Daluz: Give delinquent taxpayers 2nd chance

CEBU, Philippines -  Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III engaged yesterday into a heated argument with his fellow city legislators who are also lawyers about his proposal to give the delinquent taxpayers another chance to redeem their properties even if these were already forfeited in favor of the City Government.

Daluz wants to give a second chance to the delinquent taxpayers whose properties had been auctioned and already forfeited by the City from 2003 up to 2009 to redeem their lots on the condition that it is the only property they own and use for residential purposes, and the property’s assessed value is not over P1 million.

Councilor Sisinio Andales said the Local Government Code does not provide a second chance for delinquent taxpayers to redeem their properties once they fail to do it within the one-year redemption period.

Andales also got the support of Councilor Edgardo Labella, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, who said that the national law does not provide a second chance for the delinquent taxpayers.

But Daluz argued that while it is true that the Local Government Code does not provide it, humanitarian consideration dictates that the government must also see to the welfare of its constituents.

According to Daluz, City Hall records show that there are numerous residential properties whose owners failed to redeem them within the prescribed one-year period from the date these were auctioned.

Although the proposed measure of Daluz already passed the committee on laws headed by Labella, the latter recommends for a public hearing.

“Several of these properties involved are actually until now being used as principal residences of these property owners and the foreclosure and loss of their residences will subject them to the inevitable risk of becoming homeless,” Daluz explained.

He added that there is a need to temper the power of the government to collect taxes because of the inherent and basic right of its constituents to a decent home and shelter.

Daluz said some 300 to 400 individuals will benefit from his proposed measure if approved. — (FREEMAN)