Silay City Mayor Jose "Oti" Montelibano yesterday said he will ask the Sangguniang Panlungsod to pass a resolution addressed to the Office of the President to grant a tax amnesty for real property taxpayers in Silay.

In a press conference, Montelibano said the city has an estimated P200 million RPT collectibles. He said collection will be enhanced if an amnesty on the interest will be granted. During the recent visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Mayor Montelibano said he raised the need for more infrastructure projects in Silay to make the city a regional stop for tourists.

"We are in the eye of the storm and Silay is the sparkplug for growth and development which we hope to radiate not only in our district but the entire province as well," he said.

Among the proposed projects eyed by his administration are access highway, a "new" town that will rise within the city, a mass rapid transit, and a fly-over in Barangay Lantad.

On the Metro Third District Agreement previously signed among mayors in the district, Montelibano said he has no idea what happened to it and he did not know what the plan was all about.

He said his priority is to make Silay globally competitive and he encouraged every Silaynon to "go out and work" with their local leaders.

On the state of the city's finances, Mayor Montelibano said there were legal infirmities that have to be dealt with and the Mayor's Office is operating with a "zero budget".

The city government also has P44 million payables and they can not afford to hire casual employees at this time.

Montelibano is also hoping that the Temporary Restraining Order granted by the court on the P20,406,020 budget ordinance passed by the city council on May 22, 2007 will be lifted soon.

He said they needed the budget as the remaining funds of the different departments can not cover for its operational expense until the end of the year.*NAB

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