The provincial government has wrapped up public consultations on a nationally mandated overhaul of property values — the first update since 2012.

Mountain Province completed its second and final public consultation this week on a new standardised property valuation system required under Republic Act 12001. The hearings gave residents their last formal opportunity to raise concerns before the process moves to the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) of the Department of Finance (DOF) for approval. Once values are approved, it goes to the Provincial Assessor’s Office for Tax Impact study. This study is submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) for legislation.

Provincial Assessor Mr  Randy Tic-chap told participants that the revaluation is a legal requirement, not a local decision. The new system aims to bring the province’s property records in line with current market conditions, replacing figures that are now more than a decade out of date.

Some residents from Tadian, Bontoc, Sagada, and Besao raised concerns that proposed market values are too high and could trigger steep increases in real property taxes, estate taxes, and donor taxes. Provincial officials acknowledged the concerns and pointed to the SP’s upcoming decision on Assessment Levels as the key variable that will determine how much – if anything – residents actually end up paying.

Board Member Sally Ullalim clarified that the revaluation is unrelated to local flood control projects or public spending controversies, saying the process is strictly about standardizing how land is valued.

Gwendolyn Gay L. Gaongen