DOTC chief Abaya skips House hearing on MRT, LRT fare hikes

 News
Jan 072015
 
DOTC chief Abaya skips House hearing on MRT, LRT fare hikes

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya was a no-show at the House transportation committee’s hearing Thursday on the fare increase for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT). According to Transportation Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, Abaya asked to be excused from attending the hearing because he is busy with preparations for the papal visit next week. “The secretary [is] very much involved in the preparations for the papal visit . Because of the meetings for this, he asked to be excused from the hearing,” he said. This did not sit well with Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, who said Abaya should be present at the hearing to explain the DOTC’s bases for hiking fares. “Secretary Abaya has been all over the place in the media explaining the fare hike but he is not here to answer our questions,” he said. Colmenares said the timing of Abaya’s absence is suspect since meetings related to the preparations for the papal visit could have been done on another day. Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said Abaya’s presence was important because he was the signatory in the documents related to the MRT and LRT’s operations, such as the concession agreement the government signed with MRT Corporation, the private operator of the MRT-3. Aside from Lotilla, present at the hearing were Transportation Undersecretary Rene Limcaoco, MRT-3 officer in charge Renato San Jose and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) administrator Honorito Chaneco.  Representatives of commuter groups opposed to the fare hike also attended the Read More …

Additional de minimis benefits

 Economy
Jan 072015
 

THE HOLIDAYS and gift-giving season may be over for some but it seems it is just getting started as far as our tax officials are concerned. As a belated gift to the hardworking employees making their contributions to the economic growth of our country, the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, issued Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 1-2015 dated 5 January 2015. The RR expands the list of tax-exempt benefits to include those benefits received by an employee by virtue of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and productivity incentive schemes to the extent of P10,000 per employee per taxable year. De minimis benefits are facilities and privileges of relatively small value and provided by an employer to employees merely as a means to promote their health, good will, contentment, or efficiency. These benefits are exempt from withholding tax on compensation (WTC) and fringe benefits tax (FBT).

Cooking 16th-century recipes for 21st-century diners

 Entertainment
Jan 072015
 
Cooking 16th-century recipes for 21st-century diners

Marco Yuchengco Santos, CEO of Boomerang Consultancy Pte. Ltd., with wife Carmen Romualdez Santos: They were also celebrating their 19th anniversary that evening.   Singapore’s Boomerang Consultancy Pte. Ltd., headed by chief executive officer Marco Yuchengco Santos,  in collaboration with Sphere (an events arm of Singapore Press Holdings, Inc.), brought to Manila a unique gastronomic experience. Borrowing the same idea that has brought delight to foodies and the culinary world in Singapore for the past four years, Epicurean Masters, presented by Banco de Oro (BDO), gathered world-class celebrity chefs last Nov. 19, 24 and Dec. 3.  I was able to attend the Dec. 3 event with chef Diego Chiarini at Finestra restaurant in Solaire. According to Santos, “I am part of a project with the Singapore government to promote culinary events here in Manila since Asia has been increasingly enjoying the limelight as a success story, seen as the major force leading the recovery of the global economy in the aftermath of the last financial crisis.  “One keenly watched aspect is the growing depth of rich and diverse offerings in exceptional dining cuisines across Asia. The records bear this out as the number of award-wining Michelin-star chefs in Asia has been steadily rising, from Tokyo, Osaka to Hong Kong and Macau. Indeed, Tokyo now has the largest number of Michelin-rated restaurants in the world.” Against this vibrant backdrop lies the creation of “Asian Masters” — a celebration of who we are to the world. It is a gourmet and lifestyle event Read More …

Group seeks IPO accreditation

 Economy
Jan 072015
 
Group seeks IPO accreditation

MANILA, Philippines – Sound Recording Rights Society, Inc. (SRRS) is seeking accreditation as a collective management organization (CMO) with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to be able to collect fees for the commercial use of published sound recordings. In a notice posted on its website dated Jan. 6, the IPOPHL said it received a letter of application from SRRS to become an accredited CMO. SRRS was established in November 2013 as a non-stock and non-profit corporation to administer and uphold the sound recording rights of producers as well as performers, upon authorization. The organization is composed of record labels engaged in the music publishing business. It is applying for accreditation as a CMO so it may collect the remuneration for performers and producers on the use of their sound recordings for commercial purposes or broadcasting to the public, upon authorization of member-companies. Under Republic Act 10372 which amended the Intellectual Property Code and was signed by President Aquino in February 2013, the IPOPHL could set-up the Bureau of Copyright which would be responsible for the accreditation of the CMOs. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The IPOPHL said interested parties may submit their position on the SRRS’ application. “Any interested party may submit written observations thereon to the Bureau of Copyright and Other Related Rights within 30 days from publication,” it said. The following have earlier secured CMO accreditation with the IPOPHL: Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc.; Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society, Read More …

DOE seeks more ILP participants

 Economy
Jan 072015
 
DOE seeks more ILP participants

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) continues to seek participants for the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to help avert blackouts this summer, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said.  “In times like this, we need the collective effort and assistance of those who are willing to extend their hands. Our search has never been in vain. In fact, ILP participants have been growing, reflecting the private sector’s role in this initiative,” Petilla said. Under the ILP scheme, big power users will be asked to run their own generators when supply is short in the summer months, instead of getting their power from the Luzon grid. In exchange, they will be compensated for their fuel costs. The electricity that would not be taken from the grid would be available to households and other users, sparing them from rotating blackouts. There is a projected power supply shortage this summer of at least 700 megawatts (MW) due to higher demand during the summer months. At least 38 establishments with a total combined capacity of 197.56 MW have already been committed to the ILP through Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s biggest power distributor. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The three largest participants are SM Prime Holding Inc., the mall development arm of the SM Group with 57.96 MW, Robinsons Land Corp., the property development arm of the Gokongwei Group with capacity of 23.15 MW and Waltermart Malls with 14.30 MW. In addition, there have been expressions of commitment Read More …

400th Watsons store opens in Tacloban

 Economy
Jan 072015
 
400th Watsons store opens in Tacloban

Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez (third and fourth from left, respectively) were guests of honor during the opening of Watsons’ 400th store in Savemore Tacloban. They are shown with SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy (second from left) and SCMC president Annie Garcia (second from right) together with Watsons Beauty Trading director Reena Rodrigo and operation controller for Vismin Adel de Ramos. MANILA, Philippines – In November 2013, the Philippines was taken by storm, as Typhoon Yolanda swept across the country, devastating everything in its direct path. The hardest-hit region is still working to rebuild what was lost. But one year later, the resilient people of Tacloban have cause to rejoice as signs of progress, of growth, rise from the rubble. With this, Watsons Philippines has opened its 400th store in the city’s new Savemore Market. For Watsons’ management, this one was special. It was a conscious and symbolic decision to open in Tacloban. “It’s been a year after Yolanda and we’ve seen a lot of rehabilitation efforts but a lot still needs to be done. Opening our 400th store in Tacloban makes the event more meaningful as we are given a chance to help in the recovery efforts,” said Robert U. Sun, Watsons’ general manager. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Mayor thanked Watsons for bringing jobs back to Tacloban and helping to reestablish commerce with new products and a new store. The new Watsons store with 249 sqm. redefines the meaning of personal shopping through innovation Read More …

DPWH sets deadline for CLLEX

 Economy
Jan 072015
 
DPWH sets deadline for CLLEX

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is giving interested bidders a two-week extension to submit prequalification documents for the proposed P15 billion Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) connecting Tarlac to Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija. In a Notice of Postponement, DPWH undersecretary Alfredo Tolentino said the submission of prequalification documents for the first phase of CLLEX scheduled on Jan. 19 has been called off due to the scheduled visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19. Tolentino said the deadline for the submission or prequalification documents for the public private partnership (PPP) project has to be deferred as Malacañang has declared Jan. 15, 16, and 19 as special non-working days in the National Capital Region. The deadline for the submission of prequalification documents has been postponed to Feb. 2. Tolentino pointed out that some contractors and bidders have requested that they be given ample time to secure or acquire necessary documents from the country of origin due to the long Christmas holidays. The first phase of the CLLEX project worth P14.9 billion would cover a 30.7-kilometer four-lane expressway stretching from Tarlac to Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija, while the second phase worth P14.2 billion covers 35.7 kilometer worth a two-lane expressway from Cabanatuan City to San Jose City, in Nueva Ecija. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 CLLEX forms an important lateral (east-west) link of an overall High Standard Highway network within the 200-kilometer radius from Metro Manila. Read More …

Soldier killed, 3 hurt in rebel raids in Mindanao: Army

 Entertainment
Jan 072015
 
Soldier killed, 3 hurt in rebel raids in Mindanao: Army

A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited a report to officials including Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. indicating Filipinos are among the Southeast Asians being lured to conflict zones in the Middle East. Some Islamic militants are home-grown, just like the Abu Sayyaf (in photo), who have links with al-Qaeda terrorists. (Photo from http://vkb.isvg.org/Wiki/Groups/Abu_Sayyaf_Group_(ASG) Manila, Philippines | AFP |  – A soldier was killed and three others wounded when Muslim rebels simultaneously attacked military detachments in two southern Philippine provinces on Saturday, a military spokeswoman said. An hour-long gun battle broke out when separatist rebel group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters raided a camp in President Quirino town in Sultan Kudarat province shortly after midnight, Captain Jo-ann Petinglay said in a statement. The BIFF, which opposes current peace talks between the country’s main Muslim rebel group and the government, also launched an attack on a camp in General Salipada K. Pendatun town in Maguindanao province, she said. The raids were meant to sabotage the negotiations, Petinglay said, adding that the separatists “will continually be a potent spoiler to peace”. The BIFF split from the country’s main Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in 2008 to fight for a separate Islamic state in the mainly Catholic Philippines. It made no comment about Saturday’s attacks. The military had also blamed the BIFF for a bus bombing in the south in December that claimed 10 lives, and an ambush in November that killed an army major and two of his Read More …

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