Seven manufacturing locators at the Lopez-led First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) contributed more than PHP1 billion in taxes to Tanauan City, Batangas in 2024—an amount equivalent to roughly one-fourth of the local government unit’s (LGU) PHP4.3 billion annual budget.
In recognition of their significant contributions, 17 locators—including FPIP itself—were honored by the Tanauan City LGU in an awarding ceremony on July 14, 2025 as among the city’s top taxpayers last year. FPIP and nine of its locators swept all the awards under the Top 10 Real Property Taxpayer (RPT) category, while eight were also named among the city’s 10 biggest business tax contributors.
According to FPIP, the seven companies collectively paid more than PHP1 billion in business and real property taxes—enough to support approximately 25 percent of the city’s 2024 budget.
The top taxpayer for 2024 was Honda Philippines, Inc., a motorcycle assembler located within FPIP. The company paid PHP275.15 million in business tax and PHP49.34 million in real property tax, for a total contribution of PHP324.5 million.
Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation, also located within FPIP, was recognized as the city’s largest real property taxpayer with PHP176.48 million in RPT, and the third-largest contributor of business tax with PHP56.17 million—amounting to a total of PHP232.65 million.
Other top contributors include Nestlé Philippines, Inc. (PHP149.41 million), Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc. (PHP77.21 million), Brother Industries Philippines, Inc. (PHP50.29 million), and Canon Business Machines Philippines, Inc. (PHP40.87 million). FPIP itself contributed PHP54.53 million in taxes to the city.
“We are proud to be a partner of Tanauan, not just in terms of the substantial tax contribution but also because of the jobs that we create for the local community. When FPIP prospers, so does the city,” said Ricky Carandang, FPIP Vice President.
“I would like to believe that the richest LGU in Batangas now is Tanauan City, because our partners from the business sector are paying their taxes,” said Tanauan City Mayor Nelson “Sonny” Collantes during ceremonies held at City Hall on July 14 to honor the top taxpayers. The city holds the annual event to recognize and express appreciation for its biggest taxpayers.
Vice Mayor Wilfredo “Dodong” Ablao, for his part, disclosed during the same awarding ceremonies that the tax contributions helped the LGU to double its budget for education assistance and other city programs. Because of the increased tax payments, the number of schoolchildren receiving benefits under the LGU’s education assistance program doubled from 27,000 to 54,000; and the number of beneficiaries per family, from two to four schoolchildren, Ablao said.
