‘Nullify tax assessment’

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has called on Mayor Nestor Archival to form a task force that would nullify certain real property tax (RPT) assessments after discovering alleged irregular surges in market value rates.

This move came following a privilege speech by Councilor Rey Gealon during the council’s last regular session, in which he raised concerns over alleged irregularities and large-scale increases in the market values used for RPT assessments.

During his speech, Gealon recalled that it was the same batch of councilors who approved an ordinance to livestream the public bidding process, which was later vetoed. Despite this, he said it reflected their commitment to protecting public funds.

He also cited other cause-oriented ordinances that support the welfare of various sectors, emphasizing that such efforts reflect a shared goal among council members despite political differences.

Aside from this, Gealon highlighted that the council has remained united in providing measures to manage government resources stemming from its authority to tax.

“Taxes as lifeblood provide the necessary funding for public service,” said Gealon.

While he acknowledged that the power to tax is also the power to build, Gealon warned it could also account for the power to destroy. He noted that over the past years, the council has been consistently undertaking efforts to increase RPT rates in the city in the name of progress.

Gealon said he holds an investigative report conducted and submitted by the City Legal Office, which outlines “disturbing patterns.” Among these, he added, were alleged increases of up to 700 to 3,300 percent in market values without due process, intended to meet fiscal targets.

“Let us not forget, behind tax imposed is a family, behind every tax imposed is a small business, behind tax imposed is a retiree,” said Gealon.

In line with this, he emphasized the government’s mandate of accountability and transparency, which he added are not mere slogans.

With this premise, Gealon called on the council to ensure that all tax measures are grounded in law, in due process, and in genuine public consultation.

“Let us be a sanggunian that listens, and the future 17th Sangguniang Panglungsod, the one that acts, and the one that restores trust,” said Gealon.

Once the task force is created, it is set to be composed of the City Assessor’s Office, the City Treasurer’s Office, and the City Legal Office, and will be tasked with nullifying assessments on portions of the city believed to have been affected by irregularities.

The council also directed the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) to notify “concerned employees” and to cooperate and stand as witnesses during the investigation.

It can be recalled that the city’s RPT rates have not been updated since 2003. The revision of the RPT code has remained one of the most highly disputed and closely watched ordinances since it was first introduced by Councilor Noel Wenceslao, chair of the Committee on Budget and Finance.

Wenceslao explained that the proposed RPT revision now needs a complete overhaul, as its provisions have already been superseded by the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA), which was recently signed into law.(CEBU NEWS)