by admin | Apr 28, 2016 | Headlines, National News
A large number of Filipino families are having difficulty achieving a higher standard of living because way too much money – up to 35 percent – is being taken out of their pockets by government through taxes, independent senatorial candidate Juan Miguel Zubiri said Thursday.
“Many families want to take out a loan so they can buy a new home or a car, especially now that interest rates are depressed. Despite availability of cheap credit, they are discouraged because they have insufficient disposable income. They are short of cash, after taxes,” Zubiri said.
Zubiri said middle class families are reeling from “excessive taxation.”
“For instance, a husband and wife with a combined annual taxable income of P600,000, actually end up paying P157,000, or 26 percent, in withholding taxes. This leaves them a take home pay of only P443,000 yearly, or P36,916 monthly,” he said.
When the family spends the P443,000, net of withholding tax, to pay for groceries, electricity, water, Internet and other purchases, they shell out another 12 percent, or P53,160, in value-added taxes (VAT), Zubiri said.
Thus, out of the couple’s P600,000 annual earnings, up to 35 percent – P157,000 in withholding taxes plus P53,160 in VAT – effectively goes to government, leaving the family a considerably shrunken disposable income of just P389,840, Zubiri said.
“Owing to their limited cash after taxes, many middle class families hesitate to buy new durable goods such as home appliances, while others have to postpone home repairs,” Zubiri said.
“If we are to produce more jobs and grow the economy at a faster rate in the years ahead, we have to give middle class families greater disposable income to encourage them to spend. We have to cut withholding taxes,” he added.
Zubiri vowed to push for individual income tax cuts that would give back to middle class families up to P250 billion of their earnings now withheld as taxes.
“A strong middle class with superior buying power has become absolutely imperative for us to drive consumption spending, increase the demand for goods and services, expand industries and create new jobs,” he pointed out.
A study by the National Economic Development Authority has shown that 62 percent of Filipinos want to own a car and 61 percent want a medium-sized home.
The study also revealed that 73 percent of Filipinos want to earn enough from their jobs; 73 percent want all of their children to be college-educated; and 30 percent want to be business owners.
Meanwhile, 30 percent of Filipinos want to unwind with family and friends while 21 percent want to be able to take trips around the country once in a while.
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About Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ F. Zubiri
Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri, 48, served as a member of the Senate for four years, and as a member of the House of Representatives for nine years, representing the third congressional district of Bukidnon. He posted perfect attendance records in Senate and House sessions. He also earned the reputation as the “first in, last out senator” — the first to report to work and the last to leave work most days.
As Senate Majority Leader, Zubiri oversaw and managed the legislative business of the Senate. During Zubiri’s tenure as Majority Leader, the Senate passed more than 650 bills, many of which have helped to create badly needed jobs.
Zubiri is author of the Cooperative Code, the Renewable Energy Act, the Biofuels Act, the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, the Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners’ Associations Act, among other laws.
Zubiri is married to newspaper lifestyle columnist Audrey Tan-Zubiri. They have three children.
by admin | Apr 27, 2016 | Headlines, National News
Philippines and Canada celebrate LGSP-LED success through Growing Local Economies Forum 26 April 2016, Manila, Philippines—Canada’s largest ongoing Program in the Philippines, the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) is coming to an end this year after eight (8) years of implementation. LGSP-LED is a cooperation program of the Governments of the Philippines and Canada. Since 2008, the Program has been working through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to improve the country’s programming and policy framework for local economic development. The ultimate objective is to reduce poverty and improve economic livelihoods for Filipino women and men. The Program has supported the development of new and enhanced policies at the national and local levels, as well as a variety of local initiatives that built competitive local industries, particularly in agribusiness and tourism. Throughout the 8 years, LGSP-LED has worked with 134 partner-LGUs from 17 provinces, 17 cities, and 100 municipalities. LGSP-LED has harvested outstanding results in terms of investments, employment, and creating the conditions necessary to make local economies grow. Local governments have attracted billions of dollars in new investment, created thousands of new jobs and significantly increased visitor arrivals in the local tourism sector. “Cumulative results achieved to date are impressive,” according to Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder’s statement. “Since 2009, targeted LGUs have attracted at least PHP 55 billion in new investments and created more than 26,000 jobs in the tourism sector.” The partnership between the Governments of Canada and the Philippines, through the DILG has been instrumental to this success.
DILG Secretary Mel Sarmiento extended gratitude to the Government of Canada and the other national government agencies that helped LGSP-LED achieve and in many cases surpass its target results. He also thanked the many project partners and contributors: “We also appreciate the commitment of LGU Leagues; LGU partners; private sector, such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and the various local private sector associations and international development partners who have become champions for LED.” A forum on Growing Local Economies through Business-Friendly and Competitive Local Governments will be held on Thursday, 28 April 2016 at the Manila Hotel to share LGSP-LED’s experiences on helping LGUs build their local economies. The Forum, organized by LGSP-LED in collaboration with Local Government Academy (LGA), will celebrate the culmination of LGSP-LED’s eight years of work. Government Leaders, Undersecretaries, Governors, and Mayors, as well as business leaders, who have been instrumental in LGSP-LED’s success will be sharing their unique experience of pursuing LED in the Philippines. Topics will include Preparing Local Economies for ASEAN Economic Integration; Building Vibrant, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Resilient Local Economies; Climate Change and Mitigating Disaster Risks in Local Economic Development; among others. The Forum is open to all Local Government Executives, Business Leaders, and other stakeholders who are involved with LED initiatives. Space is limited, so participants are encouraged to confirm as soon as possible by visiting www.lgsp-led.ph. Those who cannot attend the Forum can watch a live stream of the event: https://www.youtube.com/user/lgspledph. Dress code for the event is FIlipiniana. DILG Secretary Mel Sarmiento and Canadian Ambassador Neil Reeder will be the Forum’s Keynote Speakers. LGSP-LED will also be recognizing LED Champions through an awards ceremony.#
by admin | Apr 27, 2016 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, April 27 (PIA)–Gipahibalo karon sa Malakanyang nga gi-deklarar nga special non-working holiday ang adlaw sa piniliay sa Mayo 9, 2016.
Matud pa ni Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Kalihim Herminio Coloma Jr., nahisulod kini sa Proclamation No. 1254 nga gilagdaan ni Presidente Benigno Aquino III niadtong Abril 25, 2016.
Kini nagpasabot nga walay trabaho ang mga empleyado sa pribado ug mga ahensya sa gobyerno sa maong adlaw aron hatagan og higayon ang publiko nga makabotar sa adlaw sa piniliay sa Mayo 9 nga natunong sa adlaw nga Lunes.
Sa maong adlaw, ipatuman ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) salary rules diin dugang 30 porsiyento sa inadlaw nga suholan sa mga mamumuo ang ipatong isip dugang bayad sa unang walo ka oras sa pagtrabaho.
Sa Mayo 9, labaw sa 54 milyon ka botante ang modagsa sa mga polling precincts aron mobotar alang sa nasudnon ug lokal nga posisyon.
Matud pa sa labing ulahing report sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) niadtong Disyembre 16, 2015, mokabat sa 54,363,329 ang rehistradong botante sa tibuok nasod alang sa piniliay sa 2016, mas daghan sa 52,014,648 ka rehistradong botante niadtong 2013 midterm elections. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Apr 27, 2016 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, April 27 (PIA)–Makadaginot na og kapin sa P1.3 bilyon ang gobyerno sa ilang mga gasto sa mga pagbyahe matag tuig.
Kini human milagda sa kasabotan ang Philippine Airlines (PAL) nga mohatag og diskuwento sa mga opisyal ug empleyado sa gobyerno alang sa ilang mga official trips sulod sa nasod.
Nakalatid sa general fares agreement tali sa PAL ug sa Procurement Service-PhilGEPS sa Department of Budget Management (DBM nga hatagan og 8 porsiyentong diskwento sa economy class reservations ug 10 porsiyentong diskwento usab sa business class reservations ang mga kawani sa gobyerno.
Gawas niini, may mga perks usab kining kauban nga dugang baggage allowance ug pagka-waive sa P250 processing fee matag ticket apil na ang bayronon alang sa unang rebooking.
Ang tanang ahensiya sa gobyerno gimanduan na karon sa paggamit sa PhilGEPS alang sa ilang mga procurement.
Kinahanglang ilang ipahibalo ang tanan nilang bid opportunities online ug ipamantala ang mananaog ug kontrata apil na ang kantidad.
Sa pagkakaron, 23 pa ka ahensya sa gobyerno ang sakop sa maong kasabotan, matud pa sa DBM.
Tungod sa diskuwento sa reservations sa economy class airfare, makadaginot ang gobyerno og P830.9 miyon matag tuig, samtang ang waiving usab sa processing fee magresulta sa P519.4 milyong madaginot sa pondo. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Apr 25, 2016 | Opinion
THIS ISN’T ABOUT DUTERTE;
IT’S FRUSTRATION, DISGUST
By Manny Piñol
This is a phenomenon which social and political scientists will have to seriously study in the future, this bizarre spectacle of people who wait for hours just to see a man who has been the subject of endless media attacks and vilification campaign.
Yesterday in Cavite, a province with 1.8-million voters, people waited for four hours and many more, who hoped that presidential frontrunner Rody Duterte would pass their way, stayed up until midnight.
This was the scene even after five days of relentless attacks on Duterte over his controversial narrative on the rape and killing of an Australian preacher 27 years ago, his verbal jousts with the envoys of the US and Australia, his foul language and even a psychological report pilfered from the documents related to the annulment of his marriage with Elizabeth Zimmerman, mother of his three older children.
I can just imagine the consternation of those who are desperately splurging hundreds of millions of pesos for an endless media campaign against Duterte seeing the size of the crowd steadily growing in the most unlikely places.
Bacolod, Iloilo, Aklan and yesterday Cavite. These areas were previously considered “unfriendly territories.”
Bacolod, Iloilo and Aklan are acknowledged Liberal Party (LP) playgrounds where Manuel Roxas III is supposed to be the favorite but the crowds came and rooted for the Guest Team.
Cavite was the garden Vice President Jejomar Binay tended to for several years now watering the local political leaders with cash.
The province was his until his local partners, the powerful Remulla political clan apparently slighted by the actions of Binay’s children, decided to call it quits and left the garden open for other harvesters.
Based on the number and enthusiasm of the crowd yesterday, it looks like Cavite will go to Duterte with or without the political gardeners.
So with a little over two weeks left in the campaign, Duterte faces his date with destiny with over 60% of Mindanao’s 12 million voters behind him, over 50% of Cebu’s 2.8-million voters, 34% of Metro Manila’s 6-million plus voters and now the prospect of winning majority of Cavite’s 1.8-million electorates.
Adding to the headache of his political opponents is the result of the recent ABS-CBN commissioned Pulse Asia survey for the period April 12 to 17 which showed Duterte at 34%, twelve full percentage points ahead of Grace Poe Llamanzares whose numbers continued to drop.
Binay comes in third with 20% while Roxas remained in fourth place with 18%.
Roxas, whose group along with Binay’s, is believed to be behind the black propaganda blitz against Duterte, is not expected to move up as many of his allies are now deserting him.
The most recent loss for Roxas was Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay who joined Poe’s camp. Many others are expected to leave the LP as the election draws near.
So what is it with Duterte that he seems to have a Kevlar body armour that makes him almost unaffected by the attacks?
Maybe, just maybe, this is not really about or because of Duterte.
This could be about the people themselves. They may have reached a point of frustration with government and the system that they have become numbed and hardheaded.
They do not want to listen anymore, not to Duterte’s foul language or his opponents vicious attacks.
They have chosen Duterte because they see him as the uncouth, foul-mouthed, rough and tough guy who will watch over them and their children as they sleep peacefully at night.
This episode in the history of our country and our people could be a good case study for social scientists on human behaviour and for political scientists to determine at what point of government corruption, inefficiency, unchecked criminality and drugs-proliferation do people’s emotions reach a melting point.
This is the Duterte Syndrome.
Reposted with permission from Manny Piñol.
(Photos of Cavite crowd downloaded from the Facebook page of Noel Landera Sarifa and a Duterte supporter; Novaliches crowd photos taken by Charles Maxey. Only one photo is used in this article but the original post had several photos.)
