by admin | Jun 23, 2016 | Headlines, National News
Seven government agencies are set to revoke or repeal respective rules and regulations that are deemed burdensome and irrelevant in a bid to eliminate red tape that seriously impacts the competitiveness of the economy.
The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) with an initial seven participating agencies, namely : Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Finance (DOF), Energy (DOE), Budget and Management (DBM), Tourism (DOT) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are launching Project Repeal to signify their commitment to reduce regulatory cost by repealing or amending unnecessary, costly, and out-dated rules in their respective agencies.
During the 1st Repeal Day, 3,959 issuances shall undergo repeal or amendment, mainly composed of Department Administrative Orders (DAO), Joint Administrative Orders (JAO), Memorandum Orders (MO), and Circulars. Of this number, 1,900 are subject for repeal, while 2,032 previously repealed rules are subject for deletion/delisting from official websites and rosters of regulations and laws, 22 similar issuances are subject for consolidation into one legal document, and 5 are for amendment or deletion of certain provisions .
This is part of an initial 17,388 laws and issuances gathered for review by the Project Repeal Technical Working Committee from different government agencies. Some of the rules submitted to the committee date back to the Commonwealth and Martial Law periods. NCC expects the list to expand as the other agencies and the public have continued to submit proposals.
Project Repeal was inspired by reform initiatives of other countries like United Kingdom (Red Tape Challenge), Australia (Cutting Red Tape Initiative),South Korea (Regulatory Guillotine) and Vietnam (Project 30). Fourteen other countries have also such similar undertakings
Prior to the creation of Project Repeal, four government agencies started their own anti-red tape measures. For instance, DTI revoked 133 DAO and JAOs last year to streamline the issuances that affect its frontline operations. DOF, on the other hand, ordered the review of all policies including those of its attached agencies (SEC, BOC, BIR) for rationalization. The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) have their own regulatory improvement programs.
NCC envisions Project Repeal to reduce the cost of compliance for businesses as well as generate savings for the citizens. This could be made possible through a whole-of-a-government approach of instituting a system for repealing laws and allowing public participation in the repeal process.
For more info, email the Project Repeal Team at project.repeal@competitive.org.ph
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Jun 22, 2016 | Headlines, National News
The Board of Investments (BOI), the industry development and investments promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is continuing its efforts to further strengthen the awareness level of its stakeholders on the latest government investment policies, regulations, and procedures. This year, it plans to conduct about 5 investor awareness seminars throughout the country.
The BOI Investment Awareness Seminar to Strengthen the Investors and Stakeholders (BOI ASSIST) BOI-registered and prospective investors are briefed on the latest investment policies and business registration procedures of various government agencies.
“It is very important that we offer a conducive environment to investors—a place where they could quickly set up, expand, and/or diversify their businesses. An important first step is to capacitate and make them fully aware of the latest government policies, regulations, and procedures, making it easy for them to comply with government requirements,” said BOI Director for Investment Assistance Service Domingo Bagaporo.
Two seminars were already conducted in the first half of the year at the Best Western Plus Antel Hotel in Makati City and at the Development Academy of the Philippines. Three more seminars will be conducted at the second half of the year.
Attended by around 60 participants, the first seminar was specifically geared for companies in the renewable energy sector and in the healthcare facilities and services sector planning to register, expand and/or diversify their business projects with the BOI. Partner government agencies such as the Department Energy, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agrarian Reform, sent resource persons to address the concerns of participants.
The second seminar was attended by around 70 participants. Topics include the agencies’ policies and procedure on availment of incentives. Atty. Euvimil Nina R. Asunsion of the Bureau of Internal Revenue who discussed the Bureau’s policies and procedure on availment of Incentives, Atty. Maria Corazon A. Arancon of the Investment Ombudsman, and Mr. Jose Antonio S. Vilar of the Philippine Stock Exchange who highlighted the benefits of publicly listing a company, which is a requirement for a BOI-registered company.
During investor awareness seminars, the participants are briefed on the available aftercare services of BOI. BOI assists investors in the facilitation of their issues and concerns arising from dealings with other government agencies during or after the BOI registration. Participants are also oriented on the process of availing incentives, the investors’ obligations as BOI registered firms and how the agency monitors their compliance.
Partner agencies for the BOI ASSIST include among others, Bureau of Customs, Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Housing Land Use Regulatory Board, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Office of the Ombudsman, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Jun 22, 2016 | Headlines, National News
Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) Adrian Cristobal Jr. welcomed the recent approval and signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on controlled chemicals saying such development balances national security and industry development.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Senen Sarmiento signed on June 9, 2016 the IRR on controlled chemicals, as recommended by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ricardo Marquez. The IRR is set to be published in an official gazette on July 25, 2016 and will be effective 15 days after.
The IRR is pursuant to Section 4-C to 4-F of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1866 as amended by Republic Act (RA) No. 9516, which provides the list of chemicals to be controlled, the streamlined procedures for the regulation including storage, handling, and transport of controlled chemicals; and the accreditation guidelines for logistics providers, including those that are company-owned trucks and service vehicles.
The IRR is a product of the consolidated inputs and insights of the members of the various meetings and consultations of a main technical working group (TWG) co-chaired by Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments (BOI) Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo and DILG Undersecretary Edwin Enrile; and the three sub-technical working groups on the categorization of chemicals, streamlining of processes, and accreditation of logistics providers and company-owned trucks and service vehicles on controlled chemicals.
“The promulgation of the IRR fully regard that safety of our countrymen is paramount as the regulation supports regulation of storage, transport, and handling of chemicals which can be used to create bombs. At the same time, the IRR also supports industry development particularly in the area of ease of doing business in the country as the regulation streamlines and rationalizes the processes, benefiting not just the chemicals industry, but backward and forward linked industries as well including manufacturing, agriculture, health, and research and development,” Secretary Cristobal said.
Among the salient features of the IRR are as follows: Reduction of the list of PNP controlled chemicals from 101 to 32 (15 High Risk and 17 Low Risk); Streamlined procedures in filing applications for permits and licenses, reducing the days of approval from 20 to 10 for new applications; Non-imposition of police escort fees and accreditation of logistics providers; the PNP Chief may consult with the stakeholders and seek the approval of the DILG Secretary in revising the IRR and its annexes; Recognition of good track record of PNP clients through the Issuance of a certificate of good standing to a licensed entity which has complied with the requirements of the IRR and has no derogatory report; Eventual automation of the processes through the development and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Commissioning of an R&D Team by the DILG Secretary to evaluate and determine the explosive potential of a chemical; Establishment of Regional Civil Security Units (RCSUs) which will be the regional focal point of the Civil Security Group (CSG) of the PNP; Upholding of the validity of licenses pending action from the PNP; Authorization of dealers to sell to unlicensed entities at a maximum quantity subject to certain conditions; Flexibility in requiring a commercial/proforma invoice in lieu of Bill of Lading or Airway Bill for application of Permit to Unload (PTU); and Provision for PNP to follow clearly-defined procedures in the inspection of storage facilities.
“Chemicals are basic inputs in the operations of the manufacturing sector and therefore it is important to the system up and running smoothly as this would easily translate into improvement of the other sectors within the manufacturing industry,” said Secretary Cristobal.
Secretary Cristobal said that since 2012, the BOI, the industry development and investments promotion arm of the DTI, started reviving industry development in the country with the goal of strengthening the collaboration, closer discussion, and more active cooperation with various industries and sectors. In the same year, the call for the crafting of industry roadmaps was initiated. “The chemicals industry was among the first to develop and share their roadmap with the agency, and subsequently a Sectoral Working Group (SWG) on chemicals was formed with discussions centering on various concerns affecting the growth and competitiveness of the industry namely ease of doing business, environmental issues, human resource development issues, trade and investment issues, and others,” he said.
In the SWG discussions, it was highlighted that chemicals is one of the most highly-regulated industries in the country, noting there are currently seven government agencies regulating the industry namely the Food and Drugs Authority, Philippine Drugs and Enforcement Agency, Dangerous Drugs Board, PNP, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Customs, and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority.
“Of course, we all know the consequences. There have been duplications in the requirements and the processes in getting permits and licenses which were really burdensome, cumbersome, and very costly, affecting the competitiveness of the industry. Aside from the direct impact on the chemicals industry, these complicated processes also snowballed given the chemical industry’s inter-linkages with the other industries and subsectors within the manufacturing sector especially those using chemicals as an input or intermediate raw material. As a result, there have been reports of companies shutting down operations due to the difficulties they were facing in terms of complying with the different regulations,” he said.
The SWG discussions were then brought at the Economic Cluster meeting in July 2015. Upon instruction of President Aquino to the Cabinet Secretary and the Secretaries of DTI and DILG, the TWG on PNP-controlled chemicals was then created to resolve various issues. BOI served as secretariat for all the TWGs and sub-TWGs.
The sub-TWG on the categorization of controlled chemicals is co-chaired by Dr. Fabian Dayrit of the Ateneo Department of Chemistry, ICP, and NAST, and Col. Victor Drapete of the PNP Crime Laboratory. The members are mostly chemists and chemical engineers namely: Dr. Annabelle Briones and Hermelina Bion, both of DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute; Dr. Lilibeth Coo of the University of the Philippines Institute of Chemistry; Engineer Gretchen Fontejon-Enarle of the Samahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Industriyang Kimika; and Nilo Rebay of the Semiconductors & Electronics Industries in the Philippines. They categorized the chemicals into high-risk and low-risk based on characterization of the explosive potential of each chemical using scientific qualifiers.
The sub-TWG on streamlining of procedures meanwhile was led by Export Development Council deputy executive director Emma Mijares and Police Chief Superintendent Elmo Sarona and Police Senior Superintendent Cesar Binag of PNP Firearms and Explosives Office. The-TWG on the accreditation of logistics providers or company-owned trucks and service vehicles on the other hand was led by PEZA general manager Veronica Magsino and Police Senior Superintendent Fausto Manzanilla of the PNP Explosives Management Division.
The PNP, last January 2013, expanded to 41 substances, its master list of regulated chemicals including common household chemicals and those used by various business industries and sectors. The expansion of the list required companies to secure a permit with the PNP to import, handle, or transport chemicals including those that are commonly-used in manufacturing. The move, according to PNP, was in keeping with the directive of PD 1866 as amended by RA No. 9516.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Jun 21, 2016 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Major Events
TAGBILARAN CITY, June 21 (PIA)–In ten months, army engineers completed a P3.6 million disaster resilient school building that can double as evacuation center for Campao Oriental in Getafe town.
Barangay chairman Pedrito Sobiono Jr., said the 3 class room building, which was part of ABS CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation’s help in earthquake rehabilitation, came as much needed help for the school which still have classrooms needing immediate rehabilitation, a week after the formal class opening.
The new building, which costs more that the P1.2 million allocated for every classroom stand in contrast to a single classroom beside it, with two of its walls totally toppled by the quake.
The agreement was for ABS-CBN Foundation to fund new fully furbished three classroom building, for Mariwasa to put up the tiles in the accompanying toilet per room, the army engineers to implement the project and for the community to render volunteer jobs as labor counterpart according the Bohol’s Bayanihan Project, Sobiono Jr., explained.
“It is generally more than P3.6 million,” Parents Teachers Association (PTA) President Albert Melecio added, pointing out that the “building could withstand 170 kilometer winds and is earthquake proof.”
“Over 400 parents took turns in volunteering a day every week and we figured it was just fair as we spent nothing to get the building,” Campao Oriental High School principal Bobet Cortez added.
ABS-CBN Foundation representative and television anchor Bernadette Sembrano picked on the incredible partnership in Bohol which had the army, Department of Education, Provincial Government, Municipal, barangay governments, groups like the PTA and her company had struck, even as she said partnerships always pose a huge challenge.
In his message of acceptance, principal Cortez abundantly thanked the donors: ABS CBN and Mariwasa, the army and the government for the brand new facility.
He also pointed out that aside from ABS-CBN and the army engineers, the heroes of the school are the parents and the students who selflessly struggled it out to complete the project.
“We, beneficiaries [of the project] need to take care of this [building] and make it conducive to learning,” Cortez urged.
Meanwhile, 302nd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Arnulfo Matanguihan urged the students to take care of the building.
“Everything we put up should let you imagine the hardships our parents put, for their struggles, we have a building with 3 classrooms for this high school,” he said. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
ABS-CBN television anchor Bernadette Sembrano leads the guests in cutting the ceremonial ribbon signaling the opening of the 3-classroom disaster resilient classroom in Campao Oriental, Getafe Bohol, June 16. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Jun 21, 2016 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Major Events
TAGBILARAN CITY, June 21, (PIA)–The Department of Education (DepED) in Bohol is still consolidating reports to trace around 5,000 Grade 10 student completers who have not shown up for senior high in the public schools, a week after the opening of classes June 13.
DepED information Officer Lope Hubac, however believed these students could be already enrolled in the private schools or have moved to the city, in what is apparently a thinking that they need a new environment after completing junior years in the public schools.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA Thursday, Hubac said the DepEd, who has kept a record of junior high school student completers said about 19,152 students completed Grade 10 and eligible to take the senior high school.
But, after the beginning days of the opening of classes, only 14,134 completers have registered and are enrolled for the senior high schools.
The DepEd implements this school year 2016-2017, the first year for senior high school, to be Grade 11 and continues with the Grade 12 by next year, when the first batch of senior high school students graduate.
In a talk with district supervisors, Hubac said a mandate to track these students has been given and the Division office could get hold of the reports within the succeeding weeks.
For these students, he said the most probable thing is that they have transferred to Tagbilaran City, which has “more equipped schools” to implement senior high schools, or have transferred to the private high schools.
Hubac, who was among the Division Field Assistance Teams, sent out to monitor the opening of classes and the enrollment for senior high, noted this even as DepED projects a steady increase in enrolment, even for this school year.
The Bohol Division of the DepED keeps a separate record from the City public Schools, that part of the missing senior high school entrants could already be in the system of the city schools, he reasoned out.
Moreover, DepEd also admits it could be difficult to obtain data for students entering senior high schools through the country’s state universities and colleges, he added.
State Universities and Colleges technically do not fall under the DepED, but the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Hubac claimed.
Even then, he also assured that the DepEd is not stopping until every one of the completers is tracked and are found in schools.
DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, who happens to be a missionary, accordingly instructed the education sector workers to seek out the missing sheep, where ever they may be.
In Bohol, of the high schools offering 164 junior high, only 129 are offering follow on courses for the senior high school, Bohol Division said.
He also assured that the DepEd would always seek ways to get them [students] back on track as the certificates of completion is not yet a high school diploma and could not be used for employment.
The senior high school is that part of high school training which would allow students to gain skills to be gainfully employable. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Jun 21, 2016 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, June 21 (PIA)–Gitakdang magpatuman og reorganisasyon ang Duterte administration sa Communications Group sa Malakanyang.
Gibutyag ni incoming Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Kalihim Martin Andanar nga ang kasamtangang Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) himuon nang PCO samtang ang Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) ipa-ubos na sa PCO ug himuong Strategic Communications Division.
Giingong tuyo niining tarungon ang set-up aron usa ka opisina na lang ang mo-report kang incoming President Rodrigo Duterte.
Hasta usab ang administrative work sa presidential spokesman, i-agi na usab sa iyang opisina aron dili na mahimong gubot ang sistema.
Matud pa ni Andanar, ang presidential spokesman ipa-ubos na usab sa PCO ug siya na lamang ang mo-report sa Presidente o sa gabinete.
Si Andanar mosulti na usab sa press briefings kauban ni incoming Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
