The e-Lounge said BIR
Revenue District Officer Rolando Espina provides taxpayers with online
access to services like e-Registry, Electronic filing & Payment
System, Electronic Accreditation and Registration of Cash Register
Machines and Point of Sale and many more.
Espina added that
taxpayers who don’t have access to the internet can use the machine
lodged at the BIR e-Lounge for services for free.
The same machine
(resembling the GSIS GWAPS) can also give immediate feedback as
regards the client’s level of satisfaction on the kind of service
received.
Mano Gil Aban from
Hinabangan, Samar was one of those served on Tuesday by the BIR’s
eLounge.
The 50 something
Hinabangnon told PIA that he is satisfied with the
BIR service and was just waiting-in line for his turn to
talk to the one in charge.
The visiting team
of the Handang Maglingkod Project (HMP) led by BIR Asst. Commissioner
Aida Simborio and Asst. Regional Director Wilma Elivera recognized
Espina’s “serious efforts” in the efficiency of his staff and the
physical make-over of the BIR office now modernized with the
e-registry, a CCTV camera and many more. (PIA-Samar)
Maasin pushes BOT
scheme to attract investors
By BONG PEDALINO
July
7, 2010
MAASIN CITY – Come
on in.
The city government
here has served notice its doors are swung wide open for interested
locators to do business in the city, and in a move to entice capital
to come in, the operative word used in dealing with prospective
investors is build, operate, transfer (BOT).
City Mayor Maloney
Samaco, speaking in a bi-weekly, city-paid block time program in DYDM
recently, disclosed that he has been meeting with people described in
the business world as movers and shakers, offering them the BOT way of
trading in the city.
So far, a hotel
operator in Cebu City has expressed interest to come and develop a
mountain resort in and around Guinsuhutan Falls, a tourist spot found
in barangay Cagnituan, an interior village about eight kilometers by
distance from city proper.
In addition to its
natural pool below its pristine, cascading waters, the Guinsuhutan
Cave provides added attraction for adventure seekers, with a river
inside the cave traversing one kilometer going through another upland
barangay.
In earlier
pronouncements, Samaco had said he had talked with one of the owners
of the renowned Gaisano Mall operators to pursue the city’s openness
to welcome the mall giant, and talks on this matter are still ongoing.
At present, the city
is constructing another edifice at the opposite end of the new public
market at the terminal building to house the dry goods section, with a
budget of P72 Million the source of fund mainly from the city coffers.
In the past,
negotiations with Gaisano to occupy this building, which was still in
the drawing table then, did not materialize, and there was no clear
clue just yet if it will be one of the occupants once the new building
will be finished.
In the radio program
“Maasin City in Action” hosted by Zaldy Olita, Samaco also disclosed
that he was inviting land developers to make a reclamation project of
their own and let businesses be put up there, selling the land they
had reclaimed, if ever, still in the parameters of the BOT scheme.
Now on his second
term, Samaco said he will devote more of his time to be more
aggressive at meeting with investors to let them consider coming to
the city.
In his first term, a
surge of building-construction in the center of the city can be
readily noticed, and more store outlets, food chains, banks, and
pawnshop branches have opened.
He said he will be
focusing this time with the private sector, in particular the capital
investors, even as he shall continue to be of service to the people,
attending to their needs, and looking after their welfare.
(PIA Southern Leyte)
Local communist
terrorist NPAs in hopeless and desperate move
By DPAO, 8th Infantry Division, PA
July
7, 2010
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan, Samar – The terrorist New Peoples Army’s (NPA) conduct of
an unauthorized checkpoint at Barangay Catalina, Jiabong, Samar Sunday
night (July 4th) was dubbed by one of their former comrades as a
hopeless and desperate move.
The terrorists in the
area could no longer withstand the recent relentless and unwavering
support of the local civilian populace to the government (Army and
PNP) troops, which of late led to the continuous revelation and
discovery of their encampments and safehouses in the area, which they
previously considered as their controlled barangays and mass bases.
For this reason, these
terrorists decided to come out in the open and establish a late-night
checkpoint in order to inflict casualties by chance to any unfortunate
passing vehicles.
One motorcycle, and
two trucks plus several other civilian vehicles were flagged-down by
the said local terrorist NPA’s in the said Barangay. The motorcycle
driver was reportedly held at gunpoint and his motorcycle was used as
part of the road barricade used by the NPAs. When several trucks and
private vehicles passed but did not stop to heed the checkpoint, the
terrorists opened fire, hitting the vehicles and wounding several
innocent civilians on board.
Likewise, one caro
truck was commandeered by the NPAs and its driver was ordered to
position the truck across the highway to be used as a roadblock. The
tires of the truck were shot at to prevent it from being moved.
Moreover, the driver was also held at gunpoint for more than an hour.
Reportedly, the
civilians passing the area knew that the checkpoint was illegal, due
to the lack of authorized signages as well as the absence of uniformed
troops, hence they did not heed nor stopped to be inspected. The said
civilians knew the legal and required SOP’s for the conduct of
military or Police checkpoints, as previously disseminated to them by
the troops in the area.
Unsuccessful in their
bid and intent to forage from the passing vehicles, and for fear of
getting caught by the responding troops from the nearby detachments
and patrol bases, the NPAs fled the area after discovering that the
passing vehicles reported the illegal checkpoint to the authorities.
Roberto “Ka Huling”
Gacuma, former Secretary of the SSF-1 of the Eastern Visayas Regional
Party Committee who is now advocating peace in
Eastern Visayas said that the incident was a “desperate and hopeless”
move of the terrorists because they can no longer get support from the
people.
“Ginagawa ng mga NPA
ang pag-checkpoint kung may target o may info sila na may papasok o
dadaan na malaking pera tulad ng sa mga pulitiko o mga negosyante lalo
na kung ito ay may mga escort na may dalang baril” (The NPA’s conduct
checkpoints if they have a target or information that there will be
politicians or businessmen who are in possession huge amounts of
money, and especially when they have armed escorts), Gacuma said in a
text message.
Meanwhile, Major
General Arthur I Tabaquero, 8ID’s Commander, condemned in the
strongest possible terms the continuous use of deceptive ploys of the
terrorists to gain support and harass the masses. “That is a mere
terrorism and we condemn such means of seeking support and harassment
to the innocent populace”, Major General Tabaquero said.
General Tabaquero also
reminded our politicians and businessmen to be more vigilant as they
are eyed targets of opportunity by these terrorists. He likewise once
again called on the citizens and other stakeholders to continuously
support our efforts against these local terrorists, and to help and
support the AFP and PNP by providing necessary information relative to
the activities of the said bandits.
The 8ID Commander
has already directed all units in the field to pursue and run after
the said armed groups and let them pay their debts to our people,
particularly in disturbing the peace and security of the region, via
any legal means possible.
LMP sets provincial
LMP elections in Eastern Visayas
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July
7, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – The
League of Municipalities of the Philippines has confirmed the dates of
the LMP Provincial chapter elections for the provinces in Eastern
Visayas.
The League of
Municipalities of the Philippines Provincial Chapters in the six
provinces of Eastern Visayas Region have already scheduled their
respective election of officers, per information gathered from the
National Office of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.
The LMP Leyte Chapter
members will select their new set of officers on July 8, 10:00 o’clock
in the morning. The election will be presided by the incumbent
president former Tanauan Mayor Roque A. Tiu and will be observed by
the DILG Leyte Provincial Director Jose Yee and a representative of
LMP.
The LMP Biliran
chapter is set to conduct election of officers on July 12, 10:00
o’clock in the morning at Biliran Garden Hotel. The elections will be
facilitated by the DILG Biliran and the representative of LMP, Leyte
Board Member Roque Tiu whose term of office at the National LMP will
be until October.
For LMP Eastern Samar,
the election of officers is set for 10:00 o’clock in the morning of
July 14, at the DILG office in East Samar. Leyte Board Member Tiu will
also represent LMP in the elections.
LMP Southern Leyte
election of officers is scheduled on July 19 at the provincial
capitol. No schedule for LMP Northern Samar Chapter and
Samar chapter was observed in LMP calendar of events.
Pursuant to Section 21
of Article VIII of the Amended By-laws of the League of Municipalities
of the Philippines provide for the creation of a Provincial Chapter.
It states that “All municipal mayors in every province including the
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR) and the National Capital Region (NCR),
or at least a majority thereof, shall convene in their capacity as
representatives of their respective municipalities and elect their
respective Provincial Chapter Officers from among themselves whose
primary duty is to carry out all policies and instructions formulated
by the National Executive Committee and/or the National Directorate.
The municipalities
of NCR shall constitute a chapter, who shall elect from among
themselves their representative to the National Directorate.”
Moreover, Section 1 of Article IX of the same By-laws provides, “The
National Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General shall supervise
all elections of officers in the National, Island Cluster and
Provincial Chapter levels, consistent with the guidelines issued by
the National Executive Committee.
Hustisya condemns the
first two killings under Pnoy Administration
By HUSTISYA
July
6, 2010
QUEZON CITY – Hustisya or Victims of the Arroyo Regime United for Justice, joins
members of various human rights groups and sectors today at the Chino Roces Bridge in Manila to protest the killings of JOSE DAGUIO, a radio
broadcaster in Tabuk, Kalinga on
July 3, 2010 and Bayan Muna and Makabayan Aklan Coordinator FERNANDO
BALDOMERO in Lezo, Aklan on
July 5, 2010.
At around 7:00 AM of
July 5, 2010, Fernando Baldomero, 61 was about to start his motorcycle
and bring his 12 year old son to school, when he was shot by two armed
men. He sustained two gunshot wounds; one on the head and another on
the neck. The two-term Municipal Councilor was also a political
detainee in the 80’s.
Meanwhile, two days
earlier, Jose Daguio, 72 a former radio broadcaster was about to feed
his dog in his yard, when a man came and shot him, hitting him in the
right side of his body. He failed to make it at the Kalinga Provincial
Hospital in Tabuk.
Mrs. Evangeline
Hernandez, Hustisya Spokesperson, fears that these recent cases of
extrajudicial killing are sending us a chilling message of what the
future may bring us under the Aquino Administration, “The murders of
Fernando Baldomero and Jose Daguio reminds me of that time, when it
was normal to kill three or five people in less than 24 hours, under
the Arroyo Regime,”
The mother of Beng
Hernandez, who was massacred together with four others in 2002,
vividly remembers the murder of five people between October 25 and 26,
2005 where the fatalities were Ricardo Ramos, president of Central
Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (Catlu) and barangay chairman of
Mapalacsiao, Tarlac City; Francisco Rivera, Bayan Muna-Pampanga
leader; Dr. Angel David and Vonjohn Maniti, Bayan-Pampanga allies; and
Federico de Leon, Anakpawis-Bulacan leader. “Parang normal lang ang
pumatay ng ganoon kadami sa isang araw; ngayon parang mauulit na muli
ang bangungot,”( It seemed normal to kill that many in one day, and
now it would also seem that we are going to relive that nightmare.),”
she decries.
Hustisya laments that
the Aquino administration has barely started and yet the Filipinos are
now seeing shades of fascist fangs coming out from it. This, it says,
was the same reason the previous regime was isolated from the people.
In the end, Arroyo was condemned for its fascist and murderous ways.
“Is this the way, the
Aquino administration wants to put closure on the killings, by merely
closing that chapter of the Arroyo regime and picking up where its
predecessor left under his government?” Hernandez asks.
The members of
Hustisya reiterate that their nine years of suffering must end now,
“We do not want any more children to be orphaned or wives and husbands
widowed because this new government failed to stop impunity. We call
on President Noynoy to order to stop the killings now!,”
Mrs.Evangeline Hernandez concluded.
Icot to focus on IT,
tourism, agriculture on his third term
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
July 6, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla pledged in his inaugural
speech Monday to focus more on information technology, tourism and
agriculture that will provide employment for majority of Leyteńos.
Gov. Petilla said he
will work as centrist and promised to be “least political” that will
bring all Leyteńos together to achieve social progress and economic
development.
Petilla was sworn in
for his third term as provincial governor by Supreme Court
Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez in front of invited government
officials and private guests from all over the province.
“Having been elected
as provincial governor, I am grateful to my constituents in giving me
another chance to push for our beloved province’s social progress and
economic development,” Petilla said.
“I ran without any
opponents but it is not by accident… it is because I had the support
from each one of you…and without you I will not be in this position.
So, I would like to thank all of you,” Petilla added.
Petilla’s political
career started in 2004 when he ran and won as governor. He was
reelected in 2007 and in the last May 10 elections.
“I have another three
years and all of you know in the past six years that I did not sleep
on my work. I work very hard for each one of you… Like the plans of
the incoming President (Aquino), his focus is on the budget deficit
and more importantly on employment. That is also our thrust and we
will try to achieve this in so short a time, three years,” the
governor said.
The governor added
that although Leyte is not an IT destination, he promised to propagate
more IT companies in the province and other parts of the region.
“We are also focusing
on tourism which is one of the cheaper ways of employing and
generating employment. Of course, the most difficult part, while we
can focus on ICT and tourism among many other things, the bottom line
is, in the province of Leyte majority of our people are still hinged
towards agriculture… and that is the biggest challenge that we will
have to generate livelihood on the agriculture sector,” the governor
said.
He said that with his
new mandate, he hopes to forge another fruitful years by working with
the people of Leyte.
Aside from Petilla,
Vice-Governor Ma. Mimiette S. Bagulaya and the 10 members of the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan also took their oath of office before Court
Administrator Marquez.
Meanwhile, city and
municipal mayors, vice-mayors and councilors also formally took their
oath Monday in sets before Gov. Petilla, Vice-Gov. Bagulaya, An Waray
Partylist Representatives Florencio Gabriel M. Noel and Neil Benedict
A. Montejo, and outgoing Leyte fifth district Rep. Carmen L. Cari.
Congressman Jose
Carlos L. Cari of Leyte’s fifth district was the only congressman
present in the inauguration ceremony.
Tacloban City
Vice-Mayor Arvin V. Antoni and Councilors Robert T. Andrade and Neil
A. Glova also joined in the inaugural ceremony of the province.
Vice-Mayor Antoni
said their joining is “practical” and “inexpensive” way of celebrating
their success in the last elections.
Hindang inaugurates
multi-million modern town hall
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
July 6, 2010
HINDANG, Leyte – A
new edifice symbolizing unity and progress now stood in the center of
Hindang housing its town hall and Sangguniang Bayan and other
municipal offices.
Leyte Governor Carlos
Jericho Petilla together with Leyte 5th District Representative Carlos
Cari, Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari and Hindang Mayor Elpidio Cabal
Jr. recently led the inauguration of the modernly designed
multi-million multi-purpose hall that also serves the town hall.
Mayor Cabal said his
administration opted to prioritize the rehabilitation of their old
municipal hall for the people “to experience and feel the progress the
town has attained”.
He said that with a
better-looking and more modern town hall can ensure a better and
effective service to the people.
“The town hall,
although it may just be a building also reflects the personality of
the town,” Mayor Cabal added.
The mayor likewise
mentioned that the town hall’s inauguration is the fulfillment of a
long-time dream to have a new municipal hall as the old one it
replaced was already too old and dilapidated.
The mayor’s office for
one, though was airconditioned, had its ceiling ready to fall any
moment. Gov. Petilla said that having “a nice and spacious working
environment evokes good quality service among the employees”.
“The work environment
speaks so much of how one will conduct his work. It also helps to have
a good working environment for the employees and staff to come to
everyday and inspire them to work compared to working in a building
that could fall on you anytime,” Gov. Petilla said during the short
program held.
Meanwhile it was
learned the province has provided Hindang LGU with a P1 million
financial assistance for the completion of the town hall while former
Congresswoman Cari has given the project P3 million in financial
assistance through her CDF fund.
East Visayas receives
P15.97B IRA in 2010
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July
5, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Department of Budget and Management Region 8 Director Imelda Laceras
has announced the issuance of Local Budget Memorandum No. 63 dated
June 23, 2010 which provide the Internal Revenue Allotment of LGUs which
will be used in the preparation of the local budgets for 2011.
The sharing of the
total P265.802 Billion IRA among Local Government Units is based on
the codal provision specifically under Section 284 and 285 of RA7160.
Director Laceras said
that the share for Eastern Visayas LGUs is about 15.975 Billion which
is about 6% of the total IRA. The complete listing may be accessed
through the DBM’s official website, www.dbm.gov.ph, or through the DBM
Regional Office at Marasbaras, Tacloban City.
The LGUs may also call
telephone number 5237457 and request for Ms. Aleli Hernandez who is
the OIC Division chief handling LGUs.
The specific share of
each LGU this Fiscal Year 2010 shall be used as the level for 2011
budget preparation in accordance with the prescribed forms, procedures
and schedules under the 2008 edition of Budget Operational Manual for
LGUs which is anchored on Section 354 of the 1991 Local Government
Code.
As mandated under
Section 17(g) of the Code, the IRA and other local resources shall
first cover the cost of providing basic services and facilities
enumerated under Section 17(b) thereof, particularly those devolved by
the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and
Development, Department of Agriculture and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources as well as other agencies of the
National Government before applying the same for other purposes."
Director Laceras is
reminding all Local Budget Officers to accordingly inform their local
chief executives who assumed office effective July 1, 2010 about this
development.
She also reminded the
budget officers to extend all necessary assistance in the preparation
of the 2011 budgets to allow the newly assumed local government
executives to submit their executive budgets to the respective
Sanggunian before October 16, 2010, the deadline set in the local
government code. (with data from DBM 8)
