Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Sr. (File photo/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Councilor Diosdado Angelo Mahipus Sr. on Tuesday, December 5, questioned a proposed ordinance that offers tax exemption for owners of commercial spaces that will be converted to parking areas.
“We have to be very strict in granting tax exemption for parking,” said Mahipus, as this type of property is not covered in the Local Government Code of 1991.
Section 192 of the same code states that local governments may only grant tax exemptions when they they are deemed “necessary.”
Thus, he said, “there must be reasons why we are exempting the parking lots.”
Mahipus was reacting to a legislative proposal currently on the committee of Councilor Jimmy Dureza, who in September assured to fast track the passage of the measure.
Earlier, Councilor Bernard Al-ag urged property owners in the city to convert commercial spaces into parking areas. This came at a time Mayor Sara Duterte proposed to implement a “no parking law” in the city.
But for Mahipus, the city needs to think twice in providing incentives, as this could mean a miss in revenue earnings.
