Iloilo City extends realty tax discount to 2026
ILOILO CITY—Property owners here will continue to get a 40-percent discount on the increased of their realty tax until Dec. 31, 2026.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Thursday announced they decided to extend the application of the discount period for real property tax (RPT) payment “so we can help business people and landowners.”
The mayor said he already discuss this matter with Councilor Rex Sarabia, who chairs the city council’s appropriation committee, and will also meet with Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and the rest of the council members to ensure that the extension would be expedited.
Treñas, who has been on medical leave since late September, appeared via Zoom from Manila for a thanksgiving Mass on Thursday to celebrate his recent recovery and his 68th birthday celebration.
He also announced he would be returning to the City Hall on Monday, Dec. 9.
For employees’ benefits
The city government earlier eased the burden of taxpayers by offering a 40-percent discount on the increased RPT for 2024 and 2025.
The mayor clarified that the 300-percent hike in the RPT, approved in 2023 under City Tax Ordinance No. 2023-226, was not in response to the loans that the city government secured for the improvements in its public markets and the development of a new slaughterhouse and parking building.
Treñas cited the need to fund the allowances due to regular city government employees under a Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA), which will come from local government’s savings.
“One of the issues we face is that because we had many debts in redeveloping the markets, building the slaughterhouse and parking building since it’s difficult in the city, because there are more offices and more visitors, they said we raised taxes. That is not related to our developments,” he said.
He added: “Our finance committee composed of the City Accountant, City Treasurer, [City Planning and Development Office], together with [City Administrator] Melchor Tan, is ensuring that our funds are not being spent as we please. Our spending is sufficient, and we can even generate savings for our CNA.”
Once Treñas’ request is approved, taxpayers are only expected to begin paying the full RPT based on the current values in 2027.
The mayor earlier explained the revenue generated from taxation is crucial for the operation of the local government.
The increase in real estate property taxes for 2024 is the first in Iloilo City since 2006.
