Calls to reduce provincial taxes are prompting the Cebu Provincial Government to revisit its revenue measures, even as Capitol officials point to property reassessments and lower quarry valuations as relief already provided to taxpayers.
Former Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia has called for the rollback of real property taxes, sand and gravel taxes and other provincial charges. The municipal councils of Balamban, Pinamungajan and Barili have separately passed measures supporting the call.
Provincial Assessor Michelle Languido said the Capitol’s approach has been to adjust property valuations based on actual conditions rather than impose a blanket tax reduction.
“Dugay na nga measures nga gi-apply diri nga lowering of the tax,” Languido said.
Under the assessment system, taxpayers who consider their property valuation excessive may file a protest that can lead to reappraisal and reassessment.
The provincial assessment office has also coordinated with municipal assessors on valuation concerns. Languido said, however, that assessors in the municipalities involved had not received formal complaints from taxpayers about excessive property values.
Disaster damage has been one reason for the province to initiate reassessments. Languido said the assessment office conducted reappraisals in areas affected by the earthquake and Typhoon Tino instead of waiting for individual property owners to seek adjustments.
“During that time of Bagyong Tino and earthquake naka-lower jud ta kay unfair sad kaayo nga pabayron pa nato nga guba na kaayo ang balay,” she said.
The reductions come with a revenue impact for the provincial government because property valuations are among the bases used to determine real property taxes.
Languido said a 1.75 percent reduction in market value could already amount to billions of pesos. She said the province also continues to use valuation levels pegged to 2022 or 2023 in some instances, despite possible increases in property values by 2026.
She welcomed the proposed suspension of the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, saying it could provide further relief while the province continues to operate under earlier valuation levels.
The resolutions from Balamban, Pinamungajan and Barili will still have to undergo the appropriate provincial process. Languido said the province must also consider the effect of tax collections on its ability to generate income and maintain financial stability.
“I, as the assessor of the Province of Cebu maintained the financial stability of the province kay income-generation man amo nga side,” she said.
In Balamban, the province had already addressed property valuation concerns following disaster-related damage, including discussions between Languido and Mayor Amos Cabahug.
Languido said municipal assessors in Pinamungajan and Barili, meanwhile, reported no formal complaints involving excessive property valuations.
Quarry operations have also seen valuation adjustments under the administration of Gov. Pamela Baricuatro.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office head Rodel Bontuyan said an earlier review reduced the valuation of limestone from P60 to P30 per cubic meter. Sand was reduced from P150 to P120, while gravel went from P100 to P80.
The province has since held off on another market survey because higher fuel and operating costs could increase fair market values and result in higher quarry valuations.
“Then karon if mag-survey ta ani og balik, mosaka gud kay nisaka man ang fuel so wala lang gud nato hilabti na kay kung mag-survey ta atong balaod nagsulti man nga 10% of the fair market value so as is lang gud kay kung mo-revisit ta karon kay mosaka gud ni,” Bontuyan said.
He said the selling prices of quarry materials are affected not only by provincial taxes but also by fuel and other operating expenses.
The Capitol remains open to reviewing existing taxes and fees, but officials said changes to charges established through ordinance would require action from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Bontuyan said the proposed removal of the environmental monitoring fee, for example, cannot be done through an executive order because it is a tax or fee established through an ordinance.
“Ordinansa gud na siya labi na kay taxes and fees na siya, di gud na pwede nga mo-issue lang og executive order. Dili gud na pwede. Ordinansa gud na that will start in the provincial board,” he said.
He said the Provincial Board could review the existing fees, particularly after the province had already reduced quarry valuations.
Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said reassessment is already available as an executive measure, while discussions are underway with Baricuatro and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on possible adjustments to provincial fees.
Empaces said any broader changes would have to pass through the provincial revenue code, which provides a mechanism for reviewing fees after three years.
Photo courtesy of Cebu City Tour
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