Maniolas

Ambulant vendors sell water containers for a hundred pesos each to residents affected by water interruptions in Intramuros, Manila on Monday. Maynilad will be installing a seven-foot-tall pipeline along Hermosa Street in Tondo, Manila to give way to a government flood control project. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Bayan Muna party-list on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to stop the government from paying Manila Water and Maynilad for the alleged losses the concessionaires incurred after they were disallowed from recovering their corporate income taxes by hiking their water rates. In a petition, Bayan Muna party-list Reps Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate insisted that corporate income taxes of the two concessionaires cannot be considered as expenditures and cannot be passed on directly or indirectly to water consumers. The lawmakers asked the tribunal to issue a temporary restraining order or a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the water firms from recovering their income tax liabilities from national coffers. The group cited the so-called Meralco ruling in November 2002 that declared that income tax payments cannot be considered as expenses incurred by public utilities when generating profit. Prior to the SC ruling, Manila Water and Maynilad were initially allowed to include corporate income tax as expenditures and pass it on to consumers by way of tariff during the first rate rebasing exercise in 2002. Despite the SC ruling, the water concessionaires argued they are not public utilities but merely agents and contractors of MWSS. The MWSS eventually sided with the concessionaires and Read More …

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II during the 114th Police Service Anniversary at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center, Camp Crame in Quezon City on Friday, August 7 with the theme: “Pambansang Pulisya: Patuloy sa Makabuluhang Paglilingkod at Makatarungang Pagpapatupad ng Batas.” MANILA (Mabuhay) — Is the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) torn between Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and neophyte Senator Grace Poe? NPC congressmen on Tuesday showed up at Roxas’ headquarters to show support for the Liberal Party’s (LP) standard-bearer. The NPC congressemen include Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Teves, Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, Tarlac Rep. Susan Yap, Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia, South Cotabato Rep. Pedro Acharon, Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, Cebu Rep. Gerald Gullas, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Victor Yu, Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz, Rizal Rep. Isidro Rodriguez and Masbate Rep. Scott Lañete. Also present in the meeting were General Santos Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Lou Antonino. The meeting was held following pronouncements from NPC President, Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao, that the party is inclined to back the tandem of Poe and Francis Escudero should they eventually decide to run in 2016. NPC spokesman, Rex Gatchalian, however, said the party has yet to decide on the matter. “The NPC as a party has not decided whom it will support in the next elections. Members are free to express their opinions on who they prefer. They are free Read More …

Environmental activists dramatize the effects of burning waste using incinerators during a protest on Tuesday. The groups asked the government to follow the Philippine Air Act and not be swayed by attempts of interest groups to lift the ban on waste incineration. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – An environmental group on Monday expressed its disappointment over the decision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to issue a tree-cutting permit to the developer of the historic Army and Navy Club in Manila, saying it is inconsistent with the National Greening Program of the agency. Gwen Borcena, executive director of Green Research, said in a Balitanghali interview that the decision of the DENR officials, including Secretary Ramon Paje, goes against the campaign of President Benigno Aquino III to protect the environment. “Alam namin si President Aquino sincere siya na gusto niyang nasa social contract niya ang pangangalaga sa kalikasan; na hindi ito isaalang-alang sa short-term gain and profit. Pero ‘yung mga ginagawang desisyon ng Gabinete niya at undersecretaries diyan sa DENR, taliwas,” she said. “Ang DENR dapat maging consistent. Sinasabi nilang may National Greening Program pero kaliwa’t kanan ‘yung binibigay nilang mga tree-cutting permits,” Borcena added. Borcena said Paje should be “more serious” in listening to the opinions of civil society organizations and heritage consultants before the DENR issues permits for “controversial” projects such as the restoration of the Army and Navy Club. “Mahirap pagkatiwalaan ang DENR dahil ilang ulit niyo na kaming na-disappoint. Sinasabi niyo na patay ang Read More …

Subaru confirms UK specifications and pricing for new Levorg Sport Tourer.© Subaru UK Ltd. (Relaxnews) – The Levorg, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2015, will go on sale in the UK next month. Subaru has announced that the new Levorg tourer will be on sale in the UK in September and will be priced at £27,495 ($42,840). Other announcements included engine specifications — 168bhp 1.6-liter turbo boxer petrol — and safety equipment updates, such as the Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection System. The brand has also emphasized the tourer’s high-quality interior: “Subaru engineers and designers promise that the Levorg will offer one of the company’s most refined cabins created, with a greater use of high quality materials.[…] Leather trim is used generously within the cabin, including the door trims, on the centre console and on top of the multi-function display on the dashboard.” The Levorg made its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show this year but has been on sale in Japan since 2014. erk/kc

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles Area (UPAAGLA) will hold its Induction Dinner and Dance on August 29 at Glendale Embassy Suites to send deserving scholars in school in much the same way that it kept Armel Grace Lugod’s future ensured through the kindheartedness of the Philippines’ top university alumni. Lugod was a high school valedictorian who went to major in architecture in the University of the Philippines in Mindanao. The nonprofit UPAAGLA whose memberships are representatives of what good educations means in terms of having the right tools for competitiveness in life hopes “to fund the education of more deserving low income students especially in the wake of disasters like Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines”. Tots “Climb” Mt. Everest at VBS: Close to 100 children had their vacation season highlighted by a unique summer experience of being exposed early to spiritual values as more than 30 members of the Climbing Crew joined hands in the annual Vacation Bible School sponsored by Cornerstone Christian Fellowship of Orange County. This month, it will be the indigenous children in Tecate, Mexico who will experience the rare summer treat as the team reaches out to them as they have done in previous years. The theme of the evening is “U.P. Balik Tanaw” – a nostalgic journey for the membership body, which spans from the 1950s to present day. The event will also provide the products of the most prestigious public university in the Philippines “to reconnect with former Read More …