The Quezon City government recorded its biggest tax collection in history despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic that pulled down business enterprises nationwide.
Mayor Joy Belmonte reported on Monday during her State of the City Address that the city collected PHP22 billion in taxes to add to the PHP24.6 billion savings prior to the pandemic.
“Sa kabila ng dagok ng Covid-19 sa ekonomiya ng QC, na-itala natin ang pinakamataas na koleksyon na nasa PHP22 bilyon sa nakalipas na taon. Ito ang pinakamataas na koleksyon, hindi lamang sa buong bansa, kundi sa buong kasaysayan ng ating lungsod (Despite the effect of Covid-19 in QC’s economy, we recorded the highest collection of PHP22 billion last year. This is the highest collection in the country and in the history of our city),” Belmonte said.
The city also retained its good financial standing and remained debt-free.
“Dahil dito, ang QC ang may pinakamalaking halaga ng assets, katulad ng mga donated land, buildings at mga kalsada, na ngayon ay mahigit na sa PHP451 billion (Because of this, QC has the biggest amount of assets such as donated lands, buildings, and roads, that are now valued at PHP451 billion),” she said.
Belmonte also proudly bared that QC earned an “unqualified opinion” from the Commission on Audit (COA) for 2020 – another first for the city.
The unqualified opinion is the highest audit opinion that COA can render to a government agency, including a local government unit.
It means the city has managed its funds in a prudent manner and through careful spending and proper safeguarding of funds.
Belmonte said that even before the pandemic, the city government was able to establish strict guidelines, which officials ensured are implemented without exemptions.
The establishment of the Internal Audit Service through an Executive Order ensured that every peso is spent wisely, practicing transparency, accountability and integrity, Belmonte said.
The mayor also boasted of the successful digitalization of most QC services that broadened the reach of the local government, reaching even remote areas.
Covid-19 response
The surge of Covid-19 cases, inevitable for the biggest city in the country, was dealt with and cases are a decline – only 3,645 active infections from as high as at least 10,000 during the past two months.
The vaccination program has also administered complete doses to more than 1.6 million or 98 percent of the 1.7 million target while minors with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 are already included.
To further contain the spread of the virus, the city has put up 23 community testing sites while its molecular laboratory located in Teachers Village East can now process up to 1,500 tests daily.
Livelihood programs
As the pandemic has yet to be fully contained, the Pangkabuhayang QC Program continues to aid the business sector, with almost 2,000 startup enterprises already assisted.
Through the Grow QC Food Security Program, the city government helped build 300 urban farms, 70 aquaculture sites, and assisted 2,238 urban farmers in a total farm area of 340,000 square meters.
Belmonte attributed all the achievements to the trust of their constituents and the modern-day heroes that silently help amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Ang kwento ng QC ay kwento ng pagsisikap ng ating mga mamamayan. Inaako nila ang responsibilidad na iligtas, i-angat at itaguyod ang kapwa at pamayanan. Ang bagong kwento ng Quezon City ay kwento ng kabayanihan at bayanihan, kwento ng sakripisyo at damayan (The story of QC is the story of the struggles of its constituents. They assumed the responsibility to save and uplift the community. The new story of QC is the story of heroism, story of sacrifices, and helping one another),” Belmonte said. (PNA)
