South Cotabato, Philippines – The Provincial Government of South Cotabato, through the Provincial Assessor’s Office, will hold its first Public Consultation on the Proposed 2027 Schedule of Market Values (SMV) for Real Property Tax on December 17–18, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the PDC Hall, Leftwing Finance Building, Capitol Compound, Koronadal City.
This activity is a mandatory requirement under the Department of Finance–Bureau of Local Government Finance (DOF-BLGF), ensuring that all stakeholders are properly engaged before the proposal is finalized for endorsement to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Provincial Assessor Engr. Ritchie A. Ballesta, REA, emphasized the importance of the upcoming consultation, noting that the Province aims to uphold accountability and accuracy through a collaborative process.
“This consultation is our first major step toward establishing a valuation system that truly reflects South Cotabato’s economic landscape. We want to ensure that the public is heard, informed, and meaningfully involved. Transparency is our commitment, and participation is our shared responsibility,” Engr. Ballesta said.
This initial consultation serves as an essential platform for property owners, business sectors, and community representatives to participate in the early stages of the valuation process
The Provincial Government underscores that proactive public involvement is vital in forming a fair, reliable, and transparent valuation framework aligned with national standards.
During the activity, the Provincial Assessor’s Office is to present the draft valuation tables covering urban lands, agricultural lands, buildings, and improvements.
Stakeholders will have the opportunity to raise concerns, ask for clarifications, and provide suggestions which will be documented and considered in the refinement of the proposal.
The Provincial Government calls on all property owners, real estate practitioners, farmers, business owners, and civic organizations to join the consultation.
Their contributions will help ensure that the 2027 SMV is grounded in fairness, updated market realities, and responsive to both economic growth and community concerns.
“We encourage broad public participation because a transparent valuation process leads to a more equitable taxation system, which in turn strengthens local development,” Ballesta added.
