Local News: ‘No Taxes Raised in 19 Years is Not Bacolodnon’s Fault” - Gonzalez (2)

Businessman Vladimir Gonzalez faulted the City Government of Bacolod for using “obsolescence” as a reason for passing the 2011 Bacolod Revenue Code and its faulty implementation of unreasonable rates is now shifted to the Bacolodnons.

He explained that following the “obsolescence logic” the City could have raised taxes in 1993-94 but since it was unable to do this, the Bacolodnons now are faulted for shouldering such shortsightedness.

Gonzalez said that he speaking as a businessman who earned through profitable transaction and does pretend to be a lawyer but his opposition to City Ordinance 565 s.2011 or “2011 Bacolod Revenue Code” is grounded on the fact that the entire population of Bacolod is affected.

This includes, he said, politicians, non-politicians, businessmen, wage earners and even the unemployed because all goods and services within the coverage of the Bacolod Revenue Code will drastically increase, therefore reduce earning capacity and purchasing power down to a significant level.

Gonzalez explained that he is issuing a statement of opposition to the new tax code cleared of that “unscrupulous politician” label, adding, “This is no longer politics. There are businesses which may not be able to survive, the City could no longer live the slogan ‘Most Business Friendly’ and exacerbate the sorry state of the people’s purchasing power, the unemployed included, because of cost push inflation.”

Increase taxes which rises to more than 500 percent for certain sectors caused by this Bacolod Revenue Code is surely anti-business, threatening both home-grown investment expansion and new investments, therefore sacrificing employment opportunities.

Call Centers are here because it is cheap to do business in Bacolod but now with the unreasonable increase in taxes, Gonzalez last week threatened to relocate in Talisay where he can earn a bigger spread.
The City’s competitiveness, Gonzalez said, is a concerted effort therefore urged everyone to act against the Bacolod Revenue Code.

“We should all be participative. The 2011 Bacolod Revenue Code is clearly anti-business. It is not good for outsiders to see that local businessmen themselves are uncomfortable,” Gonzalez issued a call.
“Set aside politics. This is business matter,” he challenged.*