Baguio officials up service fees for documents

BAGUIO CITY -- Local officials here recently amended Section 23 Of Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001 that provides rules and regulations governing administration, appraisal, assessment, levy and collection of realty taxes, business taxes, permit fees, building and lot rentals, among others, in the city and such other fees and charges that may be imposed pursuant to Republic Act 7160, known as Local government Code of the Philippines, as amended by Tax Ordinance 2014-002.
    Under Ordinance 87, series of 2023 which takes effect on Nov. 17, provides that persons requesting for copies of official records and documents from any of the offices of the city government shall pay for every page or fraction thereof, typewritten not including the certificate and any notation - P15; where the copy to be furnished is in printed form, in whole or in part, for each page, double this fee if there are 2 pages in a sheet – P15; for each certificate of correctness with the seal of office written on the copy or attached – P50; for certifying the official act of a municipal judge or other certificate judicial with seal – P50; for certified copies of any paper, record, decree, judgement or entry of which any person is entitled to demand and receive a copy in connection with judicial proceedings for each page – P50; photo copy per page – P15; clearance/certifications issued by other city officials for every page or fraction – P100; other documents not specified – P15; for each additional copy of any of the above documents – P5; verification of assessment records – P50; white/blue printing of tax maps or other plans A2 paper – P30, A1 paper – P50 and research fee – P100.

    The council said there was need to update and increase the fees for copies of official records and documents from any of the offices of the city government to conform with the current time as this is reportedly outdated and had been overtaken by a series of events that transpired over the past several years.
    The ordinance will take effect after the lapse of the prescribed period following its publication in a local paper of general circulation as required under the pertinent provisions of the Local Government Code to ensure the widest information distribution of the new fees and charges that will be collected from those transacting business with the various offices of the city. -- Dexter A. See