The Iloilo City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 6, rejected a resolution filed by Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog seeking a full fiscal impact assessment on the controversial 300% increase in Real Property Tax (RPT), despite a 40% discount offered by the city government.

Mabilog’s resolution aimed to summon the city’s key finance officials — City Treasurer Engr. Ginny Hermano, City Accountant Michelle Lopez, City Assessor Ceasar Jalbuna, and City Budget Officer Viminale Capulso — to present data on how the massive tax increase has affected city revenues, public services, and taxpayer burden.

The proposed inquiry also intended to determine whether the 40% reduction was enough to address the concerns of affected property owners.

“This is a matter of transparency and accountability. It is the duty of the City Government to disclose how the additional revenues from the increased RPT were collected, allocated, and spent,” read Mabilog’s resolution.

The proposed measure, however, failed to secure majority support, stalling any formal legislative inquiry into the tax hike’s financial consequences.

Tensions flared during the council’s regular session following the resolution’s rejection.

Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda clarified that Mabilog’s separate proposal — to reduce the RPT hike by 80% — was not deliberately excluded from the day’s agenda.

She said she had already referred the measure to the appropriate committee based on Majority Floor Leader Rex Marcus Sarabia’s request.

“I treated her fairly,” Baronda said, noting that another item under “other matters” — the extension of the 40% discount — was also discussed during the session.

“I did not violate our internal rules. I have the authority to determine what may be included under other matters,” she added.

Baronda also underscored that her leadership remains impartial despite sharing a political party with Mabilog.

Councilor Miguel Tréñas, meanwhile, stood up during the session to express disappointment over Mabilog’s public criticisms of the council.

“When she’s inside the session hall, she acts like everything is fine. But once she talks to the media, she calls the council deaf and mute,” said Tréñas, calling her statements an insult to the institution.

The tensions stem from Mabilog’s persistent opposition to the RPT hike.

In a recent Facebook post, she responded to calls by Councilor Sarabia to move on from the issue.

“How can I tell a senior citizen or retiree to just move on, when their only income is their small pension, and we’re making them pay taxes that are even higher than what they receive?” Mabilog wrote.

She also pointed to the plight of working-class families already struggling to make ends meet. “These families were not even properly consulted. That’s not just unfair, it’s unjust.”

Mabilog reiterated that she will not back down until the concerns of overburdened taxpayers are fully addressed.

“We have not yet addressed the burden of RPT. This issue is not over. I will not stop. Because for me, public service means standing with the people, even if some might think it’s inconvenient,” she said.IMT