After 17 years, Kidapawan passes Tax Code

KIDAPAWAN CITY – After 17 years, the city has approved the revisions of its tax code. The Sangguniang Panglungsod has passed on its third and final reading the Revised Revenue Code of Kidapawan City with overwhelming votes. At least nine members of the council voted for its approval. Surprisingly, the chair of the Committee on Finance of the Sanggunian, Councilor Lauro Taynan, opposed the passage of the proposal. Taynan used as basis in his opposition the petition filed earlier by the Metro Kidapawan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., which said the passage is ‘untimely’ and ‘won’t help the local economy.’ I agree with the recommendation of the business community to review the code and consult them first,” said Taynan. Councilor and former trial court judge Francis Palmones disputed Taynan’s claim saying there were several consultations done in the past and one of those invited was the chamber and other business groups. On several instances, there were only few businessmen that attended the consultations.The passage of the revised Tax Code was long overdue.This was started many, many years ago already,” said Palmones, also chair of the Committee on Laws of the Sanggunian. For opposing the passage of the proposal, Taynan has received several criticisms. Mercy, a legislative staff at the Sanggunian, said Taynan should be blamed if, indeed, the council failed to consult the business chamber as regards the revisions. We should ask Taynan firstand Why did his committee fail to consult the business groups?He chairs the committee tasked to get peoples’ reactions on this Code.I suppose this is highly politically motivated.He doesn’t want to hurt the business community that was why he did not approve the passage of the Code,” she said. Despite Taynan’s vehement opposition, nine council members voted yes for its passage.