Maniolas

PROSPECTS for the local manufacturing sector remain positive, given robust domestic consumption, strong macroeconomic fundamentals and still-low oil prices, the Finance department’s chief economist said.

The pace of change within the technology sector is rapidly accelerating. Even within an industry that is accustomed to rapid waves of change, C-level executives and boards now find themselves navigating an unprecedented period of disruption and innovation. The era of cloud computing and smart mobility is bringing about change faster, more continuously and from different directions, allowing more fluid access and/or transfer of data. As a result, executives and top management are also becoming increasingly concerned about intellectual property (IP) protection and information security. This transformational force is global and highly complex, encompassing new business models, new entrants and new markets — and always with the looming prospect of next-wave technology disruptors.

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) wants to increase the country’s physical control of the Benham Rise by encouraging fishing communities on the east coast to exploit the new resource.

THE BUDGET department has released the 40% share of local government units (LGUs) in excise taxes collected from the mining industry dating back to December 2011.

In an era of online shopping, online booking, and many other things done online, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) continues to keep up, this time embracing online payment of taxes. On March 28, the BIR published Revenue Regulations No. 3-2016 providing rules for the adoption of credit/debit/prepaid card payments as additional modes of paying taxes. Tax payments made through these alternative modes are made in real time or, to be exact, on the date and at the time indicated in the system-generated confirmation receipt issued by the bank/credit card company. You can therefore pay your taxes whenever and wherever you are.