Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 5216

Migrant Pinoy workers from Ukraine to get aid 

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

By Alyssa Nicole O. Tan, Reporter 

THE PHILIPPINE government on Monday said it would provide employment, cash and livelihood aid to returning Filipino migrant workers from Ukraine, where it had enforced a mandatory evacuation after it was invaded by Russia on Feb. 24. 

“While they are searching for work, we can also refer them to registered employers who have approved job offers if they want to work abroad,” Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Bernard P. Olalia told an online news briefing on Monday in mixed English and Filipino. 

The workers will get $200 in cash aid and may avail themselves of scholarships for their children, and entrepreneurial training, he said. 

Russia has launched a devastating attack by air, land, and sea on Ukraine, a European democracy of 44 million people. President Vladimir Putin denied for months he would invade his neighbor, but then tore up a peace deal and sent forces across borders in Ukraine’s north, east and south. 

While most land-based Filipinos have been evacuated, about 200 seafarers remained in Ukraine, Mr. Olalia said. The agency has repatriated more than 100 sea-based migrant Filipinos, while about 140 will soon arrive in the Philippines. Most seafarers were aboard merchant ships in the Black Sea. 

Meanwhile, Senator Aquilino Martin “Koko” L. Pimentel III, who heads the foreign relations committee, said President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s decision to open the country’s military facilities to the United States was uncalled for. 

The government should avoid entertaining the possibility of being part of the war, he told an online forum. “Right now, our position is neutral, our concern is for our fellow Filipinos to be able to return here safely,” he said in Filipino. 

The Philippines has voted yes to a United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It sought an end to the fighting and appealed for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. 

“Actually, we are not siding with one country. We are siding with the end of military action,” Mr. Pimentel said. 

Meanwhile, the Philippines and the US signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic civil nuclear cooperation, the Foreign Affairs department said in a statement.  

“To ensure a resilient, inclusive and green economic growth for the Philippines, we need to intensify our work in securing reliable and sustainable energy sources, including nuclear energy,” Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel G. Romualdez said in the statement. 

“Through our cooperation, we hope to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy and fulfill our decarbonization goals.” 

The government would intensify collaboration with the US to enhance the country’s knowledge and understanding of nuclear infrastructure, Energy Undersecretary Gerardo D. Erguiza said in the statement. 

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed an order allowing the country to tap nuclear power as an alternative energy source.

More governors back Robredo’s presidential run

VP LENI ROBREDO MEDIA BUREAU

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter 

THE GOVERNOR of vote-rich Bulacan on Monday endorsed the presidential run of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo. 

Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando announced the endorsement two days after the camp of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. dismissed a statement that the opposition leader had secured the local official’s support. 

Bulacan has the fifth highest number of voters among 81 provinces in the country. Ms. Robredo lost to Mr. Marcos in the province north of Manila in the 2016 vice-presidential race. 

Also on Monday, administration ally Eastern Samar Governor Ben P. Evardone endorsed Ms. Robredo’s presidential bid.  

Mr. Evardone said President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s recent remarks on the traits his successor should have was “a virtual endorsement” of Ms. Robredo. 

Mr. Duterte at the weekend said the next president should be a lawyer who is compassionate and decisive. 

“We welcome and support the high bar President Duterte has set for his successor. He knows whereof he speaks, and we understand it,” Mr. Evardone said in a statement.  

“For me and for millions of Filipinos, there is only one decisive and compassionate lawyer among those aspiring to be President and she is VP Leni,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the government’s anti-communist task force accused Ms. Robredo of colluding with the country’s Maoist movement. 

The task force, which has been known for tagging civic leaders critical of the Duterte administration as communists, said Maoist operatives were present in Ms. Robredo’s most recent campaign rally in vote-rich Cavite, which drew thousands of supporters. 

Ms. Robredo’s office earlier revealed that there were text messages quoting her praising Jose Maria Sison, the founder of the 53-year-old Communist Party of the Philippines. 

In a statement, Ms. Robredo said the propaganda linking her to the communist movement is a ploy to stop the “momentum” of her people-centered campaign.  

She reiterated that she does not believe in violence as a solution to socio-economic problems. 

The opposition figure said all her colleagues are aware of her stand against armed violence, including those in the security sector who she said appeared to also be the target of the propaganda.

No damage from magnitude 6.4 earthquake off Luzon, over 60 aftershocks recorded

NO MAJOR damage was expected or immediately reported from a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck off the western side of Luzon, the Philippine’s northern mainland, at 5:05 a.m. on March 14, according to state seismologists.  

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded the offshore tremor at 110 kilometers west of Lubang in Occidental Mindoro province with a depth of 28 kilometers.  

More than 60 aftershocks were recorded as of early Monday afternoon, with the strongest at magnitude 4.8 at 1:35 p.m. 

Lubang recorded an intensity 4 tremor while intensity 3 was felt in several provinces and cities in mainland Luzon, including Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Quezon City, Taguig City, Mandaluyong City, Makati City, Navotas City, and Pasig City. 

Under the Phivolcs intensity scale, 4 is considered “moderately strong” and generally felt by people indoors while 3 is described as “weak” but still felt indoors, especially in upper floors of buildings.  

The Philippines is one of the countries located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area where most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. — MSJ

University of Perpetual Help partners with Malaysian, Thai universities for satellite project

PHILIPPINE-based University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) has partnered with academic institutions in Malaysia and Thailand for a nanosatellite project that will gather data on marine traffic and greenhouse gases, among others.  

UPHSD, in a press release on Monday, said its partners are the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Shah Alam, Malaysia and the King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) in Thailand. 

Their project, the ASEANSAT1, is targeted to launch in the first quarter of 2023 to the International Space Station, “after which the satellite will go into a low earth orbit to gather data on earth imaging, marine traffic and greenhouse gases and testing of equipment like commercial off-the-shelf global positioning system and the Anistropic Magneto Resistance Magnetometer.” 

“Certainly, this project is a milestone not only for the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA but for the development of science and technology in the country and in the ASEAN region,” University of Perpetual Help President Anthony Jose M. Tamayo said in the statement.  

ASEAN refers to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 

UiTM’s Mohamad Hazaimy Jusoh, speaking during the project’s kick-off ceremony on March 11, said the project contributes to the advancement of space technology, satellite images for advanced research of academic institutions, and advanced engineering expertise for students.  

UPHSD’s Lorena Ilagan, head of the project, underscored the important role of satellites in day-to-day life.  

“Some of us might not be aware of the importance of satellites in our lives. The usual everyday things we rely on… have become increasingly dependent on space technology like satellite TV, GPS systems used by smartphones, instruments and equipment for military operations, air traffic and the weather,” Ms. Ilagan said. 

“Without space technology like satellites, the world would be very different from what it is today.”

CA upholds trial court’s decision favoring BDO vs client

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has denied an appeal of a client of BDO Unibank, Inc. to dismiss a trial court’s decision ordering the payment of P2.8 million plus 6% interest of unpaid credit card bills. 

In a 16-page resolution dated Mar. 10, the appellate court affirmed a Regional Trial Court’s (RTC) decision promulgated in 2020, which ruled that the bank was able to submit sufficient evidence to prove it issued two credit cards to the client, which accumulated unpaid transactions. 

The client argued that she was never presented by the bank a copy of the application forms for the two credit cards in question, noting she was only instructed to sign application forms without any explanation of the terms and conditions. 

The trial court cited in its decision that the client was absent on several of the pre-trial conferences. The court then allowed BDO to present evidence despite the absence of the defendant. 

In the CA filing, the petitioner claimed that the lower court made an error in allowing the bank to present evidence and denying her motion to cross-examine the bank’s witness. She added that the prior ruling was based on a technicality and a violation of due process. 

The appeals court upheld the trial court’s ruling, saying the client was given more than enough considerations. 

“After having been granted liberality by the trial court, the records show that the defendant reciprocated the RTC’s generosity by not attending the next four rescheduled pre-trial conferences,” the CA said in its ruling. “The court finds that the latter is clearly not entitled to any further relaxation of the procedural rules,” it added. — John Victor D. Ordoñez 

Cayetano suggests mandated 5% savings from agencies for financial aid 

SEN. ALAN PETER CAYETANO FACEBOOK PAGE

TAGUIG-PATEROS Rep. Alan Peter S. Cayetano called on the Duterte administration to order government agencies to save 5% of their budgets this year, and use the fund for financial aid to households as part of recovery measures from the coronavirus pandemic.  

“Now, if we make it 5% (savings), that’s already P250 billion, right? You can give P10,000 to each Filipino family and there will still be an excess of P50 billion,” Mr. Cayetano, who is running for the Senate in the May elections, said in Filipino in a interview over DZRH radio.  

He also said President Rodrigo R. Duterte could ask Congress to hold a special session to make a law on how to spend the savings. 

“It’s not true that we need to campaign and win first in order to act. We’re in a crisis. So, if we need to hold a special session for the 5% savings, why not do it, right?” Mr. Cayetano said. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan

Communist leader faces rape charges 

PHILSTAR

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has endorsed the indictment of a known leader of the communist movement for alleged rape.  

In a statement dated March 11, the DoJ said a leader of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, faces nine counts of rape committed against former members in 2018. 

Three counts of rape will be filed at a Nueva Ecija regional trial court, and six counts will be filed at a trial court in Pangasinan. 

A complainant said that the suspect took advantage of his authority as a vice platoon commanding officer and sexually abused her multiple times in 2018. 

“The Respondent’s alibis, denials of rape, and imputing blame on the complainant are self-serving and deserve no weight in law,” the Justice Department said. 

“Instead, the unequivocal statements of the complainant and the fact that she was able to positively identify the respondent as the culprit are given more credence,” it added. 

The DoJ previously found probable cause for two counts of rape under the Revised Penal Code committed against one of the complainants by another officer of the group. These cases were filed with trial courts in Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija. — John Victor D. Ordoñez 

Voting machines

PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSEL PALMA

VOTE counting machines that will be used in the May 9 national and local polls are checked by workers at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on March 14. Newly-appointed Comelec Chairman Saidamen Balt Pangarungan and Commissioner George Erwin M. Garcia visited the facility on Monday.

SMEs hard-pressed to meet wage hike demands

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) are expected to find it difficult to meet wage demands being made as prices rise, because they have yet to recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a Palace adviser said.  

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. A. Concepcion III said at a Laging Handa briefing on Monday that small and medium businesses will be unable to raise wages to the extent being demanded by labor leaders.  

“’Yung mas malaking korporasyon, mas may kaya pero ’yung small to medium enterprises, iyon ang mahihirapan kasi sila talaga ang tinamaan (larger corporations will be more able to raise wages, but SMEs will find it difficult because they took much of the hit from the pandemic,” Mr. Concepcion said.

Mr. Concepcion said the tourism sector in particular will be challenged in meeting any wage demands as they are still recouping their losses.

“Kababangon lang niyan. Halos two years na walang negosyo. So, bumabangon pa lang sila. We have to give them time. At this point, hindi pa bumabalik ’yung tourism (industry) natin (They have just made it through the crisis, when they endured nearly two years with no business. They are still recovering from the pandemic. We have to give them time. At this point, tourism has not yet recovered)” Mr. Concepcion said.  

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Partido Manggagawa have called for wage hikes to address rising fuel and commodities prices.

According to the National Wages and Productivity Commission, the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila is between P500 and P537.   

Mr. Concepcion called for more talks between the government and the private sector on wage hike proposals.

“Hindi pa rin tayo sigurado rito sa mga presyo kasi biglaan ang pagtaas dahil sa (Russia-Ukraine) conflict. Kung mawala ’yung conflict, then bababa lahat ng commodities. (We are not sure on prices since there was sudden increase due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict). If the conflict is resolved, then commodity prices may go down. This might be a temporary situation. I think the government and the private sector will need to have more discussions here,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Nomura cuts PHL growth forecast to 6.3% due to inflation

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

NOMURA Global Markets Research said it downgraded its growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.3% from 6.8% due to the expected impact of inflation caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The projection was made in a note issued by analysts Sonal Varma, Ting Lu, Euben Paracuelles, and Jeong Woo Park.

The official government target for 2022 growth is 7-9%.

“In Asia, India, Thailand and the Philippines are the biggest losers, while Indonesia would be relative beneficiaries from higher commodity prices,” the report said.

Amid surging oil prices, Nomura raised its inflation projection for the Philippines this year to 4.6% from 2.9% previously. If realized, this will be higher than the 3.7% estimate of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and beyond its 2-4% target band.

For now, Nomura said base effect from the high food prices last year is still keeping inflation muted.

“Surging inflation is also likely to dampen consumer spending when the unemployment rate is still high,” it said.

Headline inflation was at 3% for a second straight month in February. However, central bank Governor Benjamin E. Diokno has warned that rising oil prices could push inflation beyond the target band by the second quarter, before slowing in the second half of the year.

Nomura warned that the country’s high dependence on fuel imports could have an immediate pass-through impact on consumers and widen the current-account deficit.

Relatively low vaccination rates and the possibility of further outbreaks due to election-related activities could also impede growth by delaying the economy’s full reopening, it added.

The Department of Health tallied full vaccinations at over 63 million as of March 9. The Johns Hopkins University vaccine tracker estimates the fully vaccinated rate at 58.36% of the population.

The government hopes to fully vaccinate 77 million people by the end of March.

Nomura said it expects the central bank to continue focusing on growth and only start increasing rates by 25 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2021.

The BSP last week said it will continue to prioritize supporting economic growth, but will be ready to move in case there is need to respond to second-round effects of inflation manifested through fare hikes or wage increases.

Last year, the economy rebounded with a 5.6% growth following a record 9.6% contraction, which was the worst in Southeast Asia. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

BIR collects P44.6 billion from online retail sales, content creators in 2021

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it collected P44.6 billion worth of tax from online content creators and retail sales by the end of 2021, BIR Assistant Commissioner Larry M. Barcelo said in a presentation at the House Ways and Means Committee hearing. 

“As early as 2013, the BIR issued a Revenue Memorandum Circular reiterating the taxpayer’s obligations for online business transactions,” Mr. Barcelo, who heads the bureau’s legal service, said.

The obligations include “registration, keeping the books of account, invoices, receipts, filing of tax returns and payment of taxes,” he added.

Other memorandum circulars outlined the rules for the registration of online businesses and the filing and paying of taxes, he added.

Mr. Barcelo said 43 tax treaties currently govern the tax treatment of the Philippine operations of non-resident foreign corporations.

During the hearing, House Ways and Means Chairman and Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda pushed the BIR to offer an online portal to allow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to more easily apply for Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).

“The committee would like to seek the expedition or the action of the BIR on the online portal for the OFW TIN application and issuance,” Mr. Salceda said. “Even the PSA can issue a birth certificate online. That’s even more critical (than the TIN).”

“We will consider the digital portal for the OFWs. It will be part of our digital transformation program,” Mr. Barcelo said. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan

Complaints against online sellers decline in 2021

COMPLAINTS against online businesses have declined after the easing of quarantine restrictions, which allowed sellers to normalize their operations, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said in a virtual briefing on Monday that the DTI received around 12,000 complaints involving online transactions in 2021, lower than the 16,000 complaints logged in 2020.

In the first two months of 2022, the DTI received 2,059 complaints involving online transactions, she said.

Ms. Castelo said the top three online platforms were Lazada, Shopee, and Zalora.

“In 2020, the online platforms couldn’t deliver because of the lockdowns. They didn’t have personnel going to work. The consumer complaints really rose in 2020. For 2021, the complaints declined. The online platforms were able to normalize operations especially because we also considered, in DTI, that online platforms are also selling essential goods. They also sell food, clothing, and grocery items,” Ms. Castelo said.  

Ms. Castelo said more employees of online platforms returned to work, which allowed for the faster resolution of complaints. She added that consumers have also grown more knowledgeable about e-commerce since the start of the pandemic.

“We hope the number of complaints goes down in 2022 from 12,000 last year. We will continue to provide consumer education,” Ms. Castelo said.

The DTI also warned online businesses against selling prohibited and unlicensed products over digital platforms.

Ms. Castelo said Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 22-01 was signed on March 4, directing online platforms to verify whether products sold by their merchants are licensed and regulated.

Under the JAO, all digital platforms are provided a three-day “safe harbor” period, during which they may take down an online post that has been flagged for violating the law.

“In case of a prima facie violation of any pertinent laws or regulations committed in an online post by the online seller or merchant, e-retailer, e-commerce platform, e-marketplace, and the like, the concerned authorized agency shall issue a notice giving the violator a maximum period of three calendar days from receipt thereof, within which to take down such post, without prejudice to the filing of appropriate administrative actions all violators,” the JAO said.

“Failure to enact, or strictly enforce, such internal mechanisms or rules shall be construed as an intentional and overt act that shall aggravate the offense charged,” it added.

Ms. Castelo said laws applicable to brick-and-mortar stores also cover online businesses.

“A price tag required to be pasted on items you buy in stores are also required to be pasted on the products that you buy online or through published price list. Buyers no longer have to ask for the price from the seller, who will almost always say that a private message is sent. This is a clear violation of the Price Tag law,” Ms. Castelo said.

Signatories to the JAO include the DTI, the Departments of Health (DoH), Agriculture (DA), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), and the National Privacy Commission (NPC). — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

1...5,2155,2165,217...12,774Page 5,216 of 12,774
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube