Cebu Sun.Star

BANTAYAN airport’s runway will be expanded in order to accommodate bigger commercial planes, an airport official said on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Julius Neri confirmed to SunStar Cebu that the Cebu Provincial Government supports the extension of Bantayan airport’s runway from 1.2 kilometers to 1.5 kilometers.

The runway extension would approximately take less than a year, longer if needed for the upgrade to go smoothly, Neri said.

"We are going to work on it as fast as possible. Our engineering group will have to study the specifics for the extension, they'll have to measure, fill, everything that needs to be done to make sure that it is compliant with the standard," he said.

The runway extension is still in the planning stage and a tripartite agreement will be signed in August between the Cebu Provincial Government, MCIAA and GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, Sugbo News, the Cebu Capitol media arm, reported on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

Neri has not specified as to when will be the start of the construction works.

In a meeting with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on July 11, Neri said that the current runway can only accommodate smaller planes and extension will be needed for bigger planes from commercialized airlines to land on the airport.

Garcia promised to acquire more properties around the airport’s premises for the planned extension, which currently sits on the lot owned by the Cebu Provincial Government.

Once the runway is finished and cleared as operational, major airlines, including Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines, will be able to operate in the airport.

As of Wednesday, July 12, there are currently no airlines operating at the Bantayan airport. Only Air Juan had operated in before the pandemic.

Neri said Air Juan has expressed interest in restarting its operations in the airport.

Commercialization

The Bantayan airport is currently categorized as a community airport, Neri said.

To transform the airport into a commercial one, Neri said that firefighting and medical facilities will be added in the future, adding that they are also eyeing to add more facilities that would comply with requirements for the airport's commercialization.

International flights are still a long way to be incorporated in the airport, but Neri saw it as a possibility.

"It's not in our plans within the immediate future, but there's definitely a possibility. Once the airport is finally highly commercialized and is compliant with international standards, then international flights are a go," he said. (Miguel Angelu Lumen, CNU Intern)

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama issued executive order (EO) “Oplan Panindot sa Palibot” early this year. News? Mayor Rama also issued EO “Oplan Disiplina” last year.

The “Oplan Panindot sa Palibot” was launched with the city’s First Lady Malou Rama leading the beautification campaign. She was assisted by Arlie Gesta, head of the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO).

The latest instruction of Mayor Rama, according to the Cebu City Public Information Office, is for the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) to intensify its effort in removing the tarpaulins of private companies that are attached to poles and displayed in other prohibited places. Mayor Rama was quoted saying he does not want thoroughfares to become an “advertisement territory.”

Well, let us hope that these two “Oplans” would not be plans only or mere rhetoric from city officials but would really be put into action. In fact, these plans should have been the primary tools in Mayor Rama’s Singapore-like dream for Cebu City because we all know that discipline is wanting among residents and transients. Instead of initially begging the city council for a billion budget for his Singapore-like vision, cleanliness should have been the bigger issue.

As to why these plans were not put into action early in the term of Mayor Rama is something that we could not comprehend. If my memory serves me right, the past and present city administrations have done many ways or enticements, so to speak, on how to reduce the waste and get the attention and help of the residents but these have not gained momentum.

If the city ordinances or the laws on sanitation are not strictly enforced and those who hold power shall not interfere with the enforcement, whoever sits in City Hall could not do anything no matter how aggressive the campaign may be.

Without the strict implementation of the city ordinances and laws, particularly on cleanliness, the environmental and sanitation laws, discipline among the city residents would be hard to attain. Discipline will be hard to impose even if reusable or recyclable garbage would be exchanged with money instead of goods.

The leaders of Singapore made a name for their tiny nation by using the strong arm of the law in imposing discipline among its citizens and especially on the tourists or transients. I am not suggesting that Mayor Rama whip with a rattan stick those who dirty the city, just like what the Singaporean officials did in the early years in order to improve their nation’s status.

We are one nation that is not wanting in laws. Wikipedia’s 2018 records show that we have 10,967 to 11,166 laws, including executive orders. What is missing in us is the love and pride for our country.

Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 is a comprehensive law aimed at improving the solid waste management of the country through a “systematic, ecological, solid waste management program.” Sadly, it was only good for a few years after its implementation. Under this law, the local government units (LGUs), including the barangays, could be held administratively and criminally liable if they fail to implement the rules and regulations in the management of solid wastes.

Cebu City and other LGUs have failed to implement the segregation of wastes, which is mandatory under RA 9003. Worse, the LGUs do not have a sanitary landfill as required by this law.

AN IMPROVED version of a rural health unit will soon rise in Carcar City to cater to the poor constituents in southern Cebu.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, together with Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and Carcar City Mayor Patricio Barcenas, led the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Super Health Center on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

The Super Health Center will have laboratory services, a pharmacy, birthing facilities, an outpatient center, dental service, a comprehensive PhilHealth outpatient department and other minor services.

“Senator Bong Go, ang imong mga proyekto kay mapahimuslan gyud sa atung mga ubos ug kabus nga mga ka-igsoonan, salamat kaayo,” Barcenas said in his speech live streamed through Sugbo News, the Capitol’s social media arm, on July 12.

(Senator Bong Go, your projects will surely benefit our underprivileged brethren, thank you very much)

“Gikan sa Malasakit (Center) karon naa nasad ta (Super) Health Center kay makatabang kini sa atung mga pobre nga molupyo sa atung syudad,” Barcenas added.

(From Malasakit, we now have Health Center that can help our poor constituents).

In his speech, Go said that the Super Health Center is a medium-type of Polyclinic, a facility that provides general and specialized treatment similar to a hospital.

“Mas gamay sa (Smaller than) ospital, mas daku sa (but bigger than a) rural health unit,” Go said, adding that this will help decongest the hospitals.

The project was first conceptualized in 2021 when Go observed that there was a need to improve the rural health units in fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities while he was touring around the country.

“Ang mga buntis kay manganak nalang sa tricycle tungod sa kalayo sa ilahang mga ospital (Pregnant women deliver in tricycle due to the distance from the hospital). Kar

SOME priests in Cebu expressed support about the approval of the proposed plan to add two more dioceses in Cebu or “Sugbuswak.”

In an interview with Rev. Fr. John Ion Miranda, OSA, on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, he said the creation of new dioceses within its ecclesiastical jurisdiction is a sign of a flourishing faith because they can now reach out to more people in the remote areas of Cebu.

"Sugbuswak" seeks to split the archdiocese into three dioceses: the Cebu archdiocese as the mother church, a diocese in the north, and a diocese in the south.

“It’s a new beginning. Ang pag create og (The creation of) new dioceses dinhi sa (here in) Cebu is a sign of flourishing sa pagtuo (faith), a kind of development,” Miranda said.

He added that the “Sugbuswak” plan is a symbol of synodality or journeying together, which is important in making an efficient pastoral management and improved pastoral care for the people.

“It’s a kind nga gipaduol nato ang simbahan ngadto sa katawhan (of bringing the church closer to the people), especially the northern part of Cebu and southern part of Cebu. It’s a sign of synodality bitaw sa simbahan ang pag journey (of the church in journeying) together,” he said.

Rev. Fr. Benjie Herrera, parish priest of Santa Monica parish in Barangay Cawayan, Dalaguete town, southern Cebu, said he is not opposed to the “Sugbuswak” plan, but there should be a proper and thorough study in terms of the finances needed to support the proposal.

“I’m not against it, but proper and careful study should be made thoroughly, particularly concerning finances,” he said.

On July 9, 2023, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma announced the approval of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to the “Sugbuswak” plan.

By January, a detailed version of the archdiocese’s division plan is expected to be sent to the Vatican for examination and approval by the Pope.(CNU Interns Camille Erika Butas and Judie Liza Alantoson)

THE presence of El Niño does not mean that there will be no rain, according to an official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Pagasa declared on July 4 the start of El Niño which is expected to last until the first quarter of 2024.

Engr. Alfredo Quiblat, spokesperson of Pagasa, said in an interview with SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, July 11, that El Niño phenomenon is not the absence of rain, but the lack of it.

"El Niño means lack of rain, not an absence of rain," said Quiblat.

El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. (NWSSU Intern Kyle Andrei D. Acuña)

THE Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) announced on Wednesday, July 12, that eligible persons with disabilities (PWDs) may claim their financial assistance on Friday, July 14.

Around 12,900 qualified PWDs in the city are anticipated to receive their financial assistance for the second quarter of this year covering the months of April, May and June.

Qualified beneficiaries are encouraged to coordinate with their respective barangay for the processing of financial aid. (NWSSU Intern Juralyn Beso Baldomaro)

THE Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) announced on Wednesday, July 12, that eligible persons with disabilities (PWDs) may claim their financial assistance on Friday, July 14.

Around 12,900 qualified PWDs in the city are anticipated to receive their financial assistance for the second quarter of this year covering the months of April, May and June.

Qualified beneficiaries are encouraged to coordinate with their respective barangay for the processing of financial aid. (NWSSU Intern Juralyn Beso Baldomaro)

A TRAFFIC enforcer in Dalaguete town, southern Cebu was arrested in a buy-bust operation in the mountain barangay of Mantalongon around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

Police Major Clemente Geralde Jr., chief of Dalaguete Police Station, identified the suspect as Nemesio Beldad Amancio, 43, a resident of Sitio Cansusi, Barangay Tapon of the said municipality.

Seized from the suspect were five packs of alleged shabu, P500 in buy-bust money and P300 believed to be the proceeds from the illegal drug trade.

Amancio will be facing charges for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (BBT, TPT)

A Chinese national changed his earlier statement, claiming that on July 10, it was not in the Carbon Public Market, where he had been kidnapped, but rather near the Compania Maritima building.

However, when the personnel at the Waterfront Police Station requested Joel Montero Co, 49, to indicate the location where he was allegedly abducted by the four unknown males, the victim led them to a mall in the North Reclamation Area in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

In order to determine whether the victim was telling the truth, Chief Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) instructed his men to expand their investigation.

According to Dalogdog, if it is established that the victim made up stories, he may be charged with perjury. (AYB, TPT)

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Municipality of Dumanjug in southwestern Cebu for rounding off the total contract cost of the town’s new public market to P300 million from the approved budget for the contract (ABC) of only P299.468 million, as well as for awarding the project to a contractor whose bid exceeded the approved budget by P419,712.

COA said this indicates the failure of the Municipal Hall to abide by the provisions set in determining the ABC per Procurement of Manual for Local Government Units (LGUs) and that the proper conduct of bidding process was carried out insufficiently.

However, Dumanjug’s municipal engineer maintained that the summation of costs which was rounded off to P300 million still complied with the law.

COA’s observation

COA noted that the LGU’s rounding off of the contract cost from the ABC with a difference of P531,712 is contrary to the Procurement Manual for LGUs Volume 3.

COA recommended that the LGU write an explanation or justification why it rounded off the total contract cost in determining the ABC to avoid audit suspension or disallowance.

The LGU was also asked to explain why it should not be held liable for its inability to verify the correctness of the computation in the financial bid proposal.

Section 3.1 of the Procurement of Manual for LGUs Volume 3 provides that in determining the ABC, if the sum of the different cost components is lower than the appropriation for the procurement, then the ABC should be equal to the sum of the cost components.

The manual further stipulates that if the resulting sum is higher than the appropriation, it is advisable to review the technical specifications and the computation of the ABC. In any case, the ABC should not exceed the appropriation, the manual states.

Management’s response

Responding to COA, Dumanjug’s municipal engineer explained that the summation of costs was rounded off to P300 million being the ABC for the project, pointing to the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184.

Section 4a of the Procurement and Implementation of Contracts for Design and Build Infrastructure Projects of the updated 2016 Revised IRR of RA 9184 states that the “ABC shall be a lump sum amount that shall cover the cost of design and construction works based on the conceptual design and performance specifications and in accordance with applicable provisions of the law or agency guidelines.”

The LGU also explained that the breakdown of costs for prospective workable items was based on the rough estimate of the minimum quantities in relation to the conceptual design.

“We need to specify quantities, especially on the needed floor area, in order for the winning bidder not to design lesser than the required minimum,” the LGU explained.

“The winning bidder may design the proposed public market with areas higher than what was specified and for that reason, we cannot fix the exact amount, hence, we arrived with a lump sum ABC at P300 million,” the LGU added.

But according to COA, nothing in the RA 9184 IRR provision allows rounding off of the ABC to the nearest hundred million.

“The difference of the ABC of P299,468,288 and the rounded-off figure of P300 million in the amount of P531,712 is a very significant amount,” the state auditors noted.

In excess of ABC

Meanwhile, the town’s move to award the contract to a contractor who exceeded the ABC is a violation of the 2016 Revised IRR of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, according to COA.

COA said the upward adjustment of the ABC due to the failure of bidding may be done only if there has been a failure of bidding for the second time due to all bids submitted exceeding the ABC or no bids having been submitted, or failure in the negotiated procurement after two failed biddings, and if there has been previous modification of terms, conditions and specifications of the project.

COA explained that RA 9184 provides that the ABC shall be the upper limit for acceptable bid prices.

“If a bid price, as evaluated and calculated in accordance with this IRR, is higher than the ABC, the bidder submitting the same shall be automatically disqualified,” COA stated.

12 percent VAT

The state auditors also noted that Dumanjug Municipal Hall used 12 percent value added tax (VAT) instead of five percent in preparing the ABC for the project that involved the design and build of Dumanjug new public market Phase 1, resulting in an excess of seven percent or P18.717 million, contrary to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Department Order 197, series of 2016, and increasing the amount of the ABC.

COA stated that item B.5 of the DPWH DO provides that VAT component for public projects shall be five percent of the estimated direct cost (EDC), overhead, contingencies, and miscellaneous expenses and profit.

The P299.468 million budget for the first phase of the new public market included the following items: (a) Design Phase - P3.4 million for preliminary investigations and P11.5 million for general requirements, and (b) Construction Phase - P120,096,000 for serviceable areas, P107,086,400 for public areas, P14.7 million for concrete pavement, P3.6 million for open spaces, P7 million for design, engineering and supervision, and (c) P32,085,888 for the 12 percent (VAT).

But COA said had the LGU applied the proper VAT of five percent of only P13.369 million, the ABC for the project should have only been P280.751 million.

Management’s reply

Dumanjug municipal engineer explained that the DPWH department order covers only those under the supervision and control of the secretary of the DPWH and that Dumanjug is not covered by such.The LGU said it derives its autonomy under RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

The LGU added that the application of 12 percent VAT is in consonance with Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) memorandum circular 85-2017 dated Oct. 11, 2017, clarifying the imposition of the appropriate VAT rate to be used in the preparation of the ABC.

In its rejoinder, COA stressed that the fiscal autonomy of the LGU should align with the existing rules and regulations by other government regulating bodies such as the DPWH for uniformity and consistency.

The state auditors, however, said they will prepare a written query to clarify what appropriate VAT rate should be used in preparing the ABC in light of the conflicting VAT rates provided in DPWH DO 197 and BIR Memorandum Circular 85-2017.

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 said only three motorcycle-hailing applications are authorized to carry passengers within the region.

LTO 7 Director Glen Galario said this during an interview on SunStar’s news and commentary program, “Beyond the Headlines.”

The three authorized apps are Move It, Angkas and Joyride. Other motorcycle hailing apps are allowed to deliver goods but not passengers.

The three apps are authorized by the government for the pilot study of motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.

Maxim, though allowed to operate as a delivery service application, is not allowed to pick up passengers as a motorcycle-for-hire or “habal-habal” service.

Galario said violators will have their vehicles impounded and will pay a fine of P6,000 while passengers are not liable.

Move It, which was recently acquired by Grab Holdings Inc., was the latest ride hailing app authorized by the government.

Wayne Jacinto, general manager of Move It, said in a press conference that they plan to register a total of 3,000 riders in Cebu, which is the cap on the number of riders per app.

In May 2023, Eduardo Montealto Jr., director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7, said habal-habal drivers should join accredited ride-hailing operators to ensure they are ready when government regulates their operation.

According to Montealto, it is necessary to regulate habal-habals to ensure safety on the streets, especially while carrying passengers. He said riders must undergo road safety seminars and examinations, which are required when joining a ride-hailing operator.

Galario called on commuters to make formal complaints or send affidavits to their office instead of just posting on social media to ensure that proper action is taken.

THE National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) has clarified that the 40-foot Lapulapu statue, also known as the “Sentinel of Freedom,” located at Rizal Park in Ermita, Manila, will not be relocated.

Contrary to speculations, it will only undergo “restoration and re-erection,” according to a statement released by the NMP on Monday, July 10, 2023.

“The NMP assures all who might be concerned with the monument’s location that it will be re-erected in the same area of Rizal Park,” read part of the statement.

Former senator and tourism secretary Richard Gordon raised concerns during an online conference with the Cebu media last Sunday, July 9, that the monument would be moved to Malate, Manila.

Gordon earlier alleged that NMP Director General Jeremy Barns met with Juan Sajid Imao, the sculptor of the monument, to inform him of the plans to relocate the huge statue out of the heritage park.

Gordon, who is chairman and chief executive officer of the Philippine Red Cross, appealed to Filipinos, especially Cebuanos, to oppose this alleged initiative by the NMP.

The monument was unveiled in 2004 during Gordon’s tenure as secretary of the country’s Department of Tourism.

The monument, which depicts Lapulapu standing guard, is a gift from South Korea to the Filipino people through the Korean Freedom League headed by its chairman Kwon Jung-dal, a retired army general.

First phase

The NMP acknowledged in the statement that in order to conduct preservation work, the monument would need to be dismantled.

They said structural issues within and beneath the monument require the monument’s restoration.

As soon as preliminary work on the monument’s base is finished, the first phase, which involves dismantling the monument, will begin.

“This delicate work, and the later reassembly of the sculpture, will be undertaken by the artist himself and his team,” the NMP said.

Second phase

The re-erection of the monument will be the next step after restoration. The plans will be developed in consultation with concerned agencies including the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and other stakeholders.

The NMP said they will make sure that the main goal in improving the monument’s setting is to convey its intended symbolism even more effectively and to appropriately express the quincentennial or five hundred years of Philippine history.

The NMP also committed to publish the full information after this is completed and given regulatory clearance before the re-erection of the rebuilt monument, which is scheduled and budgeted for 2024.

“The NMP is excited to share the exact details and designs,” it said.

Chans’ reactions

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said in a press conference Monday, July 10, that he would refrain from commenting on the issue, as he had not received any communication from the NMP regarding its plans.

Chan said he intended to contact the NMP to seek clarification regarding the status of the monument.

He expressed concern upon seeing a picture showing the current condition of the monument’s base and emphasized the urgent need for restoration to prevent any potential accidents.

For her part, Rep. Cindi King Chan of the lone district of Lapu-Lapu, also the mayor’s wife, said it was no longer a problem as the NMP already released a statement.

“It’s already a non-issue because the statue will not be transferred. It just needs restoration work and it would still be on the same site,” she said.

Gordon has not yet responded to the NMP’s statement, as of this writing.

THE Cebu City Police (CCPO) filed a case on Friday July 7, 2023, against two people involved in the assault against Dr. Charles Sia, 41, on Wednesday, July 5, inside his dental clinic on Queens Road, Barangay Kamputhaw.

CCPO Director Col. Ireneo Dalogdog did not identify the accused but said that a case for serious physical injuries was filed against them. He said the two perpetrators were identified by the victim and his secretary.

Police are looking into a conflict concerning the victim’s lending business as one of the possible motives for the attack.

Dalogdog said the doctor sued three women who owed him money in court. Two of the cases were dismissed, but one case prospered.

Sia and his secretary, Rose Rosell Bardisco, told police in a statement that the boyfriend of the woman who owed him money, along with an accomplice, were the ones responsible for last Wednesday’s attack.

The woman, though, was not charged because she was not involved in the crime.

Before Sia’s attack, the men entered his clinic, pretending to deliver an item to the dentist. One of the accused was dressed in a black jacket, while the other in a green one. They were both wearing masks.

The accused in green jacket pulled out a weapon and barged inside the doctor’s room where a foreigner was being operated on, according to Bardisco.

The accused tied the hands of the victim, Bardisco and the patient. Afterwards, they struck the victim’s eyes with a blunt object until they bled.

Dalogdog said security has been provided to the victim who is still under observation in a private hospital in Mandaue City because the accused are still at large and are believed to still be in Cebu.

Dalogdog said they are waiting for the warrants to be released so that police can arrest the two men. He said they considered the case closed.

Sia remains in stable condition; although his doctor said he suffers from blurred vision in one eye because it is still swollen. Sia can see clearly with his other eye. (AYB / WITH CNU INTERN JUDIE LIZA ALANTOSON)

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)