by admin | Jul 17, 2016 | Headlines, Tech Talk
Speaking in the Cebu press launch of the upcoming Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) international tech conference, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV announced that he is refiling a bill exempting startups from taxes on their first two years of operation.
Senator Bam Aquino has consistently shown support to startups or innovation-driven enterprises based on apps, saying proper support for the homegrown startup community may yet produce the next Facebook or Twitter.
“The bill encourages the growth of more Filipino startups by giving them enough time to stand on their own. This reaffirms the government’s recognition of the importance of startups and commitment to innovation,” said Senator Bam Aquino.
Filed by Senator Bam Aquino last May 7, 2014 as Senate Bill 2217, the Startup Business Bill which was not made into law in the previous congress will be refiled by the senator after the opening of the 17th Congress later this month.
He will also be giving a keynote speech during the fourth GOAB, a one of a kind conference that combines the latest tech development with a fun environment which will be held in Bellevue Hotel in Panglao, Bohol this August 25-26, 2016.
TechTalks.ph founder and GOAB lead organizer Tina Amper said getting the Startup Business Bill declared into law will be a superb follow up to the passing of the law creating the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) last May.
“The startup community is happy to have found a champion in the Philippine senate in the person of Senator Bam Aquino. We express our support to his endeavors that build towards the provision of adequate state support for startups,” said Amper.
Since startups are designed to grow very fast, she explains the senator’s proposed measure cutting back taxes would remove one more barrier to faster growth of local startups. While there is a lot more work to do, this may also bring in more venture capitalists and foreign direct investments in the industry.
“It’s a great help for startups if they no longer pay taxes for its first two years. This landmark legislation that will not only create a favorable business atmosphere for the spawning of new startups but also inspire more growth in the country,”
added David Overton, CEO of Sym.ph and Chief Geek of GOAB.
Both Amper and Overton expressed optimism that building the local startup ecosystem can seize the new opportunities opened up by the hi-tech revolution and ultimately bring in more jobs and stimulate the entire economy in general.
Global internet users have surpassed the 3 billion mark or 42 percent of the world’s population while the Asia-Pacific region remains the largest smartphone market with 52 percent of all the world’s users, according to the Internet Trends 2016 Code Conference.
GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, co-organized by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and co-presented by PLDT SME Nation, Ideaspace and SmartDevNet.
GOAB is held in partnership with HappyGaraje, Sym.ph, and PR Works. This year’s Silver Sponsors are Zalora, Mynimo, Teradoor, and PouchNation while Bronze Sponsors are A Space, Yoyo Holdings, Payoneer, Eurekloud, USAID-STRIDE, US Embassy, Launchgarage, and StarTechUp Inc. GOAB organizational partners are Philippines Software Industry Association, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines., UP CebuInit.org, CedFIT.org, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Developers Connect, STAC Silicon Valley and GoNegosyo. Media partners are Auza.Net, Tech in Asia, Geeks in Cambodia, Hubnob.tv, InnoPub Media, Mytechisland.com, Zerothreetwo.com, Jumpstart Magazine, Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Asian Journal Publications, Balikbayan Magazine, Innovation is Everywhere, e27, Newsdesk Asia, and WazzupPilipinas.
For more information, to sponsor or purchase tickets for GOAB, visit, www.GeeksOnABeach.com; or contact Hello@GeeksOnABeach.com. Facebook: Geeks On A Beach and Twitter @GeeksOnABeach.
Sen. Aquino (2nd from right) with Geeks on a beach organizers.
by admin | Jul 16, 2016 | Headlines
The National Competitiveness Council (NCC), during the recently concluded 4thRegional Competitiveness Summit held in the Philippine International Convention Center Reception Hall in Pasay City, names the municipality of Calape1stin terms of Government Efficiency for all towns belonging to the 3rd-6thclass municipalities.The coastal municipality gathered a score of 14.862069for government efficiency.Trailing behind are the towns of Paoay and Pasuquin both from the province of IlocosNorte.
Meanwhile, in the same category, the municipality of Jagna also landed in the 7thspot in the same category with a score of 11.406979.
For the component cities , Tagbilaran City placed 25th in the country, andimproved its overall ranking by 9 notches from its 2015 rank of 34th. Overall, the province of Bohol advanced its position and is now ranked as the 36th most competitive province in the country compared to last year’s 54th, 18 notches higher.
The award is part of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index program of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).Aligned with the goal to improve the country’s overall competitiveness, the program measures the competitiveness level of the different local government units (LGUs) in the country based on their performance on the three pillars anchored on global standards: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency and Infrastructure. A number of indicators are identified in each pillar to provide more detailed view of the locality. Final scoring and ranking are based on outputs of the data submitted by the participating LGUs.
Since the program’s inception, this year’s round of the program covered 144 cities and 1,245 municipalities out of the total 1,634 or 85% national coverage. Participation of the LGUs for this year is higher compared to the 68% national coverage in the previous year (2015). According to the NCC Private Sector Cochairman Guillermo M. Luz, the grand plan for the fifth year (2017) is 100% national coverage.
Witnessed by the different delegates coming from the LGUs, national government agencies, business chambers, development partners, diplomatic community and the academe, the summit emphasized the importance of local competitiveness as the foundation of national competitiveness. Underscoring the value of the recognitions, awards were presented and conferred to the best performing LGUs.
by admin | Jul 16, 2016 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Major Events
TAGBILARAN CITY, July 16 (PIA)–On his first official meeting with Bohol mayors, Governor Edgar Chatto rallies everyone to be inspired even as he stresses for unity for Bohol and its entire development.
At the Provincial Government Development Framework Consultation held at the Bohol Tropics Resort last week, Chatto who has just touched grown immediately after getting a fresh mandate, intends to orient mayors of the development direction Bohol is taking, in a bid to engage local governments to dovetail their respective development frameworks into the province’s agenda.
“During this first meeting at the start of a new term, I thought it would be best to gather, to look into the development plans so everyone dovetails to it,” Chatto said.
Although the governor still waves the HEAT IT Bohol as his development guide, a recent participatory strategic planning with Bohol’s Management Executive Board along with Bohol representatives and the University of the Philippines Advisory Council has enhanced the development guide.
Now enhanced, HEAT IT Bohol picks infrastructure, social services, peace and order, interconnectivity, reforms, economic environment and disaster and risk reduction, explains Planning and Development Officer Atty. John Titus Vistal.
HEAT IT Bohol means Health, Education and Environment, Agriculture, Tourism and Information Technology as the primary sectors that could jumpstart Bohol’s sustainable development.
In the last 6 years, Bohol has continued in its surge even with the earthquake recovery it has to do.
He said he has seen the development, but has to ask where the development gains has gone?
Gunning for a better equitable distribution of wealth and resources, Chatto intimated what he thinks: equitable distribution is essentially what inclusive growth is.
“We could not have reached this far without you helping and supporting us in the last 6 years, but now, we know we are in for new challenges with the mew leadership to account for new goals,” he said.
“And wanting to start it right with everyone stepping on the right feet,” Chatto added, “we deem it is just natural proper and appropriate before we go first base,” at the consultation.
The move was just right, this came right before the local government executives put up their own executive and legislative agenda (ELA), Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Ma Loisella Lucino pointed out.
The DILG is also set to capacitate newly elected officials of their responsibilities within the first 100 days of their terms, and that would also be perfect of the orientation of the development framework, a municipal local government operations officer added.
“It is important that we share the same vision, to steer towards development and row the boat together,” Chatto aired.
Picking on the ongoing reforms which the President Rodrigo Duterte has implemented, Chatto admits he has felt the impacts, especially in the fight against drug abuse and in peace and order.
Beyond this, and looking at Bohol, he said he hopes to see in his last term equitable distribution of wealth just as Vice Governor Dionisio Balite picks up Chatto’s call stressing that whatever is the province’s plans, municipal governments and even national agencies can help enhance this by dovetailing in each other’s programs and projects. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Jul 15, 2016 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Major Events
TAGBILARAN CITY, July 15 (PIA)–Mahimo nang magparehistro sugod karong adlawa ang mga mobotar alang sa Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) ug barangay eleksyon.
Molanat ang pagparehistro hangtud sa Hulyo 30, adlaw nga Sabado.
Alang sa mga magparehistro sa SK, apil sa mga requirement mao nga kinahanglang Filipino citizen, may edad 15 taman 30 anyos ug residente sa barangay diin didto siya mobotar nga dili moubos sa unom ka buwan sa Oktubre 31 ning kasamtangang tuig.
Samtang alang sa magparehistro sa barangay eleksyon, kinahanglang Filipino citizen, 18-anyos sa adlaw sa eleksyon, residente sa Pilipinas sulod sa usa ka tuig ug residente sa barangay diin siya planong mobotar nga dili moubos sa unom ka buwan sa adlaw sa piniliay.
Gi-awhag sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang mga botante ilabi na kadtong wala pa naka-parehistro sa niaging nasodnong piniliay nga pahimoslan kining higayon aron makapatala sa voters’ list. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Jul 15, 2016 | Headlines, Major Events, National News
MANILA, July 15 (PIA)–Planong ipatuman sa Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang non-stop o 24-oras construction sa mga urban projects.
Mao kini ang gipahayag ni DBM Kalihim Benjamin Diokno human usab sa gilatag nga mga programa sa administrasyon ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte.
Matud pa ni Diokno, base sa pagtuon sa Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), mokabat sa P2.4 bilyon ang nawala sa ekonomiya sa nasod matag adlaw tungod sa trapiko.
Apil sa kinaingnan sa huot nga dagan sa trapiko mao ang mga gipang-ayo nga kalsada ug mga bilding nga gitukod duol sa mga kadalanan.
Dugang pa ni Diokno, kini ang hinungdan mao nga kinahanglang dalion ang mga programa sa gobyerno sa kaulohan ug sa uban pang dapit sa nasod.
Sa proposed 2017 national budget, kapin sa 5 porsiyento sa gross domestic product (GDP) ang gigahin sa imprastruktura nga gilauman nga magpasipa sa ekonomiya. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Jul 15, 2016 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TAGBILARAN CITY, July 15 (PIA)–Pormal nang ni-asumir ni Senior Supt. Felipe Natividad isip bag-ong provincial director sa Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) kagahapon.
Atol sa turnover ceremony kagahapon sa Kampo Dagohoy ning syudad, si Natividad miingon nga dakong hagit kaniya ang mga nahimo ni kanhi BPPO director Senior Supt. Dennis Agustin ilabi na sa operasyon sa pakigbugno batok sa kalihokan sa ilegal nga droga sa lalawigan ug plano niya kining ipadayon ug hingosgan pa.
Ang pagdawat sa command ni Natividad gikan kang Agustin, gipangunahan ni Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño.
Sa gipahigayong programa sa turnover ceremony, si Agustin gipasidunggan sa PRO-7 sa Medalya ng Kasanayan o Philippine National Police Efficiency Medal.
Ang maong medalya gihatag kang Agustin tungod sa iyang pagkugi human sa magnitude 7.2 nga linog nga nitay-og sa Bohol niadtong 2013, sa pagmintinar sa kalinaw ug kahapsay sa niaging eleksyon ug pakigbugno batok sa kalihokan sa ilegal nga droga sa lalawigan.
Samtang laing pasidungog usab ang gihatag kang Agustin sa kagamhanang probinsiyal sa Bohol tungod sa iyang kontribusyon sa lalawigan.
Si Agustin kinsa mao na nga Directorial Staff chief sa PRO-7 karon, gihatagan usab og plake sa Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry ug sa Philippine Army’s 302ndInfantry Brigade.
Ang maong turnover ceremony gitambongan nila Gob. Edgar Chatto, Vice Gob Dionisio Balite, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Arnulfo Matanguihan, ubang opisyal sa gobyerno ug mga police chief sa kalungsoran sa Bohol. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
