Antipolo ‘happily’ loses P300M

The Antipolo City government has lost P300 million in uncollected taxes from collecting small and medium-sized enterprises during the pandemic, Mayor Jun Ynares III said.

But the LGU has no reason to sulk as it actually waived the tax and other fees due from the small business to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It's been two years that we have not collected business tax from the small businesses in our city," Ynares said in an interview with Daily Tribune over the weekend.

Ynares said the LGU refrained from imposing taxes and fees from small private schools, sari-sari stores, and from the renewal of the franchises of tricycle drivers.

"Hopefully, through that, they will be able to recover. I don't know if the impact is big or small," he said.

"Even though the lockdown is over, there is nothing wrong even if we say that the businesses are now profitable and earning, especially online businesses. It's not because they are making money, the aid has stopped," the mayor added.

With the statement, the mayor hinted small businesses and the tricycle drivers may continue enjoying the tax break.