. Payment of taxes can be done by means of cash or by installment within the stipulated period.
The Tax Amnesty is meant to alleviate the financial concerns of the local constituents by giving them sufficient time to settle their taxes as the City Government is fully aware of the challenges and hardships caused by the pandemic on public health and on the economy.
Those who will be doing transactions at City Hall are advised to follow health and safety protocols.
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The above information was provided by the Las Piñas City Government for the purpose of public information and transparency. Some parts were edited for this website.
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The City Government of Muntinlupa formally introduced a contactless and cashless processing of business applications and payments through the launching of BEST (Business E-payment System), an e-governance innovation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a bid to address the challenges of the pandemic to face-to-face transactions, the City Government, through its partner banks Development Bank of the Philippines and Landbank of the Philippines, formally launched the Business E-payment System (AKA Muntinlupa BEST) yesterday.
The counters where business applicants and taxpayers can do their transactions. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi says the City Government developed the project to adapt to the “new normal” of public service which requires an open government approach and use of digital platforms.
Fresnedi added that through the e-governance initiative, the risk of COVID-19 transmission will also be prevented due to reduced contact of clients and government employees who will process their applications.
Muntinlupa BEST is an online payment alternative that will allow locators in Muntinlupa City to accomplish business permit applications and transactions through any internet-enabled device. Taxpayers can access the online platform via www.muntinlupacity.gov.ph and accomplish transactions including application for New Business Permit, Renewal of Business Permit, Application Status Inquiry, Billing and Payment, and Payment History.
Upon assessment and verification of payment, the Muntinlupa Business Permits and Licensing Office shall endorse an advanced e-copy of the requested permit to the client via email. The total processing time is shortened to around 30 minutes for applications with complete set of requirements.
Clients can schedule the pick-up of original documents or arrange delivery via courier service. The platform also serves as online portal for transactions processed by the Treasury Office which include application and submission of requirements, acquisition of assessment billing, Order of Payment and e-Payment for the convenience of taxpayers.
Payments can be processed through Bancnet and PESONet partner banks or over-the-counter via ECPAY, Bayad Express and 7-Eleven outlets. Taxpayers can now conveniently pay their taxes at their own time and within the safety of their homes.
Safety protocols and high-tech equipment are on place to ensure a safe environment for everyone. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
Muntinlupa BEST is facilitated by the city’s BPLO, the Mayor’s Office, the Management Information Systems Office, and the City Treasurer’s Office, Muntinlupa City is a frontrunner in business innovations which include the Single Window Transaction – Muntinlupa Business One Stop Shop. It is an innovative single-interface business registration process consisting of three simple steps with one and the same staff from start to end of the transaction for as fast as fifteen minutes.
Muntinlupa’s initiative in government efficiency has been recognized by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) as one of the best practices in the country.
SWiT-MBOSS qualified as a finalist in the 4th International Best Practice Competition (IBPC) organized by the Asian Productivity Organization. Muntinlupa City shared runner up standing with Texas Instruments (Philippines) and City of El Paso, Texas (USA), while tied as the competition’s champions were Al Jazeera International Catering LLC (UAE) and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (UAE).
Further, Muntinlupa City has been adjudged as one of the winners of the Digital Cities Philippines Awards for Best Practices in eGovernance for Local Government Units. In 2018, Muntinlupa bagged the 2nd place in the Best in eGOV Government Inter-operability (G2G) category for its Budget Management and Monitoring System (BMMS) besting 65 entries from 36 LGUs in the country.
Muntinlupa City is the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Most Business-Friendly LGU in 2017 and 2018.
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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.
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The City Government of Muntinlupa announced yesterday its move to relax the collection of penalties for late payment of business taxes from the second quarter until the remainder of the year in a bid to help the private sector to recover from losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed City Ordinance 2020-150 waiving penalties and surcharges incurred for the non-payment of business taxes from 2nd to 4th quarter of 2020 as assistance to the business sector.
Fresnedi said as the effects of COVID-19 pandemic further intensify the hurdles being faced by the private sector, the City Government of Muntinlupa as a partner to business sector will extend its assistance by providing for tax reliefs.
However, all business taxes due for the said period shall however be subject to the penalties and interest prescribed by Muntinlupa Revenue Code if not paid on or before December 29, 2020. Muntinlupa City Business Permits and Licensing Office advised business taxpayers in the city to settle all outstanding balances on or before the deadline to avoid incurring penalties.
Earlier this year, Muntinlupa City has imposed several extension of deadlines for the payment of taxes and fees amid the community quarantine in Metro Manila.
In May, Muntinlupa City Council adapted the Department of Finance (DOF) Department Circular (DC) No. 002-2020 through City Ordinance 2020-095 for the uniform adoption and implementation on the extension of deadlines for the payment of local taxes, fees, and charges imposed by local government units from March 25 to June 25, 2020.
Read the details closely. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
The City Government of Muntinlupa has also passed ordinances in March providing a two-month payment extension on Real Property Tax payments and other payables to the City Government for the 1st Quarter, including payment for business taxes and fees for the 2nd Quarter, without penalties, surcharge, and interest. Penalties and surcharges incurred for the non-payment of 2nd and 3rd quarter business taxes were also waived through City Ordinance 2020-146.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Muntinlupa recognized the City Government’s implementation of the Local Economic Continuity Plan which outlines programs and activities for business adaptation in the time of the pandemic and future programs for economic recovery.
PCCI-Muntinlupa president Elvie Sanchez-Quiazon conferred the Sterling Growth Catalyst Award to Mayor Fresnedi in recognition of his leadership in addressing the health crisis while still boosting the sustainability of local economy last July. Quiazon said the local chamber lauds the mayor’s “transformational and adaptable leadership, commitment and eminent public service to boost the development and sustainability of the Muntinlupa City in challenging times.”
As of November 25, Muntinlupa City has 4,867 confirmed cases with 4,666 recoveries, 43 active cases, 158 reported deaths, 43 suspect cases, and 234 probable cases.
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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.
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Author Carlo Carrasco 