THE POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) said it plans to contest the financial penalties imposed by the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) in connection with its alleged withholding of power plant capacity, which is thought to have contributed to the spikes in market prices over a year ago.
IF THE “busy season” for an accounting firm’s audit and accounting departments is from December to April, January and February are among the busiest months for the Enterprise Services Division (ESD) and Incentives Management Division (IMD) of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). During this time, PEZA-registered enterprises renew their certificate of incentives and value-added tax (VAT) zero-rating certificate.
Our Lady of Lourdes: No prayers are left unanswered. Three days before Valentine’s Day, Catholics celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes. The first Lourdes Apparition of Our Lady to St. Bernadette was on February 11, 1858. While healing and other miracles about Lourdes in France are well-known, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (NSOLL) in Kanlaon, Quezon City is like a well-kept secret. A confessed Marian devotee, I and my family went to Lourdes (believe it or not, I made my husband drive all the way from Paris, which we now call his penitential drive) to thank her for her powerful intercession. After reading a book about all the answered prayers, my daughter and I started sending prayer requests online to www.PrayerRequest.eu. She has never failed a single request and when I thought I would be turned down for the first time, the positive response happened after a few months. My friend Tess Arvisu has been an active parishioner of NSOLL for several years now and has been diligently inviting us every year to visit the shrine. We were glad we finally went this year. We managed to arrive in time for the last Mass despite the heavy traffic. We wondered why the pews were still full and why no one left after the Mass. As minutes went by, more and more people arrived, filling up the church. Excitement built up and we noticed two out of five devotees have their cameras, tablets, and Android Read More …
Carmelo Arcilla. File photo MANILA, Philippines – The government has signed its first air agreement for this year opening up more commercial opportunities for the airlines of the Philippines and Singapore through higher seat entitlements and limit on the frequencies, as well as additional co-terminal points. Carmelo Arcilla, executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), said in a text message that a new Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services was signed by the Philippines and Singapore last Friday. “Overall, the agreement opens up more commercial opportunities for the airlines of the two countries,” he said. Arcilla pointed out that the new air pact increased the current capacity entitlements between Manila and Singapore by 7.1 percent to 18,888 seats per week for each country from the current 17,627 seats per week. Likewise, the list of co-terminal points for the Singaporean carrier that currently includes Cebu, Davao, and Puerto Princesa was expanded to include Iloilo and Bacolod. “It means that Singaporean carriers can fly to Cebu for example and then proceed to Davao,” he said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 According to him, both the Philippines and Singapore also agreed to increase the limit on the frequencies for 5th freedom to 10 per week from eight per week. Fifth freedom rights refer to the right to fly passengers to third countries from a country with which an airline’s resident country has an outstanding air services agreement. “This means that a Singaporean carrier for example can operate a Read More …
MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Internal Revenue has widened the scope of electronic filing and payment of income tax in line with its drive to constantly revolutionize tax filing and payment as well as ease the process of doing business. Despite significant advances in technology, there was meager compliance by taxpayers in filing their returns electronically, the agency said. The BIR noted that only three percent of taxpayers submitted their payments online through the electronic filing and payment system (eFPS) or electronic BIR forms last year. Among those required to file their tax returns electronically are accredited and prospective importers and brokers; national government agencies; licensed local contractors; recipients of fiscal incentives; top 5,000 individual taxpayers, corporations with a paid up capital of P10 million and above; procuring government agencies, government bidders, large taxpayers and the top 20,000 private corporations. Also mandated to use the eFPS are accredited tax practitioners and their clients, accredited printers of receipts, one-time transaction taxpayers, state-owned firms, local government units and cooperatives registered with the National Electrification Administration and Local Water Utilities Administration. The agency mandated the use of the electronic tax payment facility to make it convenient for taxpayers to file their returns anytime and anywhere. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the government “aims to dramatically increase the number of taxpayers filing returns electronically to ease taxpayer experience and in the process encourage more people to pay taxes.”
MANILA, Philippines – It’s that time of year again. Just a few days into 2015, more than a hundred of the country’s loveliest once again trooped to the offices of Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) and filed their applications to join the premier beauty pageant. Only 34 made the final cut and will be presented to the press today at the Sunset Pavilion of the Sofitel Manila. Two Binibining Pilipinas queens, Rosemarie “Chiqui” Brosas (1975 Miss Universe fourth runner-up, held in El Salvador) and Ariella “Ara” Arida (2013 Miss Universe third runner-up held in Russia) share their insights on the current batch and how the search has evolved and reached new heights. There are 34 ladies in this year’s roster. What are your initial reactions to the batch and how do you think they will fare in the international competitions? Ariella: Most people say, and I agree, with this observation, that this is the batch which has the most number of prettiest faces. I also noticed that there are a good number of returning aspirants, which is good because one should keep trying to reach a dream. The Philippines will always be a strong contender in beauty pageants although sometimes hindi naman tayo laging mananalo. Chiqui: Back then we were having such a hard time getting good candidates. Through the years, we were really trying to get the candidates na talagang maganda at pambato. Maybe because of the winning streak, Binibini now enjoys better prestige and presentation of the winners Read More …
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday dedicated its 24th founding anniversary ceremonies to the 44 Special Action Force commandos who were killed in the January 25 Mamasapano encounter with Moro guerillas, a TV report said. According to GMA News’ Saleema Refran, while there was a slight improvement in the police force’s morale following the incident, the overall mood during the event was somber and dignified. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas led the ceremonies held Monday morning, where he highlighted the “ultimate sacrifice” made by the PNP-SAF members. Roxas turned emotional when he asked that the Philippine National Anthem be sang for a second time as a tribute to the fallen officers, the report said. “Hindi matatawaran ang kalakihan ng kadakilaan, ang katapangan, ang sakripisyo na pinagkaloob nila sa atin, na kung saan ‘yung banta ng terorismo sa ating bansa — lalo na sa ka-Mindanao-an, ay nabawasan dahil nakuha nila ang kanilang target na si Marwan,” he said during his remarks, referring to Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, who was killed during the operation. “All of you who wear the uniform take an oath. All of you who wear a uniform every day, pagsuot niyo ng uniporme, alam ninyo na maaari kayong malagay sa peligro,” Roxas added. The PNP, through its Board of Inquiry, is already looking into the incident, which started when SAF members entered an area in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, considered as bailiwick of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The TV report said Monday’s ceremonies began at around 7:30 Read More …
The House of Representatives has suspended its investigation into the Mamasapano incident, a day before its second scheduled hearing. In a phone interview, Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman Saliman said the House will instead wait for the results of the investigation by a Board of Inquiry formed by the Philippine National Police. “I and Congressman Ferrer have jointly decided to postpone the hearings to await the results of the BOI’s investigation,” he said. Saliman chairs the House Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, which launched a joint investigation with the House Committee on Public Order and Safety headed by Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer. Saliman said the House leadership has already been informed of the suspension of hearings into a police Special Action Force operation in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao that ended in a bloody clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups in the area. — JDS, GMA News
popular Highest bridge in PH in danger of collapsing Drones ‘twinkled at night’ NPA rebels storm police station in Mati, Davao Oriental Heart Evangelista: He likes to talk things to death; Chiz Escudero: You’re a dream Man arrested for using dead man’s credit card for 2 years Michele Ferrero, maker of Nutella, dies on Valentine’s Day Did you know: From Sta. Lucia Barracks to PMA Resignation at what cost? videos ‘EATS: Where To Eat Now’ book launch Salud on resigning as PBA commissioner: It’s time for new, fresh leadership Boyce Avenue Live in Manila 2015 Binibining Pilipinas beauties sing, dance, paint on Valentine’s Day Gabriela joins One Billion Rising event for 3rd time MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese businesswoman was abducted in Sulu on Sunday, the military said. A report from Joint Task Group Sulu said that Hja Dingkim Yap, 58, was taken by about six unidentified armed men boarding a blue Tamaraw FX in Chinese Pier in Sulu at about 12:30 p.m. It did not say who abducted the businesswoman. The military is doing an all-out law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf group, is holding several hostages in the area of Sulu, after the release of its German captives last November for a reported P250 million. Several hostages were also released in the following months. Joint follow up operations are being conducted by Jolo and Patikul police for the Chinese businesswoman, the report said. RELATED STORIES Chinese teenager kidnapped in Zamboanga Sibugay China issues travel ban vs PH Read More …
Engaged since last year, Diego and Angela have yet to finalize their wedding date