BUTUAN CITY – Cagdianao Mining Corporation (CMC) said it has paid PHP43 million in annual business tax to the local government of Cagdianao in Dinagat Islands province, where it operates a 697-hectare nickel mine.
In a statement Saturday, CMC--an affiliate of the country's largest nickel supplier, Nickel Asia Corporation--said the payment was handed over by its resident mine manager, Arnilo Milaor, to Cagdianao Mayor Adolfo Longos on Monday.
“Aside from the annual business taxes, CMC also regularly pays royalties, fees, and other obligations to the national and local governments, even down to the barangay level,” the mining firm said.
CMC, the town's biggest taxpayer, underscored the importance of paying "the correct taxes on time" to strengthen the local government’s response to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
"As a valued partner of the community, we are happy to see our local taxes and fees becoming instrumental in the growth and development not only of Cagdianao and neighboring towns but the whole province of Dinagat Islands as well," Milaor said.
"We will continue to see to it that our taxes and other obligations are paid on time, so that these would be enjoyed by residents in the form of improved infrastructure, better health, and social services, and raised living standards and quality of life," he added.
Last year, records from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau showed that CMC spent some PHP6 million for Covid-19 response from its realigned social development and management program and corporate social responsibility funds.
CMC said the money was spent primarily on relief operations benefiting residents, medical front-liners, and government agencies involved in Covid-19 containment measures, as well as for survival garden kits to some 1,300 families. (PNA)
