Don ’ t deal with fixers-QC lgu to taxpayers
Enero 15-21 , 2018
QC taxpayers at the Quezon City Hall are advised not to deal with fixers . Photo shows taxpayers comfortably wait for their turn to pay their dues . ( Photo courtesy of QC PAISO )
Let ... continued from page 8 birthday party that Veloso has been washing clothes of fellow prisoners to earn money so that she could call her family and friends in the Philippines .)
In a call to friends at the Migrante International in Manila on January 9 , she sent an appeal to President Duterte .
She said in Filipino , “ President Duterte , my supposed execution was reprieved because
NAPC ... continued from page 8 champion also : 1 . Develop Philippine industries . It ’ s not enough to have economic zones and foreign investments , the government must also actively help develop in phases Philippine industries . 2 . Review international economic deals . Countries developed not with free trade – they only open up when they ’ re already strong . It ’ s not that the Philippines should close itself but that it should also be after certain benefits from trade deals . Indonesia , India , Venezuela , Ecuador and other countries are also realizing and taking actions that they shouldn ’ t be tied down to free trade deals . 3 . Regulate foreign investments for development . “ Foreign investments are not the magic bullets the proponents of charter change would want us to believe ,” said Jose Enrique Africa , one of the authors of the NAPC proposed policy reforms . 4 . State-directed financing for development 5 . More progressive taxation . Joseph Anthony Lim , an Economics professor from Ateneo de Manila and a retired professor of the School of Economics in UP Diliman , suggested providing additional concrete examples to the proposed industrial policies . Given the composition of the Duterte administration , he said , what we can do is present the proposals in “ positive ” formulation . For example , given that the economy has already been opened wide to trade deals and foreign investments , he suggested positively reformulating the proposal to say “ make the
Christina ( Sergio ) and Julius ( Lacanilao ) have pled their guilt and that I am innocent and had no knowledge of the drugs found in the luggage I brought .”
She requested help from President Duterte so that she would be allowed to testify in the case of Christina Sergio in the Philippines “ to reveal the truth so the real culprits will be held accountable .”
Veloso acknowledged
industries more competitive .”
He expressed belief that remittances of overseas Filipinos have become the country ’ s safety net against trade deficits . The country needs domestic production but the problem , he acknowledged , was that the government has not been formulating its own “ industrial developmental policies .”
He urged the NAPC secretariat to work with the progressive sector in government in pushing for the implementation of proposals such as these . He noted that a poverty summit was held recently but it didn ’ t seem to generate much attention . “ There must be a social contract ,” Lim said , toward implementing antipoverty reforms .
Duterte , Filipinos to benefit from anti-poverty policy reforms
NAPC Secretary Liza Maza believes their proposal will benefit the president a lot in that it will show him a different perspective in resolving the problem of poverty . Maza said the government can unleash a tremendous energy for correcting the damaging aspects of past and present economic policies .
If implemented , the NAPC proposal promises to start the government on a road to change and the beginnings of resolving the long-standing poverty problem in the country . But the bigger question hounding it is how President Duterte would take it .
NAPC is mostly a policy monitoring and oversight office under the President . It has no direct implementing body . It is a small office with just 46 regular
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that President Duterte is against drugs and that he wants to crush drug syndicates for everyone ’ s safety . However , she asked him too , how would disallowing her to state her case in court put an end to everything that has connections to drugs ?
Velose ended her request to the President by saying that she and her family fully hope that President Duterte will help them be given the chance to testify in court and prove her innocence .
plantilla positions and reportedly a small budget .
To achieve what it wants to do , it needs to build unities with the implementing government offices and agencies under the president , and it needs the president ’ s support . However , it appears that President Duterte has not been meeting with NAPC and leaders of government agencies in an assembly . Some of the NAPC plantilla employees interviewed by Bulatlat said they used to hold that meeting nearly every other month last year and early this year . It stopped when the Marawi crisis erupted . They haven ’ t met for another assembly since then .
Since the formation of the NAPC ( crafted under the Ramos administration ), the country ’ s presidents had convened NAPC assemblies for his or her anti-poverty programs , all but during the time of former President Benigno Aquino III who did not convene even one assembly of NAPC , said an employee of NAPC for 10 years .
Still , the need to address poverty remains . Secretary Maza said that as an activist , she would still work toward it .
“ Many Filipinos are still trapped in poverty and inequality because administration after administration have subscribed to the same neoliberal framework that has been proven as a development failure all over the world ,” Maza said in a statement . She expressed hopes that their book of proposals will inspire meaningful debates among policy makers , change the way they see the poor and poverty , and usher in a comprehensive and integrated approach to poverty reduction this new year .
Don ’ t deal with fixers-QC lgu to taxpayers
QUEZON CITY -- The Quezon City Business Permits and Licensing Office ( BPLO ) reiterate its advice to taxpayers and business owners to refrain from transacting with fixers , especially in the season of renewal of business permits and tax payments .
“ Taun-taon naman binabanggit natin sa lahat ng panawagan natin na sana ang mga taxpayers natin ay iwasan ang makipag-deal sa mga fixers dahil taun-taon namang hindi tumitigil ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Quezon City na humanap ng paraan para lalong maging mas madali at efficient ang pagrerenew ng permit . Subukan ‘ nyo po munang mag-renew . Hindi po natin kailangan na makipagusap sa fixer dahil kayo po mismo kayang-kaya ninyo pong asikasuhin ang pagre-renew ng permit ninyo ,” BPLO head Garry Domingo said .
The Quezon City government under the administration of Mayor Herbert Bautista has been continuously finding ways to provide better transaction processes and services as it strengthens its campaign against fixers .
Quezon City is the sole representative of the Philippines in the ‘ Ease of Doing Business ’ program of the World Bank .
The National Competitiveness Council has rated Quezon City second overall in government efficiency in the 2016 Most Competitive City awards while the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry cited the city government as the most business-friendly LGU , also in 2016 .
Quezon City is the first local government unit in the Philippines to implement an easier and business-friendly process for business renewal application .
“ Sa proseso , tayo ang una sa Pilipinas . Concierge type na siya meaning uupo ang taxpayer sa first window natin tapos uupo na lang siya doon . Nag-hire tayo ng tatlong concierge na siyang maglalakad ng papel . Sa susunod na tatawagin ang taxpayer bibigyan na sila ng tax bill para bayaran ‘ yun at ang cashier nandoon lamang din sa tabi kung saan sila naka-upo , meaning
Philippine ....
As much as we are prepared to serve , we would like to remind the public to be vigilant for any unlikely situation that may occur ,” Gordon said .
Likewise , Red Cross first aid stations and welfare desks are put up throughout the path of the Black Nazarene procession and will be positioned at the Aquino monument , Round table ( Manila City Hall ), Liwasang Bonifacio , Plaza Mexico ( Post Office ), Lacson ( Sta Cruz area ), San Sebastian , Jones Bridge , and near Quiapo Church to cater minor and major injuries , as well as help trace missing family members , referral service , counselling , and starting this year from the time na mag-apply sila hanggang matapos sila hindi na sila aalis kung saan sila nakaupo because hindi sila maglalakad papunta sa releasing meron nang concierge na siyang kukuha sa releasing para ibigay sa kanya ,” Domingo explained .
Business owners will only submit four documents with an additional requirement depending on their type of business .
“ Pinakonti nang pinakonti ang requirements natin . Nung dumating kami dito ni Mayor Herbert ang requirements natin to renew a permit was 11 , now it ’ s down to four ,” Domingo added .
An innovation of this year ’ s business renewal process is the addition of a color-coding scheme per category to the queuing line of the renewal of business tax payment accompanied by added manpower to guide establishment owners to their appropriate lanes .
Color red for rebilling and 1 million and above , blue for one to two transactions , yellow for multiple transactions , green for senior citizens , pregnant women , and Persons with Disabilities , and pink for bank , cooperative , nonstock / non-profit , amendment / non-governmental organization .
Furthermore , according to Republic Act 9485 also known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 , fixers shall be punished with an imprisonment not exceeding six years or a fine not less than P20,000 but not more than P200,000 or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court .
There are 74,000 business establishments registered in Quezon City Business Permits and Licensing Office .
QC residents may report fixers through the landline numbers of the Office of Mayor 988-4242 local 8425 and 8426 ; Office of the City Treasurer , 988- 4242 local 8318 and 8319 ; or to the Civil Service Commission at 932-0111 .
The city government also reminds business owners to pay their taxes on or before 20 January 2018 to avoid penalties and interest charges for late payment . ( QC PAISO / EPC / SDL / PIA-NCR )
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provide psychosocial support .
Aside from manning the first aid stations , PRC volunteers and staff will be engaged to conduct foot patrol , ambulance assistance , patient transport , and water rescue , all for easy access to medical and emergency assistance .
The overall operations will be managed by the PRC Safety Service and Operations Center as well as an emergency room which will be put on standby at the PRC Port Area with doctors , nurses , and technicians for a possible Multi-Casualty Incident . ( prc / epc / jeg / pia-ncr )