San Fernando, Pampanga— Quarry revenue in Pampanga has spiked to P404.14 million, a record high in just eight months of the administration of Gov. Dennis Pineda, officials said in a statement.
“We are averaging P50 million a month,” Pineda pointed out, as he thanked quarry operators and haulers “for cooperating with us in the reforms we have introduced.”
The quarrying industry revenue is broken down into quarry collection, P363.3 million; weighing scale fee, P31.9 million; sand and gravel permit P533,427; accreditation of motor vehicles, P5.3 million; fines and penalties, P2.9 million, and accreditation of heavy equipment P43,000.
Joel Mapiles, Provincial Information Officer, said P34.6 million of the total revenue is intended for distribution to 16 towns while P46.1 million is for 77 villages where sand quarrying industry thrives.
He said the tax collection is from July 1, 2019 to present. Under Governor Pineda, sand tax comprises around 10 percent of local income.
“It was Governor Pineda’s efficient collection system that obviously increase the province’s revenue,” said Mapiles over the phone.
Porac town has the lion’s share of revenue with P21.9 million for the barangays and P16.5 million for the local government unit coffers said Mapiles.
Bacolor municipality has the second biggest share at P9.5 million for barangays and P7.1 million for the LGU.
“Our shares from the capitol’s collections has really grown. We receive regular checks for it,” said Bacolod Mayor Diman Datu.
The additional local income, Datu said, is entered in Bacolor’s general fund for projects and services.