GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/16 November) — The city government will auction this month some 579 private real properties that have accumulated “delinquencies” or unpaid realty taxes for at least three years.
Rodilon Lacap, assistant city treasurer, said they decided to hold another public auction sale to allow the local government to recover the real property tax dues owed by the owners of the concerned property units.
He said the auction sale is scheduled on Nov. 23 at the city hall lobby and is expected to continue for several days.
“The auction will mainly involve property units with unpaid taxes of three years and above,” he said.
Under the law, real properties are deemed delinquent one year after their owners fail to settle their real property tax dues.
Such provision was set in Title II of the Local Government Code or Republic Act 7160 and its implementing rules and regulations.
Lacap said they have properly issued several notices to the owners of the real properties with tax delinquencies before these were listed for the auction sale.
He said the issuance of due notices to the owners is part of the “due process” provided by the law.
The official said the procedure involved is sensitive and they make sure that they comply with all the requirements to prevent possible voiding.
Before a delinquent real property is subjected to public auction, the local government should first issue a notice of delinquency and publish it in a local newspaper.
A final demand letter will be issued to the owner and will be followed by a warrant of levy if no payment or settlement is made. A warrant of levy means that a delinquent real property has been attached to the name of the city government.
Upon receipt of the warrant, property owners are given time to settle the tax delinquency. If no payment is made, the forfeiture of the property is published and the auction is scheduled.
Lacap said owners of properties that will be acquired during the public auction sale are given one year to redeem them.
After the end of the redemption period, he said the “buyers will take vested right” over the property and the local government will assist in the conveyance of the ownership through the issuance of a final deed of sale.
For properties acquired by the city government, he said the city council will decide whether they will be used for public purposes or subjected anew to auction.
For the upcoming auction sale, Lacap added they will increases the base prices due to the inclusion of the 10 percent cost of sales. (MindaNews)