Gwen issues ultimatum to municipal assessors

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn "Gwen" Garcia has issued a “final warning” to the province's 44 municipal assessors to submit a reappraised value of properties of all commercial establishments in Cebu Province until June 1, 2023.

Garcia gave the mandate in a meeting with the municipal assessors at the Capitol Social Hall Tuesday, stressing her disappointment at the striking discrepancies between the actual value and the declared valuation of commercial establishments from the municipalities.

"This is my last warning. Kindly review the appraised value of all commercial establishments in each of your municipalities and see to it nga kung kinahanglan i-correct, i-correct," Garcia said through Sugbo News.

"Dako kaayo ta og obligasyon sa mga Sugboanon nga dili paalkansehan ang bayranan sa buhis, kay ang buhis nga gibayad mao kana ang atong gastuhon para mapun-an pa natog mga programa, serbisyo. Mapun-an pa nato og dugang mga benefits para sa mga Sugboanon," she added.

During the meeting, Garcia described the miscalculations as "unjust to the constituents of the Province of Cebu" because it would mean there is lesser tax being paid for a lesser valuation of the property.

Earlier, Garcia ordered the assessors to evaluate the value of properties and their corresponding improvements within their areas of jurisdiction in September last year.

The governor also issued Executive Order (EO) 37 mandating all municipal assessors to issue a tax declaration to concerned owners and transferees of these properties once they accomplish the assessment.

Garcia emphasized the need to update and revise the current and fair market value of real properties in Cebu Province to comply with the provisions on property tax assessments described in Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code.

Earlier, the provincial government also created a task force within each municipality to perform a more "stringent and diligent" assessment of real properties, including the improvements done by establishments.

The task force comprised a representative from the mayor's office, the municipal assessor, the municipal treasurer, and the municipal engineer, with Garcia believing that determining the right valuation of real properties would become much easier since it is the mayor's office that issues business permits and the municipal engineer would have the technical knowledge as to the establishment’s construction cost, which is detrimental to determine its valuation.

Additionally, the Provincial Board approved last January 20 the proposed 10 percent increase in the real property tax in all 44 municipalities in the Province of Cebu.

As stated in section 232 of Republic Act 7160, the province, city, and municipality may impose tax based on the assessed value of the real property, such as land, building, machinery, and other improvements therein giving the provincial government a 35 percent share entitlement of real property taxes, the municipality of 40 percent, while the barangay's share is 25 percent.

Garcia has been pushing in the reassessment and appraisal of the Capitol's properties since she won a fresh term in 2019.

To date, Cebu Province remains the wealthiest province in the country in terms of assets, based on a report from the Commission on Audit (COA). — GAN (FREEMAN)