Manila Bulletin – Page 44 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Bivalent vaccines for COVID-19 administered to over 3,000 patients in Muntinlupa City

August 8, 2023August 4, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, over three thousand qualified patients availed of the bivalent vaccines for COVID-19 as of July 28, 2023, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government has administered the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine to 3,026 people while its number of active cases totaled two.

Data from the city government showed that as of July 28, there were 2,139 people who received the Pfizer bivalent vaccine under the A1 category or healthcare workers and overseas Filipino workers who will be deployed within the next four months.

In addition, 866 senior citizens under the A2 category were administered the vaccine while 21 under A3 (adults with comorbidities and pregnant women) received it.

Eligible people can get the third booster dose at least four months after getting their second booster shot.

On the other hand, Muntinlupa’s active Covid-19 cases totaled two as of July 31, an increase of one case from the July 24 tally.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? If you are a qualified patient, do you intend to avail of the bivalent vaccine shot for COVID-19? Do you consider COVID-19 a serious problem locally?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Public school students of Muntinlupa to receive supplies from City Government

August 7, 2023August 3, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced that it will be giving shoes, bags and supplies to local students enrolled in public schools via the Balik Eskwela Packages program, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government will provide free Balik Eskwela Packages to all students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in public schools.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon said each Balik Eskwela Package contains leather shoes, school bags and school supplies consisting of notebooks, pencils (for Kindergarten to Grades 1 to 3) and ball pens (for Grades 4 to 12).

In the past months, the Muntinlupa City government asked schools and teachers to submit the shoe sizes of their students.

The Balik Eskwela Packages will be distributed to the students at the start of classes this year.

Biazon said the packages are part of his Karunungan (Knowledge) component of his 7K Agenda which he announced during his State of the City Address last March.

He also thanked the City Council for passing the budget that included allotment for the Balik Eskwela Packages.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Do you find the support from the City Government sufficient for the public school students?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Department of Finance (DOF) says online sellers must pay equal taxes as physical stores

August 3, 2023August 1, 2023carlocarrasco

As far as the Department of Finance (DOF) is concerned, those who sell online must pay equal taxes as the physical stores do, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Take note that the Philippines continues to recover from the economic downturn of COVID-19 and the coronavirus itself no longer poses a danger to the nation.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Finance (DOF) asserted that online sellers should be subject to the same tax obligations as traditional brick-and-mortar business owners for the sake of fairness.

Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the collection of withholding tax on online sellers by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is driven by the principle of fairness, and it does not constitute a new tax.

Withholding tax is a type of tax collected from various income sources, including salaries, wages, interest, and other earnings.

“It’s a matter of fairness because if you buy from a regular store, you have to pay taxes. But here [in online business], you don’t have to pay, and that’s unfair,” Diokno told reporters.

Diokno stressed the need for individuals to view the tax system as fair and willingly fulfill their tax obligations.

The BIR has proposed a new rule that would require online platform providers, such as Lazada and Shopee, to withhold one percent of the money they pay to their partner sellers. This withholding tax would be applied to half of the total amount being paid.

The BIR explained that this is not an additional tax, but rather a way to enforce existing tax laws and ensure proper tax collection.

“It’s not only increasing tax revenues, it’s a matter of fairness. A good tax system should be fair. That should be one of the characteristics of a good tax system, fairness,” the finance chief said.

BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. earlier said the tax agency aims to begin collecting a creditable withholding tax from online platform partner merchants by the fourth quarter of 2023.

Lumagui also said that their objective is to fully implement this tax by next year.

He also explained that the purpose of imposing taxes on online merchants is to ensure a level playing field between traditional brick-and-mortar retailers and those selling on digital platforms or marketplaces.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you agree with the DOF on taxing online sellers? If you own a physical store selling products, does the presence of local online sellers harm your business?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Mayor Biazon congratulates Muntinlupa’s Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) for big achievement

August 1, 2023July 28, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, Mayor Ruffy Biazon congratulated the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) for achieving a tremendously high rating based on the audit of the Regional Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (RIMTF) under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Mayor Ruffy Biazon congratulated the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) in Muntinlupa for getting a high rating in the functionality assessment.

The LCPC Muntinlupa got an overall score of 97.71 percent, which has an equivalent adjectival rating of “Ideal.”

The LCPC assists local government units (LGUs) in the promotion of children’s rights and protection of their welfare.

“This is proof that the protection and welfare of young Muntinlupeño is a priority through different programs to ensure that children’s rights are not neglected,” said Biazon in a Facebook post.

The rating was based on a detailed audit of LCPC functionality indicators done by the Regional Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (RIMTF) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the National Capital Region.

These were organizational sustainability, policies and plans for children, budget and service delivery, monitoring and management for children.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Do you find Muntinlupa a safe city for children?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Bivalent vaccines for COVID-19 now available in Las Piñas City for qualified patients

July 28, 2023July 26, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government officially launched the administering of bivalent vaccines for COVID-19 specifically starting with the health workers, the senior citizens and other qualified patients, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. As of this writing, there are three sites in the city where qualified patients can visit to avail of the bivalent vaccines.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

The Las Piñas City government has started administering bivalent vaccines against Covid-19 to health workers and senior citizens in the city on Wednesday, July 26.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said, based on the advisory of the City Health Office (CHO), that all frontline health workers including their immediate family members aged 18 years-old and above can now receive the bivalent vaccine.

Aguilar said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound for deployment within the next four months, along with senior citizens can also avail of the vaccine.

Individuals belonging to these groups can get vaccinated in any of the three vaccination sites designated by the city government — Robinsons Mall, SM Center, and Villages Square.

The above article ended stating that the administering of bivalent vaccines (for the 3^rd booster shot) is scheduled from 8AM to 4PM.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this new development? If you are interested to avail of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, have you checked already if you are qualified? Do you think bivalent vaccines are still needed as COVID-19 infections have been minimal in recent times? Have you kept all your COVID-19 records?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

2023 Waterlily Festival in Las Piñas City emphasizes care for the environment, competition winners announced

July 28, 2023July 26, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the 16^th edition of the Waterlily Festival took place which continues to emphasize to local residents the commitment of taking care of the environment, according to a press release published through Senate.gov.ph. The said festival had a slew of activities and competitions that symbolically emphasized environmental care.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the press release. Some parts in boldface…

This year’s celebration of the Las Piñas Waterlily Festival reinforced the commitment of Las Piñas residents to value and protect the environment.

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, who started the festival in 2005, said the yearly event is not only a celebration or a venue for the city’s most talented performers but also a recognition of the importance of environmental protection.

“Today, the waterlily is no longer a menace or a pest but a symbol of ingenuity, resilience, and community cooperation. It stands as a testament to our collective commitment to preserve our environment,” Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, said.

Villar lauded the shared efforts of Las Piñeros in the rehabilitation of the Las Piñas and Zapote River through the Sagip Ilog Program, an initiative she started when she was Las Piñas Representative. Water hyacinths or what is commonly known as water lilies were considered as aquatic pests clogging the Las Piñas and Zapote River, which caused massive flooding in the city.

One of the most awaited activities of the festival is the Ms. Waterlily Pageant 2023. It is participated in by female candidates fielded by each of the 20 barangays in Las Piñas City. The candidates will be judged according to beauty, intelligence, and the over-all creativity of their respective gowns made of waterlilies.

Candidates are required to create their attire using 100% waterlily. Prizes at stake include Php 30,000 cash, flowers, trophy and crown for the Ms. Las Piñas Waterlily 2023, Php 20,000 cash, trophy and flowers for the First Runner-up, and Php 10,000 cash, trophy and flowers for the Second Runner-up.

This year’s winners are: Francine Anne T. De Castro of Talon Tres, Ms Waterlily 2023; Christine Maico Bautista of Brgy. Talon 5; 1st Runner-up Loiuse Zapanta of Brgy.Pamplona Tres, 2nd Runner-up; Princess Romana De Guzman of Brgy.Almanza Dos as Ms. Photogenic and Ayessa Emille Estrellado of Brgy.Pulang-Lupa Uno as Ms Congeniality. Likewise, designer Nash Leeho of Talon Singko won the best designer award

Also, part of the festivities is the Sayaw Kabataan (SK) Para Sa Kalikasan” Dance Video Contest. This activity requires each barangay to field 10 to 15 youth dancers, who will be dancing to an upbeat song that they have to demonstrate in a 3 to 5-minute dance presentation. The incorporation of waterlilies as a prop, costume, or background, is a requirement for this contest.

Winners of the SK Para sa Kalikasan competition was judged based on their creativity, content, and messaging; choreography, presentation, and originality; and video presentation. The following prizes are up for grabs: Champion Php 30,000 and trophy, First Runner-up: Php 20,000 and trophy, Second Runner-up: Php 10,000 and trophy.

This year’s SK para sa Kalikasan this year are; Remake Family of Brgy. BF International-CAA, Grand Champion; Talon Youth for Progress Organization Dance Company of Brgy.Talon Uno, First Runner-up; Fusion Flames of Brgy.Talon Singko, second runner-up and People’s Choice; and Ry Ultra of Brgy Ilaya, Best in Costume.

To get a glimpse of what the 2023 Waterlily Festival looked like, watch this related Manila Bulletin video clip below…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this new development? Were you able to attend in person the Waterlily Festival this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Maldives lawmakers in Muntinlupa City

July 27, 2023July 25, 2023carlocarrasco

In the progressive city of Muntinlupa, the City Government hosted a delegation of lawmakers from Maldives who were on an official visit, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Mayor Rufino Biazon led the local officials in hosting them.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin’s news report. Some parts in boldface…

Lawmakers from Maldives, a country located in the Indian Ocean, visited Muntinlupa and met with officials led by Mayor Ruffy Biazon.

The delegation from Baa Atoll in the Maldives, led by council chief Ahmed Afrah, arrived in Muntinlupa for a working visit and study tour.

“We warmly welcome our friends from The Maldives delegation and we are privileged to share with them what we know about local governance in Muntinlupa,” Mayor Ruffy Biazon said.

He added, “They have come a long way to explore and learn more about the local government’s practices and gain more insights. We hope our visitors took away valuable lessons from us.”

After meeting Biazon, the Maldives officials attended the weekly session of the Muntinlupa City Council to learn about the city’s legislative procedures.

Atoll chief Ahmed Afrah also gave a privilege speech during the session, saying, “We are grateful for the very warm welcome and accommodation given us by the City Government, and we have learned a lot from the orderly way that the (Muntinlupa) council holds its regular session.“

The Maldives has a total population of 515,132 as of 2022, according to the Maldives Bureau of Statistics.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Do you wish to see more foreign lawmakers to visit Muntinlupa and learn from the local officials?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Pamplona Hospital and Medical Center officially accredited for Las Piñas City Green Card program

July 21, 2023July 19, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in Las Piñas City, the Pamplona Hospital and Medical Center has been accredited officially by the City Government for inclusion in the local Green Card program, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Patients of the Pamplona Hospital and Medical Center can now avail of the benefits included in Las Pinas City’s green card program after the hospital received its accreditation from the local government.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the city government added Pamplona Hospital and Medical Center to the growing list of accredited facilities for the green card program, citing it as a significant step towards enhancing health accessibility for its residents.

The green card program provides free hospitalization worth P30,000 to its residents, Aguilar said.

The inclusion of the hospital is set to further widen its reach and ensure better medical care for the city’s population, the mayor added.

The other hospitals in the city that are accredited to use the green card are Perpetual Help Medical Center-Las Piñas; Las Piñas Doctor’s Hospital, San Juan de Dios Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, and Las Piñas City Medical Center.

The mayor said the City Health Office (CHO) has outlined a smooth transition plan to integrate private hospitals into the green card program.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are there many Green Card holders within your local community right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) award for Muntinlupa City

July 19, 2023July 17, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government was awarded by the Anti-Red Tap Authority (ARTA) for innovation with regards to business registration, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government was recognized by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) for its innovative business registration.

Muntinlupa is one of the cities that received the Accelerating Reforms for Improved Service Efficiency (ARISE) Award to recognize initiatives to improve the delivery of government services.

“We are definitely proud of this recognition, as this is validation of the City Government’s commitment to bring quality public service to every Muntinlupeño,” Mayor Ruffy Biazon said.

The city’s Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) and its electronic format eBOSS, which places all the necessary agencies for a business license or permit in one location, was commended earlier this year by ARTA in its latest compliance monitoring as a benchmark for other local government units (LGUs) to follow.

In addition to BOSS, Muntinlupa also has the Business Permits and Licensing Office Single-Window Transaction (BPLO-SWiT) program in partnership with Festival Mall in Alabang in order to bring tax payment and registration services closer to business owners.

Alternatively, business owners may also renew their license and mayor’s permit at the BPLO at Muntinlupa City Hall, as well as online via the Business E-payment System (BESt), through the city’s official website (www.muntinlupacity.gov.ph).

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Are you delighted with the award from ARTA for the City Government?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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November 17 designated as Students’ Day in Muntinlupa City

July 17, 2023July 14, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government formally declared November 17 of every year as “Students’ Day” by means of approving a piece of legislation, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government has designated Nov. 17 of every year as “Students’ Day” to recognize and honor the youth.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon signed Ordinance 2023-095, passed by the City Council, “declaring November 17 of every year as Students’ Day in the City of Muntinlupa, and advocating for student participation in nation-building.”

“Our students are the lifeblood of the city, and it is important that we provide all the means available to empower and enable them to build up Muntinlupa with their own contribution, young as they are,” said Biazon.

The ordinance, called the “Students’ Day Celebration Ordinance,” noted that student leadership is part of Biazon’s “7K Agenda” under “Karunungan” (Knowledge) and “Katarungan” (Justice).

It suggests that the city government may conduct activities including an Education Summit; trainings, seminars and workshops; student leadership forum; recognition of student leaders; and student competitions.

“The National Students’ day is included in the DepEd Annual Activities and shall be observed every November 17. The Education Sector, all public and private schools, all local and national government employees, and all Barangays within the jurisdiction of Muntinlupa shall participate in this event,” according to the ordinance.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Do you consider “Students’ Day” in Muntinlupa necessary or needed?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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