By CESAR JOLITO III
The proposed increase in real property tax in Negros Occidental could worsen financial pressures on key industries, especially the sugar sector, the United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) warned.
In a board resolution, Unifed called on authorities to defer the implementation of higher property taxes, stressing that current economic conditions remain fragile.
“Imposing an increase in real property tax under present conditions is untimely and may adversely affect economic recovery and the overall welfare of the people,” the Unifed resolution stated.
The federation maintained that pushing through with the tax hike now could do more harm than good, as many families continue to struggle with daily expenses.
The group urged officials to wait until there is clear improvement in the financial capacity of taxpayers before proceeding with any adjustments.
The move follows an advisory regarding the updated Schedule of Market Values (SMV) for real properties, in compliance with Republic Act No. 12001, which is set to take effect this year.
The SMV serves as the basis for determining real property taxes, as well as other obligations such as capital gains tax and documentary stamp tax collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Unifed said that while taxation is essential for funding government programs and infrastructure, increasing property taxes at this time could be counterproductive.
The federation noted that many property owners — including farmers, homeowners and business operators — are still recovering from economic setbacks.
The group highlighted rising fuel prices and the resulting increase in transportation and production costs, which have driven up the prices of goods and services.
It also pointed to the growing cost of basic commodities, saying these have placed additional strain on low-income and vulnerable sectors.
Unifed further cited global economic uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as contributing factors affecting both local and national economic stability./CJ, WDJ