Expanding tax benefits for PWDs

 Economy
Jun 082016
 

Based on a 2010 census, about 1,443,000 or 1.57% of the total population in the Philippines are disabled. Republic Act No. 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, defined persons with disability or PWDs as “those suffering from restriction of different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.” In an effort to achieve social equalization, the government is constantly pursuing measures to improve the quality of life of every Filipino in different sectors, particularly the PWDs.

Miriam dares colleagues to act on her anti-epal, anti-dynasty bills

 Entertainment
Mar 062014
 
Miriam dares colleagues to act on her anti-epal, anti-dynasty bills

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago attends the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing of the P10 billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam Thursday, November 7. Santiago reminded Napoles that she cannot just invoke her right against self-incrimination (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Saturday challenged her colleagues to act on her bills, particularly the “anti-epal” bill and the one seeking an end to political dynasty in the Philippines. In a statement, Santiago lamented that a number of her important bills are still languishing in the Senate, especially Senate Bill No. 54, or the Anti-Signage of Public Works Bill, and S.B. Nos. 55 and 1580 or the Anti-Political Dynasty Bills. SB 54, also called anti-epal bill, seeks to bar politicians from taking undue credits by putting their names (umi-epal or pumapapel) on signage of public works projects. “I am disappointed. Without public clamor, these bills will never see the light of day. The committees to which these bills were referred are sitting on them,” Santiago said. The Anti-Signage of Public Works Bill was referred to the Committee of Civil Service and Government Reorganization chaired by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, while the Anti-Political Dynasty Bills were referred to the Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Organization, chaired by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III. Santiago has written to both senators requesting for a public hearing on her bills, which, according to her, “have been pending in the Senate for a prolonged period of time.” “It would be best for the legislative process to Read More …

Senators push for bills to counteract SC ruling on online libel

 News
Feb 202014
 
Senators push for bills to counteract SC ruling on online libel

Senators on Thursday pushed for bills meant to counteract the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the online libel provision in the anti-cybercrime law. Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Teofisto Guingona III separately called for immediate action on measures they filed seeking to decriminalize libel. Cayetano, author of Senate Bill 245, said the SC ruling on online libel will just further clog the country’s courts. “Kung magkakasuhan tayong lahat, mapupuno ang mga korte. Walang mangyayari kung hindi ang mga piskalya, walang ibang gagawin kung hindi mag-prosecute ng Internet and social media libel cases,” Cayetano said in a statement. Guingona, who filed Senate Bill 2128, meanwhile said the Philippines, as a democratic country, should promote freedom of expression and not dangle the “threat of jail” to those who want to speak out through any medium. “We must not forget how hard we fought for the democracy that we now enjoy, and that includes our freedom to speak against erring public officials. It is counter intuitive therefore for us to have come this far and yet have the cloud of possible imprisonment impinge on the liberties that the very democracy we have fought for seeks to protect,” Guingona said in a separate statement. On Tuesday, the high court declared the online libel provision in the cybercrime prevention law as constitutional, “with respect to the original author of the post.” The court, however, struck down the provision that empowers the Department of Justice (DOJ) to restrict or block access to data violating the law. Read More …

Magna Carta for poor still valid, says Salceda

 Economy
Apr 182013
 
Magna Carta for poor still valid, says Salceda

MANILA, Philippines – A Magna Carta for the poor remains a viable state instrument for the emancipation of poor families, but its formulation cannot be left alone to “congressional caprice.” This was stressed by economist and former presidential adviser Joey Salceda, saying “the poor are so poor that the Magna Carta for their emancipation is urgent.”  “If I were allowed to make an input, I would have phrased it this way: Like IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) to LGUs (local government units), the poor shall be entitled to at least three percent of the gross domestic product, which would automatically be appropriated annually in the state’s national expenditures,” he said.  The poor’s share, he added, should be an integral part of the multi-year development instruments such as the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan and the Medium Term Public Investment Program.  He, however, said the poor and the expenditure program must be defined by the National Anti- Poverty Commission, with the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as its ex-officio chair.  President Aquino vetoed the proposed law recently, saying it was a “mission impossible” because the government has no means to produce the P3.3 trillion budget it requires to uplift the poor. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1  The Philippine government has only a P2-trillion annual national budget this year.  The President, however, has ordered the Cabinet social welfare cluster group to draw up a “substitute measure that will be given to the next Congress, which Read More …