MikeLigalig.com

By Leonardo V. Micua

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, April 11 (PNA) — The increased general revision of real property tax assessments in Pangasinan that drew the ire of farmers, property owners and traders was in compliance with the directive of the national government issued through the Department of Finance and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) last October 2010.

This was disclosed in a news conference called by Governor Amado Espino Jr. that clarified issues and negative comments surrounding the revised updated schedule of market values of real properties in Pangasinan as provided for in Provincial Ordinance No. 146-2010.

The news conference was attended by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, some members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, municipal mayors and Provincial Assessor Nestor Quiambao who attested that the revision did not increase the real property tax from 300 percent to 900 percent as alleged by some critics.

Among those criticizing the alleged abrupt general tax revision, party-list ABONO and the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), have announced they are set to go to court to question the abrupt increase in real property tax assessment which they believed to be “excessive”, “capricious” and “confiscatory”.

On the contrary, Espino said, Section 219 of Republic Act 7160 requires the provincial assessors, and the city or municipal assessors to undertake a general revision of real property assessments within two years after the effectivity of the Local Government Code and every three years thereafter.

Thus, as mandated by the Local Government Code (RA 7160), and since the last general revision of property assessment in Pangasinan was conducted in 2003 (which is 8 years ago), a general revision in Pangasinan should have been undertaken in 2006, and another in 2009,” Espino said.

The governor said that as a result of the long-delayed conduct of such general revision, the property assessments are very low, obsolete and no longer realistic, adding that that for the last eight years, the people of Pangasinan have in fact been enjoying “a prolonged real property tax holiday". -PNA

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