THE Province of Bohol has been selected as one of the prototype Local Government Units (LGU) in the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Local Governance Reform Project (LGRP). The province was shortlisted under Component 2, which focuses specifically on improvements to the Real Property Tax (RPT) administration and management reforms, including the development of a real property valuation database and information system.
The selection was sealed during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of Finance (DOF), Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), and stakeholders held on May 11, 2023, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Complex, Pasay City. Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte attended the ceremonial signing on behalf of Governor Aris Aumentado, along with Provincial Treasurer Eustaquio Socorin, Provincial Assessor Rene Jayag, and BLGF7 Regional Director Jessie B. Doctolero.
Also present at the event were DOF Secretary Benjamin Diokno, DOF Executive Director Ricardo Bobis Jr., Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) President and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua, Polytechnic University of the Philippines President, Dr. Manuel Muhi, provincial chief executives from the prototype LGUs, state universities and colleges, partner government institutions, and stakeholders.
In his keynote, Sec. Diokno thanked ADB for their support in the realization of the LGRP. He also congratulated everyone behind the BLGF LGRP Project Management Implementation Structure, the Project Management Office, and the LGRP Project Management Unit for executing the collaboration.
The LGRP is a four-year loan project to boost the revenue administration of pilot LGUs and scale up the delivery of local public services. It has four components: support institutional development and policy formulation for property valuation (OP1); implement a property tax valuation database and information systems (OP2); enhance the Real Property Tax (RPT) administration for selected LGUs (OP3); and professionalize local assessors and strengthen the capacity of local government units (OP4).
Through this partnership, it is expected to forge strong linkages and harmonize data as a reference for the development of uniform market values. This digital infrastructure will promote accountability, efficiency, and transparency in our local governance processes, leading to fairer, more equitable taxation for all. (PiMO/JSS)
