Maniolas

Internet penetration in the Philippines continues to rise, especially in urban areas where free wi-fi (or wireless connectivity) is increasingly being made available and more people are using smartphones. While the overall Internet user penetration rate is still at the lower 37 percent of the world population, giving the Philippines a rank of 106th in 191 countries by the United Nations Broadband Commission, this is already not far from the world’s average of less than half. For a country that has become the text capital of the world, getting into the Internet access habit is just a matter of time, or more specifically, having the financial capability to buy a smartphone and to connect to an affordable service provider if there is no free Internet available. The UN Broadband Commission predicts that over half of the world’s global population will be connected to the Internet within three years, and we will likely see more Filipinos in this list as the cost of new smartphones drop to even more affordable levels. Cheaper smartphones Thanks to new brands, notably Chinese- and yes, Philippine-made, smartphones are now becoming accessible to Filipinos who have been for so long clinging on to their old version of text-and-call mobile phones. More Filipinos are learning that phones can be used for other applications, such as accessing e-mail services, navigation, Facebook and other similar popular social media channels, and even watching free television or listening to radio programs. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 While Read More …

OUR 1987 Constitution provides for a uniform, equitable and progressive system of taxation, wherein taxes are based on one’s ability to pay. The poor and the middle class should not be taxed at the same level as the upper class. This is not the case, however, looking at our current tax rates. The Philippines has one of the highest personal income tax rate at 32 percent. This rate has not been adjusted for decades, distorting the lines between the poor, the middle class and the wealthy. The result is, an ordinary employee who earns more than P500,000 annually pays the same 32 percent tax rate as that paid by a company president. Recently, the government increased the tax exemption for bonuses and other benefits. On Jan. 5, 2015, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) released Revenue Regulation (RR) No. 1-2015, expanding the list of tax-exempt benefits to include those received via collective bargaining agreements, as well as productivity incentive schemes to the extent of P10,000 per employee per taxable year. 13th month pay On Feb. 12, 2015, President Benigno Aquino III signed into law Republic Act No. 10653, which increased the ceiling on tax-exempt 13th month pay and other benefits to P82,000 from P30,000. The new law also mandates that the President adjust this threshold every three years to its present value using the consumer price index as published by the National Statistics Office. Despite these developments, the tax savings may only be felt by those receiving 13th month pay Read More …

Jason Dy is “The Voice of the Philippines” Season 2 winner. ABS-CBN/PR photo MANILA, Philippines – “The Voice of the Philippines” season two winner Jason Dy was already showcasing his vocal talents before joining the ABS-CBN reality talent show. READ: Jason Dy wins ‘The Voice PH’ Season 2 The 24-year-old artist, who previously worked as a bar singer and a “haranista,” was first a YouTube artist as he uploaded a number of videos of himself doing covers of popular songs. One of his earlier YouTube covers is his rendition of John Legend’s “Ordinary People,” which was uploaded seven years ago. He also performed an original song on his YouTube channel, titled “2 Have U,” uploaded four years ago. Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Jason’s last Youtube video is his cover of Rihanna’s 2012 song “Stay.” Jason joins the ranks of Mitoy Yonting and Lyca Gainarod as the winners of “The Voice of the Philippines.” As part of his prizes as the show’s winner, Jason will receive a recording contract with MCA Universal.

MANILA, Philippines–The group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan remains unconvinced with the transportation department’s “win-win” plan to pursue two elevated railway common stations in Quezon City to resolve a legal row with Henry Sy’s SM Group. Pangilinan, chair of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp., had suggested instead that the government build a single large station that would benefit rival property developers in the area. Although no formal proposal has been made yet by the government, Metro Pacific said it believed building two common stations, which aim to link the busy Metro Rail Transit Line 3, Light Rail Transit Line 1 and eventually MRT7, located hundreds of meters apart was an “inefficient” exercise. Metro Pacific, whose infrastructure portfolio spans tollroads, power generation, water supply and hospitals, has no property interests in the area. But it would be affected by the station’s location as it had won, with partner Ayala Corp., a P65-billion contract last year to operate LRT1 and extend the line to Cavite province. Moreover, it recently revived an unsolicited proposal to assume operations of MRT3, which is suffering from congestion and operational glitches. Metro Pacific president Jose Ma. Lim said last week that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has yet to approach them with a solid proposal on the two common station configuration, although he confirmed they were aware of these discussions. “We heard that there are two stations, which we think is not very efficient. There should be one station for all three lines,” Lim Read More …

Through coffee buying stations, small-to medium-scale coffee farmers can now sell their coffee produce straight to Nestlé. Nestlé’s in-house agronomists also provide farmers with trainings on the latest and sustainable coffee-growing techniques that ensure quality produce and maximum yield. MANILA, Philippines – Consumer goods manufacturer Nestlé Philippines recently opened three new buying stations in key coffee-producing provinces, enabling farmers to have ready access for their produce. Small and medium-scale coffee producers and intermediaries can now sell their coffee to new Nestlé buying stations in Silang, Cavite; Lapuz Norte in Iloilo; and Bagong Pook in Lipa, Batangas. Around 5,500 local coffee growers in Cavite, Iloilo City, and parts of Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras are expected to benefit from the increased market access as well as training in plant propagation. Edith de Leon, senior vice president and head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Philippines, said the establishment of the new coffee is part of its Farmer Connect program under the global coffee initiative NESCAFÉ Plan. Through Farmer Connect, Nestlé directly sources green coffee beans from local producers, helping the company ensure local supply of coffee to Nestlé’s factories. “Coffee buying stations enable coffee farmers to sell their coffee harvest based on the prevailing market price. By sourcing directly from local farmers, we are not only assured of long-term supply of the right quantity and quality of green coffee on which our brands depend, but it also secures robust coffee livelihoods for our small farmers,” De Leon said. Business ( Article MRec ), Read More …