A House leader has filed a bill seeking a two-year suspension of key provisions of the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA) to shield property owners from sharp increases in taxes and government fees.
House Ways and Means Committee Chair Rep. Miro Quimbo filed House Bill No. 10808, framing the proposed moratorium as a necessary measure to address current economic pressures.
Under HB 10808, existing Schedules of Market Values (SMVs), zonal values, and assessed values will remain frozen for two years across national and local tax assessments, fees, and official transactions. The bill explicitly guarantees that taxpayers will not face higher national or local levies based on updated SMVs during the suspension period.
Quimbo clarified that the measure does not scrap the RPVARA framework altogether. Preparatory activities, including data gathering, public consultations, and agency capacity-building, will continue so government bodies can evaluate the financial impact of the new valuation model.
“This is not a rejection of reform, it is about getting the timing right,” Quimbo said. “What may constitute sound policy under normal conditions may impose unintended hardship when introduced during a period of extraordinary economic and natural disruption.”
The proposed suspension was among the key legislative priorities discussed during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on August 6.
Quimbo emphasized that the bill aligns with Congress’s broader tax agenda, which seeks to reconcile fiscal policy with taxpayer protection.
“We can modernize our property valuation system without imposing sudden and excessive burdens on Filipino families, property owners and businesses,” Quimbo said.
“Tax reform must not simply be about raising revenues. It must also be about making sure that government policy does not place an unreasonable burden on ordinary Filipinos,” he added. “As we pursue broader reforms in our tax system, our objective is clear: to build a system that is fairer, more responsive and one that protects taxpayers while ensuring the government has the resources to serve our people.”