City council backs 50% realty tax discounts to typhoon survivors

By Elaine O. Ratunil

Saturday 21st of July 2012

CAGAYAN DE ORO, July 21 (PIA) -- City council committee on trade, commerce and cooperatives here endorsed the request of the Oro Chamber for a 50 percent discount in real property tax (RPT) payments of Sendong-stricken residential and commercial lot owners.

During the committee meeting on July 20, Councilor Juan Sia, committee chair, said he finds the request fair and recommended its approval.

Oro Chamber representative Ed Chavez Jr. said the request for a tax discount will only be from 2012 to 2014. After this, a new assessment of the land will be conducted based on the improvement, renovations, or rehabilitation made.

Chavez explained affected properties may have a different assessment after the three-year grace period.

“It is possible that the assessment of the land before Sendong will go back to its original value or have a higher value depending on the improvements,” he added.

City Treasurer’s Office representative Evelyn Labis informed the committee that the RPT is dependent on the tax declaration issued by the city assessor’s office. She said this will be the basis for RPT levy.

Councilor Sia referred the request to the committee on finance and ways and means chaired by Councilor Simeon Licayan for appropriate action. (Lorebeth C. Requiroso/CdeOSP/PI10/EOR-PIA 10)

City council backs tax discounts to TS Sendong survivors

CAGAYAN DE ORO, July 21 -- City Council committee on trade, commerce and cooperatives, here, favorably endorsed the request of the Oro Chamber for a 50-percent discount in Real Property Tax (RPT) payments of Tropical Storm Sendong-stricken residential and commercial lot owners.

During the committee meeting yesterday, July 20, Councilor Juan Sia, Committee chair, said he finds the request fair and recommended its approval the soonest.

Oro Chamber representative Ed Chavez Jr. said the request for a tax discount will only be from Calendar Year 2012 to 2014. After this, a new assessment of the land will be conducted based on the improvement, renovations or rehabilitation made.

Chavez explained that affected properties may have a different assessment after the three-year grace period.

“It is possible that the assessment of the land before Sendong will go back to its original value or have a higher value depending on the improvements,” he added.

City Treasurer’s Office representative Evelyn Labis informed the committee that the RPT is dependent on the tax declaration issued by the City Assessor’s Office. She said this will be the basis for RPT levy.

Councilor Sia referred the request to the committee on finance and ways and means chaired by Councilor Simeon Licayan for appropriate action. (Lorebeth C. Requiroso/CdeOSP/PI10)