Philippines News

Perfectly foamed milk. A delicate butterfly enswirled atop. A bittersweet tang on the palate. A perfect cappuccino? It is beyond that. This particular cup was masterfully frothed and served by Denny, an inmate in Tangerang, a prison to the west of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, who joined a UN-supported training programme aimed at helping prisoners to re-integrate into society after serving time.

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ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that management of population growth is key to socio-economic development for countries around the world, especially developing countries including Pakistan.

"Population remains at the heart of effective national planning...No country, however resourceful, can deal with population explosion. Drawing a balance between population and resources is

The government can still tap nearly P15 billion in calamity funds to finance various disaster relief operations for the second semester of the year.

The Senate is targeting the passage of a measure imposing a value-added tax on digital services like Netflix and Disney Plus, among others, so that the government can collect up to P145 billion in VAT from 2024 to 2028, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

Controlling the rising costs of basic commodities and increasing the pay of workers remained the most urgent national concerns of Filipinos, according to a recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

To totally get rid of ghost voters and multiple registrants, the Commission on Elections is seeking the nullification of the national voters’ list.

It may take three to five years before public elementary and high schools can revert to the old school calendar of June to March, according to an official of the Department of Education.

The first week of July was the warmest week ever recorded, according to preliminary data from the United Nations weather agency.

On the seventh anniversary of the international arbitral ruling in The Hague invalidating China’s claim over almost the entire South China Sea, European Union member-countries and their embassies have lauded the landmark decision, which has also reaffirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements.

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board has allowed the screening of the Greta Gerwig film “Barbie” in the Philippines starting July 19.

There are about 124,000 licensed and registered Filipino nurses who are jobless, underemployed or are doing non-related work, a lawmaker said recently, citing data from the Department of Health.

To cushion the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on farmers, Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar is pushing for the establishment of an assistance fund for them in the form of loans, direct cash aid or cash-for-work.

A PROPOSED ordinance authorizing the Mandaue City Government’s plan to borrow P3 billion to fund its infrastructure projects has been approved on its first reading during the City Council’s regular session on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

Among the projects in the pipeline are the conversion of the abandoned Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) into a one-stop-shop Mandaue City Government Center in Barangay Guizo, and the construction of a parking building, playing area, and convention center.

The City Government anticipates that these developments will generate revenue, according to City Councilor Immaline Cortes-Zafra, chairperson of the budget committee.

The draft Ordinance 228-2023 aims to allow the City to secure a loan from lending facilities, Zafra said.

Zafra said an ordinance is required as it will serve as an initial step to initiate the City’s loan acquisition process. After the ordinance is passed on third reading and signed by Mayor Jonas Cortes, the Bureau of Local Government Finance will evaluate the local government unit’s borrowing capacity, which means the maximum amount the City can borrow without jeopardizing its financial solvency.

Cortes-Zafra said that as of now, the city is debt-free.

CICC purchase

The Mandaue City Government purchased the CICC from the Provincial Government for P300 million in 2018 during the time of then-mayor Luigi Quisumbing and then-governor Hilario Davide III.

In 2020, the Capitol under Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia wanted to renegotiate the deal after the Commission on Audit (COA) had called the Province’s attention to the 2018 sale because it was conducted without a bidding or getting approval from state auditors.

Agreement

However, in March 2023, Garcia and Cortes and other city officials agreed for Mandaue City to push through with its plan for a new government center while waiting for COA’s reappraisal of the CICC.

CICC was built for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in 2007. The three-story structure cost around P840 million to build.

The facility has been unused since it sustained damage during the magnitude 7.2 earthquake on Oct. 15, 2013, and Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on Nov. 8 of the same year.

Section 296 of the Local Government Code (LGC) states that LGUs “may create indebtedness, and avail of credit facilities to finance local infrastructure and other socio-economic development projects in accordance with the approved local development plan and public investment program.”

LGUs may obtain credit lines from government and private banks and lending institutions to stabilize local finances, according to the LGC.

They are allowed to engage in deferred payments, contract loans, credits and other forms of indebtedness to finance the construction, installation, improvement, expansion, operation or maintenance of public facilities, infrastructure, housing projects, the acquisition of real property, and the implementation of other capital investment projects, subject to the terms and conditions agreed upon by the LGU and the lender.

WHERE are the best workplaces in the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) industry in the Philippines?

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (Ibpap) on Monday, July 10, 2023, released a list of the best places to work in the IT-BPM sector in the country. It is the first industry list that celebrates people-first organizations.

Synchrony Global Services Philippines Inc. tops the list, followed by Accenture, Inc. (Philippines) and Via Appia Philippines Inc. on the second and third spots, respectively.

“They are part of the dynamic and vibrant Philippine IT-BPM industry, and that 16 of the 30 organizations included in the list are esteemed Ibpap members,” Ibpap said.

Ibpap created the list in collaboration with Great Place To Work Philippines, a firm that surveys employees to help employers improve office culture.

Antoniette Mendoza-Talosig, managing partner at Great Place to Work, said certain factors contribute to high-trust and high-performance work cultures in the IT-BPM industry.

She said findings showed that the country’s best IT-BPM workplaces scored higher than typical organizations on leaders that consistently walk the talk; build strong personal connections with their people; and inspire innovation. These companies also did remarkably better in embracing diversity and inclusion.

In a statement, Ibpap noted the workplaces were chosen based on whether or not “every single employee, no matter who they are or what they do for their company, is having a consistently positive experience at work.”

The companies that made the list are:

1. Synchrony Global Services Philippines Inc.

2. Accenture Inc. (Philippines)

3. Via Appia Philippines Inc.

4. Teleperformance Philippines

5. 3M Global Service Center – Philippines

6. American Express International Inc.

7. Genesys Cloud Services Cayman Ltd.

8. Genpact Philippines

9. Asurion

10. [24]7.ai Philippines

11. Booth and Partners

12. Navitaire Philippines Inc.

13. Goodyear Business Services Manila

14. KMC Solutions

15. Amadeus Marketing Philippines Inc.

16. Connext

17. ECo Global Consulting Inc.

18. Kollab

19. Tech One Global Phils. Inc.

20. Tech Mahindra Limited

21. ADP Philippines Inc.

22. Rocket Station

23. Limitless Connect

24. J4RVIS

25. Five9 Philippines Inc.

26. Arcanys

27. HelpGrid

28. Lexmark Research and Development Corporation

29. Infinit-O

30. Cobenn Business Consultancy Services

Over 500,000 employees in the IT-BPM sector were covered in the Great Place To Work survey from January 2022 to May 2023. (CSL)

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has granted an extension for the replacement of the old Ask For Receipt Notice (ARN) with the new Notice to Issue Receipts/Invoice (Niri).

Originally, under Revenue Memorandum Order 43-2022, business taxpayers were required to replace the old ARN with the new Niri by June 30, 2023. However, due to numerous inquiries from business taxpayers seeking an extension, the BIR has decided to extend the deadline. Taxpayers now have until Sept. 30 to secure the new Niri.

To secure the Niri, taxpayers shall fill out the S1905-Registration Update Sheet to indicate or update the designated official email address, which will be used by the BIR as an additional means of serving BIR orders, notices, letters, communications and other processes to taxpayers.

Business taxpayers who do not replace the old ARN with the new Niri by Sept. 30 will be imposed a penalty of a fine of not more than P1,000. Additionally, the BIR urges the public to report business establishments that do not have the Niri posted on their place of business through eComplaint OTHERS or the chatbot “Revie” at www.bir.gov.ph.

Please be guided accordingly.

Source:

P&A Grant Thornton

Certified Public Accountants

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has granted an extension for the replacement of the old Ask For Receipt Notice (ARN) with the new Notice to Issue Receipts/Invoice (Niri).

Originally, under Revenue Memorandum Order 43-2022, business taxpayers were required to replace the old ARN with the new Niri by June 30, 2023. However, due to numerous inquiries from business taxpayers seeking an extension, the BIR has decided to extend the deadline. Taxpayers now have until Sept. 30 to secure the new Niri.

To secure the Niri, taxpayers shall fill out the S1905-Registration Update Sheet to indicate or update the designated official email address, which will be used by the BIR as an additional means of serving BIR orders, notices, letters, communications and other processes to taxpayers.

Business taxpayers who do not replace the old ARN with the new Niri by Sept. 30 will be imposed a penalty of a fine of not more than P1,000. Additionally, the BIR urges the public to report business establishments that do not have the Niri posted on their place of business through eComplaint OTHERS or the chatbot “Revie” at www.bir.gov.ph.

Please be guided accordingly.

Source:

P&A Grant Thornton

Certified Public Accountants

FOREIGN direct investments into the Philippines saw a higher net inflow in April from the previous month but dropped from last year’s level as investors were generally concerned on the slowing economic growth and high inflation levels globally.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that FDI inflows stood at US$876 million in April, up from $548 million in March but 14.1 percent lower than the $1.020 billion recorded in the same month last year.

“The decline in FDI may be attributed to concerns over slowing economic growth and relatively high inflation levels globally,” the central bank noted.

The country’s economic growth slowed to 6.4 percent in the first quarter, its slowest since it exited the pandemic-induced recession. (CSL)

CENTURY Properties Group (CPG) announced it has fully redeemed its P3 billion-denominated preferred shares that it issued and listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange last Jan. 10, 2020.

“The full redemption of the Preferred Shares is part of our strategic program that is anchored on prudent financial management and debt reduction with the goal of strengthening our balance sheet to support our growth expansion,” said Ponciano Carreon Jr., CPG’s chief finance officer.

He said they continue to see an active and liquid domestic capital markets and intend to tap the same if needed for the firm’s capital funding purposes.

CPG’s outstanding total debt as of the end of December 2022 was down to P17.3 billion, from P18.4 billion the previous year due to repayment of P1.1 billion short-term and long-term debt. (PR)

GLOBE Telecom has become the country’s first telco to deploy the End-to-End (E2E) Network Slicing Function of 5G Standalone (SA), the most advanced 5G technology.

“Network Slicing stands out in delivering a tailored service experience for our customers based on the applications in use within the network,” said Gerhard Tan, director and head of Technology Strategy and Innovations at Globe.

One of the key enablers of 5G, Network Slicing provides E2E connectivity.

It divides a single network into parts designed specifically for different types of applications or groups of users. Each has its own resources and guarantees for performance, and functions, even while they all use the same physical infrastructure. (PR)

THE Cebu News Workers Multipurpose Cooperative (Cebu Newscoop) has held its second special board meeting for the election of its two top officials of the board of directors (BOD) and reorganization of its committee members.

The event was held at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club in Aznar Road, Pardo Hills, Cebu City on Friday morning, July 7, 2023.

The agenda for the meeting included the election of the BOD chairman and vice chairperson, as well as the appointment of officers for various committees such as secretary, treasurer, credit and finance committee, conciliation and mediation, ethics, gender and development, education, personnel, and youth committees.

The induction of officers was conducted by Gabriel Ingles, a retired associate justice of the Court of Appeals, who shared inspiring words of encouragement with the newly appointed officials.

SunStar Cebu columnist Elias Espinoza, a lawyer, was reelected as the chairman of the BOD, while businesswoman-thespian Marlinda Angbetic-Tan was reelected as the vice chairperson.

They took their oath of office together with other members of the BOD that include Jovy Gerodias, Frederick Languido, Julito Geolagon, Divine Ngujo, Oscar Pineda, Joseph Elvir Tubilan and Gregorio Rubio Jr.

Reappointed as the board secretary was Kevin Lagunda.

Accountant Elizabeth Salubre of the Community was also reappointed as the treasurer. She oversees the financial affairs of the cooperative.

Lowela Ermac, Rosa Maria Paquera and Richeil Jaramillo were appointed to the audit committee.

Doris Bongcac, Elizabeth Yap and Jet Ybiernas will be serving in the election committee until 2024.

The credit and finance committee is composed of Flora Mata, Rose Yumol and Abigail Tinapay.

Members of the conciliation and mediation committee include lawyers Eddie Barrita, Ruphil Bañoc and John Rey Saavedra. They will help resolve any disputes that may arise.

Chester Abadilla, Rolando Morallo and The Freeman editor-in-chief Lucky Malicay have been appointed as members of the ethics committee, which will focus on upholding and promoting ethical standards within the cooperative.

Emee Lucena, Yap and Lagunda will serve on the gender and development committee to ensure the cooperative’s commitment to equality and inclusivity.

The education committee consists of Tan, Lucena, Morallo and Hilbert Espinosa. They will oversee Cebu Newscoop’s educational initiatives and programs.

Espinoza, Tan, Geolagon, Tubilan and Evelyn Sarsale comprise the personnel committee, which is responsible for managing human resources and personnel matters.

The youth committee’s members are Precious Ivy Baquero, Ephraim Pineda and John Josef Gregory Rubio, with Tubilan, a professor at Cebu Normal University, serving as its adviser. They will address the needs and aspirations of the cooperative’s young members.

Cebu Newscoop’s BOD also created a new committee dedicated to serving senior citizens. This committee will be chaired by Oscar Pineda, with Taghoy as his adviser, and Espinoza and Tan as members. They vowed to look after the welfare of senior memberswithin the cooperative.

In his message, Ingles congratulated the newly appointed BOD officials and officers, emphasizing the importance of truth and integrity in their endeavors within the cooperative, media and the community.

The reorganization of Cebu Newscoop’s BOD and officers reflects the cooperative’s commitment to effective governance and continued growth.

The Cebu Newscoop officials said they are eager to contribute their skills and expertise to the betterment of the cooperative and its members.

The cooperative has over 2,000 members from the media and community. It offers loans and other benefits to full-fledged members.

For membership inquiries, one can contact Cebu Newscoop through its landline (032-3454670) and phone number (09275193135), email (cebunews.e[email protected]) and Facebook page (Cebu News Workers MPC).