Mayor Isko says contractors of flood control projects owe Manila P255M in taxes

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said on Thursday that contractors engaged in various flood control projects in the city have yet to pay taxes worth around P255 million.

Of the 315 contractors who have projects with the city government, Moreno said only nine have settled their balances amounting to P8 million.

He said the city hall has sent statements of account (SOA) to the contractors to notify them of their payables.

He said some have refused to receive the notice.

“I wish them good luck. Sayang naman, binigyan ka na ng due process di ka pa tumutugon,” Moreno shared.

(I wish them good luck. Such a shame, they were given due process yet they still didn’t answer.)

He noted that a little less than 100 companies were given the SOAs as some companies made multiple contracts.

“Hanggat maaari, kami, dinidiplomasya namin sila as we have done in the past. As much as we can. But if, and if, hindi sila tumugon sa kanilang obligasyon sa lungsod ng Maynila, we have no recourse but also to file charges against them as what happened last week and we only act on the basis of evidence,” he said.

(As much as possible, we are being diplomatic with them as we have done in the past. As much as we can. But if they do not respond to their obligations to the City of Manila, we have no recourse but also to file charges against them as what happened last week, and we only act on the basis of evidence.)

The Manila mayor said they will give the contractors enough time to respond and act, but warned that those who will not pay will be blacklisted.

“Tutulong kami sa panawagan ng Pangulo at tsaka ng DPWH na i-ban, i-blacklist, and we’ll request blacklisting of the company to DPWH… We will make sure na itong mga di magkokomply na kumpanya will be blacklisted under the City Engineering Office and the Office of the Building Official. Ano ang epekto noon? Di po sila bibigyan ng permit,” he said.

(We will help with the call of the President and the DPWH to ban Blacklist and will request blacklisting of the company to DPWH. We will make sure that those companies that do not comply will be blacklisted under the City Engineering Office and the Office of the Building Official. What is the effect of that? They will not receive permits.)

He also advised the private sector to check the contractor’s background before striking up deals.

Meanwhile, Moreno noted that the flooding situation in Manila can only be managed with flood control strategies.

He shared that the city is currently conducting declogging and implementing a general drainage master plan in Manila.

“Wala pa yata ang araw na hindi kami nag-ukay ng imburnal ng Manila… If I have P140 billion I'll do it, sabay-sabay kong hukayin ang buong Manila. And we pay the price of traffic and chaos for the next 3 years so the next generation will not suffer with flooding,” he said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News