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iSIQUIJOR THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH VOL. 5| NO.42 December 25-31, 2017
DICT ‘s internet media, info literacy training to maximize use of government’s free wifi program
SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- The Department of Information and Technology (DICT) recently conducted an Internet Media and Information Literacy (IMIL) training for
students and residents of Larena town, which is the first town to avail of its Pipol Konek project. This is to provide knowledge to the
Residents of Larena town are now enjoying the free wi-fi service of the DICT at the Queengate Center, Larena, Siquijor. Larena is the first town in the province to avail of DICT’s Pipol Konek Project. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
Seek new schedule, PRC tells teachers who missed oath-taking
Passers of the recent teachers’ board who could not make it to Cebu on the Saturday oath-taking at the regional office of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) in Mandaue City in Cebu need not worry. The PRC bared that the passers who missed the oath-taking because of the inclement weather may still be accommodated by another special oath-taking ceremony on a different date. They would still need to communicate with the PRC in Cebu through Gina Emperado, asking for a special oath-taking ceremony and appointments handling. The advise came after the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) passers in Bohol were worried they would miss the oath-taking ceremony because typhoon Vinta has made it impossible to cross to Cebu. It may be recalled that the PRC in Cebu set the oath-taking of the new board passers for the LET on December 23. Earlier, they also accepted registrations online but the appointments to be handed to teacher passers, these appointments have to be personally received, according to Bohol teacher passers who received the PRC advisories. But with the storm keeping the sea trips suspended, booking the trips was an issue. Now, those who missed the oath-taking can pick a schedule for the PRC to implement. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
target beneficiaries on how to make use of the free wi-fi program of the government, said DICT Siquijor Provincial Team Leader Jimuel Espanola. The training is under a Capacity Building component of the Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places Project which aims to provide beneficiaries awareness about the internet and its uses, applications and benefits that knowledge they learned could be applied in accelerating their economic, social and educational stances as an individual, Espanola added. The IMIL Training in Larena, Siquijor was the first training conducted in the cluster by the Free Wi-Fi Project Team composed of Elry Hortillosa, Engr. Mary Jane Maravilla, and Engr. Sherwin Roy Faduga with the presence of Engr. Elmer D. Prudente - ITO III/OIC, and Jimuel Espanola. Attended by 150 participants from the academe, OFW dependents, government employees, and the general public, the event was held in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Larena and was held in two sessions at the Queengate Center, Larena, Siquijor. Pipol Konek is a free wi-fi internet access in public places installed and implemented by the DICT. During the training, Espanola urged the participants to become “helpers” of the DICT in introducing the free service to the people. DICT have also conducted rural outsourcing training in the province with Larena town as its pioneer recipient. During the monitoring of the newlyinstalled router, the DICT said they are happy to see the students and other locals availing of the free wi-fi and how it benefits the community. With the cooperation of the local government unit and the public, the DICT hopes for proper and regular maintenance of the project. (rac/PIA-Siquijor w/ reports from IAAbatayo)
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Nakighiusa ang Pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte sa paghandum sa katawhan sa kapaskohan ug Bag-ong Tuig.
aid this
The Philippine Red Cross is appealing for for 500,000 people affected by #VintaPH. For those interested to help, check out link and the card: http://bit.ly/2llPtQh
diwa sa
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is the Island of Siquijor’s first electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information AgencySiquijor Information Center and the DOST - Provincial Science and Technology Center. It contains snippets of information about Siquijor, Central Visayas and the Philippine Government. THERE IS GOOD NEWS EVERYDAY.
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TRAIN is Duterte admin’s ‘best Christmas and New Year’s gift’ to Filipino people - DOF
President Duterte’s signing into law of the landmark Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) is the government’s “biggest Christmas and New year’s gift” to the Filipino people as it will usher in “real positive change” for the nation beginning in 2018, according to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. “The congressional passage of the first package of the TRAIN, which President Duterte signed into law on Dec. 19, is a “sign of maturity” for the Philippine economy that is now ready to meet the challenges of fixing the structural problems and inequities in taxation while generating more revenues to usher in real positive change for the Filipino people,” Dominguez said at the signing rites for Republic Act No. 10963 at Malacañan Palace. Describing the approval of the TRAIN as “an important milestone in our history, Dominguez noted that this was the first time that a tax reform bill was passed by the Congress that was not in response to a crisis or to any external pressure. “The TRAIN, which provides for personal income tax (PIT) exemptions for the first P250,000 of taxable income, along with other significant PIT cuts for other tax brackets, provides Filipino taxpayers with “much-needed relief” after 20 years of no adjustment on the rates,” he said. Dominguez said preliminary computations show that the government would be giving “almost P150 billion” back to the people in the form of tax relief under the TRAIN.
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Hence, he said, “This is the biggest outside, no crisis, no external pressure,” Christmas and New Year’s gift that the Duterte Dominguez said. administration is giving to the people.” “I don’t think this ever happened “At the same time, the TRAIN also before. Never in the past has the government raises “significant revenues” to fund the given up revenues. We have here almost P150 President’s priority and social infra programs billion, first time ever. First time that we did a to reduce poverty from 21.6 percent to a tax reform without anybody forcing us to do targeted 14 percent by 2022,” Dominguez it. So I am saying that we are making history,” said. Dominguez said. Seventy percent of the incremental Under the approved TRAIN, the revenues under the TRAIN will help support inflationary impact of the measure initially the government’s infrastructure modernization estimated at 0.9 percent will slightly go down program, which will also include strengthening to 0.7 percent, which would have an even the country’s military and law enforcement more minimal effect on food, electricity and capabilities, while 30 percent will go to social transportation costs. services to fund, among other anti-poverty Dominguez said earlier that the measures, a targeted cash transfer program approval by the Congress of the TRAIN for the poorest 10 million households. Package 1 will put the Duterte administration “I think it’s a sign of maturity for our “on track to meet its revenue targets as the country. It is also the first of five packages that final approved version adopted is equivalent to will once and for all start fixing the structural about two-thirds of programmed incremental problems of the tax system that has become revenue under the TRAIN. unfair, complex and inefficient. This tax “The balance of one-third is expected reform will also raise the revenues needed to to be passed by the Congress in early 2018,” make real positive change for our people,” he said. Dominguez said. This remaining one-third involves Unlike the enactment of the Expanded provisions on the estate tax amnesty, a general VAT law in 2005, which was done to stave tax amnesty, the proposed adjustments in the off a fiscal crisis under the then-Arroyo Motor Vehicle Users Charge and amendments administration, the TRAIN was passed at a to the bank secrecy law and automatic time when the country is buttressed by strong exchange of information. macroeconomic fundamentals, a sound fiscal Besides the revenue enhancing policy and a high GDP growth rate that has measures of adjusting the excise taxes on fuel made the Philippines one of Asia’s fastest- and automobiles and broadening the valuegrowing economies. added tax base, the final ratified version also “So it’s the first time we have done includes tax administration reforms such as a a tax reform without any pressure from the mandatory fuel marking program and a system that would enable the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to check real time the financial submission of large taxpayers, “which will further improve the performance of our revenue-generation agencies.” The TRAIN was finally ratified as one of the last acts of the Congress on Dec. 13 before both chambers started their traditional yearend break, or a year and three months after the DOF introduced its original tax reform proposal in the House of Representatives. The DOFsubmitted to the House its original TRAIN proposal in September 2016, which was later modified and introduced in the chamber by the House ways and means committee chaired by Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua as House Bill (HB) 4774. It was later consolidated with other tax reform-related measures as HB 5636. This House version was finally approved by the House before the adjournment of the first regular session of the 17th Congress in May 2017. The Senate ways and means committee chaired by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara began the deliberations on the TRAIN, which was filed in the chamber by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III as Senate Bill (SB) No. 1408, on March 22. (2ND OF A SERIES) Ania ang pipila The Senate started conducting plenary mga safety tips karong holiday season. debates on the revised measure, SB 1592, on Sept. 23 Pagmabinantayon aron maangkon ang malipayon and finally approved it with substantial amendments bulahang pagsaulog sa Pasko ug Bagong Taon. on Nov. 28. (DOF) Ang Disyembre ay Holiday Hazards Prevention Month.
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Cebuano News
‘No travel abroad,’ gimando ni Duterte sa mga kawani ug opisyal sa gobyerno
Gimando ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte nga bawal na ang mga biyahe sa gawas sa nasod sa mga opisyal ug kawani sa gobyerno gawas na lamang sa mga diplomats. Tungod kini sa sunud-sunod nga pagpalagpot sa Presidente sa pipila ka mga opisyal ug kawani sa gobyerno tungod sa ilang mga biyahe abroad o junket. Gitumbok sa Presidente nga angay magdaginot ang gobyerno sa pondo niini mao nga dili angay magpabilin dinhi ang mga nag-alagad sa katawhan nga
walay gihimo kun dili ang pag-usik-usik sa salapi sa katawhan. Gitambagan usab sa Presidente ang mga kawani sa sangay sa ehekutibo sa paghawa na lamang sa gobyerno kun dili makasunod sa iyang kamanduan. “I don’t want to interfere in Congress and Supreme Court. Sa inyo iyan. Dito sa akin, I’ll cut it, except the diplomats. Sabihin ko muna, walang travel, mag-starvation diet muna tayo ‘diyan,” matud pa ni Duterte. Kahinumdoman nga gitangtang
Ang unang parte sa Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) usa na gayud ka balaud. Alans sa dugang impormasyon, basaha kini: http://bit. ly/2D72rJO Alang sa mga pangutana, mahimong moduol sa Department of Finance.
ni Presidente Duterte ning bag-o lang sa pwesto si Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor (PCUP) Chairman Terry Ridon ug mga Commissioner niini, apil na usab si Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) President Atty. Elba Siscar Cruz ug kanhi Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) Chairman Dionisio Santiago tungod sa giingong mga junket o biyahe nila sa gawas sa nasod. (ecb/ PIA7-Bohol)
Magpahimos sa implementasyon s a T R A I N l a w, tutokan sa DTI Giseguro sa Malakanyang nga tutokan sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ang mga posibleng magpahimos nga mga negosyante sa implementasyon sa Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. Gibutyag ni Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Kalihim Martin Andanar nga kinahanglang madakpan sa DTI ang mga negosyong magpahimos sa pagsaka dayon sa presyo sa ilang produkto bisan nga may mga daang stocks pa sila sa wala pa ang implementasyon sa TRAIN law. Gipasabot pa sa kalihim nga mapahimoslan gayud sa katawhan ang TRAIN law tungod kay dinhi man maggikan ang pondo sa mga programa sa gobyerno alang sa katawhan ilabi na ang mga kabos sama nalang sa mga serbisyo sa panglawas, conditional cash transfer nga may dugang bugas, pagpanghatag og yuta sa mga mag-uuma ug bisan ang libreng tuition fee sa mga kabos nga estudyante. Samtang gipahinumdom usab ni Andanar sa mga negosyante nga kinahanglang hulaton una nila ang ipagawas nga Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) sa dili pa sila magpahamtang og adjustment sa presyo sa ilang mga produkto. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)