THE SENATE approved on third and final reading on Monday a measure seeking to make the sugarcane industry more competitive by consolidating small farms and reiterating the exemption of refined sugar for export from value-added tax (VAT).
Oct 272014
Oct 272014
ONCE the tax assessment is rendered final and the collection stage begins, taxpayers have an option to file for a compromise settlement to pay for a reduced amount, in meritorious cases. Revenue Regulations No. (RR) 30-2002, as amended, provides for specific grounds when a taxpayer can request for compromise settlement: (1) when there is doubtful validity in the tax assessment or (2) when there is financial incapacity on the part of the taxpayer. In either case, the taxpayer has the burden of proof and is obligated to pay the amount of the compromise offer — which ranges from 10% to 40% of the basic deficiency taxes — before filing the application for settlement. Otherwise, the application will not move forward.
Oct 262014
MANILA, Philippines — Cameraphone users who are interested in keeping up with the latest news now have the chance to earn money and be a part of the news gathering process with a revolutionary app that is shaping up to be a trailblazer in user-generated content production. Philstar.com and The Philippine Star take photo crowdsourcing in the Philippines to a whole new level as they team with Finland-based P2S Media Group, Inc. in bringing Scoopshot, a smartphone application that allows citizens to contribute photos and videos from the day’s hot news events. Scoopshot provides news agencies like Philstar access to hundreds and thousands of crowdsourced photos and videos from around the world. Photos deemed fit for a news article can be used by buying it from the contributor. Through this setup, Scoopshot users can sell their photos to news agencies and at the same time get recognized for their contribution. The app is available in the App Store and Play Store, and once installed, it allows users to shoot and sell their photos and videos for publication. Likewise, new agencies can also set up a task to call for various submissions, where chosen entries get monetary compensation. Currently, the app is being used in 170 countries and about 60 publications worldwide use the service. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “We are shaping user-generated content in the Philippines as our readers will soon join others from around the world in this endeavor. User-generated content will have a Read More …
Oct 262014
THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) is targeting to complete over P258-billion worth of infrastructure projects by 2019, in line with the target timeline for the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) P2.61-trillion Road map for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas, known simply as the “Dream Plan”.
Oct 262014
TWO BILLS seeking to impose a logging ban in areas in Mindanao have been approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives.
Oct 262014
(First of two parts) COMPANIES engaged in agricultural activities, which is the biological transformation and harvest of crops such as banana, pineapple, sugar, coffee, palm oil and rubber, incur costs of planting (including seedlings), fertilizers and or plant/fruit care prior to commercial harvest. The aggregate of these costs is what is commonly called the costs of bearer plants. These costs are often significant since a farm may cover hundreds, if not thousands, of hectares of land. Given our rapidly growing population, there is constant pressure on agricultural companies to expand operations to meet demand — which in turn means commensurate increases in the cost of bearer plants. These costs can also be substantial when farms are damaged by typhoons or crop diseases, which in some cases require rehabilitation and even replanting.
Oct 262014
Conglomerate looking at P123-B Lakeshore dike MANILA, Philippines – Conglomerate Ayala Corp. vowed to continue to participate in the bidding for major infrastructure projects under the government’s public private partnership (PPP) program amid the impending rebidding for the P35.4-billion Cavite – Laguna expressway. “We will continue to participate in PPP projects, “ Ayala Corp. managing director John Eric Francia said in a text message. Francia said the conglomerate through property giant Ayala Land Inc. is looking at the P123-billion Laguna Lakeshore expressway dike project – the largest PPP project to be rolled out by the Aquino administration. The 47-kilometer expressway dike would facilitate traffic flow and mitigate flooding in the western coastal communities along Laguna Lake from Bicutan in Taguig City through Calamba to Los Baños in Laguna. The project also involves the reclamation of about 700 hectares of raw land. Likewise, he disclosed the company is also interested in the P24.4-billion Bulacan bulk water supply project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) through Manila Water Company Inc. as well as the operation and maintenance (O&M) of Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT-2) through Light Rail Manila Holdings (LRMH). Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 On the other hand, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is bidding out a contract to operate and maintain the LRT-2 system including the proposed P9.7 billion extension to Antipolo City and Port Area in Manila. “Currently we are looking at LRT2 through LRM Holdings, Laguna Lakeshore through Read More …
Oct 262014
Consumer products conglomerate looking to set up cosmetics line MANILA, Philippines – Thailand’s largest consumer products conglomerate, Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Public Co. Ltd. (Saha Group), has expressed its intention to set up manufacturing facilities in the Philippines given the country’s growing attractiveness as an investment destination. In a recent visit to the country, Saha Group president Chantra Purnariksha said the company is eyeing investments in factories for its consumer products as it plans to expand its footprint in one of the world’s best performing economies. “We are looking (to set up factories) for the cosmetics first. And then we will diversify to other products,” Purnariksha said. At present, the Saha Group operates three industrial parks in Thailand covering about 2,500 acres of land. These are the Kabinburi, Sriracha and Lamphun industrial parks. Purnariksha said the Saha Group is initially seeking a local joint venture partner to distribute its consumer products. She said the Thai conglomerate is currently in talks with four to five local companies to be distributor of its cosmetics line in the Philippines. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “Philippines is one of the most interesting markets in terms of consumer products especially cosmetics because we notice there are a lot of cosmetic products in Philippines that are imported from overseas,” Purnariksha said. “So first, we have sent out some of our companies to negotiate with Philippine companies. First we will try retailing then afterwards, we can set up in the near future some factories Read More …
Oct 262014
MANILA, Philippines – In an effort to help strengthen orthopedic care for Filipinos, Royal Philips has today announced that it has partnered with World Citi Inc. to jointly innovate healthcare at one of the Philippines’ most distinguished medical centers, Philippine Orthopedic Center. This project aims to help the government provide better healthcare services to the public and provide access to more modern hospital facilities. There are a number of conditions and ailments treated through orthopedic procedures and some of these are due to traumatic injuries while others are a result of infections leading to strained muscles or degenerative diseases that can affect the musculoskeletal system and patients can significantly benefit from orthopedic procedures. The joint project that Philippine Orthopedic Center will receive is the first healthcare Public Private Partnership (PPP) awarded by the government that will help transform the nation’s primary center for musculoskeletal diseases through the new site in the Healthcare Triangle of Metro Manila. “The Philippine Orthopedic Center has been serving Filipinos with quality orthopedic care for over 60 years,” said Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno, country manager of Philips Philippines. “We are honored to complement their steadfast dedication with advanced facilities to provide comfort to their patients for decades to come. This further exemplifies Philips’ commitment to help bring meaningful innovations to the lives of Filipinos.” In 2013 alone, the Philippine Orthopedic Center serviced over 100,000 cases through medical treatment and consultation services (operating room, out-patient department, emergency room, and wards). The center is highly regarded as a training ground Read More …
Oct 262014
MANILA, Philippines – In line with its commitment to deliver topnotch service, the recently unified Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) held its first Nissan Service Technician Excellence Competency Award (NISTEC) and Nissan Service Advisor Excellence Competency Award (NISAC) National Competition at the Nissan Training and Research Center in Santa Rosa, Laguna. After being recognized by JD Power Asia Pacific’s 2014 Philippine customer service index (CSI) study by garnering top marks in customer satisfaction with aftersales service among new vehicle owners, NPI continues to develop and carry out programs that increase the service reliability and competency of its aftersales workforce. “NISTEC-NISAC is a competition done globally in all countries where Nissan operates. It has been Nissan Motor Co. Limited’s program for more than 20 years,” said Antonio Zara, president and managing director of NPI. “Part of the JD Power criteria involves the competences of the service technicians and service advisors in achieving the over-all satisfaction of the customers. With this competition, we at NPI, aim to further improve the skills and capabilities of our service technicians and service advisors. We also want to encourage them to give the best kind of service our Nissan customers deserve,” he added. Nissan now has a total of 217 service technicians and 59 service advisors nationwide. Through a series of rigorous sets of examinations in the pre-qualifying round, 12 finalists emerged as the strong contenders for the final competition. The six service technician and six service advisor finalists were certified by Nissan Sales Technician Education Program Read More …