Makati City Councilor Martin Arenas said on Tuesday, July 29, that the councilors from the majority bloc of the Makati City Council will oppose any attempt by Mayor Nancy Binay to increase Real Property Taxes (RPT) in the city.

Arenas made the statement following Binay's alleged unannounced arrival during a councilors' meeting on July 27, held in preparation for the inaugural session of the City Council.

According to him, the mayor began asking questions about the ordinance that reduced the RPT during the term of former Mayor Abby Binay, particularly regarding the impact of the 20 percent tax reduction enacted last year on barangay.

“Nagulat kami sa tanong ni Mayor Nancy. Ito ba ay pahiwatig na iniisip n'ya at ng kanyang mga advisers na itaas muli ang RPT? Nakikiusap kami na huwag nila itong ituloy dahil hindi namin ito susuportahan (We were surprised by Mayor Nancy's question. Is this an indication that she and her advisers are thinking of raising the RPT again? We are begging them not to pursue this because we will not support it)," Arenas said.

“We stand by our decision to approve the 20 percent RPT reduction, and we will oppose any proposal to increase the RPT,” he added.

The City Council passed the ordinance reducing the RPT by 20 percent because they agreed with the former mayor that the reduction would provide relief to taxpayers, both residents and investors, and help cushion the impact of the Real Property Valuation and Assessment and Reform Act (RPVARA) on Makati taxpayers.

The RPVARA was passed by Congress in 2024. In the Senate, the law was approved unanimously, according to media reports, and Mayor Nancy was a senator at that time, he said.

“If they had not passed the ordinance reducing the RPT by 20 percent, Makati property owners would see their assessments increase by 1,000 percent or more in 2026, when the new valuation and assessment takes effect under the RPVARA," Arenas stressed.

He added that because of the ordinance, Makati property owners will be paying less than the updated valuation and assessment rates that will be imposed on all property owners.

“This action from the administration of Mayor Abby not only showed concern for Makatizens but foresight. Dahil may tunay na malasakit sa Makatizens, nakita niya na ang batas na ginawa ng Kongreso, na suportado ng lahat ng Senador, ay magiging dagdag na pahirap. Kay Mayor Abby mismo nanggaling ang 20 percent reduction proposal (Because she truly cares about Makatizens, she saw that the law passed by Congress, supported by all senators, would be an additional hardship. The 20 percent reduction proposal came from Mayor Abby herself)."

The official said the senators who voted for the RPVARA should have thoroughly studied the impact of the law at the local level, especially on property owners.

On the part of the councilors, Arenas said they studied the RPT reduction ordinance thoroughly before approving it.

"This is our responsibility as lawmakers. I hope our good mayor studied the ordinance carefully before talking to the councilors. If she had done so, she would have seen the relief it provides to our Makatizens," he explained.

He also stressed that contrary to assumptions, Makati’s revenues will not be affected by the 20 percent reduction since it only covers land.

“We also want to emphasize that the ordinance reduces by 20 percent the RPT on land. Tax rates on property development and machinery remain the same. Contrary to assumptions, Makati’s revenues will not be affected. The projections made by the finance sector are very positive even with the 20 percent reduction. It will even make Makati more competitive. The tax reduction will invite more investors, and that is good for Makati and our beloved Makatizens,” Arenas noted.