New fair market values, building permit fees

I ATTENDED the public hearing regarding the proposed fair market values and new building permit fees and other charges Thursday morning held at the Cagayan de Oro City Tourism Hall. Below is the story I filed for our daily newsflyer, The Power:


It’s fair enough, Kagay-anons
say of new fair market values
By Raul G. Moldez

THE City Council assured Kagay-anons it will take note and consider their reactions, suggestions and comments on the proposed new schedule of fair market values and building permit fees and other charges.

At the public hearing Thursday morning at the City Tourism Hall, Vice Mayor Michelle Tagarda-Spiers said the adoption of both schedules is long overdue, even as she thanked civic groups, nongovernment organizations, landowners, developers, barangay officials, regional offices and other sectors for attending the public consultation.

“It is not only mandated by law. It is long overdue,” she said, stressing that under the 1991 Local Government Code, local government units are mandated to revise fair market values every three years. “Since 1997, there were no changes. We should have done three revisions already.”

“If you compare Cagayan de Oro City between 1997 and 2006, there is a world of difference. Cagayan de Oro has boomed, bloomed and blossomed so much,” the vice mayor pointed out.

Vice Mayor Spiers said the adoption of the new fair market values is necessary to enable the city to “keep pace with the changes” of time.

“We will consider your proposals before we will finally approve the schedule,” she added.

City Assessor Atinodoro Asequia pointed out that under Sections 219 and 212 of RA 7160, also known as the 1991 Local Government Code, each LGU is authorized to revise fair market value schedule every three years.

In the proposed schedule, the City Assessor claimed that the increase is very minimal.

Based on the figures presented by the City Assessor, the increase is pegged at the average of 20-percent from the existing rates, except in posh housing subdivisions.

“The increase is arrived at after making consultations with the realtors and other sectors. It is fair, just and reasonable,” Asequia said, adding that the valuation is based on the actual use.

Assessment officials said the city’s assessment level is lower than Cebu’s and Iligan’s.

Barangay kagawad Camilo Sario of Bugo said the new valuation is fair enough. “It means 2 percent a year,” he said, referring to the number of years the city had not effected changes in the fair market value.

After the presentation of the fair market values by the City Assessor, officials of the City Building Office presented the new schedule of building permit fees and other charges based on the new provisions of the IRR of the National Building Code.

The public hearing was presided by Councilor Juan Sia, chair of the City Council committee on finance, and attended by Vice Mayor Spiers, Councilors Maryanne Enteria, Reynaldo Advincula, Ian Mark Nacaya, Alexander Dacer, Caesar Ian Acenas and Alfonso Goking.*

THE THRILL

(For Raul Joshua)


I toss you into the air. And,
for a second, you dwell at the
highest level of my throwing.

The air though
mild as Standard’s No. 1
is strong enough for you.

It lifts up the edge of your
white Hanes T-shirt given by
Ninong Noli on your birthday.

The entire family
sees your protruding navel,
hears the swell of your giggle.

On your way down
into my arms,
your Mama photographs us.

The photo captures all
the elements of thrill—
your chuckle bares a tooth.

Your breath moves the air.
And I remember Papa.
He once told me

I was a hyper-active child, always
seeking to be up in the air.
Now, I realize this:

The thrill is not in the air.
It’s in the arms down below
functioning like safety nets.

(Published in Ani 31 Literary Journal)

Memoirs Of a Bogus President

One day
somewhere
I put into words
my grievances
against myself
hoping
in the squatters area
the people will read them
and discover
through the aid of streetlights
and in the midst of commotion
between policemen and hold-uppers
between policemen and protesters
between policemen and nationalists
between policemen and activists
between policemen and oppositionists
that I grabbed the power
one day
somewhere
so I can repeat
my country’s history.

No I.D., No Entry

-in memory of my Uncle Rudy, a security guard

He is the most respectful man in the building.
He politely greets every man and woman,
either in camisa de chino or in Armani suits.
He opens the door for them. He does not sport
a moustache or ponytail. In his job, they are a taboo.
On the chest of his blue uniform, there are insignias.
On the right, his agency; on the left, his name,
which is at times covered by a walkie-talkie.
He is neither a soldier nor a police officer.
Yet he has a sidearm, with dozens of reserved bullets
on his belt. His .38 caliber pistol is silvery shiny.
But I have not yet pulled its trigger off, he says.
He does not even know whether it is functional,
enough for him to tell me it is made by Smith and Wiggle.

MGA BANGAW SA BAG-ONG PANAHON

Nga ayha ra ka makaaninaw og bangaw
human sa dakong lunop, ayawg tuo.
Hinuon, kaniadtong lunhaw pa
ang kalibotan, ang maong tinuohan
naghambin og kamatuoran. Kahinumdom
ka sa sugilanon ni Noah? Apan karon

nga ang mga gaway sa globalisasyon
nagkawaykaway, uyon sa ritmo
sa presyong gidikta sa OPEC, GATT
ug WTO, makakitag kag bangaw
bisan unsang taknaa. Motuo ka?
Unsaon man? Sayon ra. Pagpalit

og gasolina maski usa ka kutsara,
apan ayaw imna basin mokirig ka.
Pagkuhag planggana, sudlig tubig
ayaw pun-a. Ihuwad ang gasolina.
Tan-awa unsay molakra? Tutoki
sa imong kalimutaw. Di ba bangaw?

Ug kini ang di matuis nga kamatuoran:
Ang mga buslot sa oil depots wa gipilot.
Busa may nakalusot, midagayday. Karon,
ang kasubaan ug kadagatan sa mga bangaw
gikuninitan. Way duda, ang kinaiyahan
napanamastamasan. Hahay Pastilan!


_____
First Prize winner, 2006 Bathalad-Mindanao Literary Awards-Cebuano Poetry Category