A DAVAO City councilor is pushing for a tax mapping system in Marilog District in line with the area's "vast development."
Councilor Conrado Baluran, during his privilege speech in the 19th City Council regular session on Thursday, October 6, said there is a need to create a mapping system in Marilog because of the rising infrastructure improvements in the area, especially with the sprouting of private resorts, vacation lodges, residential houses and eatery-related businesses.
"Marilog District, with its potential viability for eco-tourism, has emerged as the primary tourist hub destination for both local and foreign tourists due to its breathtaking highland scenery, clean and cozy weather," Baluran said.
"Major development was vastly becoming visible, especially the sprouting of private resorts, vacation, residential houses and eatery-related businesses with its improvement operating within the area," Baluran added.
The councilor said he previously discussed this plan with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on July 3, and that he has already filed an urgent resolution relating to this matter.
Baluran said he will be requesting the City Mayor's Office to create a composite team in creating the mapping system. The team will be composed of different local and national government agencies, namely the City Assessor's Office, City Planning and Development Office, Business Bureau, City Treasurer's Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Legal Office, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
He said its main purpose is to reevaluate and assess all existing commercial and residential establishments, and the improvements made in the area.
The team will also monitor business and property owners' compliance in paying taxes to the city and the legitimacy of their operations.
This would also enforce property owners to strictly comply with the requirements as stated under Section 1, Article 14 of the 2013 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, that all owners and developers shall secure locational clearance from the zoning administrator before conducting any activity or construction on their property land.
The mapping system would determine the danger and landslide-prone area aside from those already identified by the zoning ordinance to prevent any individual from erecting infrastructure on the prohibited areas.
