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| THE city’s top taxpayers pose with former Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas after the awarding of top taxpayers of 2018 at the City Hall auditorium on June 20, 2019 as part of the 54th Charter Day celebration. (Photo by Alwin Formantes) |
Staff Reporter
Laoag City—The city government, led by former Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas celebrated the city’s 54th charter day in simple rites on June 19, 2019.
Mrs. Fariñas personally spearheaded the celebration with a thanksgiving mass at the St. William Cathedral followed by a medical mission and social services, seedling distribution and pig dispersal, and salary distribution for the 2019 Special Public Employment for Students (SPES).
In her speech, Mrs. Fariñas said that in its 54 years of existence of Laoag as a city, it deserves its rightful place and respect.
She also took the opportunity to thank all the people of Laoag who supported her family’s journey in serving the city.
“Ay-ayaten kayo amin and you will always occupy a big space in our hearts”, Mrs. Fariñas ended.
She also thanked the members of the media, all the city’s punong barangay, city hall employees and all the people who supported her and her late husband, former Laoag Mayor Michael V. Fariñas’ administrations.
Prior to the celebration, the city government also conducted the blessing of the of the LCGH Oxygen Plant, and the DPWH-funded project and heavy equipment on June 18, 2019.
Top 30 taxpayers for 2018
The city government alsorecognized the30 top taxpayers of 2018 during an awarding ceremony held at the city auditorium on June 20, 2019.
They categorized the taxpayers into three: “National Owned Business Category”; “Local Owned Business Category”, and “Laoag City Public Market and Commercial Complex Category”.
Awardees for the National Owned Business Category are: St. William Drug Corporation; Hypermarket; Sanford Marketing Corporation; Globe Telecom Incorporated; Puregold Price Club Inc.; Jollibee Foods Corporation (Main); K Servico Trade Inc.; McDonalds (Cathedral), Golden Arches Development Corp.; and Pepsi Cola.
The Local Owned Business Category awardees are: Laoag Solid 8 Corporation; Laoag Generations Corporation; One-O-Five; The New Laoag Auto Supply; Mong Ding Construction Supply; Laoag Kambal Corporation; CF General Merchandise; Hi-Factor Iontech Digital Industries Corp.; CST Evermart and New North Coast Trading Corporation.
While the Laoag City Public Market and Commercial Complex awardees are: St. William Drug Corporation; Denise Nacnac General Merchandise, Rice and Grain Retailer; Rang-ay Bank; Charito Caday Meat Dealer; M2M Meat Dealer; Sumera Meat Shop; Raquino Dressed Chicken; Nemesia Baptista Meat Shop; Jen Marie Meat Shop and R. Corpuz Meat Dealer.
City treasurer officer-in-charge Diomedes Gayban said that the top taxpayers paid the highest business tax at the right time.
Mr. Gayban added that they gave the awardees a plaque of recognition during the awarding ceremony held at the Laoag City Auditorium on June 20, 2019.
Mrs. Fariñas lauded all the awardees for being a part of the city’s growing economy and for being prompt in paying and timely in the payment of their business taxes every year.
The former two-term mayor hopes that other businesses should follow the same so they can also avoid the penalties set by the city government.
Mixed emotions
Last year’s charter day celebration was with mixed emotions as the death of former Laoag Mayor Michael V. Fariñas occurred prior to the celebration.
This year’s celebration was also with mixed emotions as Mrs. Fariñas lost in her reelection bid for her third and final term.