The 20 municipal treasurers in Oriental Negros have to explain their perceived failure or indifference in collecting tax on buildings, which is blamed for the low collection of real property tax in the province last year.

Provincial treasurer Danilo Mendez disclosed that of the P89 million target collection from real property tax in 2006, only P59 million was collected. He said this could be the main reason for the low collection.

The municipal treasurers did not give serious attention to the collection of real property tax on buildings, Mendez said.

"That is why they (municipal treasurers) should explain their very poor performance in collecting real property tax on buildings," he added.

Mendez said he had noted that most municipal treasurers have performed well in the collection of business taxes in their respective towns, but not on real property tax specially from buildings.

He said real property taxes on buildings was even expected to increase because of the many edifices constructed elsewhere in the province.

Mendez however, did not disclose the actual amount collected from real property tax on buildings saying the personnel in custody of the record was not around. He said, though, that the collection was very meager.

Mendez said the provincial government is giving P1,000 monthly allowance to municipal treasurers, and provided them with real property tax receipts.

He said it is the obligation of the treasurers to collect real property taxes. In the sharing of the tax collection, the town is entitled to 40 percent; the barangay where the property is located 35 percent; and the province gets only 25 percent.*RA

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