By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter
Laoag
City treasurer Ma. Elena Asuncion is urging all
dental clinics operating in Laoag to secure their mayor’s permit.
Asuncion explained that the
city government will not tax them in the practice of their profession but if
they are operating a clinic, they should secure a mayor’s permit to operate.
In view of this, Asuncion
said they will again issue a second notice to the owners of dental clinics here
for them to secure mayor’s permit.
Asuncion disclosed that even
during the time of former city treasurer Erlinda Ragasa, only 14 dentists
complied while the others resisted.
Laoag City General Hospital
chief of hospital Dr. Francis Dacuycuy, for his part also believes that not all
members of the medical society who have private clinics in the city fully
understand the limitations of the professional tax receipt (PTR) in the conduct
of their clinics.
Dacuycuy suggested that there
must be a conference between the medical society and the treasurer’s office so
that there will no longer be resistance in paying their obligations to the city
government. He added that all the other professions who has their own clinics
and offices should also be included.
Laoag Mayor Chevylle V.
Fariñas meanwhile promised to stand by what the law says.
Another city government
official, Dr. Melvin Manuel mentioned that dental clinics in Manila are securing
their mayor’s permits to operate. He added that Manila law offices also get
their mayor’s permit.
Manuel then stressed that his
clinic also secures a mayor’s permit from the city government religiously.
Adding his voice to the
issue, city administrator Perry Martinez said that all businesses that operate
under the jurisdiction of a local government unit should secure a mayor’s
permit.
Martinez also emphasized that
they are not singling out dentists and doctors as the call is for all
professionals maintaining offices and clinics in Laoag.
Meanwhile, Asuncion announced
that her office will also issue letters to other professionals maintaining
offices and clinics in the city such as engineers, doctors and lawyers.
Asuncion reiterated that they
will not be taxed on the practice of their professions because they are covered
by the income tax law of the BIR and only the operation of the clinic would be taxed.
The city licensing division
record shows that only two dental clinics have processed their mayor’s permit
as of March 21, 2014.
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