City Council blasts city assessor delays

CEBU, Philippines — Cancellation of tax declarations and delays of processes were the highlight of City Council discussions concerning the Cebu City Assessor's Office.

This is after letters of complaint were endorsed through the council and were brought up during the regular session last Wednesday.

One letter was signed by Teresita Corazon Baronda requesting guidance on how they can proceed with their application for the cancellation of tax declarations for buildings owned by Salud Borromeo that are currently tagged "for auction" by the city.

It turns out the said buildings were demolished more than 20 years ago.

The council requested the city assessor to inspect the said property and submit a report within 30 days.

During the discussion, Councilor Nestor Archival requested the City Assessor's Office, City Treasurer's Office, and the representatives of the Borromeo foundation for an executive session to find a solution to prevent the incident from happening again.

Majority floor leader Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said that once the property has already been auctioned and was not claimed by the family, it will automatically become a property of the city government.

She added that this is why despite being demolished the tax declaration is still present. To reclaim it, Pesquera said that there is a process that needs to be done, including paying the value added taxes. She added the city assessor needs to ascertain that the property was inspected.

Archival said there have been numerous people coming to their office raising their concerns on similar situations.

"Naay mga nahitabo man gud na atong mga constituents, naa silay balay unya sometimes naay mga naigo sa bagyo unya nangatumba na, unya sige gihapon batak ang taxes," he said.

He added that there are also circumstances when some property was sold and under possession of another individual with questionable documentation.

"So it's not only nga kani nga point lang akong gi-drive out, it's also the point of the things that are or that should be incorporated or mahibaw-an kay daghan man gud kaayong problema sa assessor's office sa akong pagtan-aw, it's not only this," said Archival, adding that this needs to be discussed in a proper forum.

But Pesquera said the city assessor's office is already inspecting the list for auctions. She clarified, that its taxes will no longer prosper since properties already owned by the city government are already exempted from property taxation.

Councilor Noel Wenceslao also said that owners of properties destroyed by fire need to report them to the city assessor so they can inspect the property and cancel the tax declaration.

However, Wenceslao said that there were tax declarations wherein only the development made within the said lot was declared but not the land itself. Archival added majority of the city’s constituents weren't informed of this process.

He, however, didn't push through on the resolution and pointed out that "there is something wrong.”

Councilor James Anothony Cuenco also raised his concerns on the city assessor after another letter of complaint reached the council regarding the transfer of Tax Declarations (TD) to the heirs of deceased Crisanto B. Cabasa and Adela A. Cabasa filed last December 11.

“Which until now no actions being done by the Cebu City Assessor's Office headed by Dr. Maria Theresa C. Rosell, the OIC, City Assessor... The application I filed was simply requesting the office to cancel the old TDs and in lieu thereof to issue new TDs based on the complete requirements already submitted,” a portion of the letter read.

Cuenco said he has similarly been receiving the same concern due to the “attitude” of the staff of the city assessor's office.

“And I myself have fallen victim to the delay that they have been implementing,” said Cuenco, agreeing with Archival’s highlighting the need to address such issues.

With the said complaint, the council moved to request the city assessor to explain the matter. .(CEBU NEWS)