THE TRANSPORTATION department said it is still hoping to submit for approval a train stop on 32nd Avenue of Bonifacio Global City (BGC), noting some right-of-way advantages even though a station on 26th Avenue won favor with a government panel by promising savings of some P20 billion.
CONGESTION at the Port of Manila’s container yards will continue to tail off by the end of the month amid an expected slowdown in activity over the Lunar New Year, the chief of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said on Thursday.
The Supreme Court building INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has ordered the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to stop collecting corporate income tax from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s (Pagcor) operations and licensing of gambling casinos, gaming clubs and other similar recreation or amusement places, gaming pools and other related activities. In a 14-page decision released recently, the court en banc ordered the BIR to cease and desist from implementing a 2013 memorandum circular that imposed corporate income tax on Pagcor’s income derived from its gaming operations as well as franchise tax on income from other related services. The BIR issued its circular after the Supreme Court, in 2011, ruled as valid an amendment to the National Internal Revenue Code that listed several entities exempt from paying corporate income tax. The list did not include Pagcor so the BIR began assessing Pagcor for income and franchise taxes, thus prompting the state-owned company to file a motion for clarification before the high court in September 2013. In its new ruling, the high court said the amendment of the code, made though Republic Act No. 9337, did not also amend Pagcor’s charter, which provided that income from gaming operations was subject only the 5-percent franchise tax while its income from operation of other related services was subject to income tax only. The 5-percent franchise tax being collected by the BIR was not applicable to Pagcor’s income from other related services, the court’s decision, written by Justice Diosdado Peralta, stated. Read More …
A variety of healthy fruits and vegetables are displayed for sale at a market in Washington. AP/J. Scott Applewhite WASHINGTON — Drink less sugary soda. But an extra cup or two of coffee is OK. So are eggs. And as always, don’t forget your vegetables. A government advisory committee is recommending the first real limits on added sugars, but it’s backing off stricter ones for salt and cholesterol. It calls for an environmentally friendly diet lower in red and processed meats. The Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments will use Thursday’s report to write new dietary guidelines, due by the end of the year. The guidelines influence everything from federally subsidized school lunches to food package labels to doctors’ advice. Overall, the new advice doesn’t stray too far from the guidelines issued in 2010: Eat more fruits and vegetables and whole grains; eat less saturated fats, salt and sugar.
The Russian play The Cherry Orchard tells the story of how the rich never learn their lesson that money doesn’t last forever and one should be careful of his wealth. It tells of how an aristocratic Russian family loses its estate including the famous Cherry Orchard. From the very beginning, the play has attracted translations and adaptations into many languages around the world, becoming a classic work of dramatic literature. The play has influenced the dramatic works of many, including Eugene O’Neill, George Bernard Shaw, David Mamet and Arthur Miller. In the Filipino adaptation by writer Rody Vera with direction by Loy Arcenas, The Cherry Orchard was translated as a Fire Tree produced by PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) with Cherie Gil in the role of the matriarch Ranevskaya. There were several experiences in Anton Chekhov’s own life that are said to have directly inspired his writing of The Cherry Orchard. When Chekhov was 16, his mother went into debt after being cheated by some builders she had hired to construct a small house; a former lodger offered to help her financially, but secretly bought the house for himself. Later in his life, living on a country estate outside Moscow, Chekhov developed an interest in gardening and planted his own Cherry Orchard. Chekhov is often singled out as Europe’s first ecological author. Chekhov wrote The Cherry Orchard over the course of several years, alternating between periods of light-hearted giddiness and despondent frustration. Throughout this time, he was also further inhibited Read More …
Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano (MNS Photo) Actor Enrique Gil has downplayed a possible romance with “Forevermore” leading lady Liza Soberano, noting she’s too young to commit to a romantic relationship. “Sa ngayon hindi pa pwede kasi bata pa siya. She’s only 17 and she’s not at the right age yet. But alam naman niya na gusto ko siya. We’ll just see and wait na lang,” Enrique, 22, said. Even though romance is out of the picture for now, Enrique shared he learned a lot of new things about Liza since they started shooting the primetime series. “Mas naging close kami and nalaman ko yung story ng buhay niya. Now I know more about her, yung ugali niya. Mas naging deeper kasi dati parang ang ganda at mabait, pero ngayon I learn more habang tumatagal yung pagsasama namin,” he said. “Yung likeability is andoon talaga. When you get to know the person more, nahuhulog yung loob mo. Lalo na pag nakita mo na ganito pala siya ka genuine na tao.” But Enrique reiterated that their main focus now is their respective showbiz careers. Meanwhile, Enrique said he is thankful to all their fans for their unending support for “Forevermore”. Enrique said he’s also surprised that his on-screen team up with Liza was warmly welcomed by the audience. “Sobrang saya kasi none of us really expected na mainit yung magiging tanggap ng tao sa amin. Sobrang thankful lang kami,” he said. “Nung una may doubts kasi first time namin na magiging Read More …
PHL-US Accord. Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Chair Jenny R. Yang of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shake hands following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that seeks to protect the rights and welfare of Filipinos working in the United States. (Philippine Embassy Photo by Majalya A. Fernando) WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Philippines marked another milestone in its efforts to look after the interests of overseas Filipinos by formally entering into another partnership agreement that will protect the rights and welfare of Filipinos working in the United States. In a statement, the Philippine Embassy said a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Thursday between the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), represented by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EOCC), represented by its Chair Jenny R. Yang. The MOU, the fourth migrant worker-related bilateral agreement entered into by the Embassy, aims to come up with more protective measures and better welfare interventions for Filipinos working in the US. The MOU is also only the second agreement entered into by the EOCC with a foreign government. “We are pleased at being able to formalize our alliance with the EOCC and collaborate closely towards ensuring that Filipino nationals working in the US are accorded equal opportunities at their workplace,” Ambassador Cuisia said as he thanked the Commission for initiating collaborations with countries like the Philippines that have substantial worker populations in the US. Ambassador Cuisia said the MOU with the EOCC is an affirmation of the US government’s Read More …
Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV speaks with Former Makati Vice Mayor Nestor Mercado and Engr. Mario Hechanova. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado’s accusations against Vice President Jejomar Binay are only driven by “politics and personal vendetta,” an official of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) said during a Senate inquiry on Wednesday. During a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee hearing, BSP senior vice president Wendell Avisado said Mercado’s revelations that Binay got kickbacks from a land deal between the Boy Scouts and property developer Alphaland was not motivated by concern for the organization. “Individually and collectively, we cannot see any other reason why Mr. Mercado is refuting the agreement now by his unfounded accusations, except his political vendetta against Vice President Jejomar Binay,” he said. “To destroy the name, honor and reputation of VP Binay, he does not mind unnecessarily dragging the BSP into the controversy, to the extent of destroying it with his malicious assertions,” he added. “By his reckless accusations, he is sowing confusion, suspicion and mistrust in the BSP as a noble youth serving institution.” Avisado also stressed that it was Mercado, then chairman of the BSP’s corporate assets management committee, who “strongly recommended” the transaction to the National Executive Board. “He was fully aware that the agreement was thoroughly discussed and approved by the BSP National Executive Board, the intention being to make the property earn money for the BSP to support its operations,” he said. “The fact is, Mr. Read More …
Members of a religious group rally outside the Senate while the inquiry on the Mamasapano clash is ongoing on Monday. The group called for the scrapping of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in light of the clash that claimed the lives of 44 SAF policemen in the hands of Muslim rebels. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) -– Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said his men saved at least 28 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25. Catapang said despite the delay in the deployment of reinforcements to the besieged SAF troops in Mamasapano, soldiers still managed to save 28 SAF men, composed of 11 wounded policemen and 17 unscathed ones. ”The soldiers saved 28 lives. It should be remembered too because if we did not [send reinforcements], then maybe it won’t be ‘SAF 44′ [but] ‘SAF 72,”’ Catapang said. Catapang issued this statement amid the ongoing rift between the military and the police force, which lamented the alleged delay in the deployment of military reinforcements to the besieged SAF men. SAF lost 44 of its men after being engaged by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in a gun battle last January 25. The SAF men were deployed to arrest Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his Filipino cohort, Abdul Basit Usman, in an operation dubbed ”Exodus”. Marwan likely died in the operation, according to the result of a DNA test Read More …
Representatives from the Boy Scout of the Philippines national executive board for the year 2011 (L-R) Senior Vice President and Asst. Secretary HUDCC Atty. Wendel Avisado, Secretary General Rizal Pangilinan, International Commissioner Dale Corvera and Vice President for Visayas Atty. Arthur Umbac attend the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the Boyscouts of the Philippines and Alphaland deal. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The president of property developer Alphaland Corp. may have committed tax fraud for failing to pay the taxes for his shares from a land deal that allegedly benefited Vice President Jejomar Binay. During the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said Alphaland president Mario Oreta may have failed to pay up to P600 million in taxes. Oreta said during the hearing that he got a 5-percent share from the joint property development deal Alphaland entered into with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) in 2008. The payment was in the form of shares of stock in Silvertown Property Development Corp., which was later acquired by Alphaland. The Alphaland official added that he used his firm, Noble Care Management Corp., as a vehicle for these transactions. Oreta said that he “held unto” the shares and then later asked Alphaland president Roberto Ongpin to transfer the shares to the mother company. Asked if his shares were eventually bought back, Oreta said: “If it says in the financial statement, then it must be true.” Former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado earlier Read More …