BY GLORIA LEODIVICA INES ARANETA
Tagbilaran City marked a significant milestone in its local governance initiatives with the ceremonial turnover of IT equipment for the Local Governance Reform Project (LGRP).
The event took place on October 9, 2024, during the Bureau of Local Government Finance’s (BLGF) 37th Anniversary celebration at Seda Manila Bay in Parañaque City with Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto as Keynote Speaker.
The essential equipment was received by City Assessor Fe Almiñe and City Treasurer Hubert Inas, signifying the city’s commitment to improving appraisal and assessment operations.
In a statement, Mayor Jane Yap expressed her gratitude for the support received from the DOF and the BLGF. She emphasized the importance of this project for Tagbilaran City, stating, “This initiative not only reflects our commitment to transparency and efficiency in local governance but also positions us to better serve our constituents. By leveraging technology, we can enhance our real property tax administration and ensure that our city continues to grow and prosper.”
DOF and BLGF recognized Tagbilaran City as among the National Top Performing LGUs for Fiscal Year 2023. The city is top 8 among component cities in terms of year-on-year growth in local source revenue, boasting an impressive 22.83% growth rate. The city also ranked Top 10 for total current operating expenditures per capita for the same fiscal year. These achievements highlight the city’s effective fiscal management and commitment to sustainable development.
The LGRP is an initiative by the BLGF aimed at harmonizing policy direction and enhancing local fiscal management, particularly focusing on the valuation and appraisal of real properties through digitalization. Tagbilaran City has been selected as one of only 20 local government units and state universities to participate in the pilot implementation, emphasizing its proactive approach to modernizing real property tax administration.
The foundation for this initiative was laid with the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between Tagbilaran City and the DOF through the BLGF on March 2, 2023. The agreement was formalized in the presence of former DOF Secretary Benjamin Diokno and BLGF Region 7 Director Jessie Doctolero, underscoring the collaborative effort to enhance local governance through innovative technology.