SC stops auction of UP-Ayala Land Technohub

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has granted the petition filed by the University of the Philippines (UP) preventing the Quezon City government’s plan to auction UP-Ayala Land Technohub due to its inability to pay real property taxes worth P117.18 million.

The high court’s 2nd division issued a temporary restraining order stopping the city government to auction off the property.

Last September 24, UP through the Office of the Solicitor General, said that the state university is exempted from paying real property tax in accordance to Section 25 of the RA 9500, or the UP Charter.

Section 25 of RA 9500 states that “all revenues and assets of the University of the Philippines used for educational purposes or in support thereof shall be exempt from all taxes and duties.”

The petition filed by the university states that the said provision “applies to UP’s properties whether used for educational purposes or in support thereof.”
The said property was scheduled to be auctioned off by the city government on November 20.

UP has leased the 380,630 square meter information technology property to Ayala Land, Inc. since 2006.

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