Assessors, treasurers support new RPT rates
LINGAYEN–All municipal assessors and treasurers in Pangasinan have expressed their full support to the provincial government on the implementation of the revised Real Property Tax (RPT) Assessment.
This developed as the provincial government headed by Governor Amado Espino Jr. and members of the provincial board led by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim conducted a consultative meeting with all local government unit (LGU) assessors and treasurers last May 4.
Mangatarem Assessor Melchezedich Estrada, president of Pangasinan Association of Municipal Assessors, told the meeting that the real property tax update is already well understood and accepted by the taxpayers.
“Wala na po’ng dapat ireklamo at itanung sapagkat ito ay naaayon sa batas at hindi po ito ginawa lamang ng probinsya kundi galing po ito sa national government na sinunod lang po ng probinsya. Kami po na mga municipal assessor ay instrumento lamang sa pagpapatupad ng batas na ito,” Estrada said.
Espino thanked the group for their support even as he lamented that “some quarters mistakenly accepted the general revision of RPT assessment as a whimsical and unilateral act on the part of the province.”
Several groups, including those representing farmers and real estate developers, have announced plans to question the revised RPT rates before the court.
The governor reiterated that the tax hike was “thoroughly studied, was legally done and never abusive”.
“Yong mga mayayaman na ginagamit lamang ang mga taong maliliit gaya ng mga farmers na sanggalang ng kanilang reklamo when actually most farmers do not own the lands that they till,” Espino also said.
The municipal assessors reported before the panel of provincial officials the status of the implementation of the revised RPT within their respective towns.
Nelly Pastor, newly-appointed Sual Assessor, said the tax update is also well accepted in their town as result of the information campaign on the issue.
“It is just a matter of making them understand the reason why it has been increased maski magmukha kaming makulit sa kaka-explain tungkol dito patuloy naming ginagawa,” she said.
The revised RPT rates are contained in Provincial Ordinance No. 146-2010, which was approved by the provincial board on December 10, 2010 and took effect in January this year. (PIO)
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