ILOILO City – A bid by Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog to seek transparency in the implementation of Iloilo City’s increased Real Property Tax (RPT) was swiftly shot down during the City Council’s regular session on Aug. 6.
Mabilog’s proposed resolution, which called on the City Accountant, Assessor, Treasurer, and Budget Officer to submit data on the impact and utilization of the RPT hike, was “declared dead on the floor” after it failed to gain majority support.
Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia led the opposition to the measure, arguing it was unnecessary for the Council to act as a conduit for requests Mabilog could make directly.
“She should go to the offices concerned and get the data. She doesn’t have to drag the entire Council into something she can do alone,” Sarabia asserted during the session.
Mabilog, however, defended her proposal, saying the Council has the mandate to collectively request such information to bolster transparency.
“I believe this resolution is not only valid but necessary. The Council has the right to seek these documents as a body,” Mabilog said.
Assistant Majority Floor Leader Romel Duron, echoing Sarabia, advised Mabilog to first consult with the majority bloc before pushing for any measures.
“There was no consensus. That’s why it did not prosper,” Duron said before the Council voted to reject the resolution.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda addressed allegations of impropriety over her inclusion of Mabilog’s separate proposed ordinance — calling for an 80% reduction in real property taxes — under the “Other Matters” section of the agenda.
In a statement before adjourning the session, Baronda refuted insinuations of “collusion” between her and Mabilog.
“I am the Vice Mayor of all councilors, not just of Mabilog. I am the Vice Mayor of the people of Iloilo City. I will remain impartial, transparent, and fair to everyone. I act without bias and follow the rules,” Baronda declared.
She explained that she exercised her prerogative, as allowed by internal Council rules, to include urgent items in the agenda’s “Other Matters” section, noting that a similar matter — the proposed extension of a 40% RPT discount backed by Mayor Raisa Treñas — was treated the same way.
“There were no irregularities in including Mabilog’s ordinance under ‘Other Matters’ because that is within my authority,” she added, disclosing that she had informed Majority Floor Leader Sarabia about the inclusion beforehand.
Mabilog’s proposed ordinance was also rejected during the same session./PN
