Bacolod Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez said he believes that real estate prices in Bacolod City should be increased but also requested that the stakeholders be given another chance to be heard.

Lopez said he was not properly informed of the committee hearing and was not given a second copy of the proposed market value of real properties in Bacolod, during the third committee hearing conducted by the Committee on Finance Friday.

He said that, as subcommittee chairman of Ways and Means, which is one of the committees studying this particularly issue, he believes that the stakeholders should be given a chance. He also requested the chairman of the Finance Committee to study the matter jointly with them.

Lopez also asked for copies of the position papers of the different groups that attended the hearing to make their voices heard.

He is for progress for the city with the Mayor, Lopez said, but also appealed to his fellow officials to study the matter carefully.

The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association Inc. had requested the Sangguniang Panlungsod Friday to defer the increase in land values it is proposing until a thorough study and evaluation of the matter with the private sector, business groups and homeowners’ associations.

Mayor Monico Puentevella said the hearing on updating of land valuation is the third public hearing. So, in short, they are consulting the people.

“By law, we are mandated to increase our land valuation since 2005. It’s been nine years since this was adjusted,” he claimed.

Puentevella said if they do not update the land valuation they might be sanctioned. There are also landowners who also want to increase the value of their land.

Compared to Talisay, Silay and even Victorias, Bacolod has even lower prices. But it has never increased its land valuation, he said. If we do not increase prices, when should they start? He asked.

Puentevella said everyone says they agree to increasing the land valuation. But the problem is that they want different valuation for every street in Bacolod.

They are only following the law and that he believes the bottom line is the progress of Bacolod, Puentevella said.

He also asked all the stakeholders to submit their positions papers because they do not have the luxury of time to listen to all of them during the hearing. He said the Sangguniang Panlungsod will deliberate on their position papers.

He said the hearing Friday was the last, unless the SP will decide to hold another.*CGS

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