Monico Hits Bing’s Bacolod Revenue Code as Illegal (1)
Former Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella took the cudgels yesterday in leading the people of Bacolod to lodge a complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the illegal implementation of the new "Bacolod Revenue Code" by City Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Former Bacolod Congressman Monico Puentevella answers queries yesterday from
members of the media, at the Negros Press Club building, related to a formal
complaint he filed for Rolling Hills before the DOJ against the city’s revised
revenue code.* (Gil Severino photo)
The wisdom of the complaint filed last January 26 at DOJ in Makati, according to Puentevella, is to save the economy of Bacolod against the "unnecessary burden to taxpayers and consumers alike, thus adversely affecting the business climate in Bacolod City and discourage the entry of new investors."
Other than this, Puentevella enumerated in the formal complaint specific violations of respondent Leonardia of the Local Government Code (LGC) when he signed City Ordinance 2011 or the "2011vBacolod Revenue Code" into law.
For non-compliance with the LGC, the Puentevella complaint read - the Bacolod Revenue Code was neither published nor posted prior to the conduct of public hearings; it was not posted in conspicuous places within Bacolod City; no notices were sent to interested or affected parties doing business in Bacolod City.
Also, the public hearings were not conducted within the prescribed ten-day period requirement; the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) did not send copies of the proposed ordinance to interested or affected parties; and the Bacolod Revenue Code was enacted in violation of the LGC - Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and the Internal Rules of Procedures of the SP itself.
Said Revenue Code is inherently "exhorbitant" and exceeded the 10 percent increase level allowed by the LGC, thus the former solon fears the untimely pull out and capital flight of businesses here in Bacolod City to Iloilo or nearby Talisay City here in Negros Occidental as indicated by businessmen and groups as they are required to pay an accumulative increase in taxes to as high as 500 percent.
Last January 20, Puentevella led a gathering of all major business groups in the city and province among which are the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), the Bacolod Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (BFCCCI), Hotel and Restaurants Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO), Association of Negros Producers (ANP), Bacolod-Negros Occidental Bakers Association (BACNOBA), Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), Lopue’s Group of Companies, Association of Negros Occidental Food Processors (ANOFP), officials of Bacolod hospitals, department stores and malls and local entrepreneurs.
Many of them indicated relocation to Iloilo and Talisay City if the Bacolod Revenue Code reduced their revenues and affect consumers to a very significant extent.
Puentevella, however, is unfazed by the vindictiveness of Leonardia saying, "A leader must make sacrifices. If my business, the Rolling Hills Memorial Park, Inc., will be abused by powers at the disposal of the Mayor then let it be." "If abuse indeed occurs, this is not the first time the administration victimized my family," he added, referring to the SM Bingo business which was padlocked by the late City Legal Officer Allan Zamora at 6:00 A.M. tagging along a battalion of police personnel.*
