NOT WHIMSICAL

 

LINGAYEN—The new schedule of real property tax stays.

This was the firm stand of the provincial government to the updated schedule of real property tax (RPT) assessment despite the protest lodged by farmers, traders and other property owners.

Governor Amado Espino Jr., in a news conference last April 11, indicated he has no intention to withdraw, temper, roll back or amend the new RPT rates contained in Provincial Ordinance No. 146-2010 which already took effect January 1 this year.

Espino said the ordinance, passed by the provincial board in December last year, was in compliance with law and a recent order from the Department of Finance and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Espino explained that Section 219 of Republic Act 9160 or the Local Government Code requires provincial, city and municipal assessors to undertake a general revision of real property assessments within two years after the effectivity of the Code and every three years thereafter.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan pointed out that since the last general revision of real property tax assessment was in 2003, there should have been another general revision in 2006, 2009 and 2012.

Espino said his administration decided to withhold the increase in 2009 due to the three powerful typhoons that wrought heavy damages on the province’s agricultural crops and also on private and public properties.

“It’s unfair for the provincial government to be slapped with malicious insinuations and unfounded speculations when in fact the current administration has done its part in making things lighter for Pangasinense taxpayers,” the governor said.

FOR THE FARMERS

The governor also belied claims made by Abono partylist founding chairman Rosendo So, one of his political allies, that the ordinance has an adverse impact on farmers and the poor.

So’s group, as well as the Chamber of Real Estate Builders Association (CREBA) Pangasinan chapter, have previously announced their intent to possibly file a class suit against officials of the provincial government for enacting the ordinance without proper public consultation as required by law.

Espino said farmers are not the ones affected by the increase since majority of them are tenants and not lot owners.

The land distribution in Pangasinan constitutes about 70% agricultural, 15% residential, 10% commercial, and 5% industrial.

Espino said by not updating the RPT schedule since 2003, the provincial government gave up large amounts of revenues that could have been used to provide basic services, especially for the poor, including the farmers, such as health care, PhilHealth insurance and other vital projects for livelihood assistance, farm-to-market roads and irrigation facilities.

The governor underscored that the RPT update is overdue and while it was “a painful decision, it was not a unilateral, whimsical act on the part of the province”.

Provincial Assessor Nestor Quiambao, who was also present during the press conference, decried the statement made by So that the ordinance unduly increased real property tax in the province by 300 to 900 per cent.

Quiambao said the increase was only 100 per cent on average.

MAYORS’ SUPPORT

The governor also called on mayors to help explain the RPT update to their respective constituents instead of distancing from the issue noting some of them choosing to remain silent.

Some mayors, particularly Manaoag and Mangaldan, have put up announcements in their municipal offices stressing that the RPT increase directed by a provincial ordinance but offered no explanation to defend the ordinance.

Meanwhile, the provincial officials also clarified during the press conference that the updated schedule of property values was submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last September 10, 2010.

The SP then conducted public hearings on October 8 and November 5, 2010. 
 
After the hearings and further review, the SP approved in its regular session on December 10, 2010 the ordinance, which in turn was published in a newspaper from December 26, 2010 to January 1, 2011.—LM

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