Iloilo City: The local government is considering giving additional tax incentives to owners of heritage buildings along Calle Real and other similar structures and houses identified by the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Council. “We are already talking to the finance committee for additional real property tax incentives,” Mayor Jerry Tre±as said in an interview on Tuesday. He said they want to give the maximum number of years for owners to recoup their expenses if ever they would rehabilitate or repaint their buildings. “As long as we can sustain, we are ready to give them more incentives,” Tre±as said.

According to Philippines News Agency, last week, Tre±as met with property owners, developers, and business organization leaders for a public consultation on proposed ordinances aimed at strengthening the city’s investment climate. These include granting real property tax incentives for developers constructing buildings exclusively for business process outsourcing (BPO) operations, amending the Iloilo City Economic Recovery Incentives Ordinance of 2021, and updating investment incentives for key development areas. “The developers are so happy. We are giving them breathing space for so many years to recover from their investments. As I said, we are ready to accept more suggestions and recommendations from them as long as the finance committee will accept them,” Tre±as said.

Meanwhile, the city government is set to turn over to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) on Wednesday the old municipal building of Jaro district already renovated by the National Museum of the Philippines. The NCCA, according to the mayor, is ready with a PHP6.5-million budget for the repair of the structure.