Approval of revised Tacloban property tax ordinance can be questioned, says city dad

TACLOBAN CITY – Although the ordinance for the revision of real property tax for the city was already approved through the votes of the members of the majority bloc, Councilor and minority member Jerry Uy said that its implementation can be questioned due to technicality.

“I object for the reason of constitutionality,” said Councilor Uy in their last session when they tackled the issue during their regular session.

Asked why he is questioning the passage of the ordinance, Uy explained that the process of public hearing as mandated by a memorandum order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government states that public hearing pertaining to tax ordinances should be initiated by the committee on ways and means and this was not followed by the majority members of the city council.

The two public hearing held in the city for the revenue revisions were headed by the Committee on Finance, which is chaired by Councilor Cristina Romualdez.

This, according to Uy, may become ground for those who would want to question the implementation of the revision 9 of the city in court.

“It should be a joint committee but they do it all by themselves,” Uy said.

“Since this is already approved in the Sangguniang, therefore the implementation of this ordinance will push through not unless somebody contest this in court,” he added.

Uy added that increasing tax collection for the city is inevitable as it is the lifeline of government giving income to be used as funding for government projects and delivering basic social services such as health.

He added that the 25% approved increase is lower than the 100% proposed increase by the City Assessor’s Office may also be acceptable by other sector like the business community.

Councilor Jerry Yaokasin, who also objects the passage of the ordinance, said that he stick to their promise when he supported the campaign of HUC status of the city in 2009, that there will be a tax moratorium for five years.

“My position is, a promise is a promise, whether a tax increase is minimal it is still a tax increase, and we’ve promised Taclobanons to have the increase in 2013, therefore we should stick to that promise,” Yaokasin said.

“We just hope that the taxpayers will accept this,” Yaokasin added.

Yaokasin asked the city government to limit their plans of increasing taxes in the city and rather concentrate in enhancing its local economy.

“If our economy is good it will generate more income and more fund,” Yaokasin said, adding that it would also mean more projects can be implemented such as providing additional classrooms.