96 real properties with unpaid taxes up for auction

At least 96 properties in Cebu City that have unpaid tax dues will be up for auction if the owners do not show up and pay in three months.

Acting Cebu City Treasurer Veronica Morelos said the City is losing around half a million pesos in real property taxes because they can’t locate the owners of these properties.

The owners have not paid the taxes since the 1980s, Morelos said.

To compel the rightful owners to show up and pay, Morelos said they will post notices on the properties to inform them that they have taxes to settle in City Hall.

“The owners of these properties are unknown. Those who will claim ownership of a property has to prove also that he is the rightful owner for us to be able to clean up our records,” she said.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the owners have three months to signify that they own the properties. If they fail to do so, the City will auction off the properties.

“If the owners do not come forward in three months, the City will begin the process of seizing and auctioning off the properties. The same will apply to delinquent businesses. If you pay your fair share of taxes, no problem. But if you don’t, then soon your business will be none of your business,” he said.

Morelos said that most of these properties are lots located in Barangays Apas, Banilad, Poblacion Pardo, Basak Pardo, Basak San Nicolas, Inayawan, Quiot, Pasil, Tisa and Talamban.

She said they will conduct a validation of the properties with the City’s geodetic engineers to determine the exact location of the properties with tax dues.

If the properties are occupied, Morelos said they will ask the occupants to present proof that they are the owners.