Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso underscored the importance of fairness and accuracy in property tax assessments, saying that honest work from the start ensures better outcomes for the city and its residents.

Domagoso reminded employees that taxpayers must never be overcharged as the city’s operations rely heavily on their integrity.

"Kung mali ang simula, mali na ang katapusan (If the start is wrong, the end will be wrong),” Domagoso said during the flag-raising ceremony led by the Department of Assessment on Monday, August 11.

The mayor also encouraged the use of technology to reduce human intervention, which he said would help prevent errors and curb corruption in the assessment process.

“We have to move forward, we have to correct it and start it right,” he said.

Meanwhile, Department of Assessment officer-in-charge Attorney Ma. Cristina Fernandez reported that despite ongoing process overhauls and data clean-up, the office had issued 1,303 certifications, 1,589 new tax declarations, and processed 491 property transfers and cancellations as of August 8.

The total assessed value of properties reached P559.28 billion, while collections for August 7 alone amounted to P60.65 million.

Domagoso emphasized that accurate tax assessments protect taxpayers from abuse and ensure the city can properly fund essential services.

He reiterated his zero-tolerance stance against corruption and called for cooperation from employees and residents alike.

“Hindi naman para sa akin ito, para ito sa 1.9 million Manilenos (This is not for me, it’s for the 1.9 million Manileños),” he said.

“They deserve better things from their government,” Domagoso added.