Sunday, September 28, 2008 (Philippines)

CLEANERS. Mambaling Barangay Captain Rodulfo Estrella (2nd from left) leads volunteers and students in clearing the canals in their barangay during the coastal clean-up campaign. The mayor recently branded Sitio Alaska in Mambaling as the dirtiest place in the city. (Sun.Star Photo/Alex Badayos) SEN. Manuel Roxas II yesterday said he will petition the Department of Finance (DOF) and the court to make the tax exemption on minimum wage earners retroactive to January this year, not July. However, he will not ask for a temporary restraining order because the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) may use it as a reason not to give the exemption for July, June and September, he said. The BIR has already issued the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Republic Act 9504, which exempts minimum wage earners from paying income taxes. [full story]