THE Lamitan City government posted a P102.991 million revenue surplus in 2021, the last full year in office of slain former mayor Rosita Furigay, who stepped down last month after serving three terms.
This meant a 36.26 percent increase year on year from a P75.586 million surplus recorded in 2020.
Service and business income representing earnings from various fees and rent collections also went up from P18.828 million in 2020 to P21.587 million last year.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lamitan also showed sustained growth in tax revenue collections based on the city’s three-year Comparative Statement of Financial Performance — P9.499 million in 2019, P11.623 million in 2020, and P12.075 million in 2021.
The bulk of the surplus came from the city’s share from Internal Revenues: P564.336 million in 2019, P633.361 million in 2020, and P678.816 million in 2021.
A breakdown of the city’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses in the last two years also showed drops in travelling expenses from P3.38 million to P2.91 million; electricity expenses from P11.04 mil-lion to P7.935 million; and water expenses from P2.1 million to P1.61 million.
The Commission on Audit further noted that the city government complied with laws on garbage haulage and disposal as well as in engaging services of additional manpower through hiring job order and contractual personnel.
“The City Government of Lamitan had been found as having economically, efficiently, and effectively complied with RA No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 as well as other environmental laws and regulations,” the audit team.
Post audit of compensation payments to JO and contractual hires showed total expenses of P20.452 million during the year, which was found in conformity with COA Memorandum No. 2012-010.
“Their hiring was found appropriate, legal, and necessary and that their identities and services rendered had been validated to be true,” the COA said.
