Feb 092016
 

THE JOINT CIRCULAR on the safe handling of genetically modified (GM) crops, due for completion this month, is expected to address the concerns cited by the Supreme Court, which nullified the previous set of regulations from 2002, known as Administrative Orner (AO) No. 08, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

Feb 082016
 

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 4-2016 dated Jan. 25, 2016, which provides for additional guidelines on the BIR’s internal processing of applications for compromise settlement, abatement or cancellation of internal revenue tax liabilities provided for under Section 204 of the Tax Code, as amended.

Feb 082016
 
Gawad Kalinga USA Hope Summit in Los Angeles March 4-6

Los Angeles, CA   – This Spring, GK 1 World Foundation (dba Gawad Kalinga USA), in cooperation with Seafood City, will host the Hope Summit 2016, a three-day event on March 4-6 at Radisson Hotel Los Angeles at USC. A team from the GK global network that includes GK founding father Tony Meloto and GK Executive Director Jose Luis Oquinena, along with social entrepreneurs, will lead discussions on inspiring social innovations toward sustainable transformation. Leaders and advocates of GK in the United States will share collaborative solutions to attaining their mission. Gawad Kalinga, headquartered in Manila, aims to end poverty for five million families by 2024. In the United States, GK is officially represented by GK USA, a 501 ©(3) not-for-profit organization registered in California. The event aims to bring together 200 of GK’s existing strategic supporters and welcome new partners.  Rod and Tess Castro, Summit leads, say the event will be a celebration of the strides made employing GK’s model of Social Transformation in ending poverty in the Philippines.  Partners and GK friends will re-connect as they revisit GK’s history and propel plans in delivering results-oriented programs and projects. While the Philippine economy is rising steadily and is one of the fastest growing in the world today, GK has been recognized as one of the most credible organizations that is dedicated to ensuring that the poor are not left behind. GK has now evolved as a global movement, with a large philanthropy platform spanning over 2,500 villages in the Philippines and Read More …

Feb 082016
 
6 names each in Comelec certified lists for president, VP

Commission on Election Chairman Andres Bautista demonstrates the function of a vote-counting machine (VCM), which will be used for the May 9 national and local elections, at a warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Thursday. The machines are currently undergoing Hardware Acceptance Test (HAT).(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Six names each will likely make it in the ballot for the May polls which the Commission on Elections will start printing next week. The following names will be included for president: Vice President Jejomar Binay Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte Sen. Grace Poe former Interior Sec. Mar Roxas party-list Rep. Roy Señeres. The list has been narrowed down after the Supreme Court junked the appeal filed by independent candidate Dante Valencia, who was initially included in the eight names released for verification. Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino’s Romel “Mel” Mendoza also withdrew his candidacy. Poe stays on the list with a standing temporary restraining order on two Comelec en banc rulings that upheld the cancellation of her candidacy. Oral arguments are ongoing for her case, with the fourth one scheduled next Tuesday. Meanwhile, four petitions against Duterte’s candidacy were dismissed by the Comelec First Division on Thursday. Petitioners have five days upon receipt of the decision to file their motion for reconsideration. Meanwhile, the list for vice president remains to include: Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano Sen. Francis Escudero Sen. Gregorio Honasan Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Comelec officials have said they are Read More …

Feb 082016
 
Inflation down to 1.3% in January — NEDA

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (September 4). The meeting is to review the Public-Private Partnership projects of the present administration. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Inflation was pulled down to 1.3 percent in January owing to the slower price adjustments in both food and non-food items, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Friday. The latest number noted a decrease from the 2.4 percent in January 2015 and a slight slowdown from the 1.5 percent the previous month, as inflation for the food subgroup decreased following the stabilization of prices of fish, fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese, and eggs. “Good weather conditions at the onset of 2016 allowed prices of these food items to stabilize. This was an improvement from the previous month when Typhoon Nona pushed up prices due to hampered production, transport, and delivery of agricultural products in the affected areas,” newly-appointed Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Emmanuel F. Esguerra said in an emailed statement. January’s inflation figure was also in line with the central bank’s forecasted inflation range of 0.8 to 1.6 percent, exactly the same as the median forecast. In terms of non-food items, inflation likewise showed a deceleration across all commodity groups, with transport having the biggest change. “Domestic prices of petrol — gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel, and gasoline — continued to go down. This was still due to persistent global oversupply Read More …

Feb 082016
 
Mar: Leni won’t be a spare tire in my administration

Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo delivers her acceptance message to be the official LP Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2016 National Elections during the “Daang Matuwid: To Be Continued…” of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) at the Corazon C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Monday (October 05). (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Administration presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday said his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, won’t be his “spare tire” if they both win in the May elections. Roxas said, “Malaki ang magiging papel ni Leni Robredo. Itinuturing ko siyang full partner, hindi spare tire, hindi ‘yung parang nag-aantay lang.” “May kakayahan siya, may mako-contribute siya at siya ay magiging action person,” Roxas added. Roxas and Robredo are both running under the ruling Liberal Party (LP). Robredo is the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash on August 18, 2012. Roxas was the one who succeeded Jesse as Interior Secretary in 2012 and held the post until he resigned in 2015 to focus on his presidential campaign. Roxas said Robredo, a lawyer by profession, does not want to be tied up with administrative work if she wins the vice presidency. “Sabi niya sakin, kung sakaling manalo tayo, hindi niya nais na yung humawak ng burukrasya kasi mauubos ang oras sa kakapirma ng mga papeles, yung sa mga administrative,” he said. Robredo said she wants to pursue regional Read More …

Feb 082016
 
Roxas on Duterte: ‘Yan ang number 1 fan ko

Liberal Party chairman President Benigno S. Aquino III attends the “Daang Matuwid: To Be Continued…” of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) at the Corazon C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Monday (October 05, 2015). Also in photo are LP Presidential Candidate former DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II and wife Korina Sanchez-Roxas; LP Vice Presidential Candidate Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor Robredo and daughters Jessica Marie and Janine Patricia Robredo. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — For hurling repeated criticisms against him, administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte appears to be his “number one fan.” Roxas said Duterte, his friend-turned-foe, has focused his campaign on targeting his character. “‘Yan ang number 1 fan ko eh. Wala na siyang nakita kung hindi si Mar Roxas,” he said. “Kami, [ang] pinag-uusapan namin saan kayo dadalhin,” Roxas added, touting how he plans to continue the “Daang Matuwid” program of President Benigno Aquino III, his fellow Liberal Party member. Duterte had claimed that Roxas had a nervous breakdown as Interior Secretary during Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in 2013. The worst storm ever to make landfall, Yolanda hit the country on November 8, 2013, affecting over 1.4 million families and killing around 6,300 people. “Mar Roxas got the scare of his life during Yolanda,” Duterte said. “I was there on Day Two. Si Mar nagka-breakdown.” “I was there. I was talking to him. Nag-mo-monologue siya,” he said. “He Read More …

Feb 082016
 
Vilma has message for Luis, Angel

Vilma Santos (MNS Photo) Veteran actress and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto gave a piece of advice to her son Luis Manzano, and “Everything About Her” co-actress Angel Locsin, who both admitted that their relationship is currently going through a rough patch. Santos said it’s normal for two people in a relationship to undergo some challenges but it’s also important that they know what to do about it. “Sabi ko kasi kapag ganyang may dumadaan, talaga namang lahat ng problema, dinadaanan. Pabayaan niyong dumaan, huwag niyo lang istambayan,” she said. When asked if she thinks there is still hope for the two to iron things out, Santos said: “Not for me to say. Pabayaan mo. They are both mature. Ano man iyan, nasa kanilang dalawa iyan. Nandito lang ako bilang nanay to guide. Tomorrow is another day.” Last Friday, Locsin became emotional as she talked about her relationship with Manzano.  While stressing that she and Manzano are still a couple, Locsin said: “May pinagdadaanan lang po kami. Pero inaayos naman po namin.” Locsin refused to go into details. She said: “Natatakot ako na baka may masabi ako na imbis na maayos namin, makasama pa. Ayaw ko naman kasi manloko o magsinungaling.” Manzano admitted that his relationship with the actress has hit a snag. He, like Locsin, also refused to go into details. Locsin and Manzano first became a couple in July 2007, but separated two years later. They confirmed their first break-up in October 2009, four months after their actual separation. Read More …