Real Estate Properties Public Auction Starts Soon

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

An estimated P140 million collection from real estate taxes is expected in Aklan this year.

OIC Provincial Treasurer Ms. Suzette Pioquid is very optimistic to collect this amount out of the payment of real property taxes. This is 2.3 percent more than the 2008 performance record of P136,682,709.

Mr. Rey Villaruel, Actg. Asst. Provincial Treasurer disclosed that with the access to updated individual profiling of real property tax assessment record and the systematic information dissemination to be done by the LGU’s and DepEd officials, high compliance among taxpayers can be realized.

Governor Carlito S. Marquez is rallying for public support in respon-sible payment by real property owners even as incentives for condonation of charges, interest and penalties for the previous five years has ended. Based on actual data, only five percent of tax delinquents have availed of Provincial Ordinance No. 02-02008. Carrot and stick incentive were offered once during the incumbency of Gov. Corazon L. Cabagnot and twice with Gov. Carlito S. Marquez. Dismal perfor-mance proved that local taxpayers are inept and indifferent despite that taxes are plowed back to socio-economic develop-ment projects.

Tax payment constitutes two percent of assessed value of real estate property including improvement where one percent is earmarked for local School Board. For the current year, a more drastic action will be implemented to goad delinquent taxpayers to seriously comply with their financial obligations to the province. Starting April and every quarter thereafter, public auction of real estate properties will be conducted. This has full support of local chief executives because 65 percent of tax collection go to municipalities while 35 percent is retained by the Provincial Treasury. The barangays share 25 percent of the 65 percent of the municipal share.

Improved perfor-mance efficiency in tax collection started during the tenure of Mr. Evan Timtiman in 2006 as provincial treasurer where intensive tax mapping assessment was conducted in all 17 municipalities. Data were the basis for computing realistic targets instead of using 10 percent baseline annual target increase.

Government response of extending amnesty to delinquent taxpayers is concededly a glove in hand approach which stifles public interest and reward violators. Individual aware-ness of fiscal responsibility is vital to the implemen-tation of prioritized government programs particularly tourism and agriculture. Total budget of P1 million is earmarked for information dissemination both in print and broadcast media this year. /MP