South Cotabato filed P 31 million in mining tax revenues for 2018, the highest recorded by the provincial government since it started implementing reforms on small-scale mining operations in 2010.
Provincial Environment Management Office head Siegfried Flaviano said in a statement that South Cotabato’s turnout was also considered amongst the biggest collections in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) for 2018.
According to Flaviano, the average monthly collection of their province last year rose to P 2.58 million from around P 1.8 million in 2017. This is due to the continued thriving of small-scale mining in the area.
With the increase in tax collection, South Cotabato enjoyed a total share of nearly P 12 million, around P 3.3 million more than last year’s P 8.3 million.
Taxes and fees under mining and quarry cover sand and gravel tax; mining tax; mining permit fee; ore transport fee; occupational mining tax; verification fee; filing fee; permit fee; projection fee; processing fee; fines/penalties/surcharges; and miscellaneous (delivery receipts).
The increase in mining and quarry tax collections to the sustained monitoring on the operations of mine tunnels, processing plants, and transport of mineral ores in the area are also attributed in the upsurge in mining and quarry taxes.
Stricter regulations on mining operations were also implemented in the province. Particular those located in the gold rush villages of Kematu and Desawo in Tboli.
