Cebu City Hall extends tax payment deadline

CEBU, Philippines — Real property owners in Cebu City get five more days to settle their dues after the City Government extended the deadline from March 31 to April 5.

This was to give due consideration to the taxpayers after the City suffered a “system upgrade” for around a week last month that affected the City’s online transactions.

Following a request made by City Treasurer Mare Vae Reyes, City Councilor Noel Wenceslao, City Council committee on budget and finance chairman, then filed a resolution, which the council approved, moving the deadline to April 5.

Wenceslao said the extension was made to compensate for the lost days, including the long weekends, so that the taxpayers get enough time to pay their taxes.

Aside from the extension, the City Government also reminded that March 28 (Maundy Thursday) to 29, 2024 are holidays in observance of Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

The extension is a welcome development especially for those who are planning to go out-of-town during the Holy Week.

And while the City Council extended the payment deadline, Mayor Mike Rama had hoped that the city legislators approve within this month the ordinance that will update the schedule of the fair market values or real properties so the city can collect the appropriate taxes.

Taxes are currently based on valuations that were in 2004 yet.

“Let us approve the revised real property taxation. Mag-una gyud na’ng real property taxation, (any) amendment will follow,” he earlier said.

Though he initiated the revision after his election in 2022, Mayor Rama vetoed what the City Council passed during the first quarter of last year because it would not have been enough to generate funds to meet the P50-billion budget for 2023.

If the revised valuations are approved this month, the changes are expected to take effect as early as July 1 of this year yet.(CEBU NEWS)