Councilors allied with the majority bloc of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Makati on Tuesday declared firm opposition to any attempt by Mayor Nancy Binay to raise Real Property Taxes (RPT), affirming their commitment to retain the 20% reduction approved last year.
“We will not support any plan to reverse the RPT cut. It’s a lifeline for our constituents,” said Councilor Martin Arenas, who spoke on behalf of the majority bloc.
The councilors’ statement comes after Mayor Binay reportedly raised concerns about the ordinance’s impact during a meeting with city legislators on July 21. The ordinance, passed under former Mayor Abby Binay’s term, reduced land tax assessments by 20% to cushion the blow of the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA) set to take effect in 2026.
“Mayor Nancy arrived unannounced and asked about the reduction. We were surprised,” Arenas said. “Is this a signal they’re considering raising taxes again? We urge them not to.”
The RPVARA, signed into law in 2024, standardizes property valuations across the country. It was passed unanimously in the Senate, where Binay served at the time. Arenas warned that without the 20% cut, property valuations in Makati could spike by over 1,000% due to the new system.
“Mayor Abby saw this coming. She proposed the reduction to shield our residents and investors,” Arenas said.
He stressed that the cut applies only to land, not to improvements or machinery, and would not affect the city’s projected revenues. “Makati remains competitive. This tax relief will attract more investors. That benefits everyone.”
“We did our homework. We studied this thoroughly. The mayor should have done the same before questioning the ordinance,” he added.
The majority bloc reaffirmed its position: “We stand with the people. We will not support any tax increase.”
