Boracay public hearing on realty tax valuation on April 4

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Real property owners in the three barangays of Boracay Island and in Barangay Caticlan in Malay, Aklan will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed increase in property valuations in the second public hearing on April 4.

The committees on Appropriations, Budgets, Finance and Ways and Means of Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) will meet the property owners in Casa Pilar Beach Resort Pavillion in Barangay Balabag. The hearing begins at 9 a.m.

During the first public hearing on March 6 in Aklan SP session hall, property owners of Boracay Island sought for further consultation and asked for another round of public hearing, preferably, in the island-resort.

Under the Local Government Code, revaluations are required at least every three years.

The proposed new schedule of the fair market values of real properties in Aklan was long overdue, being updated only after 10 years. The last time the province of Aklan implemented the revision was way back in 2005. 

The increase in property values of real properties would mean higher taxes and most likely increase the tax collections annually.

If enacted into a provincial ordinance, the revised real property tax schedule will take effect in 2015.

Public hearings have already been conducted on the proposed increase in property values for Kalibo and Metro Kalibo, Balete, Batan, Altavas, New Washington, Banga and Numancia on February 27.

The Aklan SP also conducted public hearings for property valuations for the town of Nabas and Union in Nabas and the towns of Lezo, Libacao, Madalag, Ibajay, Makato, Buruanga, Tangalan and Malinao on February 28.