The Provincial Board of Palawan, through an ordinance, plans to extend the deadline of payment for real property taxes (RPT). Once approved, real property owners in the Province of Palawan may pay their first quarter taxes until May this year.
First District Board Members Juan Antonio Alvarez and David Francis Ponce de Leon, authors of the ordinance, cited Section 167 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code, which states that for a justifiable reason or cause, the concerned Sanggunian may extend the time of payment of taxes, fees or charges without surcharge or penalties, as long as it will not exceed six months.
The proposed measure is likewise in line with Proclamation No. 1021 that extends the period of state of calamity throughout the country due to COVID-19 pandemic for a period of one year from September 13, 2020, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.
Proclamation No. 922, s. 2020, enjoins the local government units to render full assistance and cooperation to curtail and eliminate the COVID-19 threat. Authors stated that taking into account the large number of taxpayers who will come to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office up until March may