Ways & means cmte tackles proposal to amend tax proceeds sharing of quarry resources

THE City Council committee on ways & means chaired by Councilor George S. Goking during its meeting Thursday tackled the endorsement of City Mayor Oscar Moreno requesting approval of necessary amendments of Section 34 of Ordinance No. 12860-2014, otherwise known as Cagayan de Oro Revenue Code of 2015 particularly on the sharing of proceeds of the tax of sand and gravel and other quarry resources.

It was learned that pursuant to Section 34 of Ordinance No. 12860-2014, the city has a 40-percent share in the proceeds, while the barangay where the sand and gravel and other resources are extracted, 50-percent, and Cagayan de Oro River Development Authority (CORDA), 10-percent.

Pursuant to Article 239 of the IRR of 1991 Local Government Code, the city should have a 60-percent share and the barangay where the sand, gravel and other quarry resources are extracted, 40-percent.

After carefully evaluating the ordinance, the City Legal Office said Section 34 of Ordinance No. 12860-2014 is clearly contrary to the provision of Article 239 of the IRR of the LGC and the 10-percent of CORDA.

The City Legal Office recommended that the ordinance be amended, and that provisions under Article 239 of the IRR of the LGC be adopted accordingly. Likewise the existing accumulated funds due to CORDA should be appropriately addressed so that these may be utilized in other crucial programs of the city, such as its COVID response to keep its residents safe and protected from the pandemic, cited the legal office. (SP/APDelgra)