RPT payment at Robinson’s Galleria to open Monday

CEBU, Philippines — Starting Monday, the Cebu City government will accept payment of real property taxes in Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

This is the first time that the city’s Treasurer’s Office will hold its collection for the payment of RPT in a mall that will provide a bigger space from February 18 to April 2.

Acting City Treasurer Arlene Rentuza said the city decided to transfer the venue for the collection of RPTs because of the increasing number of recorded tax declarations in the city.

“Nag anticipate lang sad mi nga March 31, modumog napod ang mga daghang tao pod. Among gipangandaman daan para comfortable ang tax payers,” she told reporters. (We anticipated that tax payers will flock on March 31.  We are doing this for the comfort of our tax payers).

Aside from RPT collection, she said the city will also issue tax clearance of RPTs in Robinsons Galleria Cebu where the renewal of business permits took place last month.

Rentuza said the city has recorded at least 250,000 tax declarations which will be settled by the owners this year.

There is a 10 percent discount from the total dues if property owners will pay on or before March 31.

In 2018, the office has collected P1.4 billion which exceeded its target of P1 billion for RPT.

For this year, the city targets to collect P1.1 billion from the RPT.

Rentuza said one of the factors of the growing number of tax declarations is the booming condominium and real estate industry in Cebu City.

The Treasurer’s Office will just collect two percent of the assessed value of the property which was set by City Assessor’s Office.

She said that City Assessor’s office is in the process of revising tax table of the real property tax which was already endorsed to the Bureau of Local Government Finance-7.

Rentuza said the Commission on Audit has already called the attention of the city government for its outdated RPT. — MBG (FREEMAN)