PRESSED by the Commission on Audit and Department of Finance, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has urged the city council to revise the local government’s outdated real property values.
He raised concern that non-compliance with the tax provisions of the Local Government Code requiring the general revision of real property assessments every three years might subject them to possible legal actions.
In a letter to District Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes, ways and means committee chairman, Bautista stressed the need to implement Proposed Ordinance No. 20CC-141.
He called on the city council to comply with the recommendation of the CoA and Department of Finance to update the city’s outdated land and property values, which was last updated 21 years ago.
The draft legislation sets the revised schedule of fair market values of land and basic construction cost for buildings under Section 219 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code.
“This bill is part of our 2016-2019 executive-legislative agenda, hence, I anticipate your preferential attention on the matter,” Bautista told Reyes.
On the other hand, the Office of the City Assessor, headed by Rodolfo Ordanes, has prepared a new schedule of fair market values for different classes of properties in Quezon City.
“The last approved general revision of fair market value for lands, buildings and other improvements was by the Sangguniang Panglungsod on Dec. 19, 1995, rendering the values indicated therein outdated and irresponsive to the changing times,” the mayor said.
Ordanes, for his part, said city officials could face legal suits over the failure to comply with Section 219 of the Local Government Code.
“Actually, we can be charged at the Office of the Ombudsman for non-compliance of the law,” he added.
“CoA is requiring us to update our fair market value. Under the law, the Local Government Code of 1991, Section 219, the city assessor is mandated to implement general revision (of tax rates) every three years. Since 1995, we have not increased our fair market value. Our current land value is still in the 1995 rate.”
According to Ordanes, the fair market values of lots along Epifanio delos Santos in Quezon City were outdated pale compared to those in the cities of Caloocan, Makati, Pasay, Mandaluyong, and San Juan.
In a letter to the city government, state auditor Rose dela Cruz cited the city’s non-adjustment of the fair market values, “thus, invariably affecting the real property administration system.”
DoF issued Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-01 enjoining all local government units to implement Section 219 (General Revision of Assessments and Property Classification) of RA 7160 concerning the revision of property assessments and classification every three years.
In response to Bautista’s request, the committee on ways and means has started public consultations in different barangays.
Public consultations are set in Barangay Mariana on Nov. 15; barangays Nova Proper, San Bartolome, Bagbag, Capri, Nagkaisang Nayon, Gulod, North Fairview, Sta. Monica, Lagro, Sta. Lucia, Kaligayahan and Pasok Putik on Nov. 16; and barangays Pasong Tamo, Sauyo, TS, Culiat, New Era, Talipapa, Sangandaan, Baesa, Balumbato, and A. Samson on Nov. 17.