The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) in Tagbilaran City will be launching an inquiry into the remittances of City Square administrators to the City Treasurer’s Office for the local government unit’s (LGU) share of the establishment’s revenues.
According to Councilor Dodong Gonzaga, the SP will look into the issue after the City Treasurer’s Office failed to produce data on the payments made by City Square to the Tagbilaran government.
The inquiry is set to be conducted on April 27.
“Atong gi pangutana ang city treasurer kung duna aba sila’y monitoring system pag-check sa reports sa management sa City Square mahitungod sa rental og sakto ba na,” Gonzaga said.
“Gipangutana sila kung mo-check ba sila sa ledger sa City Square, ilang books of account, monthly pila man ilang bayad, pila rental per sqm pero di man siya makatubag,” he added.
The LGU has leased out the City Square. A total of 20 percent of the establishment’s gross income or P5 million a year, whichever is higher, is supposed to go to city coffers, said Gonzaga.
The lawmaker also noted that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has notified the city regarding the assessment of income tax for City Square.
“Gidad-an pud ang syudad sa BIR og assessment sa income tax anang City Square,” he said. “Mga P10 million man siguro to, so naay utang ang syudad sa BIR.”
According to Gonzaga, determining the city’s income from the City Square is also needed to estimate the budget for 2019.
Lawmakers are also looking into the possibility of renegotiating payment terms for the establishment. If a new deal is made, this could also affect budgeting for the next year, Gonzaga said.
“Tan-awon nato kung dunay bay basis for renegotiation kay labina karon kay ga-andam mi sa budget unya among gi-estimate ang revenues na makuha sa siyudad,” he added.
Meanwhile, the SP is also set to verify who is currently managing City Square during the inquiry.
“Klarohon pud na kung kinsay ga-manage kay way klaro kung kinsa. GG Apostol Enterprises may mi-enter sa kontrata pero naa puy lain corporation ga-manage ana.”
In an earlier interview, Tagbilaran City Administrator Edi Borja said that City Square was leased out to the owners of Unitop. (A. Doydora)