Quezon City – The Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) OIC Executive Director Ma. Pamela P. Quizon, Chief of Local Treasury Operations Division (LTOD) Ms Consolacion Q. Agcaoili and Acting Chief of Local Assessment Operations Division (LAOD) Atty. Neil A. Lamban, attended the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG) Center for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG) Development Legislation Enhancement Course (DLEC), held on 09 and 10 March 2023 at the UP NCPAG Assembly Hall in Quezon City.   

In the said forum, OIC Executive Director Quizon shared updates on the proposed Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform (RPVAR) bill, where she underscored the importance for local government units (LGUs) to be well-versed on real property tax.  

“Land is one of the most important tangible assets of a local government unit. It is the primary source of revenues for many LGUs, particularly municipalities. RPT is one of the most important revenue base of LGUs, which is based on values, normally appreciate during periods of growth, urban expansion or even inflation. RPT is a stable tax since it is indexed on lands and improvements which are located almost permanently on the same site”, OIC Executive Director Quizon said.  

The forum highlighted the discussion on the Local Revenue Code (LRC) and LGU Property Assessment Schedule as spearheaded by Ms Agcaoili and Atty. Lamban, respectively.  

Ms Agcaoili elaborated the Local Revenue Code (LRC) as a reflection of the LGUs’ tax and revenue policy, the issues surrounding LRCs in the country, rationale, processes, requirements and the considerations and role of the Sanggunian in the updating of the LRC.  

In addition, Atty. Lamban shed light on the LGU Property Assessment Schedule as a basis for real property assessments and taxes, issues concerning the LGU Property Assessment Schedules and its updating, and the implications on the proposed RPVAR bill.  

The UP NCPAG CLRG’s DLEC training program aims to enhance the participants’ capability in legislating measures to improve the LGUs’ performance and facilitate local development.