Dispute over Fort Bonifacio not about taxes

Allow us to react to your editorial last August 10 entitled “Battle over BGC.”

The dispute over Fort Bonifacio is not about tax rates. The issue is jurisdiction over the barangays (the Embos and the Inner Fort) comprising Fort Bonifacio, not Bonifacio Global City (BGC) alone. 

The Court of Appeals ruled that these barangays rightfully belong to Makati, based on evidence proving the city’s historical and legal claim.  What the CA did was to return these disputed areas to its rightful owner. The appellate court corrected a 20-year injustice to the city of Makati and to the residents of these barangays, particularly the Inner Fort barangays of Southside and Northside. While the residents of these barangays witnessed the rise of luxury condominiums and office towers in the last 19 years right within their backyard, they were denied the most basic of public services.

Makati has been exercising jurisdiction over the disputed areas since the American period. Taguig, however, claimed jurisdiction in 1993, around the time that the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), which handled the privatization of military lands, was constituted. When the Pasig Regional Trial Court issued an injunction in 1994, it stopped Makati from exercising jurisdiction over the areas. With the CA lifting the injunction, Makati can now resume exercising its rightful jurisdiction.

Mayor Jun Binay is fully aware of the concerns of the business community in Bonifacio Global City. He has already declared a tax moratorium for the rest of the year. He has also initiated a review of tax rates, with the end in view of lowering tax rates to bring it down to Taguig’s level. In cases where Taguig’s rates are higher, Makati will opt to retain its current rates. — JOSELITO SALGADO, Officer-in-Charge, Information and Community Relations Department, Makati City