No Tax Clearance, No Candidacy: Balbalan ordinance under Kalinga SP review

Tabuk City, Kalinga – An ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Bayan of Balbalan, headed by Vice Mayor Regina Munda Cruz, that would require aspiring candidates for local elective positions to comply with their tax obligations before seeking public office is now under review by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Kalinga.

During its regular session on June 9, the Provincial Board deliberated on Municipal Ordinance No. 320, which was endorsed by the Sangguniang Bayan of Balbalan for appropriate action and provincial-level review.

The measure, titled “An Ordinance Requiring All Aspiring Candidates for Local Elective Positions in the Municipality of Balbalan to Secure Municipal Tax Clearance as a Requirement for Administrative Documentation and Promoting Fiscal Responsibility,” seeks to encourage accountability among individuals aspiring to hold public office.

According to the ordinance, candidates would be required to secure a Municipal Tax Clearance, a document certifying that they have complied with the municipality's tax requirements and have no outstanding local tax liabilities.

The proposed measure aims to promote fiscal responsibility and ensure that individuals seeking elective positions have fulfilled their obligations to the local government.

Following deliberations, the Provincial Board unanimously referred the ordinance to the SP Committee on Rules and Ethics, chaired by Board Member Atty. Christopher Donaal, for further study and evaluation.

The committee is expected to examine the ordinance's compliance with existing laws and regulations before submitting its findings and recommendations to the Provincial Board for final action.