Makati City gives West Tower condo owners until Dec. 31 to pay taxes

The Makati City government has extended until December 31 the amnesty period for the payment of the business and realty taxes of the residents affected by last year’s gas pipe leak at the West Tower Condominium in Bangkal village.   Makati City mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said the extension stemmed from City Ordinance No. 2011-047, amending an ordinance that initially set the amnesty period to the first quarter of 2011.   “Extending the period of the tax amnesty is aimed to ease the burden of West Tower residents and merchants until complete restoration is in place and they could safely return to their condo units,” Binay said in a news release posted on the city’s web portal.   He said the discounts granted for payments on 2012 tax dues made before the January 20, 2012 deadline shall also be applied to West Tower residents.   Earlier, he recommended the tax relief following the evacuation of condo residents and tenants in October 2010 to give way to draining operations at the building basement.   However, Binay said the concerned taxpayers need to submit a written request for amnesty to the City Treasurer, who shall assess and rule on its approval after verification with the Barangay Inventory or Master List.   Realty Tax Division chief Lina Enriquez said late payments of real estate taxes are penalized with a two-percent monthly compounded interest.  This has been waived with the passage of the said ordinance.   She said the amnesty covers only realty tax due for the year 2011 and does not include the period prior to the gas leak, which occurred in July 2010.   The records of the Realty Tax Division show that some 58 registered West Tower property owners have sought tax reprieve, while only about four commercial or business establishments are located in the building.   Meanwhile, Binay said the city government constantly monitors the rehabilitation works being conducted by West Tower and First Philippine Industrial Corp., which owns the gas pipeline, to ensure that they meet their timetable in clearing the area of leaks and all possible contaminants emanating from the channel. - VVP, GMA News