The tax collection of the Dumaguete government increased by P10 million last year compared to the previous year, officer-in-charge Cristina Merced of the City Treasurer's Office said.

Merced attributed the P140 million collection in 2007 to the aggressive tax collection effort of the city, including the publication of names of delinquent real property taxpayers, and full implementation of the ordinance on real property assessment, beginning last year.

Of the city's budget for 2008, about 40 percent come from local tax collection, and the rest from the Internal Revenue Allotment, Merced said.

The CTO will also will place in public auction, real properties of delinquent taxpayers, a move supported by Mayor Agustin Perdices, she added.

City Administrator Dominador Dumalag Jr. said the increase in tax collection was due to an honest tax collection. The city did not impose any additional taxes, but used an improved system, he said.

Dumalag also said that the cooperation of taxpayers also helped in an efficient revenue collection.

Dumalag said Dumaguete is only 60 percent dependent on the IRA, unlike many local government units, whose income is 97 dependent on it.*RA

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