Paranaque City Council approved a new schedule of values for land

Last October 13, 2011, the Sanggunian Panlungsod  approved Ordinance No. 11-11 which prescribes the schedule of values for land, building and improvements for the City of Paranaque. This is in compliance with the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2010-01 of the Department of Finance and the Department of Interior and Local Government which enjoins all provinces, city and the Municipality of Pateros in Metro Manila to conduct the general revision of property assessments in their respective jurisdiction.
 
     In accordance with the said memorandum circular, the City Assessor submitted a proposed schedule of values to the Sanggunuang Panlunsod. Before acting on the said proposal, the Committee on Ways and Means directed the Council Secretary to conduct a series of consultative meetings together with the City Assessor and after which, Draft Ordinance No. 11-031 was filed which proposed a much lower schedule of values than that submitted by the City Assessor.
 
     The Committee on Ways and Means then conducted an exhaustive and grueling public hearings for four (4) consecutive days held at the San Antonio Gym. As a result thereof, the Committee on Ways and Means, decided to even lower the schedule of fair market values for land in the City of Paranaque.
 
     When interviewed, the City Council Secretary Atty. Lino Sandil expressed his hope that the people of Paranaque accepts this approved schedule of fair market value in Paranaque City. He said that it is much lower than that submitted by the City Assessor and very much lower than the actual value of land in Paranaque City. He cited the case of B.F. Homes where the assessed value of land is only Php2,000.00. It is a public knowledge that the actual value of land in B.F. Homes ranges from Php 8,000.00 to Php 10,000.00. The same is true in other places where the approved assessed value is much lower than its actual value. He also pointed out that the ordinance itself provides relief for those flooded areas who can avail of a 50% reduction of base value.
 
     At present, another ordinance is being drafted for the benefit of those retirees or senior citizens who can not afford to pay this increase.
 
     The City Council Secretary also commended Coun. Jason Webb and the rest the councilors who approved this ordinance. According to him, they are the breed of public officials that this country needs who remains firm in what must be done for the sake of the country and yet responsive to the needs of our people. He laments the fact that there seems to be a coordinated attack on the procedures used in the approval of this ordinance and yet these oppositors do not deny that the actual value of their land is much higher than that approved under this ordinance.