Giving mothers a break

 Economy
Jul 302017
 

After almost 20 years, the government has finally recognized the need to enhance the current maternity leave benefits for women.
In March, the Senate approved Senate Bill No. 1305 or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017 on its third and final reading. Under the bill, female employees in both government service and in the private sector can go on maternity leave for 120 days, regardless of mode of delivery. Moreover, an employee who qualifies as a solo parent under Republic Act No. 8972, is entitled to a maternity leave of 150 days.

Angara files bill granting tax incentives for first-time home buyers

 Entertainment
Apr 092014
 
Angara files bill granting tax incentives for first-time home buyers

Juan Edgardo Angara (photo courtesy of www.ivoteph.com) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has filed a bill that grants a tax incentive for first-time home buyers in the form of home mortgage interest relief. Angara’s Senate Bill No. 2148 seeks to provide for home mortgage interest relief, an individual income tax incentive, which allows homeowners to deduct the interest they pay on a qualified mortgage loan used for the purchase or construction of their first family home. “Nothing gives a person a sense of stability and security than having a place to call his or her home” Angara said. He said at present, more and more developers are offering affordable housing options through low down payments and easy payment terms for potential home buyers. ”The only remaining deterrent faced by would-be buyers is the financing aspect, more specifically the interest rates imposed by banking institutions and by these developers themselves,” the lawmaker said. “This is where the government should step in by providing an incentive to those who would be purchasing their first family home,” he added. Angara said that by removing interest rates in the equation, potential homeowners will only have to pay the principal amount of the property, and thus avoid the stress of dealing with ballooning interest payments,” he explained. Angara, chair of the Senate committee on ways and means, said that aside from providing tax savings, the proposed measure also aims to promote home ownership by encouraging families to purchase their own property instead Read More …

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 …

Recto wants higher take home pay for Pinoys this Christmas

 Entertainment
Dec 122013
 
Recto wants higher take home pay for Pinoys this Christmas

Actors and television host German “Kuya Germs” Moreno and Jake Vargas grace the Christmas tree lighting and fireworks display at the Tutuban Center in Divisoria, Manila.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto has filed a resolution seeking to increase the cap on the 13th month pay, Christmas bonus and other benefits exempted from income tax. Senate Bill No. 256 seeks to increase the cap to P75,000 from the current P30,000. Any amount in excess is already subject to the Tax Code. Recto said the ceiling was set by law almost 20 years ago. “We owe it to the people to amend laws that tend to be more repressive rather than be beneficial to the people. In this bill, we intend to breathe life again to the spirit of the law that, during the time of its passage, intended to allow the people to enjoy more of their hard-earned money,” he said. He said the P30,000 cap, set in 1994 via Republic Act 7833, no longer applies today. “At that time, the lowest monthly basic salary for government employees (Salary Grade 1, Step 1) was P2,800 and that of the President of the Philippines (Salary Grade 33) was at P25,000,” he said. At present, he added, the basic salaries have been adjusted such that SG-1 Step 1 now stands at P9,000 and SG-33 is at P120,000. Recto, former National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) chief, said the ceiling estimates is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). If the Read More …