acerojano

BOC concedes 2014, 2015 collections targets unreachable

General

Dec 222014

BOC concedes 2014, 2015 collections targets unreachable

Bureau of Customs. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) conceded on Monday that it could not hit its full-year collections goal for 2014 even as revenues during the first 11 months continued to rise double-digits on the back of “major headway made in reducing smuggling.” BOC Commissioner John Phillip P. Sevilla also pledged to introduce more reforms in 2015 to further shore up revenues while putting a stop to unscrupulous activities of some importers. Sevilla told a press conference that while the 2014 collections target of P408.1 billion cannot be achieved, the growth of almost a fifth could still be maintained until yearend. BOC data showed that the January-to-November collections increased by 17.8 percent to P331.2 billion from P281.1 billion in the same 11-month period in 2013. The collections during the first 11 months, however, were 11.9-percent below the target of P376.1 billion for the period. In the month of November alone, collections amounted to P31.2 billion, up 10.5 percent from the P28.2 billion posted in the same month in 2013. The revenues in November were 16.4-percent less than the target for the month worth P37.3 billion. Not only this year’s goal but also the P456-billion target for 2015 as earlier determined by the inter-agency, Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee may prove to be difficult to reach. “The 2015 target is impractical and unrealistic, especially with oil prices down,” Sevilla explained. Despite the challenges in hitting their collections targets, Sevilla noted that the BOC has Read More …

Ramos: PH interest is above Pemberton issue

News

Dec 182014

Ramos: PH interest is above Pemberton issue

Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos. AJPRESS PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – There are “higher interests” than what may be a “damaging” relationship between the country and the United States over the custody of Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton, tagged as suspect in the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, former President Fidel V. Ramos said on Thursday. “You know on that issue, although it’s serious for all of us, must not be the cause for the damage of Philippine-US relations, because there are higher interests,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the 79th anniversary rites of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo. “I’m sorry for the family and I’m sorry also for the US side, but in this case, it must be our higher interests. The higher interests are Philippine interests, because we are right on site, we are on the battlefield, we are the victims of bullying by, hindi ko na sasabihin, mabuhay ang Pilipinas,” Ramos said. Ramos was obviously referring to China that is seen as a “bully” for its aggressive claims in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The United States has rejected the demand of the Philippines to have custody of Pemberton and to transfer him to a local jail. The Department of Foreign Affairs has expressed disappointed over the US decision. The US Marine is currently detained at the Joint US Military Assistance Group at Camp Aguinaldo, but is secured by US personnel. Based on the Visiting Forces Agreement, the US Read More …

Search mounted for missing Taiwanese in El Nido

News

Dec 032014

Search mounted for missing Taiwanese in El Nido

popular Problems with balikbayan boxes? Fret no more as BOC’s online tracker kicks in Ayala Land submits new offer for Puerto Azul Alabang West: Residents to get the best of glamorous Beverly Hills living in the South Mercado has more ‘goods’ on Binay COA asks Cayetano wife to account for P317.4M Bringing PNR back to life to cost P300B Pagasa: Cyclone headed toward PH Bong Revilla disappointed but undeterred by denied bail videos PNP honors 24 peacekeepers First international marathon held in Quezon City Good mix of cineastes turns up at Indie Bravo! festival in Fully Booked Sharapova and Mladenovic have fun in Manila International tennis stars discuss rules and their difficulties on first day games in the IPTL El Nido FILE PHOTO PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines – El Nido police are searching for a missing Taiwanese national believed to have been lost on Tuesday afternoon while swimming across the public beach near the town proper. Police identified the missing person as Yen-Ting Chang, a 43-year-old female tourist, said El Nido municipal environmental officer Joel Gomez, in a phone interview Wednesday. Chang was reported missing by her companion, also a Taiwanese and a tourist, while they were swimming in an area near Sitio Calitang, Barangay (village) Bucana at 4 p.m. The report indicated that the two foreign nationals were swimming just off the beach near the shore when the victim got lost. Gomez said municipal authorities have begun a “search and rescue” operation for the missing Taiwanese national. Gomez said Read More …

PSEi gains for 2nd straight session, to retest 7,300

General

Dec 012014

PSEi gains for 2nd straight session, to retest 7,300

popular . The world according to Facebook Bad law school recitation in SC Filipinos catch Sharapova fever at IPTL Blind weddings in new reality series De Lima: No way adultery can be trending on Web Stepping up SC includes Manila gov’t, 3 agencies in suit vs condo What Went Before: Malampaya Fund scam videos First international marathon held in Quezon City Good mix of cineastes turns up at Indie Bravo! festival in Fully Booked Sharapova and Mladenovic have fun in Manila International tennis stars discuss rules and their difficulties on first day games in the IPTL SC launches Justice Zone in QC MANILA, Philippines — The local stock barometer firmed up for the second session in a row to retest the 7,300 level even as most regional markets declined alongside the slump in oil prices. The Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 37.35 points or 0.51 percent to close at 7,331.73. The property counter, which rose by 1.1 percent, led the day’s gains, making up for the slump in the mining/oil counter (-1.91 percent). The holding firm and services counters also contributed gains while the financial and industrial sub indices closed in negative territory. Value turnover for the day amounted to P7.05 billion. There were nearly twice as many decliners (118) as there were advancers (62) while 41 stocks were unchanged. ALI (+2.65 percent) led the property counter. It was reported that the property firm had expressed interest in challenging SM Prime’s reclamation project with the city of Parañaque. Gokongwei-led stocks Read More …

PH eyes redeployment of peacekeepers

News

Aug 252014

MANILA, Philippines – Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that there is still a possibility that Filipino peacekeepers may return to their assignments abroad. Gazmin on Monday said that they would assess the situation on when the troops can return to their assignments. UN Filipino peacekeepers. FILE PHOTO “It’s still probable that they may return,” Gazmin said. “We have threat assessments, periodic threat assessments.” “If the situation improves, why not?” On Saturday, the Department of National Defense said that they would pull out its peacekeeping troops, under the UN, amid the worsening conflict in Golan Heights and the heightening threat of the Ebola virus in Liberia. DND spokesman Peter Galvez said the 331 peacekeepers in Golan Heights would be sent home once their tour of duty ends in October while the 115 troops in Liberia “would be repatriated as soon as possible.” Gazmin said the reason for the pull out was the heightening threats in both countries adding that President Benigno Aquino III has a responsibility to protect every Filipino. “Threats are getting worse and the President needs to protect every Filipino citizen,” Gazmin said. “In terms of security, we have a physical threat in Golan Heights and a health risk in Liberia.” Golan Heights is smack in the middle of the war zone between Israel and Palestine where air strikes occur frequently while Liberia is the epicenter of the Ebola virus. Gazmin, however, said that other peacekeepers deployed in other countries are to stay put, like the 156-strong contingent in Read More …

Thailand gives additional P27M for ‘Yolanda’ rehab

General

Aug 192014

Thailand gives additional P27M for ‘Yolanda’ rehab

By Aries Joseph Hegina |INQUIRER.net 7:57 pm | Tuesday, August 19th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines – Thailand donated $622,243.39 or P27.195 million to aid in the rehabilitation efforts for communities devastated by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” November last year, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement released Monday. Residents sit outside their damaged house after powerful Typhoon Haiyan slammed into Tacloban city, Leyte province, central Philippines on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013. AP Thailand Ambassador to the Philippines Prasas Prasasvinitchai presented the check to DFA Secretary Albert F. del Rosario as additional donation. Also present in the turnover ceremony was Thelsa Biolena, the director of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Operations Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Del Rosario thanked the Royal Thai Government and the people of Thailand for their “generous” donation, stating that it would “help the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the disaster-stricken areas.” The amount was raised in a telethon in November 2013, which was organized by the office of then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. After one hour and 45 minutes, the telethon was able to raise $2.813 million. RELATED STORIES Thai musicians organize day-long event to help ‘Yolanda’ victims Asian newspapers rushed to aid of ‘Yolanda’ victims Follow Us Other Stories: 2 Filipino students win gold, silver medals in China math tourney Ex-US president Jimmy Carter, PH activists to be honored on Ninoy Aquino Day DFA probes ‘inhumane’ treatment of repatriates DFA: Rumors PH passports being stamped ‘not valid for Libya’ Read More …

PH apologizes to Malta over OFW who missed flight back to Manila

News

Aug 182014

PH apologizes to Malta over OFW who missed flight back to Manila

By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 3:59 pm | Monday, August 18th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government apologized to the government of Malta after one of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) evacuated from Libya was left in the country after missing the chartered flight to bring them back to the Philippines. OFWs from LIbya. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO “We have expressed our regrets for what happened through a note verbale to the government of Malta,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose said in a press briefing Monday. “The Maltese authorities are investigating the case of Rodrigo Andres, the OFW evacuated from Libya who failed to board the second chartered flight from Malta last August 16. The Philippine government is extending its full cooperation in the investigation until its final resolution,” he said. Andres was among the more than 700 OFWs evacuated from strife-torn Libya by ship and brought to Malta where two Philippine Airlines (PAL) chartered flights flew them back to Manila. Reporters who were onboard the flight asked Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welfare office Mario Antonio on the possibility that Andres chose to stay in Malta instead of board the plane back to Manila but he simply replied he doesn’t know. “We have labor and welfare and DFA officials who can check his whereabouts at the airport,” Antonio told reporters before the plane went ahead with its flight after nearly an hour delay. Jose said that more than 10,000 Filipinos still remain in Libya despite repeated calls Read More …

PAL gets go signal to fly to Guam

General

Aug 132014

By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 4:07 pm | Wednesday, August 13th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL) has expanded its flights from Philippines to Guam, a United States (US) territory in the Pacific Ocean, following the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) upgrading to Category 1 of the Philippines’ aviation safety rating. FILE PHOTO “Philippine Consul General in Guam Marciano De Borja said that the increased frequency granted to PAL is a manifestation of enhanced international confidence in the Philippines,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement Wednesday. “PAL and other Philippine-flagged carriers were recently allowed to increase their frequency and routes to destinations in the US after the FAA upgraded the country’s aviation safety rating to Category 1 status,” it said. The daily flights to Guam will begin on October 26, 2014. There are more than 13,500 permanent Filipinos in Guam, they are largest ethnic group there after the indigenous Chamorro group. The island is a vital military base for the US Armed Forces and was once a stopover port for the Spanish Galleon Trade route to the Philippines. “Consul General De Borja congratulated PAL for this milestone in its Manila-Guam route and invited the airline to become a close partner and help actively promote the Philippines through the economic and cultural diplomacy projects of the Philippine Consulate General,” the statement said. RELATED STORIES Biz Buzz: PAL-for-cash deal in the offing SMC-Lucio Tan showdown over PAL looms Follow Us Other Stories: Arrest made in death of Fil-Am girl, 6 Fil-Am Read More …

Chinese reclamation in Spratlys violates Asean conduct declaration – DND

General

Jun 052014

Chinese reclamation in Spratlys violates Asean conduct declaration – DND

By Bong Lozada INQUIRER.net 9:11 pm | Thursday, June 5th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines-With China continuing its reclamation projects in the disputed Spratly Islands, the Philippines has fired back saying the operations are an “outright disregard” of one international relation. Peter Paul Galvez, Department of National Defense spokesman, said that the reclamation projects of the Chinese at the Gaven and Cuarteron reefs disregard the Declaration of Conduct that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations formed. “This is an outright disregard of the DOC,” Galvez said Thursday evening. “We continue to reiterate that all nations in the region (to follow the DOC). Galvez said that the Philippines continues to “aggressively pursue the code of conduct.” China’s reclamation operations began in March at the Cuarteron reef and May at the Gaven reef. According to the Asean DOC, Asean countries and China should “promote a peaceful, friendly, and harmonious environment in the South China Sea.” Galvez said that apart from sparking new tensions, the “illegal activities” also disrupt the environment. “These actions, these activities destroy the marine environment which sustains the marine life in the waters.” Follow Us Other Stories: South Korea gives Corvette to Philippine Navy G7 concerned by Asian maritime tensions Vietnam shows video of Chinese ship ramming boat Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Short URL: Read More …

The rape of Pepsi Paloma

News

Mar 052014

We were eating lunch at a Daly City home and watching “Eat Bulaga!”, the popular noontime variety show on GMA TV, when someone commented that he read on Facebook that two of the show’s hosts, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, were involved in the gang rape of a young Filipino American actress named Pepsi Paloma in 1982. The Eraserheads PHOTO/PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER Three young Filipino kids, all recent immigrants, joined in the conversation and said that they also heard of the Pepsi Paloma rape case. I expressed surprise because it occurred long before any of them were born. They explained that they learned of the rape from the song “Spolarium” composed and performed by the Eraserheads, their favorite Filipino rock band. When I Googled the lyrics of “Spolarium” by the Eraserheads, I found these words: at ngayon di pa rin alam kung ba’t tayo nandito pwede bang itigil muna ang pagikot ng mundo umiyak ang umaga anong sinulat ni enteng at joey dyan sa gintong salamin di ko na mabasa pagkat merong nagbura ahhh… (And we still don’t know why we’re here, please stop the turning of the world, the morning cried, what did enteng and joey write in the golden mirror I couldn’t read because someone erased it). Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III. INQUIRER file photo According to these diehard fans of the Eraserheads, “enteng” is Vic Sotto and “joey” is Joey de Leon and the something that was erased was their criminal record. The meaning Read More …

Older Entries Newer Entries