Mayor to deliver SOBBA July 1

• Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/June/27/topstory6.htm
• Saturday, June 27, 2015

By CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella will report on the accomplishments of his administration in the last year at the lobby of the Bacolod Government Center July 1.

Puentevella said his report will not be called the State of the City Address but the “State of the Booming Bacolod Address”.

This might be his last SOBBA in his first term as mayor because next year will be elections already, he said.

Meanwhile, Puentevella said he respects the decision of the Sangguniang Panlungsod which passed a resolution requesting the Bacolod City Water District management to suspend or postpone the July 1 and 2 opening of sealed bids of bidders for the bulk water project.

Puentevella said the resolution has no binding force and effect on the decision of Baciwa.

He will respect whatever decision Baciwa makes because he believes they know what they are doing, Puentevella said.

“We really need water. How can Bacolod boom if there is no water? If we lack water and electricity, we will be affected. We cannot overtake other cities, so whatever the decision of Baciwa, we have to respect it,” Puentevella said.

Baciwa has decided to pursue the project, he said.

Puentevella also said nothing but the court can stop the implementation of City Ordinance No. 08-14-700 that sets the new property tax rates for Bacolod.

“We will respect their decision but the show must go on. Those who want to pay under the new rates should just pay,” he said. Because if the court will decide in favor of the city, the taxpayers might be paying more.

Puentevella said if he does not implement the new tax ordinance, he might be held liable by the Ombudsman for not implementing the law.

The Local Government Code states that every three years, the zonal valuation of real properties should be adjusted. The ordinance was not adjusted for the last 10 years. If he does not do his obligation, he might face charges, he said.

City Legal Officer Rayfrando Diaz II said they have not received a copy of the new resolution of the Department of Justice declaring C.O. 08-14-700 null and void.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima was acting on a consolidated appeal of Proxima Centauri Realty and Development Corp. and the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. versus the Bacolod City government, Puentevella, the SP, and City Assessor Maphilindo Polvora as appellees.

Diaz said, “For us this is already moot and academic because we already filed an appeal before the court of competent jurisdiction.”

If the decision will be in favor of the petitioners, they will go to the Supreme Court. But if it will be in favor of the city, the petitioners can also go the SC, Diaz said.

The city is growing, so the value of properties is also multiplying, he said.