City council to review real property tax values
BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on appropriations and finance will review the proposed market values of real property taxes ( RPT) in the city.
The proposed schedule of values was endorsed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia t o t he city council after i t was published i n l ocal newspapers.
Section 212 of the Local Government Code provides t h a t t h e r e v i s e d R P T values “shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the province, c i t y o r muni c i p a l i t y concerned.”
The previous revision during former mayor Monico Puentevella’s term did not meet t his r equirement, prompting the Department of Justice to declare it “null and void,” said SP committee on appropriations and finance chairman Caesar Distrito.
The rates were already approved by the Department of Finance ( DOF) last month, Distrito stressed.
Prior to DOF’s approval, City Assessor Maphilindo Polvora met wit h t h e Chamber of Real Estate Builders’ Association and t he Subdivision Housing Developers Association- Negros Occidental chapter to discuss the proposed rates.
“We will make it sure that the rates are fair,” Distrito said.
The councilor also said the SP is open for suggestions. In fact, a public hearing will be scheduled when the ordinance enacting the new RPT values is ready for drafting.
Under the law, RPT must be updated every t hree years./