Mineral fuels, goods boost imports: agency

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said growth in purchases of mineral fuels and consumer goods kept the merchandise imports afloat, expanding by 2.3 percent to US$5 billion as against US$4.9 billion last year.

“Imports of mineral fuels increased 28.4 percent due to higher oil prices in the international market while consumer goods went up 10.1 percent because of growing consumer demand caused by the holiday season,” Neda Director-General Cayetano Paderanga Jr. said in a factsheet furnished Sun.Star Friday.

Revenue bureau moves to clean tax collection records

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has clarified the crediting of tax collections through special allotment release orders (Saros), tax subsidy availment certificates (TSACs) and tax subsidy debit memos (TSDMs) as one way to solve discrepancies in tax collection reports.

P5.7-M additional operating expense for policemen okayed

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of P5,765,895 as additional maintenance and other operating expense (MOOE) of policemen in Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental.

The funding is part of the P115.6-million additional MOOE that DBM green-lighted for release to the Philippine National Police (PNP) “to enhance the capability of the police force to effectively fight criminality and maintain peace and order.”

Release of housing budget urged

THE Department of Budget and Management was asked to immediately release the long overdue balance of P2.06 billion for the local housing program as per Republic Act 7835 or the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Financing Act of 1994.

"Fifteen years after the enactment of RA 7835, a measly 31 percent of the total allocation for the Local Housing Program (LHP) was released and distributed to various congressional districts throughout the country," stressed Resolution 591 that was adopted before the House of Representatives went on its Yuletide break.

Tesda reports 2011 accomplishments

GRADUATE-TRAINEES and re-trainees from the technical–vocational education and training courses already reached 1,129,179 or 83.99 percent of the 1.3 million workers that Technical Education and Skill Authority (Tesda) targeted for 2011.

No need for ITRs, AFS in MSE loan application

MICRO and small enterprises (MSEs) are still exempted from submission of documentary requirements such as income tax return and/or audited financial statements (AFS) when they apply for bank loans.             This after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas extended for another three years or up to December 31, 2014 the regulatory relief granted to MSEs, which is set to expire end of this year.            

PhilHealth issues guidelines on new premium contribution

SELF-EMPLOYED individuals under PhilHealth’s individually-paying program as well as members under the overseas workers programs shall pay the minimum annual premium contribution of P2,400 effective July 1, 2012.            

Employers told: Observe pay rules

PRIVATE sector employers are reminded to observe the pay rules and other core labor standards during the Christmas, Rizal Day and New Year regular holidays and December 31 as non-working special day.             As per the guidelines released by the Department of Labor and Employment, the pay rules applicable for Christmas Day, Rizal Day and New Year’s Day are: If the day is an employee’s regular workday and it is unworked, s/he shall be paid 100 percent of his/her regular salary for that day.            

Science schools to get subsidy

THE Department of Education is allocating some P27-million in subsidy to special science elementary schools (SSES) in various regions, including Western Visayas, to further strengthen science teaching.             In DepEd Memo 88, 40 percent of the allotment will go to the enhancement of the capability of teachers and school heads through their participation in conferences, trainings, seminars and immersion training in science-oriented schools.

DTI monitors prices of holiday products

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) continuously monitors the prices of holiday products, particularly Noche buena goods, to ensure that these are within the suggested retail price (SRP).

These include spaghetti/pasta, noodles, ham, queso de bola and loaf bread as well as agricultural products such as rice, chicken, pork and beef.

Agri department sets 2012 targets

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has set three goals in 2012 in line with its efforts towards a competitive and sustainable agriculture and fisheries sectors.

These include improved food security and increased rural incomes; increased sector resilience to climate change impacts; and enhanced policy environment governance.

‘Increase salary of government workers to minimize corruption’

A SECTORAL lawmaker is pushing for an increase in the salary and benefits of government workers as one way “to address the unabated corruption in the bureaucracy”.

Cibac party-list Representative Sherwin Tugna stressed the government should adopt a comprehensive and integrated national plan to reduce corruption and address the security of government workers.

BPO still tops employment opportunities

THE Labor and Employment’s Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) reported that employment opportunities in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector continue to top the list of vacancies posted by private sector employers in the Phil-JobNet system.

Opportunities in the so-called ‘sunshine industry’, particularly for call center service workers, rose consistently from the first to the third quarters of 2011, sustaining their number one position among all other Phil-JobNet vacancies and affirming our status as the BPO hub of the world, BLE’s factsheet showed.

PRC online services in full swing

THE Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) has fully implemented its Internet-based services for professionals and licensure examination applicants.

Police pension hike approved

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) already green-lighted the release of P1.125-billion to fund the increase in the pension of retired policemen, including those in the locality.

“The holidays will be merrier for more than 40,000 retired policemen after we’ve successfully adjusted the pension of regular PNP and Integrated National Police retirees to the second tranche under the Salary Standardization Law III so pensioners will receive their benefits before the year ends,” DBM Secretary Florencio Abad announced in the latest department factsheet.

Geohazard maps at DILG website

GEO-HAZARD maps are now available at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) website.

Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero, in Memorandum Circular 187-2011, said there is a need to strengthen the capacities of local government units (LGUs) on disaster risk reduction and management as per Republic Act 10121 of 2010.

Ledesma proposes to strengthen Ôbalik-scientistÕ program

NEGROS Occidental 1st District Rep. Julio Ledesma IV is pushing to institutionalize the Ôbalik scientistÕ program in a bid to address the diminishing number of scientists and researchers.

Teachers get Christmas bonus

PUBLIC school teachers started receiving their productivity enhancement incentive (PEI) after the Department of Education worked double time to ensure that the bonus would be released before December 25.

This was remarked by Teachers Dignity Coalition chairperson Benjo Basas who lauded the DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management for the early release of the bonus.

PhilHealth logo design contest launched

GRAPHIC artists, illustrators, design students, creative teams of advertising agencies, and other design experts are urged to join PhilHealthÕs logo design contest on the theme ÒRace to universal health care.Ó

The contest, which has no age limit, is open to all individuals or groups, professionals, student, or junior designers who are allowed to submit a maximum of three designs, which should illustrate the theme as well as the slogan ÒBawat Pilipino miyembro. Bawat miyembro, protektado. Kalusugan natin segurado.Ó

LGUs urged: Provide credit facilities for agri

LOCAL government units should implement policies and programs on innovative credit facilities with focus on agriculture and fisheries sectors through cooperatives, micro-small-medium enterprises, and rural and thrift banks.

ÒThese measures could significantly help spur more economic activities and create greater number of jobs for to increase income and social welfare,Ó National Economic and Development Authority director-general Cayetano Paderanga Jr. stressed as per the agencyÕs economic outlook for 2012.

Revenue bureau defers audit until Jan. 6

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has suspended all field and other operations with regard the examinations and verifications of taxpayers' books of accounts, records and other transactions from December 19, 2011 until January 6, 2012.

Deployment ban to Libya lifted

THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board lifted this week the ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Libya, particularly for workers in the medical and oil sectors.             Resolution 10-2011, which takes effect immediately, “will allow the gradual re-deployment of returning workers in the medical and oil sectors only, subject to proof of existing employment as determined by the POEA.”            

‘Avoid products sans proper labels’

CONSUMERS, particularly those still on a shopping spree for gifts, are urged to avoid products that have no proper labeling.             They are also told to report to concerned government agencies those products suspected to contain toxic or hazardous chemicals for appropriate action amid allegations “that some cheap toys from China, which found their way into the local street markets, have high lead content that could cause adverse effect on health.”            

Customs seizes P10.6-M pyrotechnic devices

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized around P10.6 million worth of illegally-imported firecrackers and fireworks amid its intensified efforts to protect the local economy and to keep the holidays safe.             “This is usually the time of the year when unscrupulous traders try to keep a killing by flooding the market with illegally imported firecrackers and fireworks,” BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said in a statement. “This modus creates unfair competition in the local market, which directly affects the pyrotechnics industry resulting in job displacements for countless Pinoys.”

DOTC conducts driver drug test in Bacolod, other bus terminals

THE Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has ordered random drug testing of drivers in various key bus terminals, including North Terminal in Bacolod City, as part of its "Oplan Ligtas na Krismas" program.             "It's the time of the year when families reunite and enjoy the spirit of Christmas. We want to ensure that our people can travel back to their respective hometowns and be with their loved ones safely in the most convenient manner," Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas explained in his order tasking the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to conduct the free drug

Improved health facilities pushed

ALL health facilities and services shall soon be required to register and secure a license with the Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (BHFS) before they could operate.             The requirement as per House Bill 5471 authored among others by Bacolod Representative Anthony Golez Jr. and Negros Occidental 2nd District Congressman Alfredo Marañon III covers facilities and health services providing diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative and/or other health care services, except medical radiation facilities and hospital pharmacies.

P5B GSIS housing loan available

MEMBERS and pensioners of the Government Service Insurance System can now apply for a housing loan through the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-Ibig.             "Pag-Ibig Fund (already) drew down the entire P5-billion Wednesday, which will be used to augment the funds available for housing loans of the GSIS members and pensioners," said GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara, who recently signed the credit facility agreement with Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive officer Darlene Berberabe.

'Most OFW families use remittances for food, education'

MOST of overseas Filipino workers-dependent households receiving remittances this last quarter of 2011 use the money for food and education as per result of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas survey.

“Nearly 70 percent of the households surveyed allocated their remittances for education, 60.9% for medical payments and 45.8% for debt payments. The percentage of OFW households utilizing their remittances for savings increased to 42.6% from the 35.5% in Q3 2011,” the BSP added.

‘Premature’ sale of land under agrarian reform prohibited

THE selling of farmlands covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) is allowed only after the lapse of the 10-year holding period, starting from the time the land was awarded to a farmer- beneficiary.

Bizmen cautioned vs. letter regarding cosmetic products

THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned business establishments on the proliferation of letters with regard certain cosmetic products going through the notification process.