ADOPTING a federal form of government may help improve the development of agriculture, though funding for “non-performing” regions must be addressed, experts said.
Jun 062016
Jun 062016
Two trillion pesos. This is the revenue collection target of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for 2016 and much of this represents income tax collected via withholding tax. In 2014 alone, withholding taxes accounted for more or less 40% of total income tax collected by the government.Considering the significance of withholding tax to the government, each and every taxpayer engaged in trade or business in the Philippines is required to withhold on their income payments, unless specifically exempted.
Jun 062016
The field is ripe for harvest but unfortunately there are not too many people to do the harvesting because the act of doing so requires a lot of sacrifice, commitment and dedication. It has always been that since centuries ago when Jesus walked the face of the earth when he told His disciples as He looked at the “lost”. With many, the desire is there to go to the harvest field to help in the effort but the dictates of everyday needs wouldn’t allow that they personally do the task that has been mandated to them. In some creative ways and without being actually being in the field, they are able to “fulfill the mandate” indirectly by supporting well-meaning organizations staffed with people endowed with God-given gifts to become part of the action. Matthew John Los Angeles-based JIR Foundation has an innovative way to enable people to feel the joy of being part of the major movement to reach out to the harvest field vicariously by way of “encouraging the encouragers, motivating the motivators, and helping disciple makers make disciples” in a program to fulfill the so-called Great Commission. JIR Foundation’s sphere of commitment encompasses not only in serving donors and Christian workers in the Los Angeles area, but the United States and the world at large as well. photo courtesy of JIR Foundation Facebook page As with all other outreach groups, the idea of extending the mission to whoever will listen to the clarion call started as a dream Read More …
Jun 062016
President-elect Rodrigo Duterte takes a selfie with members of his Cabinet after their first formal meeting in Davao, Tuesday evening. Duterte presented to the media for the first time the members of his Cabinet, whom he called “men of honesty and integrity.”(MNS photo) MANILA, June 2 (Mabuhay) – The economy could grow up to 6.6 percent this year, below the outgoing government’s target, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s incoming socioeconomic planning secretary said Thursday. Duterte, who will take over from President Benigno Aquino on June 30, may not have enough leeway in the remainder of the year to steer growth higher, University of the Philippines economics professor Ernesto Pernia said. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 6.9 percent in the January to March period, outpacing China and beating analysts’ forecasts on election-driven demand and growing investments. Aquino’s economic team sees full-year growth at 6.8 to 7.8 percent. On Wednesday, incoming budget secretary Benjamin Diokno said GDP could grow 6.2 percent this year with election and infrastructure spending expected to taper off in the second half. Pernia said full-year growth could be “6.5, maybe 6.6 percent, in that neighborhood.” “That’s because half the year is over by the time we come in, and I don’t know how much we can push it higher; but I think it’s probably going to be a bit higher than 6.2. I would think it would be approaching 7 percent,” he said. Pernia said Duterte’s economic team would work to sustain growth and bridge the “huge growth deficit” between Read More …
Jun 062016
Residents walk under the rain along Luzon Avenue after a sudden thunderstorm at Barangay Tramo in Quezon City on Tuesday. The weather bureau PAGASA warned the public about localized thunderstorms every afternoon due to the onset of the rainy season.(MNS photo) MANILA (PNA) – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) sees an executive order making renewable energy (RE) resource management a state policy as a big boost to efforts to drive the Philippines toward a low-emission and climate-resilient future. The commission’s vice chair, Secretary Emmanuel de Guzman, has welcomed Executive Order (EO) No. 206, which President Benigno S. Aquino III signed last May 20, saying it complements an earlier CCC resolution that sets into motion an urgent and comprehensive review of the government’s energy policy to cut down the country’s dependence on coal and transition to clean, renewable energy. “The EO is supportive of our coal resolution, which will deliver a policy framework on energy in six months,” de Guzman said, referring to Commission Resolution No. 2016-001, which was signed by the President in his capacity as CCC chair, de Guzman, and Commissioners Frances Veronica Victorio and Noel Antonio Gaerlan. De Guzman, Victorio and Gaerlan were appointed by the President on Jan. 22, 2016 to a six-year term ending in 2022. The CCC resolution was envisioned to set in place a clear government policy on coal-fired power plants, which are the biggest source of man-made carbon emissions, accounting for about 35 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to de Read More …
Jun 062016
President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Philippine Navy’s 118th Anniversary Celebration at the Landing Ship Dock (SSV LD601) in Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila on Wednesday (June 1, 2016) with theme: “Protecting the Seas, Securing Our Future.” (MNS photo) MANILA (PNA) – Units from the United States, Philippine and Malaysian navies will participate in this year’s Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) naval exercises which will take place Saturday at the Sulu Sea. Malaysia and the Philippines has a common border in the Sulu Sea. The training will take place between the bilateral phases of CARAT with Malaysia and the Philippines. “This engagement is an important milestone as we seek opportunities to increase multilateral cooperation for the CARAT exercise series,” Task Force 73 Rear Adm. Charles Williams said. “The training provides our navies with an opportunity to broaden cooperative maritime security coordination with our partner nations as we would during real world contingencies or operations,” he added. Ships and aircraft from the US Navy will operate with separate surface action groups from Malaysia and the Philippines. The multilateral training will test the abilities of all three navies to coordinate maritime security operations in a geographically separated environment at sea. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Stethem (DDG-63) will operate with Royal Malaysian Navy ships during the training, while USS Ashland (LSD-49) will sail alongside ships from the Philippine Navy. The participating ships will conduct communication drills, maritime security coordination, and maritime domain awareness training. A US Navy P-8 Poseidon Read More …
Jun 062016
Around 196 generals, flag and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and 28 Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials await confirmation of their promotion by the Commission on Appointments during a hearing at the Philippines Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday. (MNS photo) DAVAO CITY (Mabuhay) – A retired Army general who led failed uprisings against two former presidents is being considered to head the graft-ridden Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s incoming justice secretary said Wednesday. Brig. General Danilo Lim may soon be in charge of cleaning up the country’s prisons system, where convicted crime lords were found to have stayed in air-conditioned cells with recording studios and stripper poles. “We need someone tough like General Lim,” incoming justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said. “Among those recommended to me, to be recommended to the President, he’s one that I believe in,” he said. Should his appointment push through, Lim will be the second former military rebel in the incoming government. Duterte named ex-Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon as customs chief on Tuesday. Lim was jailed for his involvement in a military uprising against former president Gloria Arroyo in 2006, and but was later granted amnesty by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Lim also led a coup against Mr. Aquino’s late mother, then President Corazon Aquino, in 1989. Aguirre vowed a “radical” approach that would involve members of the police’s elite Special Action Force taking over from prison guards and other jail personnel. “I don’t want to telegraph Read More …
Jun 062016
Isabel Oli (MNS photo) Actress Isabel Oli is proud of her husband John Prats for being a hands-on father to their baby girl, Feather. Oli said that aside from being a doting father, Prats is also a caring husband. “Sobra siyang hands-on, sobra talaga. Minsan nga parang nai-spoiled ako kasi tulog na siya, pagod na siya, galing pa siyang ‘Ang Probinsyano’ taping, mga 2 a.m., ginigising ko ‘Non, pa-burp naman itong baby.’ Tatayo talaga siya, kahit anong oras pa yan, tatayo siya para ipa-burp ang baby. Ganoon siya. Tapos habang nagbe-breastfeed ako, may massage talagang kasama ‘yan,” said Oli, who gave birth last April 18. Asked for her message to Prats, Oli said: “Thank you talaga. Akala ko kasi ‘yung support mo ay hanggang salita lang, pero hindi. As in, sobra-sobra talaga ang support mo sa amin ni Feather and lagi mo akong pinapasaya kapag alam mong hindi ko na kaya to the point na sumasayaw ka na sa harapan ko para lang mapatawa ako.Thank you for everything hub, I love you.” For his part, Prats noted that he is really enjoying being a first-time father. “Iba na kasi: I wake up 6 a.m. kasi kailangan naming mag-sunbathing na dalawa, kasi si Liv siya ‘yung breastfeeding. So parang hanggat maari na makatulong ako sa kanya in little way ginagawa ko yon,” Prats said. Prats vowed to be a “protective father” to baby Feather. (MNS)
Jun 052016
DEBT PAYMENTS rose by a fifth in March, from a year ago as the government paid off a bigger amount of interest and principal loans, preliminary Treasury data showed.
Jun 052016
THE Department of Energy (DoE) has issued a circular that sets the standard for coconut methyl ester (CME) in a move that is expected to ensure the effectiveness of the coco-biodiesel when used as fuel either in its pure state or as a blend.