The insurgency problem is being blamed for the poor collection of real property tax in Oriental Negros by Provincial Treasurer Danilo Mendez.

He said most of the towns with very poor collection are those in the hinterlands that are experiencing insurgency problems.

The towns of Guihulngan, Vallahermoso, Tayasan, Sta. Catalina, Siaton, and Zamboanguita registered a dismal performance in the real property tax collection last year.

Sporadic skirmishes between government troops and rebels had occurred in these areas last year.

Records revealed that Guihulngan collected only P3.1 million or a measly 39 percent of its target collection of P8.1 million; Vallahermoso registered a 47 percent collection having collected only a little over P800,000 compared to its P1.6 million target; Tayasan achieved a 52 percent collection or P1.012 million from its P1.9 million projection; and Sta. Catalina with a target of P6.6 million, collected only about P3.6 million.

Siaton collected P2.5 million from its P4.6 million target, or 54 percent collection, similar to that of Sta. Catalina.

But Mendez also said there could have been other factors for the poor collection, because other towns with no reported rebel activities in the past months, also recorded slow real property tax collection.

These are the towns of Basay, 32 percent; La Libertad, 38 percent; Mabinay, 43 percent; and Pamplona , 54 percent.

Mendez said of the P89 million real property tax target for 2006, only 66.9 percent was achieved.

He said he will find out from municipal treasurers other reasons for their dismal performance. Those who do not perform their jobs are liable under the law, he said.*RA

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