I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, pursuant to the powers vested in me by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and in
accordance with Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and
General Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, and knowing —
THAT, values of real property and improvements
therein are usually under declared obviously for the purpose of evading
payment of higher and correct taxes due the Government;
THAT, although real property and the improvements
therein are undervalued for purposes of taxation, these real property
are sold to the Government when needed for public purposes, such as the
construction of roads and other infrastructure, at their market value
which are usually ten (10) to twenty (20) times more than the value
declared by the owners for purposes of taxation; and —
In order to effect the desired changes and reforms in the social,
economic and political structure of the country, which is the main
objective of the New Society; hereby decree and order that:
All persons owning or administering real property, including the
improvements therein, shall file with the respective Provincial or City
Assessors not later than January 31, 1973, a Sworn Statement declaring
the true value of their property.
This Sworn Statement when approved by the Provincial or City
Assessor concerned, shall be the basis not only for the payment of real
property tax beginning with the year 1973 but also of the just
compensation to be paid to owners or administrators of land and other
real property expropriated by the Government for public purpose or
purposes.
From the decisions of Provincial or City Boards of Tax
Appeals, an appeal may be taken by the owner or by the Provincial or
City Assessor to a Central Board of Tax Appeals, composed of the
Secretary of Finance, as chairman, and the Secretary of Justice, and the
Secretary of Local Governments and Community Development, as members,
whose decision shall be final. Said Central Board of Tax Appeals shall
promulgate rules and regulations governing the procedure in such
appeals.
The true value of the land and the improvements therein shall
be the value declared for taxation plus the market value divided by two.
Any one who shall knowingly make a false declaration
concerning any property or who shall fail to make statement as required
in section one of this Decree, shall, upon conviction, pay a fine of not
less than one hundred nor more than ten thousand pesos. If the offense
is committed by a corporation, the manager or person in charge of the
management of the business of the corporation shall be responsible
therefor.
The Secretary of Finance is hereby ordered to cause the
preparation of the necessary forms, in sufficient number, needed for
this purpose and to formulate the implementing details to be followed by
all Provincial and City Assessors for the immediate and successful
implementation of this Decree.
This Decree shall form part of the law of the land and shall take
effect immediately after its publication.
Done in the City of Manila, this 20th day of October, in the year of
Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-two.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary