Sound fiscal management, clean and transparent governance, strong cooperation of local government units (LGUs) and innovative tax collection methods have been credited to the huge increase of revenue collection and income enjoyed by the Provincial Government of Bohol in 2013 despite the natural calamities that rocked the province during the last quarter of the year. Provincial Administrator Alfonso “Ae” Damalerio II, who is also the chairperson of the province's Local Finance Committee (LFC), said that the annual income of the province jumps almost double this year compared to last year, a financial feat that is reflective of the status of the province as the “Best Governed Province of the Philippines.” For income from taxes on goods and services, the province has earned P31 million this year compared to last year's P8 million only.

Sharp increase in non-tax revenue consisting of rental of offices and heavy equipment is noted at P125 million this year, a big gain from last year's P74 million. Real property tax collection also notches a P16-million increase compared to last year's performance. He said that by January he would release a more detailed financial report after all the financial data would have been consolidated at the end of the year. “The financial status of the province has been very stable since Gov. Edgar Chatto assumed office as governor in 2010,” Damalerio said. “And this is very evident in the consistent yearly increase of revenue collection and income from 2010 up to the present.” “We are very optimistic that by 2014 our revenue collection and income would experience greater growth,” Damelerio said.

He said that despite the Oct. 15 powerful killer earthquake that struck the province which left more than 200 dead and more than 700 injured and ruined centuries-old churches and many roads and bridges and other infrastructures, the province remains focused on achieving its goal of revenue collection. “A high income of the province would mean that we would be able to deliver more projects and services to our people,” Damalerio said, adding that the rehabilitation plan of the province includes spurring the local economy as Bohol is expecting more streams of investment in 2014. Damalerio said that as the provincial income keeps rising, more aid would be delivered to the barangays, particularly on health, scholarship and education programs. “In line with the vision and thrust of Gov. Chatto, we want our local government units to be self-sustaining, and don't rely so much on IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) for discharging their functions,” the LFC head said.

In 2014 the Province aims to further strengthen its economic enterprises programs by maximizing the income potential of the province-owned real estate property. Damalerio noted of tapping more province-owned properties as “rentable space” and as hub of commercial development projects such as the planned agri-food park in the First District of the province. One government-owned property that bears a huge promise of contributing more income to the provincial government is the old motorpool located in Dao, this city, where it has been eyed as potential source for commercial growth. “We are frequently monitoring how effective are our strategies on sound fiscal management and we are happy to note that we are now reaping the fruits of hard work and cooperation,” Damelerio said. He noted that the province has been successful in adopting the e-tracking system which allows the province to effectively collect, assess, and monitor tax sources and revenue growth potentials. “We acknowledge the strong cooperation of our LGUs in tax collection and we are grateful that our staff and employees have been working very hard all year round so that we can reach our revenue target this year,” Damalerio said, crediting Chatto's shared leadership as model of good governance. (MIKE ORTEGA LIGALIG)