Gwen orders assessment of all real properties

CEBU, Philippines —  To record and update the value of real properties in Cebu province, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has ordered the assessment of all real properties in the province.

She made this through an executive order which seeks to “rationalize” the assessment, issuance, cancellation and reissuance of tax declarations on real property and improvements within the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Cebu.

According to the governor, it has been observed that some real properties have not yet been recorded by Cebu Province.

Some of these real properties and improvements, she added, have not been assessed of their current and fair market values nor issued the corresponding tax declarations due to their land classification as part of timberlands, forest lands, wilderness area or no build zones.

Garcia said there is a need to make an update and revise the current market value of these real properties in accordance to the real property tax assessment rules under the Local Government Code.

Furthermore, all real properties within the jurisdiction of a particular local government unit must be appraised of the current market value, "whether taxable or exempt,” she said.

With this, all the municipal assessors are mandated to assess the real properties within their areas of jurisdiction, notwithstanding the land classification or location of these properties.

Once the assessment is completed, the assessor is mandated “to issue the corresponding tax declaration to the declared owner, indicating therein that the issuance thereof does not necessarily vest ownership rights over the said property.”

As to the transferees, the municipal assessor will also have to issue tax declaration, regardless of the property's classification as part of timberland, forest lands, wilderness areas or no build zones, since the purpose of this is for the real property tax assessment.

The EO was issued after the meeting of Garcia with the LGU assessors in Cebu Province last week.

Since 2019, when Garcia assumed again as governor of Cebu Province, she has been prioritizing the reassessment and appraisal of the Capitol's properties.

Under the latest report from the Commission on Audit, the Province of Cebu remains the wealthiest province in the country in terms of assets.  — JMD (FREEMAN)