BAGUIO CITY’S TAX COLLECTION UP BY 21.03 PERCENT IN 2024

March 1, 2025 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

The city’s tax collection rose to P760.81 million in 2024 compared to the P628.58 million recorded in the previous year (2023), or equivalent to 21.03 percent increase, according to city treasurer official. The P132.23 million growth
reflects stronger tax enforcement and economic resilience. In an interview, Alex Cabarrubias head of city treasurer’s office, credited the increase on improved collection– real property tax, business tax, community tax (cedula), regulatory fees, and service charges.

The official ensures fair and efficient tax collection following the Local Government Code. To boost revenue collection, Cabarrubias said his office will enforce strict penalties for late payments and expand digital payment options like GCash and Maya. And expand tax mapping to identify unregistered businesses, thus, aiding enforcement. Despite efforts, tax evasion remains hard to prove, the official lamented.

It was learned that in 2024, no cases were filed against erring taxpayers, and market fee fraud posted zero from 14 cases in 2022–2023. Furthermore, the official said ,increased automation has reduced fraud risks, but collusion between collectors and taxpayers is still a concern. The city reported a ?7 million shortfall in real property tax, partly due to record discrepancies with the Assessor’s Office. Some properties appear multiple times or do not exist. Efforts are underway to clean records and improve tax assessments.

Cabarrubias emphasized the importance of accreditation for collectors to ensure transparency and accountability. “All our collectors are accredited and undergo proper training to maintain integrity in tax collection,” he said. For 2025, Baguio targets P708.38 million in tax revenue. Though lower than 2024’s actual collection, ongoing digital
payment integration, enforcement, and data accuracy are expected to improve efficiency. “We aim to make tax
payment easier for everyone,” Cabarrubias said.

Iris Dymphna Samson / UB Intern