SIHAA seeks tax clemency from City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council’s committees on laws and budget and finance are looking into the request of the Southern Island Hospital Alumni Association (SIHAA), which is seeking clemency from the city government in rationalizing its tax assessment of the building declared under the group’s name.

Joselito Alo, who represents the SIHAA, seeks the clemency to rationalize the tax assessment against their property.

“Our client’s property used to be part of the operation of the Southern Island Hospital-School of Nursing. All buildings erected by or for the school including the miniscule area, now being used by the SIHSNAA Inc. have been used for educational purposes,” Alo said in his letter addressed to city treasurer Ofelia Oliva.

Alo said they discovered that in the Notice of Warrant of Levy, which they received from the Office of the City Treasurer, it has been assessed for payment of tax on property which is now used by other parties.

He said there is a building previously used as the Nurses’ Home in their vicinity but it has been declared as “heritage” building. They also pointed out that there are adjacent buildings, which used to be part of Southern Island Hospital-School of Nursing that are now used and occupied by the Department of Health and the Southern Island Hospital canteen.

“There is, therefore, a need to determine which entities are liable to pay the tax for these properties,” Alo said, adding they want to lift the Warrant of Levy against the Southern Island Hospital-Alumni Association and to de-list them from the list of taxpayers whose properties are made subject of the auction sale.

Alo said they welcome any move for re-inspection and reassessment to determine, which property is the subject of the assessment and which entity is liable to pay the taxes.

“There is indeed an urgent and paramount necessity for the lifting of the Warrant to prevent serious damage to the Association,” Alo said. (FREEMAN)