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Former DOF execs charged with graft
over P112M tax credit scam |
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Source:
http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph |
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Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of multiple
graft charges against officials of the One-Stop Shop
Inter-Agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center (OSS-Center) of
the Department of Finance (DOF) led by former Undersecretary
Antonio Belicena, former Deputy Executive Director Uldarico
Andutan, Jr., and OIC of the Textile Division Asuncion Magdaet
as well as the owners and officers of Mannequin International
Corporation (MIC) for violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act
No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) in connection
with the irregular issuance of tax credit certificates (TCCs).
The tax credit scheme involved the release of 45 TCCs to MIC
amounting to P112,606,076.00 from 1995 to1998. Upon post-audit
by the DOF Chief Tax Specialist, it was established that MIC
fraudulently obtained the TCCs by means of misrepresentation and
deceit by submitting fake commercial documents such as export
declarations, export sales invoice, bills of lading/airway
bills, and bank credit memorandum to validate non-existing
export transactions. The company was, for all intents and
purposes, a paper corporation, created solely for the purpose of
filing spurious tax credit claims with the government.
The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict
Belicena, et. al. on the ground that the OSS officials failed to
discharge their responsibilities to thoroughly evaluate and
review the application and verify the authenticity of the
documents. For this, Belicena and Andutan each face 45 counts
while Magdaet faces 43 counts of violation of Section 3(e) of
R.A. No. 3019.
The Resolution stated that public respondents acted with
manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable
negligence when they allowed the release of the TCCs to MIC and
the transfer to entities which allegedly supplied raw materials
to MIC’s production of export goods despite the lack of
qualification to avail of the tax credit benefit.
It added that the existence of injury to the government is
indisputable as it is quantified in the aggregate amount of the
TCCs which the respondents processed, evaluated, approved and
issued to an ineligible firm.
Aside from Belicena, Andutan and Magdaet, the Office of the
Ombudsman directed the filing of graft charges against the
following DOF employees: Rowena Maño (1 count), Gemma Abara (3
counts), Annabelle Dino (6 counts), Emelita Tizon (6 counts),
Purita Napeñas (2 counts), Charmelle Recoter (4 counts), Merose
Tordesilla (5 counts), Gregoria Evangelio (2 counts), Mark
Binsol (2 counts), Cherry Gomez (4 counts), Sylvialina Daguimol
(3 counts), Manuel Rigor III (1 count), Maria Christina Moncada
(3 counts), Paul Senador (1 count) and Marife Cabadin (1 count).
It will be recalled that in July 2012, the Office of the
Ombudsman ordered the filing of criminal charges before the
Sandiganbayan against 17 officials of the DOF and several
private individuals for their involvement in the fraudulent
issuance of 83 TCCs amounting to P202M. Earlier in 2011, the
Office of the Ombudsman also ordered filing of criminal
Informations before the Sandiganbayan against BIR Assistant
Commissioner Lirio Cabsaba and eight other BIR and DOF officials
for fraudulent issuances and sale of TCCs.
In March 2012, the first set of “tax credit scam” cases were
resolved resulting into the dismissal from the service of 13 DOF
officials including Belicena and Andutan, for defrauding the
government of P82M and P74.84M arising from the “tax credit
scam” from 1994 to 1998. The Office of the Ombudsman also
ordered the filing of 20 counts of violation of Sec. 3 (e) of
R.A. No. 3019 and 20 counts of Estafa thru Falsification of
Public Documents.
A TCC refers to a tax credit representing the tariff duties and
internal revenue taxes (VAT) paid by an enterprise on the raw
materials, supplies and semi-manufactured supplies used in the
manufacture of export products, entitling it to a tax refund as
a package incentive. In order to facilitate the TCC issuance
under the illicit scheme, false and/spurious commercial
documents were submitted to the OSS-Center which failed to
verify their authenticity. The TCCs were then sold or illegally
transferred to other business entities by making it appear that
the transferees were suppliers of raw materials. |
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Makati urged to adopt ATM payroll,
eliminate ghost employees |
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Source:
http://www.dbm.gov.ph |
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Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio
“Butch” Abad has urged the City of Makati to finally do away
with handing out envelopes during payday in favor of a
comprehensive electronic payroll system, in reference to a 2012
report by the Commission on Audit (COA) that noted the city was
still paying their employees using cash.
The 2012 COA Annual Audit Report on Makati also noted that
majority of government offices were already using automated
teller machines (ATMs) to pay their employees. According to the
report, ATMs lower the risk of fund misuse and result in greater
convenience, transparency, and accountability.
Earlier news reports alleged that Makati—the last local
government in Metro Manila still using manual pay-outs—still
hadn’t completed the transition to an ATM payroll system for its
employees.
“We understand that three years later, Makati City still pays
around half of its employees in cash instead of through ATM.
While they’ve made progress since then, we urge Acting Mayor
Romulo ‘Kid’ Peña, Jr. to complete the transition to ATM
payments. Not only are electronic payroll systems more
efficient—they also help keep LGUs clear of ghost employees,
since the creation of ATM accounts will require account holders
to show sufficient proof of identification,” Abad said.
Since 2010, a major component of the administration’s good
governance reforms—the Public Financial Management (PFM)
program—seeks to improve the efficiency and transparency of the
use of public funds through clarifying, simplifying, and
harmonizing government financial management processes and
information systems.
This has been achieved substantively through the government’s
adoption of the Unified Accounts Code Structure (UACS) and the
Treasury Single Account (TSA). The UACS is a classification
system that allows for improved monitoring of the status and
details of projects, activities, and programs. Meanwhile, the
TSA unifies the structure of government bank accounts and
presents a clearer picture of cash resources.
“The national government has been actively upgrading our
financial management systems and pushing for the highest degree
of transparency in our practices. We need local
governments—especially those that manage sizeable resources like
Makati—to stand with us in our drive for good governance,” Abad
said. |
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Statement by the Department of
Budget and Management on allegations made by former Sen. Lacson on
DAP and lump sums |
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Source:
http://www.dbm.gov.ph |
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“Mr. Lacson’s doomsday assertions on lump sums and the supposed
resurrection of DAP under the 2015 budget are inaccurate. A
careful reading of the National Budget would prove that quickly
enough. While the General Appropriations Act (GAA) may appear
complex, it will very clearly show two things: that the supposed
DAP provisions are not in the GAA, and that there are fewer lump
sums in the Administration’s spending plan this year. As a
matter of fact, 87 percent of the Special Purpose Funds under
the 2015 Budget has already been disaggregated.
“Meanwhile, you will note that all remaining lump-sum items are
funds whose specific purposes are impossible to determine in the
planning process. For example: we cannot foretell where
disasters will strike or what the extent of the potential damage
might be, so the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Fund is necessarily a lump-sum.
“We must not mislead the public by implying that lump sums in
the budget are tantamount to fund irregularity. It’s true that
most budget items ought to be disaggregated, exactly as we have
done. But it’s true as well that some budget items, by their
very nature, must be expressed in lump sums, so that the
government can continue to deliver goods and services in the
face of contingencies.
“We urge Mr. Lacson to reach out to the DBM if he has any
misgivings about the National Budget, so we can prevent the
misinterpretation of budget data. As it stands, it is unclear to
us how Mr. Lacson arrived at the lump-sum figures that he named
in his PICPA speech, because these figures are not in the GAA.
At a time when public interest in the budget is extraordinarily
high, it is only appropriate that public servants protect the
people’s right to truthful and accurate information, especially
when it comes to government spending.” |
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DOJ activates Cyber Security team |
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Source:
http://www.doj.gov.ph |
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The Department of Justice today took a step towards greater
protection of government data in cyberspace with the
constitution of its first Cyber Security Incident Response Team
or the CSIRT.
"With the rising dependence of transportation, utilities and
other critical infrastructure on information and technology,
there is a consequent vulnerability that we need to address,"
said Secretary of Justice Leila M. De Lima. "Cyber threats must
be dealt with preventively and proactively," she said.
Department Order No. 526 sets up a multi-disciplinary group
covering relevant offices under the Department and is headed by
the DOJ Chief Information Officer (CIO).
"This is aligned with the National Security Policy (NSP) of
government. Hackings and cyber-attacks in many forms are
occurring. The DOJ-CSIRT will mitigate the risks against, the
integrity of government data," said Assistant Secretary Geronimo
L. Sy, designated Chair of the CSIRT and head of the Office of
Cybercrime.
Guidelines, advisories, and procedures to ensure proper
coordination among DOJ agencies and other justice stakeholders.
will be the first priority. Private sector groups may be
consulted and engaged for effective collaboration.
Relatedly, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the
Cybercrime Prevention Act was endorsed to the Secretaries of
Interior and Local Government, and Science and Technology. The
issuance of the IRR is expected to bolster the cyber-capacity of
government and to provide better protection to business and
industry specially the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
companies. |
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Pantawid, politics and that P19-B
figure |
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Source:
http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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Recently, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program
implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Management
(DSWD) came under attack. Again. More popularly known as 4Ps or
Pantawid (Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program), political
commentators seized on a report by the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) which stated that close to P19 billion of the 4Ps budget
did not go to the poor.
What?! I have been a member of the program’s National
Independent Advisory and Monitoring Committee for over two years
now and was shocked by the figure. So I did my own research.
It seems that the media’s source was the ADB publication
Learning Lessons, which said: “The inclusive growth study noted
that improvements are needed in the program’s targeting system.”
Where did the P19-billion figure come from? This is where it
gets amazing. The footnote of the ADB document referred to a
study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies
(PIDS), which estimated a leakage rate of nearly 30% using 2009
data.
In 2009, the CCT Program’s budget was P8.3 billion, and the
total number of beneficiaries was 777,500. Assuming the PIDS
estimate of 30% was correct, then the amount of the purported
leakage (based on the 2009 budget) would be P2.4 billion. How
did the media come up with P19 billion? Simple. They applied 30%
to the current budget (P62 billion). Voila! — P19 billion, give
or take P400 million. I may not be that great at math, but even
a 4Ps high school beneficiary would know better than to use an
outdated 2009 figure and apply it to 2015 data.
Assuming a 30% leakage is correct, the actual amount would be
only 13% of the P19 billion figure thrown about by some
so-called political commentators.
However, the estimate of 30% is a matter that requires
investigation. As Yul Brynner as the King of Siam said, “It’s a
puzzlement!” I have asked the CCT Secretariat to find out what
the formula was, since its own monitoring in 2010 actually
delisted some 15% of the beneficiaries for noncompliance of the
requirements.
What is the CCT all about, anyway? Why is the government, from
the time of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the present,
supporting it with billions of pesos? Is it a poverty
alleviation program, like so many before that threw money at the
poor?
An inspired and useful program initiated by the Arroyo
administration, the CCT adapted the programs implemented by
Mexico and Brazil to help reduce poverty by subsidizing poor
families with school-age children. To me, it seems like a
scholarship program for poor grade-school kids.
How does it work in the Philippines? A poor family with no
steady income, with children aged six to 14, can get up to
P1,400 monthly for five years. The family gets the subsidy for a
maximum of three children, as a health grant and the rest as
educational assistance. The family needs to make sure the kids
are healthy and attend school. Thus, the grant really is more
like a scholarship for the kids. No kids, no grant. Kids fail in
school, reduce the grant. Further, pregnant women are required
to get pre- and post-natal check ups. To make sure that the
beneficiaries really do accomplish the conditions set, the
monitoring of Pantawid is quite strict. The public schools
provide proof of enrollment and the grades of the kids, the
Department of Health centers monitor the health of the babies,
kids and mothers. Children up to five years old are required to
undergo check-ups and vaccines.
Further, Pantawid has implemented a values formation program
through the Family Development Services (FDS), where the
beneficiaries in a community gather regularly to participate in
capacity building on parenting, health and literacy, among many
topics. Local nongovernment organizations are partners of the
DSWD, with local coordinators acting as municipal links who
facilitate the FDS. Parents are required to attend the FDS.
Anecdotal information to date tells us that the transformation
of the parents has been remarkable.
Launched in 2008 with 380,000 poor households, it doubled after
a year. Today, the program has expanded to cover 4.4 million
families this year. About 11 million school children are being
supported. To date, the DSWD has reported that compliance of the
beneficiaries with the conditions is high: 93% for health, 98%
for education, and 96% for family development services.
With regard to the need to improve the selection of its
beneficiaries, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman has been quite
zealous. Several years ago she invited leaders from civil
society, academe, business and the religious sector to be part
of the National Independent Advisory and Monitoring Committee
(NIAMC) to help improve the CCT operations. Currently chaired by
Evelyn Singson, the NIAMC members are as zealous as Secetary
Dinky. I have attended several meetings where NIAMC members,
like Economist Winnie Monsod, investigated DSWD monitoring
reports the way the Senate conducts its hearings (without the
harassment, bullying and disrespect).
When we analyzed the accomplishments to date, we were impressed
by the impact of the cash grants. In education, near-universal
enrollment of elementary age children (6-11 years old) and the
enrollment rate for children aged 12 — 15 was six percentage
points higher among Pantawid households than non-Pantawid ones.
Child labor among Pantawid households has decreased by an
average of seven days per month. Further, Pantawid mothers are
more likely to seek pre- and postnatal care and deliver babies
in health facilities.
Richard Bolt, ADB country director for the Philippines, has
issued three statements to date to correct the misimpression
that today’s 4Ps is so poorly managed that P19 billion has been
lost.
Acknowledging that there were leakage issues in 2009, Bolt
wrote: “The targeting issue raised in the PIDS report has been
addressed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development
and the Conditional Cash Transfer Program and related ADB
support. As such, we are confident that the issue raised is
dealt with in the ongoing Conditional Cash Transfer Program.”
He goes further and states that the ADB Independent Evaluation
report is “strongly positive and supportive of the program and
its achievements including improved health outcomes and
increased school participation, as well as its likely effect on
the employability of the beneficiaries, and their chances for
breaking the inter-generational cycle of poverty.”
Will Bolt’s statements arrest the attacks on 4Ps? I have heard
the line of attack of some of the so-called commentators. Sadly,
I doubt if they will give equal air time for the official ADB
statements. Its just so much more rewarding to stoke the anger
of the masses by repeating, ad nauseum, that the government has
thrown away P19 billion. I do hope and pray that Congress will
be guided by fact, not politicking, when they deliberate on the
budget of the Pantawid program. After all, over 4.4 million
families and 11 million school children, their constituents,
will benefit. Hope springs eternal.
Amina Rasul is a democracy, peace and human rights advocate, and
president of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy.
Reposted from:
http://bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title=Pantawid,-politics-and-that-P19-B-figure&id=111547 |
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DSWD continues to augment LGUs
affected by ‘Habagat’ |
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Source:
http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
continues to augment the resources of Local Government Units
(LGUs) affected by heavy rains and flooding brought about by ‘Habagat.’
To date, the Department has provided a total of P3,347,378 worth
of relief assistance to affected families. The DSWD has also
prepositioned 417,704 family food packs at the regional offices
ready for distribution by the LGUs.
In addition, the Department has P50,025,129.69 standby funds as
well as food and non-food items amounting to P474,800,041.21
located in all regions and at the National Resource and
Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City.
Based on the 10 am July 14 report, 28,317 families or 139,613
persons were affected in 153 barangays, where 43 families or 166
persons are still inside six evacuation centers in the provinces
of Bataan and Bulacan in Central Luzon, Batangas in Calabarzon,
and Benguet in CAR.
The DSWD disaster teams are on alert and continuously monitoring
the situations in the different regions affected by ‘Habagat’.
To date, DSWD is also closely coordinating with the LGUs in
assessing other needs of affected families. |
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DPWH installs earthquake
recording instrument |
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Source:
http://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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Leading the public sector in maximizing resources and technology
available for disaster risk reduction, two (2) units of
accelerograph were installed at the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) Head Office to ensure the serviceability,
performance, and structural integrity against earthquake of its
five (5) storey building at Port Area, Manila.
Installation of accelerograph, a sensing equipment that measures
seismic acceleration or strong ground motion that processes and
converts the intensity, velocity and displacement of ground
motion, coincides with the holding of Earthquake Resilience
Seminar by the DPWH National Building Code Development Office
among Metro Manila Building Officials recently.
Earlier, the DPWH through its National Building Code Development
Office (NBCDO) issued NBCDO Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of
2015, which provides for the Guidelines and Implementing Rules
on Earthquake Recording Instrumentation (ERI) for Buildings and
as part of the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the National
Building Code and pertinent provisions of National Structural
Code of the Philippines.
The Guidelines and Implementing Rules on Earthquake Recording
Instrumentation for Buildings which was published in newspaper
of general circulation requires building to install certain
number of ERI and at different locations.
It shall cover all existing buildings, both government and
private, located in Seismic Zone 4 in the entire Philippines
except Palawan and Tawi-Tawi located in Zone 2.
The installation of the instrument shall form part of the
requirements for the Annual Certificate of Inspections for
existing buildings and as a pre-condition for the issuance of
Certificate of Occupancy for new buildings covered by the
guidelines.
Monitoring of compliance on the provisions is under the ambit of
powers of the office of the local Building Officials and
City/Municipal Engineer who are required by DPWH Secretary
Rogelio L. Singson to submit quarterly compliance report of the
buildings under their respective areas of jurisdiction. |
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DOLE Call Center receives more
complaints on OSH |
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Source:
http://www.dole.gov.ph |
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Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
yesterday said the DOLE Call Center, which can be reached
through (02) 527-8000, from 6:00 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. Mondays to
Fridays, or through email at dolecallcenter@yahoo.com, continues
to receive complaints and inquiries on occupational safety and
health concerns, including deficiencies or violations by private
sector establishments.
“I am glad the public is getting to know of the assistance being
provided by the DOLE Call Center if they wanted to air or
communicate complaints on on occupational safety and health
standards in their workplaces. This is a sign of vigilance,”
said Baldoz.
“We appreciate the people who call or email the DOLE Call Center
and encourage the public to avail of the services of the
facility in bringing to our attention OSH standards deficiencies
in the workplaces,” she added.
Baldoz made the observation after Director Nicon F. Fameronag of
the Labor Communications Office, which supervises the DOLE Call
Center, reported that an employee of Novistelle International
Corporation in Novaliches has informed the Center that her
company is not providing protective equipment, like face masks
and safety gears, to all workers.
Novistelle International Corporation specializes in the
manufacture of school, restaurant, and office furniture and
interior design products, using wood, fiberglass and metal, for
sale in the local and export markets.
Claiming to have over a hundred workers, the company operates at
two factories, one in Tandang Sora and another in Old Sauyo
Road, Quezon City.
“Although the company provides some workers with face masks and
safety gear, these are not the proper safety protective masks
because obnoxious and odorous smell of chemicals used in
furniture manufacture can still be smelled or breathed by the
workers. Thus, a few of them have gotten sick of tuberculosis,”
the complainant said in an e-mail to the Center.
Apart from the lack of protective and safety equipment, the
complainant also said the company’s facilities, such as the
elevator in the production area, and the tools and equipment,
such as the grinder, were already defective and have caused
accidents.
“May naputulan na po ng daliri na mga manggagawa sa Novistelle,
pero wala pong ginagawang remedyo ang kumpanya,” the complainant
said.
Director Fameronag informed the Secretary that the DOLE Call
Center had immediately endorsed to DOLE National Capital Region
Regional Director Alex V. Avila the said complaint.
“We have already alerted Director Avila and requested him to
dispatch a Labor Laws Compliance Officer to assess Novistelle’s
compliance with OSHS and to check on the reports the company
have been submitting to the DOLE,” Fameronag said.
Last month following the fire incident at the rubber slipper
manufacturing facility of Kentex Manufacturing Corporation that
claimed 73 lives, Secretary Baldoz had asked the public to
participate in a massive citizen-driven monitoring of all
business establishments’ compliance to occupational safety and
health standards, and to report violations of occupational
safety and health standards to the DOLE Call Center and other
DOLE regional offices, so that these can be acted upon
immediately. |
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Baldoz instructs POLOs to
monitor minimum wage increase in Taiwan |
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Source:
http://www.dole.gov.ph |
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Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
yesterday announced that effective July 2015, minimum wage
earners in Taiwan, both local and foreign, shall enjoy a new
minimum wage increase of NTD20,008.00 (P29,199.60), or an
additional NTD735.00 (P1,072.77), from the previous NTD19,273.00
(P28,131.50) minimum wage.
The new minimum wage rate was determined in August last year by
the Ministry of Labor (MOL) following consultations from
different sectors made up of Taiwan’s academic, public and
private sectors, as well as business associations and labor
rights groups, due to rising consumer prices, she said, citing a
report of Llewelyn D. Perez, Philippine Labor Representative in
Taipei.
Perez, in his report, said the increase will benefit some 94,000
Filipino workers in Taiwan’s productive industries, such as
manufacturing, electronics parts and components, fabricated
metals, machinery and equipment, including those employed in
nursing institutions.
However, Perez said the wage increase excludes Filipino
home-based caretakers and household workers. As of May 2105,
there are around 25, 348, Filipino caretakers and household
services workers in Taiwan.
“I have instructed our Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs)
in Kaohsiung, Taichung and Taipei to monitor the implementation
of the new wage rate and to continue conducting Post Arrival
Orientation Seminars (PAOS) to all incoming OFWs to give them a
general overview of Taiwan and its labor market, and where to
get assistance in cases of distress,” Baldoz said.
As of June 2105, there are more than 111,000 Filipino in Taiwan,
with 55% working in Taipei, while 45 percent are spread in
Taichung and Kaohsiung. |
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DPWH formalized agreement with
DENR on Roadside Tree Planting Program |
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Source:
http://www.dpwh.gov.ph |
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Leading the public sector in maximizing resources and technology
available for disaster risk reduction, two (2) units of
accelerograph were installed at the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) Head Office to ensure the serviceability,
performance, and structural integrity against earthquake of its
five (5) storey building at Port Area, Manila.
Installation of accelerograph, a sensing equipment that measures
seismic acceleration or strong ground motion that processes and
converts the intensity, velocity and displacement of ground
motion, coincides with the holding of Earthquake Resilience
Seminar by the DPWH National Building Code Development Office
among Metro Manila Building Officials recently.
Earlier, the DPWH through its National Building Code Development
Office (NBCDO) issued NBCDO Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of
2015, which provides for the Guidelines and Implementing Rules
on Earthquake Recording Instrumentation (ERI) for Buildings and
as part of the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the National
Building Code and pertinent provisions of National Structural
Code of the Philippines.
The Guidelines and Implementing Rules on Earthquake Recording
Instrumentation for Buildings which was published in newspaper
of general circulation requires building to install certain
number of ERI and at different locations.
It shall cover all existing buildings, both government and
private, located in Seismic Zone 4 in the entire Philippines
except Palawan and Tawi-Tawi located in Zone 2.
The installation of the instrument shall form part of the
requirements for the Annual Certificate of Inspections for
existing buildings and as a pre-condition for the issuance of
Certificate of Occupancy for new buildings covered by the
guidelines.
Monitoring of compliance on the provisions is under the ambit of
powers of the office of the local Building Officials and
City/Municipal Engineer who are required by DPWH Secretary
Rogelio L. Singson to submit quarterly compliance report of the
buildings under their respective areas of jurisdiction. |
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Philippines and United
States ink agreement on FATCA |
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Source:
http://www.dof.gov.ph |
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13 July 2015 | Manila, Philippines– Finance Secretary Cesar V.
Purisima and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip S.
Goldberg signed a reciprocal intergovernmental agreement (IGA)
to implement provisions of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance
Act (FATCA) to promote transparency in financial accounts
between the two nations for tax purposes. The agreement
underscores growing international cooperation to curb offshore
tax evasion and avoidance.
Finance Secretary Purisima, signing on behalf of the Republic of
the Philippines, said, “The Philippines continues to stand at
the forefront of fiscal transparency across the Asia-Pacific
region, reaping measurable returns for our people. In fact,
fiscal transparency is one of the 4 pillars of the Cebu Action
Plan (CAP) the Philippines is advancing in its hosting of the
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers’
Process (FMP) meetings.
Tax evasion across borders is an alarming problem that we can
beat back with openness and mutual cooperation. This IGA is an
affirmation of that ideal.”
Ambassador Goldberg stated, “Today’s signing marks a significant
step forward in our efforts to work collaboratively to combat
offshore tax evasion – an objective that mutually benefits our
two countries. By working together to detect, deter, and
discourage tax abuses through increased transparency and
enhanced reporting, we can help to build a stronger, more
stable, and more accountable global financial system.”
The two countries have an existing tax treaty containing an
Exchange of Information provision, a valuable tool for promoting
tax cooperation between countries. Under said provision,
information may be exchanged between the competent authorities
in response to a specific request, or on an automatic basis, or
spontaneously.
The innovation that the IGA introduces is the automatic
reporting of financial accounts maintained by U.S. persons in
Philippine financial institutions to the Bureau of Internal
Revenue (BIR), which, in turn, will annually transmit the
information to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The reciprocal nature of the IGA provides the equivalent benefit
to the Philippines as the IRS will routinely provide the BIR
reports on financial accounts maintained by Philippine residents
in U.S. financial institutions. According to Secretary Purisima,
signing the IGA also eases the compliance burden of Philippine
financial institutions, who risked facing a 30 percent
withholding tax on certain U.S.-sourced income if they failed to
comply with FATCA-related reporting requirements.
The automatic reporting of financial accounts is premised on the
appropriate safeguard measures to ensure confidentially of
information that will be used solely for tax purposes, and the
necessary infrastructure to effect timely, accurate, and secure
exchange. Once in place, these will trigger the automatic
exchange.
Enacted by the U.S. in 2010 to combat offshore tax evasion by
encouraging transparency and obtaining information on accounts
held by U.S. taxpayers in other countries, FATCA is rapidly
becoming the global standard in the effort to curtail offshore
tax evasion. To date, 65 FATCA IGAs have been signed, 47
agreements have been agreed to in substance, and several others
are under discussion. |
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Hail to the Chief |
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Source:
http://pnp.gov.ph |
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PNP OIC PDDG Leonardo Espina led the Uniformed and Non-Uniformed
personnel of the Philippine National Police in welcoming the
appointment by President Benigno Aquino III of Police Director
Ricardo C Marquez as the 20th chief PNP.
“General Marquez is a hardworking officer with a proven track
record in all his previous assignments” Espina said.
Espina will handover command of the PNP to Marquez on Thursday,
July 16, before he officially retires from the police service.
Prior to his designation as Chief PNP, Marquez, a member of the
PMA “Sandigan” Class of 1982, is erstwhile, the PNP Director for
Operations (DO).
“This is an opportune time to focus more in doing the core
functions of the police and that is patrolling the streets in
our communities to prevent crimes, to make sure that crimes are
properly investigated if we failed to prevent them from
happening, and to track down and take down most wanted criminals
and criminal gangs.” PDir Marquez said during a press conference
earlier today.
Before he was designated as PNP Director for Operations, Marquez
used to be the PRO1 Director in the Ilocos-Pangasinan region
where he launched a massive campaign against criminality,
particularly against motorcycle-riding criminals, drugs and
partisan armed groups.
As the Director for Operations, he supervised security
operations for recent international events held in the country,
most prominently, the Papal Visit and Apostolic Journey of Pope
Francis last January, and the series of high level international
conferences leading to the 2015 APEC Summit.
Marquez will retire on August 2016. (PNP-PIO) |
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MILF commanders undergo training in dev’t
planning |
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Source:
http://www.opapp.gov.ph |
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COTABATO CITY – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camp
commanders huddled for three days with representatives of
government line agencies in this city to undergo formal training
on how to kick off and implement development in six previously
acknowledged MILF camps located in the Maguindanao and Lanao
provinces.
The Area Development Planning (ADP) Workshop was held at the Em
Manor Hotel in this city from July 9-11 with MILF commanders,
and government military and agriculture officials to begin the
transition plans for the MILF camps into peaceful and productive
communities. After the three-day workshop, both GPH and the MILF
participants will collaborate on formulating the priority
development plans in the six sites.
Under the Annex on Normalization, the GPH and the MILF mutually
agreed to constitute joint task forces that “will assess the
needs, plan appropriate programs, and undertake the necessary
measures to transform these areas into peaceful and productive
communities".
These areas are in the vicinity of former MILF Camp Abubakar as-Siddique,
Camp Badre, and Camp Omar ibn al-Khattab in Maguindanao; Camp
Rajamuda in North Cotabato and Maguindanao; Camp Bilal in Lanao
del Norte and Lanao del Sur; and Camp Busrah Somiorang in Lanao
del Sur.
The six camps were identified and acknowledged in 1999 during
the term of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in order to
facilitate the observance of the 1997 ceasefire agreement.
However, an all-out war was waged against the MILF in 2000. The
MILF withdrew from some of these camps, notably Camps Abubakar
and Omar.
Mohamad Saleh, MILF Task Force Camps Transformation Coordinator,
expressed his deep gratitude to the national government for its
“commitment to achieve genuine peace and development in
Mindanao.”
The work of the Joint Task Forces in each of the six sites is
one of the confidence-building measures provided in the Annex on
Normalization, an integral part of the Comprehensive Agreement
on the Bangsamoro which the Government and MILF Panels signed in
March 2014.
“The peace dividends must already be felt by the people in our
communities as soon as possible,” Saleh said.
Former Agriculture Secretary and GPH Peace Panel member Senen
Bacani briefed participants on the rudiments of area development
planning. He also urged the participants to identify
quick-response projects that will address immediate needs of the
communities such as electricity, water supply system, minor
infrastructure and quick gestation livelihood projects.
“These efforts should continue because we are all Filipinos and
we should provide assistance to those who need help,” Bacani
said.
The three-day workshop was facilitated by Roberto “Roy”
Tordecilla, World Bank Senior Expert and Engr. Nasser Sinarimbo. |
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DOTC: 98% of lump sum funds for
disaster recovery |
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Source:
http://www.dotc.gov.ph |
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Only P 1.018-Billion Are Lump Sum Funds; P 53.5-B Out of P
54.5-B Budget Itemized
The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is
correcting the erroneous announcement made by resigned
Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, former
Secretary Panfilo Lacson, that P 11.4-Billion worth of lump sum
funds are included in the agency’s 2015 budget.
“The correct total is only one billion and eighteen million
pesos of lump sum funds in the DOTC’s 2015 budget. One billion
is allocated for Disaster-Related Rehabilitation Projects, so
that in case calamities such as Typhoon Yolanda strike the
Philippines, we will be able to respond immediately with
rehabilitation and recovery works for our people,” said
transport chief Jun Abaya.
“It is wrong to assume that lump sum funds are wrong. Certainly,
as we learned from the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, we have to
be prepared for calamities by having funding readily available.
The only reason why these are lumped together is because we
cannot predict where a particular disaster will strike,” he
added.
In line with the DOTC’s budget reform efforts, P
53,519,699,000.00 out of its total 2015 budget of P
54,537,699,000.00 are itemized.
The details of DOTC’s 2015 lump sum funds are as follows:
|
PURPOSE
|
AMOUNT
|
DESCRIPTION
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Disaster-Related Rehabilitation Projects
(Quick Response Fund)
|
P 1,000,000,000
|
This is a standby fund for relief, rehabilitation,
and reconstruction program, including the transport
of goods in areas stricken by calamities.
This covers disasters which took place or may take
place from the last quarter of 2014 to the end of
2015.
P 700,000,000 is allocated for Maintenance and Other
Operating Expenses (MOOE) and P 300,000,000 is for
Capital Outlay (CO).
|
|
Construction, Rehabilitation, and Improvement of
Aviation Infrastructure
|
P6,000,000
|
For use in airport project requirements that may
arise in the course of project implementation, such
as in case damage is caused to an ongoing project by
a calamity.
|
|
Construction, Rehabilitation, and Improvement of
Railway Infrastructure
|
P 6,000,000
|
For use in railway project requirements that may
arise in the course of project implementation, such
as in case damage is caused to an ongoing project by
a calamity.
|
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Construction, Rehabilitation, and Improvement of
Port, Lighthouse, and Harbor Infrastructure
|
P 6,000,000
|
For use in port, lighthouse, and harbor projects
requirements that may arise in the course of project
implementation, such as in case damage is caused to
an ongoing project by a calamity.
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SALINTUBIG empowers LGUs |
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Source:
http://www.dilg.gov.ph |
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Since 1978, the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) has been actively involved in water supply projects for
Local Government Units (LGUs) as it is the primary government
branch that has secure links and supervision over the LGUs.
The DILG’s participation in water supply projects is most
recently manifested by the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig para sa
Lahat (SALINTUBIG) project, which aims to provide safe, potable
water to far-flung communities beyond urban centers and
financially viable water districts.
To achieve this, the DILG is working hand in hand with the Local
Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), a government-owned and
controlled corporation (GOCC) that promotes and oversees the
development of water supply systems in the provinces.
The main difference between the DILG and the LWUA lies in the
fact that the LWUA is a lending institution that helps water
supply projects to generate return-on-investment, whereas the
DILG empowers LGUs by unconditionally providing them with funds
so their far-flung communities can have access to safe and clean
water.
Between 2012 and 2013, the SALINTUBIG program was able to
complete a total of 269 sub-projects out of the total 452, an
accomplishment that benefited 29,800 households all over the
country. The remaining 183 sub-projects are currently in various
stages of implementation.
Hundreds of thousands of individuals who live in distant
communities across the nation now have easy access to clean,
safe, potable water, thanks to the SALINTUBIG program.
"Kung dati-rati ay babangon ka nang maaga para lang pumunta sa
balon upang mag-igib ng tubig na di sigurado kung malinis.
Ngayon, pagbukas ng gripo ay mayroon nang tubig," Secretary of
the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas told the residents
of Sitio Abo, Brgy. Pulong, Dona Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan
where a SALINTUBIG project is located.
“Malaking tulong sa aming kabuhayan dahil sa nabawas na ang oras
sa pag-igib ng pang-inom,” says Fernando L. Imberzo, 40, a
farmer from Tabuk City, Kalinga, which benefited from the
SALINTUBIG program.
“Dahil sa water system na ito, nabawasan na ang pagkakasakit ng
mga tao, nabawasan ang medical expenses,” said one of the over
1,000 residents of Camalig, Albay, who benefited from the Level
III (individual household connection) water supply system that
SALINTUBIG project funded for four of its barangays. |
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Pallet maker saves P80K a month
with DOST technology |
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Source:
http://www.dost.gov.ph |
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ACE + FA Enterprises, a Laguna-based maker of wooden pallets,
has been saving around P 80,000 a month for one year now.
How were they able to do this? It stopped renting the services
of another company and now uses its own low-cost heat treatment
facility (LHTF) to disinfect its pallets.
Designed by the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest
Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI), the
LHTF provides the heat needed to kill insects and other pests
infesting wood packaging materials such as wooden pallets.
The technology is a clear manifestation of DOST Sec. Mario G.
Montejo’s motto, “Local technology works.”
Said Montejo, “Filipino scientists have the capability to
innovate and produce excellent and cost-efficient products,
including those used by enterprises to upgrade their operations
and production processes.”
Advantages of LHTF
Wood packaging materials are commonly used in shipping goods
around the globe as they are cheaper than plastic and metal
containers. However, those made of raw wood are prone to pest
attacks and can introduce and spread pests from one country to
another.
In 2002, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
adopted the Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in
International Trade or the ISPM 15, which requires all wood
packaging materials to go through heat treatment or methyl
bromide fumigation before they can be stamped with the IPPC
seal.
“Heat treatment using the LHTF is a safe way to get IPPC marks
for wooden pallets,” said FPRDI Director Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan.
“Methyl bromide fumigation, the traditional way of controlling
pests possibly carried by shipping containers, is 60 times more
damaging to the ozone layer than chlorine. It is blamed for
5-10% of worldwide ozone depletion and makes wood
non-recyclable.
“Exposure to high methyl bromide levels has resulted in a number
of human deaths. Meanwhile, heat treatment does nothing to harm
the environment. This is why many logistics companies worldwide
now prefer it over using methyl bromide,” Aggangan stated.
According to Wency H. Carmelo, senior science research
specialist at FPRDI, heat treatment requires that the pallet
blocks’ wood core be treated at 56°C for at least 30 minutes.
“An FPRDI study revealed that the average heat treatment time is
five hours which will only cost P6.68 per pallet when using a
10,000-board foot-capacity LHTF,” he added. ”This is 46% cheaper
than methyl bromide fumigation.”
Now, ACE + FA Enterprises is an accredited heat treatment
provider by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant
Industry.
Since 2003, nine pallet manufacturers which use the FPRDI
facility have passed the Bureau of Product Standards and are now
accredited heat treatment providers. Among the first of such
companies was Adtek Co., which treated ACE + FA’s wooden pallets
before the latter decided to have its own dryer.
The surge in demand for local pallets began with the onset of
global industrialization in the late 1990s. In 2009, the
Southern Tagalog Region alone accounted for at least 30 pallet
makers which produced a total of 2,000 pallets a day.
“With FPRDI’s help to the pallet industry, we not only help keep
a greener earth, we also offer to our clients a safer and
cheaper way to get IPPC stamps and keep their businesses
growing,” Carmelo concluded.
To know more about our low-cost heat treatment facility and
other FPRDI technologies, contact FPRDI at (+6349)536-2586/
536-2360/536-2377) or visit the FPRDI booth at the National
Science and Technology Week, SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia
Complex, Pasay City on July 24-28, 2015. Free admission. You may
also visit www.nstw.dost.gov.ph or like us on Facebook at
nstw2015. (S&T Media Service) |
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PHL Health Secretary meets with
UNDP Administrator to discuss PHL-UNDP Partnership |
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Source:
http://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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14 July 2015 – Philippine Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin
met with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Administrator
Helen Clark on July 10 to discuss a host of issues including the
Ebola Virus Disease, reproductive health, and the continuing
close partnership between the Philippines and UNDP.
Secretary Garin is in New York to attend the International Ebola
Recovery Conference where she delivered a statement on the
Philippines’ commitment to do its share in coming up with a
global response against the threat of the Ebola as well as in
sustaining the resiliency of its own health systems.
Ms. Clark lauded President Benigno S. Aquino III’s strong
advocacy for reproductive rights and HIV/AIDS issue and
expressed hope that more will be accomplished on these areas
before his term ends.
For her part, Secretary Garin thanked Ms. Clark for UNDP’s
assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of typhoon
Yolanda/Haiyan which hit the country in November 2013. Ms. Clark
acknowledged the Philippines’ expertise in disaster risk
reduction and lauded the country’s systematic and good planning
for disasters. She also expressed confidence that the
Philippines will continue to rise up to the challenge of climate
change. |
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PHL Embassy in The Hague
commemorates Rizal’s 154th Birth Anniversary |
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Source:
http://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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14 July 2015 - In commemoration of the 154th Birth Anniversary
of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands
Jaime Victor B. Ledda hosted a simple reception for the
reestablishment of the Order of the Knights of Rizal – The Hague
Chapter which was held at the Official Residence on June 26. The
event was also attended by the Knights of Rizal members from
neighboring Belgium.
Mr. Peter Plückebaum, KGOR, Supreme Council Trustee and Overseas
Representative of the Order of the Knight of Rizal, presided
over a Knighting Ceremony for induction of two new members.
After the ceremony, Mr. Lucien Spittael, KGOR, from Belgium gave
a presentation about Dr. Jose Rizal’s life in Europe. Mr.
Spittael also presented a book entitled “Belgian Rizalist: Sir
Lucien Spittael and His Rediscovery of the Foremost Philippine
National Hero” by Professor Dr. Emmanuel F. Calairo, President
of the Philippine Historical Association.
To conclude the event, Ambassador Ledda, KCR, together with Mr.
Anton Lutter, KCR, The Hague Chapter Commander, and Sir Peter
Plückebaum, KGOR, launched the “Virtual Sentro Rizal”. The
Virtual Sentro Rizal (VSR) is named in honor of Dr. Jose P.
Rizal. It is a digital collection comprising 250 gigabytes of
data, including 72 hours of video of Filipino cultural
materials. The extensive cultural resource was provided by the
Commission on Filipinos Overseas Secretary Imelda Nicolas to the
Philippine Embassy and will be installed at the latter’s
Consular Section for convenient public access. |
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Update on alleged candy poisoning |
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Source:
http://www.doh.gov.ph |
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The Department of Health stressed out the importance of
food safety on acquiring and intake of unknown products as 1,925
people were reported to be poisoned in Surigao del Sur, Surigao
del Norte, and Agusan del Sur on Friday, July 10, after they ate
candies. Currently, 66 patients are still admitted in different
hospitals for observation.
“DOH is closely coordinating with the hospitals of CARAGA Region
in monitoring the affected patients. Samples from the candies
were taken to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for further
analysis. All hospitals were alerted in CARAGA Region for
possible admission of cases.” Health Secretary Janette P.
Loreto-Garin said.
It was reported that the victims of the alleged food poisoning
last July 10, 2015, in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and
Agusan del Sur were rushed to the hospital after experiencing
dizziness and vomiting. The patients either had bought or were
given free candies from unknown vendors in different cities. The
case was coordinated with Philippine National Police to trace
the possible source of the said candies.
The DOH reminded the public to take extra precaution in eating
food especially from unknown sources. We must buy only from
reputable sources. Consumers must also check the physical
appearance/condition of the product. Avoid buying dented,
bulging or deformed canned goods. It is important to check open
date markings (expiry date/consume before date/ or best before
date) for perishable products. Always double check holiday promo
items (Buy 1 Take 1 or Freebies), which should still be of good
quality and within safety guarantee period. Most importantly,
avoid unlabelled repacked food products that are being sold,
claiming that these are the same as or made by the manufacturers
of known brands or products. Repacked food products must also
bear proper label information and must be prepared in a hygienic
facility and manner.
“We call on the public to be aware of the initial signs and
symptoms of poisoning, such as vomiting, diarrhea, muscle
weakness, and impaired or loss of consciousness. Whether mild or
severe, the patient should be immediately brought to the nearest
hospital. Poisoning is deadly and immediate medical attention is
warranted.” Garin concluded. |
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BSP celebrates stronger
partnerships and successful collaborations with its stakeholders |
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Source:
http://www.pdic.gov.ph |
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The Chairman of the Monetary Board and Governor of the Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Amando M. Tetangco, Jr., together
with the members of the Monetary Board, paid tribute to the
BSP’s partner institutions during the 12th Awards Ceremony and
Appreciation Lunch for BSP Stakeholders in the National Capital
Region (NCR) that was held on 14 July 2015 at the BSP Assembly
Hall, BSP Complex in Manila. The event is held
annually to recognize outstanding partner institutions for their
strong support and contribution to the statistical undertakings,
information requirements, and advocacy programs of the BSP. The
theme for this year’s ceremony is “12 Years and Beyond:
Celebrating Stronger Partnerships and Successful
Collaborations”.
Thirty-three awards (33) were presented to outstanding partner
institutions and an individual in the NCR. These are:
Information Support
Business Expectations Survey (BES)
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Outstanding Respondent among Large Firms – Lepanto
Consolidated Mining Company
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Outstanding Respondent among Small and Medium Firms –
Angeles Power, Inc.
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Outstanding Respondent for the Construction Sector –
Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corporation
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Outstanding Respondent for the Industry Sector – Lepanto
Consolidated Mining Company
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Outstanding Respondent for the Services Sector – Career
Philippines Shipmanagement, Inc.
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Outstanding Respondent for the Trade Sector – Astech
Pengson Distributors, Inc.
Cross Border Transactions Survey (CBTS)
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Outstanding Respondent for Inter-Company Accounts - TI
(Philippines) Inc.
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Outstanding Respondent for Transactions Coursed through
Bank Accounts Abroad – Smart Communications, Inc.
Foreign Direct Investment Survey (FDIS)
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Outstanding Respondent – Philippine Long Distance
Telephone Company
Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey (CPIS)
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Outstanding Respondent – Rizal Commercial Banking
Corporation
Survey of Information Technology-Business Process
(IT-BPO) Outsourcing Services
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Outstanding Respondent – Safeway Philtech, Inc.
Coordinated Direct Investment Survey (CDIS)
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Outstanding Respondent – I-Remit, Inc.
Sources of Information
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Outstanding Partner for Balance of Payments Projections
– Chamber of Mines of the Philippines
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Outstanding Partner for Monetary Policy – Philippine
Statistics Authority
BSP's Survey of Inflation Forecasts
-
Outstanding Respondent – Land Bank of the Philippines
BSP’s Senior Loan Officers’ Survey
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Outstanding Respondent – The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation
Professorial Chair Manager
-
Outstanding Professorial Chair Manager – UP Cesar E.A.
Virata School of Business
Advocacy Support
Overseas Filipino Remittances
Conference on Gearing Up for External
Competitiveness
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Outstanding Partner - Security Bank Corporation
Financial Learning Campaign
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Outstanding Partner – OWWA-Regional Welfare Office IV-B
Credit Surety Fund (CSF)
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Outstanding CSF – Cebu Credit Surety Fund
-
Outstanding CSF Lending Bank – Land Bank of the
Philippines
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Outstanding CSF Program Partner – Industrial Guarantee
and Loan Fund
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Outstanding CSF Local Government Unit – Provincial
Government of Sarangani
Financial Inclusion
-
Outstanding Financial Inclusion Partner – Microfinance
Council of the Philippines
-
Outstanding Financial Inclusion Champion – CARD Banking
Group
BSP PhilPaSS
-
Outstanding PhilPaSS REMIT Participant – BDO Unibank,
Inc.
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Outstanding PhilPaSS Participant Servicing Customer
ePayments - Commercial Bank – Citibank, N.A.
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Outstanding PhilPaSS Participant Servicing Customer
ePayments -Thrift Bank – Sterling Bank of Asia
Pagtugon Award
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Universal & Commercial Banks – Asia United Bank
Corporation
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Thrift Banks – Philippine Savings Bank
Kapit-Bisig Award
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Outstanding Partner – Local Government of Quezon City
Special Category
-
Outstanding Partner for Child Finance Education – Dr. Fe
A. Hidalgo
Fifty-five (55) institutions will be awarded in areas outside
NCR (AONCR) from July to September 2015.
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President Benigno S. Aquino III addresses the Testimonial Honors and
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Change of Command Ceremony at
the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officer’s Club (AFPCOC),
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday (July 10,
2015). Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri is the 46th AFP Chief of Staff
replacing Catapang following the latter's retirement from his Tour
of Duty. Iriberri is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)
“Matikas” Class of 1983. (Photo by Marcelino Pascua/ Malacañang
Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin, presents the AFP Command Plaque, encased Philippine
Flag, framed medals and Plaque of Honorable Service to former AFP
Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., during the Testimonial
Honors and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Change of Command
Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officer’s Club
(AFPCOC), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday
(July 10, 2015). Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri is the 46th AFP Chief of
Staff replacing Catapang following the latter's retirement from his
Tour of Duty. Iriberri is a member of the Philippine Military
Academy (PMA) “Matikas” Class of 1983. (Photo by Marcelino Pascua/
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III hands-over the Saber to the 46th
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.
Hernando Iriberri during the Testimonial Honors and AFP Change of
Command Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned
Officer’s Club (AFPCOC), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon
City on Friday (July 10, 2015). Iriberri replaced former AFP Chief
General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. following the latter's retirement
from his Tour of Duty. Lt. Gen. Iriberri is a member of the
Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Matikas” Class of 1983. (Photo by
Lauro Montellano Jr./ Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by outgoing AFP Chief
General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., and newly appointed AFP Chief of
Staff Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri review the Honor Guards during the
Testimonial Honors and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Change
of Command Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned
Officer’s Club (AFPCOC), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon
City on Friday (July 10, 2015). (Photo by Lauro Montellano Jr./
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the Change of Command
Ceremony from outgoing AFP Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.
to newly appointed AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri at
the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officer’s Club (AFPCOC),
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday (July 10,
2015). Iriberri replaced Catapang following the latter's retirement
from his Tour of Duty. Lt. Gen. Iriberri is a member of the
Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Matikas” Class of 1983. (Photo by
Benhur Arcayan/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin, presents the AFP Command Plaque, encased Philippine
Flag, framed medals and Plaque of Honorable Service to former AFP
Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., during the Testimonial
Honors and Armed Forces of the Philippines Change of Command
Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officer’s Club,
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday (July 10).
Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri is the 46th AFP Chief of Staff replacing
Catapang following the latter's retirement from his Tour of Duty.
Iriberri is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)
“Matikas” Class of 1983. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Lauro Montellano
Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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The 46th Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt.
Gen. Hernando Iriberri delivers his remarks upon assumption as head
of AFP during the Testimonial Honors and AFP Change of Command
Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officer’s Club
(AFPCOC), Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday
(July 10). Iriberri replaced former AFP Chief General Gregorio Pio
Catapang, Jr. following the latter's retirement from his Tour of
Duty. Lt. Gen. Iriberri is a member of the Philippine Military
Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang
Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Mrs. Vilma Catapang,
confers the Philippine Legion of Honor with the degree of Chief
Commander on outgoing AFP Chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.
during the Testimonial Honors and Armed Forces of the Philippines
Change of Command Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP
Commissioned Officer’s Club, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon
City on Friday (July 10). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Lauro Montellano Jr../
Marcelino Pascua / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by outgoing AFP Chief
General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., review the Honor Guards during
the Testimonial Honors and Armed Forces of the Philippines Change of
Command Ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned
Officer’s Club, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on
Friday (July 10). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Benhur Arcayan/ Marcelino
Pascua / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras meets with Hiroshi
Watanabe, Governor and CEO of the Japan Bank for International
Cooperation in a courtesy call held at the receiving area of the
President's Hall of Malacanan Palace on Tuesday (July 7). (Photo by
Lauro Montellano Jr. / Malacanang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the Cabinet Budget
Presentation meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the
Malacañan Palace Monday (July 6). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Lauro
Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III joins his official family in prayer
before presiding over the Cabinet Budget Presentation Meeting at the
Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace Monday (July 6).
(Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III acknowledges the men and women in
uniform participating in the pass-in review during the 68th Founding
Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar
of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July
01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na
Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded
on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces
its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps established in 1941.
(Photo by Robert Viñas/ Rey Baniquet - Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin; Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of
Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.; and PAF Commanding General
Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado upon arrival for the 68th Founding
Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar
of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July
01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na
Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded
on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces
its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps established in 1941.
(Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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The Aerobatic Demonstration and Opener Pass of the PAF during the
68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the
Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on
Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the
theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The
PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World
War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps,
which was established in 1941. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / Malacañang
Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 68th
founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the
Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on
Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the
theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The
PAF was founded on July 1, 1947, two years after the end of World
War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps,
which was established in 1941. Also in is photo Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 68th
Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the
Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on
Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the
theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The
PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World
War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps,
which was established in 1941. Also in photo are Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chief of Staff
General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.;
and PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado. (Photo by
Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the singing of the Philippine
National Anthem during the 68th founding anniversary of the
Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force
City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s
celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng
Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947-
two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to
the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in 1941. Also
in photo Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.,
PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado. (Photo by Rolando
Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by PAF Commanding
General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, reviews the troops during the 68th
founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the
Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on
Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the
theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The
PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World
War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps
established in 1941. (Photo by Rolando Mailo/ Malacañang Photo
Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III checks the scale model of FA 50
aircraft frpom South Korea as part of the exhibition during the
celebration of the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air
Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of Air Force City in Clark Air
Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is
anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng
Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after
the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine
Army Air Corps established in 1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III checks the newly acquired choppers
as part of exhibition during celebration of the 68th founding
anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar
of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July
01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na
Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded
on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces
its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps established in 1941.
(Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a coffeetable book
presented by PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado during
the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at
the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga
on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the
theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The
PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World
War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps
established in 1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 68th
founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the
Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on
Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the
theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The
PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World
War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps,
which was established in 1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang
Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by PAF Commanding General
Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, presents the command plaque and streamer
during the awarding ceremony for the 68th founding anniversary of
the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air
Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This
year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis,
Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July
1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its
lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in
1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the 68th founding anniversary
of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air
Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This
year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis,
Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July
1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its
lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in
1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III talks with Ana Theresia Hontiveros
Baraquel after administering the oath as Philhealth Director in a
ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June
30). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Ana Theresia
Hontiveros Baraquel after administering the oath as Philhealth
Director in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on
Tuesday (June 30). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Robert Viñas/ Malacañang
Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Commission on
Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Amelia Guanzon after
administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the
Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). (Photo by Robert Viñas /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Commission on
Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Sheriff Abas after administering
the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on
Tuesday (June 30). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Health Secretary
Janette Garin after administering the oath in a ceremony at the
Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). (Photo by
Gil Nartea / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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Please email us at
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if you need a copy of last week's photo releases of
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Predicted Mean Sea Level Pressure
Analysis 8 AM
15 July 2015 
Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis 8 AM
15 July 2015 
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