PAGCOR Unveils New State-of-the-Art Socio-Civic Center in Batangas

June 28, 2024 - The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) inaugurated its latest Socio-Civic Center in Barangay Pansipit, Agoncillo on Wednesday, June 26th. The Php50 million facility marks the completion of a project initiated two years ago in March 2022.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco led the ceremony for the two-story building. This modern structure boasts multi-functionality, serving as a venue for community events, social gatherings, educational activities, and local government programs. It can also function as an evacuation center during emergencies.

Chairman Tengco emphasized the project's significance in promoting community development and resilience. He highlighted PAGCOR's shift in naming these facilities, from multi-purpose evacuation centers to Socio-Civic Centers, reflecting their broader range of uses.

"We renamed these buildings Socio-Civic Centers because they should not only be used during disasters but also for various programs and activities," Tengco said.

The new center is expected to contribute significantly to Agoncillo's socio-economic growth. Its modern design and amenities make it an ideal venue for events, trainings, and conferences, benefiting surrounding communities.

This marks the 39th completed PAGCOR-funded Socio-Civic Center nationwide, with 33 more currently under construction. Additionally, PAGCOR donated two desktop computers to the Agoncillo municipal government during the ceremony.

Agoncillo Mayor Cinderella V. Reyes expressed her gratitude for PAGCOR's continuous support, particularly crucial for a town situated near the active Taal Volcano.

"We are deeply grateful to PAGCOR for their unwavering support," said Mayor Reyes. "This Socio-Civic Center will undoubtedly become a cornerstone structure, providing a venue for numerous activities that benefit our residents. We look forward to maximizing its potential to foster unity and progress in Agoncillo."

This recent project adds to PAGCOR's existing support for Agoncillo, a 4th-class municipality. In 2022, the town received Php30 million to construct a PAGCOR Village, a housing project offering safe and permanent shelter for families displaced by Taal's eruptions.

NBI Confirms Mayor Guo's Identity Through Fingerprint Match

June 28, 2024 - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has confirmed suspicions surrounding the true identity of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. In a report released yesterday, the NBI's Dactyloscopy Division revealed that fingerprint examinations showed a conclusive match between Mayor Guo's prints and those of a Chinese national named Guo Hua Ping.

The request for fingerprint comparison originated from Atty. Rehom P. Pimentel of the NBI's Organized and Transnational Crime Division. The NBI report, dated June 27, 2024, details the examination process conducted between June 25th and 27th at the NBI VTech Tower in Quezon City.

Investigators compared fingerprint impressions from two sources:

• Alien Fingerprint Card retrieved from NBI master files, dated March 28, 2006, belonging to Guo Hua Ping y Lin.
• Biometric printout from the NBI Information and Communication Technology Division, dated March 10, 2021, belonging to Guo, Alice y Leal.

After a thorough analysis, the NBI's dactyloscopy experts concluded that the fingerprints from both sources were identical. This finding strongly suggests that Mayor Guo and Guo Hua Ping are the same person.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago emphasizes the significance of fingerprints in identification. "Dactyloscopy is an infallible science of identification," Director Santiago stated in a press conference. "No two individuals, not even identical twins, share the same fingerprint patterns. This evidence is conclusive and can be presented in court." [refer to news source about NBI Director's statement]

Senator Risa Hontiveros reacts to the NBI report. Senator Hontiveros, who previously raised concerns about Mayor Guo's identity, expressed her reaction to the NBI's findings. "This report confirms what I have suspected all along," said Senator Hontiveros. "Mayor Guo's fingerprints matching those of Guo Hua Ping proves she is not a legitimate Filipino citizen. This raises serious questions about how she was able to run for public office." [refer to news source about Senator Hontiveros' statement]

The NBI's fingerprint analysis is expected to play a crucial role in the ongoing investigation into Mayor Guo's background. Senator Hontiveros has called for a swift investigation and the filing of appropriate charges, while legal experts anticipate the NBI's report to be a key piece of evidence in any potential court case.

Philippines Recommits to Protecting Refugees and Stateless Persons

June 28, 2024 - The Department of Justice (DOJ), under the leadership of Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to upholding the welfare of refugees, political asylees, and stateless persons. This vow comes alongside the celebration of the first-ever National Refugee Day Forum.

The forum highlights the Philippines' long-standing humanitarian tradition of offering safe haven to those fleeing violence, war, or political persecution. The DOJ reiterated its commitment to international agreements such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions.

"Our doors remain open to provide international protection to the forcibly displaced and stateless persons," said DOJ Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez. "Today's forum is a testament to the Philippines' commitment to providing a safe space for those seeking refuge."

Following Presidential Proclamation No. 265, June 20th of every year will be designated as National Refugee Day. This encourages all government agencies, state universities, local government units, and even the private sector to participate in initiatives that support refugees and stateless persons.

"The Philippines will perpetually remain as a home, and its people a family, to our brothers and sisters overseas seeking refuge," Secretary Remulla declared.

Abalos Links Proper Nutrition to Better Academic Performance

June 28, 2024 - Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos believes proper nutrition, especially among young schoolchildren, is crucial to improving their academic performance and reducing stunting.

Abalos urged for full cooperation from all nutrition advocates and stakeholders during the Philippine Partners’ Assembly for Nutrition on Tuesday. He emphasized that innovations in childhood nutrition directly correlate with better academic performance.

"This is a good group. This is the main ingredient for the success of this PPAN program. It's the government, it's NGOs, it's going grassroots," said Abalos, who also serves as Vice-Chair of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Governing Board.

Abalos highlighted the importance of proper nutrition, citing a direct correlation between a student's diet and academic achievement. He presented the journey of the Mandaluyong City local government unit as an example. During his tenure as mayor, alongside current Mandaluyong Vice Mayor Carmelita Abalos, the city transformed from ranking 17th among Metro Manila LGUs in nutrition service delivery in 1999 to receiving the coveted Nutrition Honor Award in 2016.

This achievement stemmed from various programs implemented to combat malnutrition and stunting among children from their formative years. Abalos credits the massive strides and collective efforts of various sectors and nutrition advocates for addressing past nutritional challenges, resulting in a 26% reduction in stunting rates.

"Just six months ago, Mandaluyong students were cited. Why? Because we had the highest National Achievement Test for the high school students in the whole Philippines. So, there is a direct correlation of nutrition to academic achievement," he stressed.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), along with nine other government agencies, was recognized for its instrumental role in the multi-sectoral planning and implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) through the NNC Governing Board.

Know Your Taxpayer Classification Under the EOPT Law

The Philippine government, through the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Law and Revenue Regulations No. 8-2024, has streamlined taxpayer classifications. This makes it easier for businesses to understand their tax obligations based on their size and income level.

This blog post will serve as your guide to the new taxpayer classifications:

• Micro Taxpayer: This category applies to businesses with gross sales of less than Three Million Pesos (₱3,000,000.00) for a taxable year.
• Small Taxpayer: If your business generates gross sales between Three Million Pesos (₱3,000,000.00) and Twenty Million Pesos (₱20,000,000.00) in a year, you fall under this classification.
• Medium Taxpayer: Businesses with gross sales exceeding Twenty Million Pesos (₱20,000,000.00) but less than One Billion Pesos (₱1,000,000,000.00) in a taxable year are classified as medium taxpayers.
• Large Taxpayer: This classification applies to businesses with gross sales of One Billion Pesos (₱1,000,000,000.00) and above for a taxable year.

Important Note: When calculating your gross sales for tax classification purposes, remember to exclude the following:

• Value-Added Tax (VAT)
• Any other deductions
• Compensation income (e.g., salaries)
• Passive income (e.g., interest earned)
• Tax-exempt income

Need More Information?

For a more comprehensive understanding of the new taxpayer classifications and their corresponding tax obligations, you can refer to Revenue Regulations No. 8-2024. You can access this document through this link: [bit.ly/RR8-2024] (Please note that this short link avoids directly embedding the full URL in the blog post).

By knowing your taxpayer classification, you can ensure you comply with the appropriate tax filing and payment procedures. This will help you avoid penalties and keep your business tax compliant.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for general information purposes only and does not constitute professional tax advice.