TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The multiplier effect of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s successful revenue generation efforts to address the problem on mass poverty has found its way to Pasil when the later passed an ordinance empowering the local government unit (LGU) to charge fees on power and mines exploration in the area.

Municipal Ordinance No. 2008-12 of the Municipality of Pasil which amended the revenue code of the LGU now charges annual occupation fee for power and mining firms doing exploration activities in the place. This ordinance has been affirmed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Under said ordinance which was unanimously endorsed by the Sangguniang Bayan members led by Vice Mayor Charlemagne Mosing and approved by Mayor James Edduba, geothermal explorations are charged P40.00 per hectare; P50.00 per hectare for metallic minerals; and P20.00 for non-metallic minerals, also per hectare except for sand and gravel. Pasil is home to the Batong Buhay Gold Mines and vast sulfur deposits.

The fees levied in the ordinance shall be paid to the Municipal Treasurer immediately upon the start of exploration. In cases when exploration permits are acquired within the middle of the year occupation fee shall accrue on the 1st day of January each year. Proceeds of the occupational fee shall entirely be credited to the general fund of the municipality

Mosing said the revenue measure is meant to generate local revenues for development projects in the municipality. Pasil which is 5th income class municipality is surviving on internal revenue allotment from the national government..

Meanwhile, Edduba lauded the SB for coming out with the measure. Before amending the revenue code, the only source of the meager income of the municipality comes from realty and income taxes.

“This is long overdue. For so many years, power and mining companies had been exploring geothermal energy, metallic and non-metallic minerals in the natural resource-rich municipality but don’t give full compliance with their obligations to also contribute to the development of the area,” he said.

The ordinance provides an administrative provision for explorers to obtain exploration permits from authorized agencies. The offices of the Mayor or Treasurer will be furnished copy of the permit and application as basis for the computation of the occupational fee. A copy of the permit shall also be posted in conspicuous places for transparency.

The law imposes penalty for late payment, which is 24% interest per annum added to the unpaid amount. **PIA-Kalinga