For the second time, the Iloilo City Council has rejected the proposed ordinance of Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog seeking to grant an 80% reduction in Real Property Tax (RPT), triggering a heated exchange between councilors.
Majority Floor Leader Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia defended the decision, saying the proposal lacked legal and technical grounding.
“Individually, we were waiting to be convinced — but somehow, we were not,” Sarabia said in an interview.
He criticized Mabilog’s presentation, noting that it did not cite any authoritative sources, government agency, or independent body, which he said made the proposal “lack credibility.”
“It was filled with emotional allegations,” Sarabia said. “Proposals like this must be thoroughly studied, not taken lightly. If this had passed, the consequences could have been catastrophic for the Iloilo City Government and its constituents.”
Mabilog, however, stood firm on her position. She reiterated that despite the current 40% reduction in RPT, many taxpayers and business owners are still struggling.
Frustrated with how her proposed measure was dismissed, Mabilog openly criticized the majority of the council, calling them “deaf and blind” for allegedly ignoring the plight of affected taxpayers and refusing to let her proposal move forward to second reading.
“They pretend to listen, but their minds are already closed. If a proposal doesn’t come from the majority, they have no interest,” Mabilog said.
She vowed not to be discouraged and promised to continue pushing for what she described as a genuine cause for economic relief.
“I will not be silenced. I will continue to fight,” she said.
The tension underscores a growing divide within the city council on how best to address public concerns over the controversial RPT hike — an issue that remains a political flashpoint in Iloilo City.IMT
