Philippines blog – Page 127 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Las Piñas City Government receives multiple awards for excellence on public service and more

January 22, 2024January 16, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government received several awards from different entities (including government departments) related to excellence on public service rendered and more, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Las Piñas City government received various recognitions for its commitment to excellence in public service and community development.

Vice-Mayor April Aguilar, who led the regular flag raising ceremony on Monday, Jan. 15 held at the City Hall grounds, thanked the national bodies for the recognition given to the city government.

Aguilar said the city was honored with a Plaque of Recognition for its active role in the 2023 Parañaque KALIPI Summit, emphasizing its contributions to women’s empowerment and nation-building.

She said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) awarded the city for its exemplary implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps), highlighting its timely submission of monitoring tools and effective program execution.

The DSWD also recognized the city for its effective management of social welfare programs like the KADIWA and supplementary feeding programs.

The vice-mayor also said the chief of Public Information Office, Paul Ahljay San Miguel, received a Certificate of Recognition from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Most Outstanding Tourism Officers Club/Association award from the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines, Inc.

Aguilar said the recognition from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation underscored the city’s dedication to health care and tourism development.

She said the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) also recognized the city government for its support to the press community.

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 you delighted with the many awards achieved by the City Government? Does this development deepen your trust in the City Government and the current 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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Muntinlupa City Government turns over several motorcycles to local traffic enforcers

January 22, 2024January 18, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, the City Government formally turned over several motorcycles that the local traffic enforcers will use in the line of duty, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Muntinlupa City government turned over 16 motorcycles to traffic enforcers to beef up their capabilities.

“To those who regularly disobey road rules and regulations, you have been warned; sorry if our enforcers catch up to you,” said Mayor Ruffy Biazon during the blessing and turnover of the motorcycles to the Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau (MTMB).

Biazon said that the new motorcycles are a significant upgrade to the current fleet of the MTMB.

“These units now have a displacement of 400cc which makes them eligible to enter the (South Luzon) expressway; this will enable them to chase and apprehend violators,” he said.

Biazon reminded the traffic enforcers to be good stewards of the new patrol bikes by using them appropriately, and to implement the law correctly.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you delighted about the local traffic enforcers receiving new motorcycles that should help them do their jobs better? Do you think abusive motorists will become hesitant to commit traffic violations knowing that the local traffic enforcers can use the new motorcycles to catch up with them?

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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Known hacker arrested in Las Piñas City

January 20, 2024January 16, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, local police officers arrested a man (who has an established history of hacking) for targeting foreigners online, according to a Philippine Star news report. The arrest happened in Barangay Talon Dos.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt the Philippine Star news report. Some parts in boldface…

A man previously dubbed “Asia’s best hacker” was arrested in Las Piñas for allegedly targeting foreigners in his illegal online activities, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday.

An NCRPO report obtained by The STAR showed that NCRPO operatives searched the house of Edgar Silvano Jr., 47, in Barangay Talon Dos at past 2 p.m. on Friday.

The operation was implemented on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Elizabeth Yu Guray of the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court Branch 202.

Recovered from Silvano were 11 cell phones, seven flash drives, five laptops, four SD cards, three Wi-Fi routers, two hard drives, a desktop and a modem.

Apart from these, police also confiscated several financial documents pertaining to land titles and vehicle purchases. These documents contain personal and bank account information belonging to other people, police said.

Silvano was charged with violating Republic Act 8484 or the Access Device Regulations Act of 2012.

He also faces charges of violating RA 10591, which penalizes the illegal possession of a firearm, after police found a 9mm pistol with nine bullets on his person.

According to the NCRPO, Silvano was called “Asia’s best hacker” in 2001 after he hacked an international banking system based in Hong Kong. He was imprisoned but was later released on probation.

Silvano was again arrested in 2016 by the National Bureau of Investigation for violation of RA 8484 and possession of illegal drugs.

The NCRPO said all recovered electronic devices will undergo data extraction and forensic examination.

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 you concerned that there could be more hackers or cyber criminals who could be living within your local community?

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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VAT exemption in sale of residential properties hiked to P3.6 million

January 20, 2024January 17, 2024carlocarrasco

Those of you who own residential properties should be aware that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) formally announced that it has hiked the value-added tax (VAT) exemption in the sale of residential properties to P3.6 million (over P400,000 higher than previous), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has increased the threshold for value-added tax (VAT) exemption for the sale of house and lot as well as other residential dwellings from nearly PHP3.2 million to PHP3.6 million.

This, as BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. has issued Revenue Regulations 1-2024, compliant with Section 109 (P) of the National Internal Revenue Code.

The adjustment reflected the commitment to align the threshold with present values every three years using the consumer price index as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“This timely increase in VAT exemption shows our commitment to Excellent Taxpayer Service. This increase in the selling price threshold, for VAT exemption purposes, of the sale of house and lot, and other residential dwelling from PHP3,199,200 to PHP3,600,000 gives testament to the BIR’s improved and updated services,” Lumagui said.

The BIR said its focus on Excellent Taxpayer Service aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent signing of the Ease of Paying Taxes Act.

The enactment of the legislation pushes for a modernized tax system, aiming to assist taxpayers in fulfilling their obligations, Lumagui said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a property owner, does the BIR’s act affect you? Do you think the raised VAT exemption will make a strong impact on many residential properties?

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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First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia and the Pacific expect Philippine economy will grow by 6% this year

January 19, 2024January 13, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently, First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) expressed expectation that the economy of the Philippines will achieve 6% growth for the year 2024, according to a BusinessWorld news article.

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

THE PHILIPPINES’ gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow faster this year as easing inflation will help boost “revenge spending,” analysts said.

First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said they expect GDP growth at 6% this year, still below the government’s 6.5-7.6% target.

“I think they will not be able to make the 6.5% unless foreign investments come in. And so far, if we look at 2023, foreign investments were actually down significantly… but we have to see how things pan out in the coming months,” Victor A. Abola, an economist at UA&P, said at a briefing in Makati City on Thursday.

FMIC and UA&P projected full-year GDP to average 5.5% in 2023, still below the government’s 6-7%. The economy grew by 5.5% in the nine-month period.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is set to release full-year 2023 GDP data on Jan. 31.

“Growth will accelerate from 5.5% (in 2023) to 6% (in 2024), driven by the services sector, particularly, transport, accommodations, and food services, which are experiencing revenge spending,” Mr. Abola said.

Filipino consumers are expected to continue to splurge this year, which will help drive growth.

“We’re just seeing the beginning of (revenge spending) because high inflation has sort of toned down that expansion. So, I think that we’ll see faster GDP growth in 2024,” Mr. Abola said.

Improved employment will also boost the economy this year, Mr. Abola said, citing the record low jobless rate seen in November.

The country’s unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in November from 4.2% in the previous month and a year ago, marking an 18-year low. In November, the number of employed people also rose to 49.64 million from 47.8 million in October and 49.7 million in November 2022.

FMIC Executive Vice-President Daniel D. Camacho said the BSP will likely keep rates steady for the first half.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think internal and external economic factors will somehow become favorable for the Philippines and allow better economic growth along the way? Do you think there is too much attention paid on so-called revenge spending?

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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World Bank sees Philippine economy growing at 5.8% this year

January 18, 2024January 11, 2024carlocarrasco

While local economic managers predict the Philippine economy growing between 6.5% to 7.5% this year, the World Bank (WB) itself forecasts a 5.8% growth for 2024, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

THE WORLD BANK (WB) expects the Philippines to be among the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia this year.

In its latest Global Economic Prospects, the multilateral lender projected Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) to expand by 5.8% in 2024, same as its forecast in December.

The Philippine growth projection is the fastest among Southeast Asian economies, tied with Cambodia (5.8%), and ahead of Vietnam (5.5%), Indonesia (4.9%), Malaysia (4.3%), Lao People’s Democratic Republic (4.1%), Timor-Leste (3.5%), Thailand (3.2%) and Myanmar (2%).

However, this is below the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) 6.5-7.5% growth target for 2024.

The World Bank’s growth forecast for the Philippines is also higher than its 4.5% projection for East Asia and the Pacific.

The multilateral lender sees slower growth in the region due to the “anticipated deceleration in economic activity in China.”

Other risks to the growth outlook include geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that could lead to higher oil prices, dampened global trade, tightening financial conditions and climate-related disasters, it said.

“Extreme weather events, the frequency of which has increased in recent decades as a result of climate change, also pose a downside risk to the regional outlook,” it added.

In the Philippines, the government is preparing for the potential impact of the El Niño weather event this year.

The latest bulletin from the state weather bureau showed that El Niño will likely persist from March to May, when dry season crops are often harvested.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan earlier said El Niño would likely affect the agriculture sector and drive food prices higher, which could threaten the inflation downtrend.

On the other hand, the multilateral lender said resilient domestic demand could spur growth drivers in the East Asia and Pacific region.

“Modest inflation, and in many cases robust labor markets supported by buoyant service activity, are anticipated to sustain household spending,” it said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines will grow better this year than the WB’s prediction of 5.8%?

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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Withholding tax on online sellers could address revenue leakages

January 18, 2024January 12, 2024carlocarrasco

With the 1% withholding tax on online sellers already in effect, there is potential that the said tax could address revenue leakages, according to a BusinessWorld news article.

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

THE GOVERNMENT should ensure that it will be able to properly implement and monitor the collection of withholding tax on online sellers.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently issued Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 16, which imposes a withholding tax on the gross remittances made by electronic marketplace operators and digital financial service providers to merchants.

Analysts said that the implementation of the withholding tax on online sellers will allow the BIR to better track transactions in the digital economy.

“The implementation of a 1% withholding tax on online sellers is intended to expand the tax base by addressing potential revenue leakages in the growing online retail industry,” China Banking Corp. Chief Economist Domini S. Velasquez said in a Viber message.

“Ideally, the withholding tax system should streamline the tax payment process for online sellers and should have no substantial impact on prices under the assumption that retailers are paying correct taxes,” she added.

Eleanor L. Roque, tax principal of P&A Grant Thornton, said that the measure provides the BIR an additional mechanism to “ensure that taxes are paid by the business owners since their income will also be reported by their withholding agents.”

Ms. Velasquez noted that the imposition of the withholding tax may also mitigate some instances of noncompliance by online sellers.

“This measure is expected to increase government revenues and promote transparency among companies engaged in online retail trade,” she added.

Ms. Roque said that the tax will be an “additional administrative burden” on electronic marketplaces.

“These entities will have to put controls in place to identify remittances to online sellers that are subject to withholding taxes,” she said in a Viber message.

Under BIR regulation, a withholding tax of 1% will be imposed on one-half of the gross remittances by e-marketplace operators and digital financial service providers to the sellers or merchants for the goods and services paid or sold through their platforms or facilities.

However, the tax is not imposed if the annual total gross remittances to an online seller for the past taxable year has not exceeded P500,000; if the cumulative gross remittances to an online seller in a taxable year has not yet exceeded P500,000 or if the seller is duly exempt from or subject to a lower income tax rate pursuant to any existing law or treaty.

The regulation covers marketplaces for online shopping, food delivery platforms, platforms to book lodging accommodations, and other similar online service or product marketplaces.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the withholding tax on online sellers will solve government revenue leakages?

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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COMELEC’s Register Anywhere Program (RAP) to be implemented on February 12, 2024 nationwide

January 17, 2024January 11, 2024carlocarrasco

In relation to the resumption of the voter registration process set for February 12, 2024, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that its Register Anywhere Program (RAP) will be implemented nationwide on the same date, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to implement nationwide its Register Anywhere Program (RAP) when the voter registration period resumes on Feb. 12.

In a statement Thursday, the poll body said the RAP would accept applications in all capital cities and towns and highly urbanized cities (HUCs).

“RAP registration sites will be set up in malls, universities, or government offices/agencies in all capital cities and towns and HUCs nationwide. RAP has now been institutionalized in the Commission as a program owing to its favorable turnout and positive reception by the general public and other stakeholders,” the Comelec added.

In 2022, the poll body held a pilot testing of the RAP in selected areas, including malls and government agencies.

The initial testing was held in SM Fairview, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Sucat, Robinsons Galleria, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Tacloban, SM City Legazpi and Robinsons Naga.

Aside from these venues, the Comelec said the program will also be held in select church organizations, private establishments, government agencies and educational institutions.

The RAP’s nationwide implementation aims to provide additional avenues and opportunities for voter registration in places of higher concentration of people traffic and congregation of persons of voting age.

“This move will maximize efforts to register workers, employees, and students with limited time and opportunity to register, for them to become voters for the 2025 National and Local Elections,” it said.

Under the RAP, a registrant will be allowed to file his/her application wherever there is a designated RAP registration site regardless of his/her place of residence.

Other applications that will be accepted in RAP sites include new registration, transfer of registration from another city/municipality/district, transfer of registration from overseas to local, correction of entries or change of status, and reactivation.

The RAP will be available until Aug. 31.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are there many members of your local community who intend to avail of COMELEC’s RAP?

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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Voter registration to resume on February 12, 2024

January 16, 2024January 16, 2024carlocarrasco

Those who intend to get registered as new voters can do so starting February 12, 2024 once the voter registration process formally resumes nationwide, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article citing the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

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

Voter registration for the May 2025 midterms elections would resume on Feb. 12, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Wednesday.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia, in a phone interview, said the voter registration period will run for seven months or until Sept. 30.

Garcia noted that they expect some 3 million to apply for registration as voters.

“Our projected number of registered voters is around 3 million, which shall be added to the current 68 million voters,” he added

The last voter registration period was held from Dec. 12, 2022 to Jan. 31, 2023.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are there many members of your local community who intend to get themselves registered as new voters with the COMELEC? How far is the nearest COMELEC from your place?

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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Ten early bird taxpayers of Muntinlupa City for 2024 recognized

January 15, 2024January 9, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, the City Government formally recognized the first ten early bird taxpayers who settled their dues when they had their respective business permits renewed this year (2024), according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Muntinlupa City government recognized 10 early bird taxpayers who renewed their business permits for this year.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon led the recognition on Jan. 8 of the business owners who were first in line at the Business Permit Renewal Hub located at the Muntinlupa Sports Center in Barangay Tunasan under the supervision of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), applauding them for avoiding the rush and the possibility of late penalties.

The first 10 early bird taxpayers are Mama Nene Store, Mini-Mini Store, Beecube Inc., Bob Garon & Vandervoort Consultancy Inc., Chaulameir Enterprises, Erchie Appliance Parts, Oost & Voort Inc., Russel Ramos T-shirt Services; People’s Choice Apartment, and Aurelio Alquiros Tailoring Shop.

Each of them received a certificate of recognition from the BPLO and a basket of groceries.

Business permit renewal in Muntinlupa is ongoing from Monday to Friday until Jan. 20 at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

BPLO offers free daily shuttle service to and from the venue for business owners, with pickup and drop off at the Muntinlupa City hall.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City who also manages a local business, do you find the business permit renewal process fast and efficient?

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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