BIR district given P25.9B collection target for 2015

 General
Jan 222015
 
BIR district given P25.9B collection target for 2015

FILING SEASON for income taxes has begun, a BIR official said.  (SUN.sTAR FILE) THE Bureau of Internal Revenue 13 has been given a collection target of P25.9 billion this year, about 25 percent higher than last year’s target. BIR-13 Director Hermeno Palamine admitted that he is anxious about the amount, noting that even last year’s goal was difficult to achieve. While he believes they have met last year’s target, he could not furnish Sun.Star Cebu with the official collection report as some payments made through the banks have not yet been reflected in their system. The BIR-13 shutdown their system from Dec. 16 to Jan. 5 for routine maintenance and clearing of unused files. However, unofficially, they are sure that the collection target has been met. Palamine, though, said that whether or not they hit the target, goals set by the central office are always much higher than the previous year’s goal. Palamine also met with his revenue district officers Tuesday and has instructed them to pay close attention to income taxes filed by establishments that have a tendency to draw large crowds during the holidays and the Sinulog. He explained that when they checked taxes paid for the months of January, some establishments did not show significant increases in incomes. He said that just roaming around Cebu City in the run up to the Sinulog would show otherwise. He pointed out that restaurants, cafés and bars are mostly full while hotels, resorts, inns and pension houses are fully booked. Palamine Read More …

Toni Gonzaga, Paul Soriano engaged?

 General
Jan 222015
 
Toni Gonzaga, Paul Soriano engaged?

ARE Toni Gonzaga and Paul Soriano engaged? This was the question posted by the couple’s supporters on social media after an Instagram photo uploaded by seasoned actress Sandy Andolong hinted a possible engagement. Andolong posted a collage of her, Toni and the rest of “Home Sweetie Home” cast’s shooting in Japan and included a snap of the “Buzz” host with Soriano. After greeting Toni a happy birthday, Andolong called the television host a “loving and loyal fiancé.” She wrote: I truly enjoyed our short but memorable bonding in Japan. Wish & pray for more blessings, joy & peace in your life because you most certainly deserve it.” “No matter how famous you have become, you are so well grounded & a humble person. You are a very good & caring daughter, sister, & friend. A loving & loyal fiancé, and more importantly a very obedient child of God.” A photo posted by sandy_andolong de Leon (@sandy_andolong) on Jan 19, 2015 at 9:41am PST Toni, for her part, thanked Andolong. Last December, Toni’s younger sister Alex said that the TV host thought that Soriano will propose before the New Year after she found a Tiffany box in their house. It turned out the director was not yet ready to get down on one knee at the time. Toni and Paul are dating for over seven years now. (Sunnex) DISCLAIMER: Sun.Star website welcomes friendly debate, but comments posted on this site do not necessary reflect the views of the Sun.Star management and Read More …

Large families a blessing – Pope

 General
Jan 212015
 
Large families a blessing – Pope

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis yesterday described large families as a “gift from God,” just days after he said Catholics did not need to “breed like rabbits.” In an apparent attempt to put the controversial comments he made on his way back from a visit to the Philippines into context, the Argentinian argued that the global economic system is the primary cause of poverty, rather than overpopulation. “The meetings with families and young people in Manila were important moments during the visit to the Philippines,” Francis told a crowd of around 7,000 gathered in St. Peter’s square for his weekly audience. “Healthy families are essential to the life of society. “It provides us with consolation and hope to see so many large families who welcome children as a gift from God. “These families know that each child is a blessing.” The Argentinian pontiff surprised reporters on the papal plane on Sunday by recounting an anecdote about how he had once asked a mother who had seven children by caesarian section and was pregnant with her eighth if she wanted to “leave behind seven young orphans.” “She said, ‘I trust in God.’ But God gave us the means to be responsible,” Francis said. “Some think – and excuse the term – that to be good Catholics, they must be like rabbits.” Following the church’s teachings did not mean “Christians should have children one after the other,” he added in comments that made headlines worldwide. Catholic teaching prohibits the use of artificial Read More …

Congress to prioritize Bangsamoro Law in 2015 – Drilon

 General
Jan 212015
 
Congress to prioritize Bangsamoro Law in 2015 – Drilon

SENATE INQUIRY ON ICC: Senate President Franklin Drilon (left) denies he has anything to do with the bidding for the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center. “To set the record straight, I had nothing to do with the bidding for the project. I did not participate in the constitution of the Bids and Awards Committee. I did not interfere with any part of the bidding process, nor did I nominate or appoint the winning bidder,”Drilon told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014. The Senate is conducting an inquiry into the alleged overpricing of the convention center. Also in photo is Senator Teogisto “TG” Guingona III, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senate President Franklin Drilon assured Monday the Senate will prioritize this year the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law alongside bills ensuring sustainable economic growth. In a press statement, Drilon said the Senate has made the BBL a priority because of its importance to securing not only peace in Mindanao, “but also genuine social justice and economic development which can end the poverty and social inequities that have plagued the region for too long.” “The present situation provides many opportunities towards sustainable peace. We cannot fail our brothers and sisters in Mindanao. The Senate is one with the administration in its goal to pass the BBL, and we remain confident that even with the many important debates, we can pass the BBL within the year,” he said. The Senate committees Read More …

1,292 pass Pharmacist Licensure Exam –PRC

 General
Jan 212015
 
1,292 pass Pharmacist Licensure Exam –PRC

A total of 1,292 out of 2,295 passed the Pharmacist Licensure Examination given in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo this month, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Wednesday. [Click here for complete list of passers.] The PRC said registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on January 28, 29 and 30, 2015. The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees will be announced later, the PRC added. —KBK, GMA News

Koko urges colleagues to emulate Pope Francis

 General
Jan 212015
 
Koko urges colleagues to emulate Pope Francis

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday urged elected officials and the Filipino people to heed the call of recent Philippine visitor Pope Francis to live simply, with integrity and honesty, and be champions of the poor. “By the example of Pope Francis himself, the champion of the poor, [may our legislators] pass more laws that will benefit the common good and uplift the poor and underprivileged,” Pimentel said in his Senate Resolution 1110. The senator said the call of the Pope is ever more relevant as the Philippines faces the challenges of achieving inclusive growth, which despite the efforts of the government, still excludes a significant percentage of the population who continue to live in poverty. Pimentel said the poverty incidence in the country, based on the 2014 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority, has stayed at around 25 percent since 2003. “In a population of 100 million people, that would translate into some 25 million poor Filipinos who are marginalized, robbed of their dignity, and stripped of their basic human rights,” he said. He said the Pope himself chose to live simply as seen in the emblems of his office that he wears and the humble car he rode when he paid a  courtesy call to President Benigno Aquino III last January 16. “Pope Francis also challenged everyone, at all levels of society to reject every form of corruption which diverts resources from the poor,” he said. “True to form, Pope Francis even requested the organizers of his Read More …

Phl-Sokor trade seen to hit $20 B in 5 years

 General
Jan 202015
 
Phl-Sokor trade seen to hit $20 B in 5 years

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and South Korea have the potential to grow bilateral trade to over $20 billion over the next five years through greater cooperation.  “I think if we try very hard and if we improve the (business) environment, it will not be difficult for us to see two-way trade to surpass $20 billion in the near future… within five years,” South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Hyuk told reporters during the Philippines-Korea Economic Council (Philkorec) Induction of Officers and new members. Two-way trade between the Philippines and South Korea amounted to around $12 billion last year. For the countries’ bilateral trade to breach $20 billion in the next five years, Lee said both parties would have to work together in terms of promoting each other’s manufactured goods and services. Apart from increasing bilateral trade, Lee said there are also opportunities to increase South Korean firms’ investments in the Philippines. “But this will only be if there is an improved environment for investment, so we want the Philippine government to improve investment environment for foreign companies,” he said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 For his part, Philkorec chairman Gerardo Garcia told reporters the council plans to organize inbound missions of Korean firms to the country, as well as outbound missions of Philippine firms to South Korea, to promote greater trade and investment relations between the two countries. The missions would be organized with business groups such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Read More …

Focus on quality, exporters told

 General
Jan 202015
 
Focus on quality, exporters told

CEBU. Maria Teresa Borja (above left) of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center based in Brussels, Belgium says the Philippines had to meet the EU’s vulnerability criteria and ratify 27 core international conventions on human rights, labor, environmental protection and good governance.  Export Development Bureau Director Senen Perlada (above right)said that it is important for exporters to also ensure their products pass European standards. “The EU-GSP+ is just gravy on the steak. Ultimately, it is the quality that will determine your marketability.” (Arni Aclao) ALTHOUGH the Philippines’ inclusion in the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (EU-GSP+) means it has an edge over other countries in the tariff lines, the Department of Trade and Industry wants exporters to know that it is in the quality of their goods that ensures their products are successfully traded in this region. In yesterday’s information session, Export Development Bureau Director Senen Perlada said that it is important for exporters to also ensure their products pass European standards. ‘Just gravy on steak’ “The EU-GSP+ is just gravy on the steak. Ultimately, it is the quality that will determine your marketability. While we can take advantage of these preferential trading agreements. We should not put all our eggs in there,” Perlada said. The EU has three types of GSP arrangements–the regular GSP, the GSP+ and the Everything But Arms (EBA) arrangement. Before its inclusion into the GSP+, the Philippines was already a beneficiary of the regular GSP, which offers zero duties for selected non-sensitive products Read More …

Pope Francis takes his Filipino-themed vestments in PHL masses to Rome

 General
Jan 202015
 
Pope Francis takes his Filipino-themed vestments in PHL masses to Rome

Keeping the items used by a pope has been a tradition among Filipinos and so it will be for those touched by Pope Francis during his five-day pastoral visit in the Philippines.  According to Bro. Carmel Cortez, who was assigned to arrange and organize the items the Pope used in his Masses in Manila, said they will be put in display at the Diocese of Malolos in Bulacan.  Meanwhile, the tableware and utensils Pope Francis used in Leyte during his lunch with the Yolanda and Bohol quake survivors are now kept at the Archbishop Residence of Palo.  “Mahalaga ho ang mga ito kaya kailangan na ilagay ang mga ito sa lugar kung saan napre-preserve ang kahalagahan ng mga bagay na ito at ma-access ng ating mga kababayan,” Archdiocese of Palo spokesman Fr. Arthur Chris Militante said in a report on 24 Oras that aired on Tuesday.  What about the Pope? It looks like the pope also wants to treasure a few things he used in the Philippines. The Pinoy-made vestments he used during his Masses in Manila Cathedral and Luneta are now in the Vatican.  These bear Filipino accents like sampaguita, anahaw, and the Sto. Niño de Cebu.  Ronald Allan Babaran, one of the designers of the Pope’s vestments, couldn’t believe that their creations were brought to the Holy See.  “Hindi kami makapaniwala na ‘yung mga ginawa namin ay gagamitin niya pala… Sobrang blessing kasi Santo Papa ‘yan eh,” he shared. —Trisha Macas/NB, GMA News

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