Nation builders

TAXES BUILD nations. Hail now the nation-builders in this spot of the Republic called the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

The top business taxpayers:         

San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (Business Tax-Manufacturers-Non-Essential)

Toyota San Fernando Pampanga, Inc. (Business Tax-Wholesaler, Dealer, Distributor-Non-Essential)

Star Appliances Center, Inc. (Business Tax-Retailers-Non-Essential)

UNAHCO Inc. (Business Tax-Manufacturers-Essential)

United Laboratories, Inc. (Business Tax-Wholesaler, Dealer, Distributor-Essential)

Super Value, Inc. “SM Supermarket-SM City Pampanga” (Business Tax-Retailers-Essential)

NLEX Corp. (Business Tax-Contractors & Independent Contractors)

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (Business Tax-Services)

East West Bank Corp. (Business Tax-Banking & Financial Institutions)

Josefina T. Siy of A.A Saver’s Mart (Business Tax-Single Proprietorship)

Sally G. Go of Lison Enterprises (Business Taxpayer-New Public Market)

Marina Cunanan of Pedmar Gift Shop (Business Taxpayer-Old Public Market)

The top Real Property Taxpayers:

San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (Corporation)

Mr. and Mrs. Melchor and Vilma Caluag (Individual)

Recognized for their outstanding tax contributions:

Barangay Telabastagan (Top Barangay Community Tax Collector)

San Fernando Electric Light & Power Company (Top Franchise Taxpayer)

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (Top Amusement Taxpayer)

iPremiere Builders Corp. (Highest Increase in Tax Contribution)

At their recognition rites last week, Mayor Edwin Santiago credited the city’s taxpayers for their contribution that resulted to a whopping P1.59 billion total income collection for 2018. This, as he expressed confidence in their continuing sense of good corporate citizenship to help the city reach its target of P1.9 billion income collection for this year.

Not exactly unlost, even to the most casual observer, was the high-profile presence of Barangay Dolores chair and Association of Barangay Captains president Vilma Caluag, recognized along with husband Melchor, as top individual real property taxpayer. It was Ms. Caluag’s first coming-out public event after her bitter loss to Mayor Santiago in the May polls.

Taxes transcending politics, all for the good of the city there. Now, were Santiago’s coterie of rich and super-rich friends as tax-conscious – we would not dare say as honest and upright – as Ms. Caluag, there would certainly be more, much more than merely P1.59 billion accruing to the city coffers.   

“As we know, taxation is the lifeblood of our nation. Kung wala ang bawat isa sa inyo, mahihirapan kaming magpa-aral, magpa-kain, magbigay ng trabaho, manggamot at maghandog ng iba’t-ibang serbisyo sa bawat Fernandino.”

Fittingly, Mayor Santiago gave due recognition to what the city and its people owe the development they currently enjoy.

As fittingly, the mayor, perhaps, should also give due course to those who owe the city and its people in unpaid, and underpaid taxes.

Yes, so many of big corporate names, individuals with the predilection for ostentatious display of their wealth, so conspicuously absent in the city list of top taxpayers.

Shame on them.