THIRD TRY, THIRD FAIL: Council rejects Mabilog’s bid for RPT impact report

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Third time’s not always the charm.

Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog again failed to secure support for her push to demand a fiscal impact assessment on the 300% hike in real property taxes (RPT), marking her third failed attempt to seek an 80% RPT reduction.

With 10 councilors voting “no” and Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna abstaining, the proposal failed to pass first reading during the regular session on August 6.

Mabilog’s resolution sought to compel the City Accountant, City Assessor, City Treasurer, and City Budget Officer to submit a report detailing the financial impact of the RPT increase and the 40% discount granted from 2024 to 2026.

The resolution specifically requested:

• Total RPT collections for fiscal years 2023 and 2024
• The exact amount of revenue loss from the temporary 40% RPT reduction
• Allocation and disbursement details of funds collected under the revised rates
• Collection performance data, delinquency rates, and the broader fiscal impact on city operations and services
• Any fiscal impact assessment studies conducted prior to implementing the ordinance

This latest move follows two previously dismissed proposals from Mabilog to cut RPT rates by 80%.

During interpolation, Majority Floor Leader Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia argued that Mabilog could simply request the documents directly, making the resolution unnecessary.

“The first four items could easily be addressed by a simple letter from your good office requesting the data, which is a usual routine from the members of this body,” Sarabia said.

He emphasized that the measure imposed Mabilog’s will on the entire council without consensus.

“You’re imposing your own capacity as councilor, and you’re imposing the will of the City Council, which might not necessarily agree with you,” he added.

Sarabia said Mabilog, like any councilor, has the authority to request data independently.

“You have the power. You are vested with the authority. You could do the same. You could act as an equivalent agent of the government,” he said.

He also clarified that the data Mabilog requested on budget allocations and spending is already detailed in the 2024 and 2025 annual appropriations ordinances and their committee reports.

Mabilog, however, insisted that a formal resolution would show transparency and unity from the City Council amid continued public concern over the RPT hike.

“We owe it to the people — transparency. We are accountable to that. But I adhere, well, the majority wins,” she said.

She said a resolution would signal a “collective sentiment” and help educate new council members like herself who were not part of the 11th City Council that passed the tax increase.

“Everyone should be knowledgeable about it, and I think it would help this body be more knowledgeable, equipped, and guided if this data is given to us,” she said.

Sarabia responded that the 11th City Council had already conducted committee reports, hearings, and studies before passing the ordinance.

“Are you presuming that we approve items here that we did not study?” he asked.

Mabilog clarified that she was not questioning the prior council’s research but said taxpayers still have concerns about how the increase was implemented.

Councilor Cabaluna noted that the documents could instead be addressed during the ongoing deliberations of the Committee on Ways and Means on the proposed extension of the 40% RPT discount until 2028.

“It will be redundant for us to request again. It would seem that we do not have trust in the committee discussing this matter,” he said.