Bizmen call for withdrawal of BIR income info circular

MAJOR business organizations are calling for the withdrawal of Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 40-2011, which requires the disclosure of additional detailed income information of taxpayers.

DTI, DPWH warn vs impostors

THE departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are warning the public, particularly the business community, against unscrupulous individuals using the names of the agencies’ secretaries for their own gains.

In a DTI advisory, the department said “the scam started in September when a businessman reported that someone posed as ‘Secretary Domingo’ and asked for money.”

SSS releases P10B for December, 13th month bonuses of pensioners

THE Social Security System (SSS) said it already released nearly P10 billion to its conduit banks for the December pensions and 13th month bonuses of its pensioners.

SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros Jr., in a statement, said its partner-banks have been asked to immediately credit the money to the pensioners’ accounts so the later can withdraw the benefits ahead of their regular schedule.”

Improved legal aid for OFWs pushed

THE sad fate of the Filipino overseas worker who died in China Thursday should prompt the government to improve the way it extends legal assistance to OFWs.

There is a need to set up legal assistance desks and 24-hour legal aid hotlines in Philippine embassies and consulates, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile stressed, adding that the number of Pinoys languishing in foreign jails with some even facing the death row “is an indication of the government's shortcomings in aiding its nationals abroad.”

GSIS to put up kiosks in Robinsons

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will put up GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (G-W@PS) kiosks in selected Robinsons malls, including here in Bacolod City.

The plan was contained in a memorandum of agreement signed Wednesday between GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara and Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) president and chief operating officer Frederick Go.

DILG acts on manufacture, sale of fireworks, pyrotechnics

INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo has directed the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to intensify the inspection of establishments engaged in the manufacture, storage and sale of fireworks.

“BFP shall check if compliance with documentary requirements like fire safety inspection certificate (FSIC) and business permit are met,” DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo stressed in his directive, adding that in case an establishment or activity poses a threat to fire safety, the provisions of Republic Act 9514 or the Revised Fire Code of

Technical intern trainees requested for Japan

JAPANESE employers have reportedly requested more Filipino technical intern trainees in the industry, agriculture and services sectors.

The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), citing reports from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Tokyo, said Wednesday that in the first 10 months this year, around 8,000 job orders for technical intern trainees have been registered or almost 100 percent over last year’s total figure.

500,000 MT of rice to be imported in 2012

AN INITIAL 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice will be imported next year.

The decision was arrived at during the December 6 meeting of the National Food Authority (NFA) Council chaired by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

Western Visayas posts 5.1% inflation

WESTERN Visayas posted 5.1-percent inflation in November, up from the 5 percent noted in October 2011 mainly due to increases in the food and non-alcoholic beverages as well as clothing and footwear indexes.

DTI maps out industry development plan

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is developing and consolidating industry roadmaps to boost competitiveness.

“DTI is working on a comprehensive industry development strategy. We will work towards consolidating industry roadmaps to help identify key strategies, investment requirements and the required policy support to increase our competitiveness and sustain economic growth,” Undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Adrian Cristobal Jr. said Tuesday.

Dentists, social workers needed

THE Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) underscored the need for more dentists, optometrists, nutritionist-dietitians, guidance counselors, mining engineers, geologists, social workers, medical technologists, pharmacists, metallurgical engineers, librarians, physical therapist, occupational therapist and psychologists.

PRC chairperson Teresita Manzala said Tuesday while some professions are now suffering from an oversupply of licensed professionals such as teachers, nurses and criminologists, “many other courses have been undersubscribed in the past years.”

P210M released for potable water

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P210 million to address problems in the supply of potable water in various regions, including Western Visayas, as part of the P1.5-billion potable water supply program.

The program led by the Department of Health (DOH) is in synergy with the conditional cash transfer program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other social protection programs initiated by the government.

POEA exec tells OFWs: Get exit clearance early

THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is urging overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to have their overseas employment certificate (OEC) or travel exit clearance processed early.

POEA Administrator Carlos Cao Jr. said: “to avoid long lines at the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Center, overseas Filipino workers should get their OECs as soon as they arrive instead of flocking to the POEA main office immediately after Christmas and New Year’s Day.”

Tesda, PLDT to train expert telecom technicians

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) have joined forces to train some 1,300 youth and workers and prepare them to become certified telecommunications technicians.

The three-year specialized training on enhancing productivity and improving telecommunications services delivery through skills development is expected to benefit 250 trainees this year and 500 each for 2012 and 2013.

Internal Revenue issues rules on proper invoicing

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue has ordered all VAT-registered taxpayers to separately bill the VAT (value-added tax) corresponding to the sales, commercial invoices or official receipts issued.

“The amount of the tax shall be shown as a separate item in the invoice or receipt,” stressed Revenue Regulations 18-2011 recently promulgated to set the guidelines in the proper invoicing and receipting of output tax in the sale of goods and services.

Disclosure of additional taxpayers’ income in 2012 mandatory

INDIVIDUAL income tax fillers using BIR Forms 1700 and 1701 are advised that for income tax filing covering and starting with calendar year 2012, the disclosures required under the supplemental information portion of the two forms will be mandatory.

No labor inspection during Christmas, New Year

LABOR inspection activities during the Christmas and New Year holidays is suspended to ensure that labor inspectors will have no opportunity for bribery, gift solicitation or other forms of graft and corruption.

The suspension, as contained in Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Administrative Order 490-2011, started December 1, 2011 and will end on January 31, 2012.

Services sector boosts 3Q growth

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) noted that the services sector continues to perform strongly on the back of sustained overseas Filipino remittances, more favorable inflation environment, and increased pace in government expenditures.

Safer, quality fireworks sought

THERE is need to improve existing laws to protect consumers against the dangers of fireworks and pyrotechnics such as fire, injury and loss of lives especially during the Christmas season.

This as Mario Gaudiano of the Bureau of Products and Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) revealed that more smuggled fireworks are flooding the market now is in violation of Republic Act 7183 or the law regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices.

LGUs urged to support skills registry system

THE Department Labor and Employment (Dole) is calling for full support and strengthened partnership with local government units (LGUs) in the implementation of the skills registry system (SRS) to ensure skills-matched employment across all regions.

P350-M financing program for hospitals available

THE Social Security System (SSS) is offering a financing program for hospitals to improve and make adequate hospital care accessible and affordable to low-income employees.

As per Circular 2011-004 signed by Social Security Commission chair Juan

Banking code of good practice signed

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) signed Friday the Banking Industry Tripartite Council (BITC) resolution adopting the banking industry voluntary code of good practice on dispute settlement and outsourcing/subcontracting of certain banking functions.

The code aims to maintain and promote industrial peace in the banking sector through the use of constant dialogue in resolving disputes arising from emerging issues like outsourcing.

DOH, LGUs call for upgrade, rehab of health facilities

THE Department of Health’s (DOH) regional directors and local chief executives are pushing for the expedited implementation of the health facilities enhancement program to upgrade the infrastructure and equipment of government health facilities.

The upgrading and rehabilitation of public health facilities is in line with the universal health care program in partnership with local government units with focus on the poorest of the poor identified under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction.

House approves bill banning nurse training fees

THE House Committee on Health, chaired by Negros Occidental 2nd district Representative Alfredo Marañon III, has endorsed for plenary approval a proposal banning public and private hospitals from requiring registered nurses (RNs) to pay to gain work experience.

House Bill 5445 seeks to prevent the exploitation of RNs who are serving as nurse volunteers in any public or private hospital.

Dole acts on contracting scheme

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has issued clear-cut rules on contracting and subcontracting to curb abuses and boost workers protection.

Department Order (DO) 18-A-2011 or the rules implementing Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code, as amended, “aims to promote employment and encourage full compliance with minimum wages and general labor standards, including safe and healthful conditions of work, security of tenure, self-organization and collective bargaining.”

Consumer loans reach P500B

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday total consumer loans (CLs) already reached P500 billion or 3.9 percent higher than last quarter’s P481.2B.

“This was mostly driven by residential real estate loans (RRELs) which went up by P6.3B or 3.3% to P198.4B and Other CLs, which jumped by P6.1B or 13.3% to P52.2B,” BSP said in its recent factsheet. “Together, they accounted for P12.4B or 65.9% of the P18.9B growth of CLs.”

Uplift of barangay workers status proposed

AN Ilonggo lawmaker is pushing for the improvement of the status and work conditions of barangay workers.

Iloilo Representative Arthur Defensor Jr., in House Bill 5441, stressed the need to institutionalize the status of barangay workers by establishing their rights and providing for their welfare.

Dole: No compromise on workers’ 13th month pay

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) reminded Wednesday private sector employers that there will be “no compromise” when it comes to the 13th month pay due the workers.

Dole Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz issued the reminder with the long Christmas holidays and with workers anticipating the payment of year-end benefits, including the statutory 13th month pay.

PhilHealth to hike premiums

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said Wednesday it will increase premium rates and introduce a new set of enhanced benefits to improve the financial risk protection of its members.

"As we increase our rates for members, we will make sure that our stakeholders, particularly the employers, shall have time to prepare for this investment in the universal health care (UHC) program," PhilHealth president and CEO Dr. Eduardo Banzon said.

Probe urged to improve coconut water industry

A SECTORAL lawmaker has asked the House Committee on Agriculture and Food to conduct an inquiry on the status of the coconut water industry to further develop the sector.

AAMBIS-OWA Representative Sharon Garin, in House Resolution 1856, quoted Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo as saying that the coconut industry “is the next giant employer and business process outsourcing".