Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso announced on Thursday, September 11, that the city government has so far collected ₱93,639,910.17 in unpaid contractors’ tax from firms behind flood control projects in the capital.
Domagoso said 140 of the 315 projects monitored from 2022 to 2025 are now compliant with their tax obligations, while the remaining 175 projects still owe the city ₱127,277,404.23.
“Through the efforts of your City Government, pursuing these contractors to pay their obligations to the City of Manila,” Domagoso said in his Facebook Live broadcast on Thursday.
“We will not stop here. As long as makita namin sila sa pagsisiyasat, hahabulin pa rin natin,” he said.
The update comes a week after Domagoso warned that contractors with ₱247 million in unpaid taxes would be blacklisted if they refused to comply.
At that time, city records showed that only nine projects had settled a total of ₱8.09 million, while one project was under litigation.
Under the new tally, Domagoso said the city has made significant headway in compelling delinquent firms to settle their dues.
Notices were earlier issued to projects tracked via the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” platform as well as Manila City Hall’s independent monitoring of flood control projects from 2022 to 2024.
This covers 215 projects for present year as reflected in the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, as well as 100 projects from 2022 to 2024.
The Mayor stressed that the city will continue to enforce accountability.
Contractors who fail to pay will not only be barred from securing new permits at the City Engineering Office and Office of the City Building Official, but their names will also be elevated to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for inclusion in its national blacklist.
“If you’re going to hire said contractors, who are not following simple rules and obligations, hindi na sila makapaghahanapbuhay sa Maynila,” Domagoso earlier told reporters.
He added that refusal to receive notices will not absolve companies of liability, and that the city is prepared to file civil and criminal cases against willful violators.
The Mayor drew contrast between large firms evading obligations and ordinary families who routinely pay for contractor’s tax, zoning permits, and building permits when constructing homes.
“Those days are over. Hindi puwede na yung maliliit na pamilya sinisingil, tapos yung malalaking kumpanya walang gobyerno sa Maynila,” he said.
