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Forum on the VAT Reform Law slated Sept. 19

BAGUIO CITY (Sept. 16) — The Department of Finance (DOF) in coordination with the Philippine Government’s Investor Relations Office, will conduct a briefing on Republic Act. No. 9337, or the Value Added Tax Reform Law, on 19 September at the Supreme Hotel here.

The VAT Reform Law is an indispensable component of government’s fiscal consolidation program designed to expand the tax base, generate substantial incremental revenues, help reduce the fiscal deficit and ensure debt sustainability in the medium-term.

This law mandates that a portion of the incremental VAT revenues be earmarked for education, health, environmental conservation, and agriculture modernization. It also seeks to minimize the impact of the law on the poor by: (a) exempting basic commodities and socially sensitive products from VAT, and (b) mandating the implementation of mitigating measures.

Senior officials from the Department of Finance (DOF), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will conduct the briefing, which will focus on the concerns of small and medium enterprises SMEs in the region.

The activity will include the discussion of salient features of the VAT Reform Law and its impact on the government’s microeconomics and fiscal objectives and on specific concerns of SMEs related to food and energy.

A VAT clinic will also be conducted by BIR to answer queries on compliance and the implementing provision of this new law. # PIA-CAR

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LGUs address Magat fishery concerns

LAMUT, Ifugao (Sept. 16) — While fish aficionados and consumers here enjoy this town’s tilapia, the local government units (LGUs) in Ifugao, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya felt the need to address the proliferation of fish cages and floating houses in the Magat Dam.

Samuel Bolla of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-CAR) said the increasing number of floating houses is already contaminating the good water quality of the Magat Dam. He said wastes coming from the families including their pets such as dogs, cats, chickens and pigs cause pollution around the floating community, which is slowly spreading in the entire dam.

“Marketability of our tilapia in the locality will not be a problem because we have the best tasting tilapia compared to other produce in northern Luzon,” says retired auditor Luis Dimoloy. He said the quality of tilapia produced in Lamut differs from that of other tilapia growers in the nearby province and in central Luzon.

Dimoloy explained that fresh water from the Magat river is siphoned ascending to the barangays of the Lamut giving the community abundant running water supply for their fishponds.

“Our tilapia taste good because of this aside from the good environment and a systematic way of handling fingerlings until they mature and are ready for harvesting,” Dimoloy said. He added executives from Taiwan are already eyeing for a joint venture with the tilapia growers here, prompting other farmers to convert their rice fields into fishponds.

Meanwhile, floating fish-cage owners and caretakers surrounding the Magat Dam were ordered by the local government units (LGUs) of Alfonso Lista, Ifugao, Ramon and Cordon, Isabela, and Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya to reduce the size of their floating houses from 8x8 meters into 2x3 meters.

Bolla said BFAR in coordination with the local government has given the purok leaders the go signal to create their own fisher folk Council (FC), which will eventually decide on any issues concerning the community, even without the intervention of the LGUs and government line agencies.

On the issue of reducing the size of their houses, Bolla said purok leaders will have the responsibility of coordinating with their members the implementation of the order, however, will still be monitored by the LGUs. “This way, further deterioration of the quality of water can be prevented,” Bolla added.

The floating houses were originally intended to store fish feeds and serve as sleeping quarters for caretakers. LGUs surrounding the dam have already designated a relocation area for the affected families where they can build their new houses. # FNM/PIA-CAR

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Govt agencies not spared from energy conservation

LAGAWE, Ifugao (Sept. 16) — While the consumers are learning ways to stretch their budget in these times of economic crisis, government offices are also coming up with measures to conserve energy.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here, has started undertaking cost-cutting measures to reduce expenses. In a memorandum sent by the DTI Central Office, the following austerity plan shall be observed within the department:

To reduce energy costs the DTI memo enjoin government offices to use lights, electrical equipment and appliances, only during working hours from 7:30 A.M. to 12 noon and then from 1:00-6:00 P.M. Employees are also advised to reduce light bulbs in selected areas and install moderate Christmas decorations without or with minimal use of lights.

The memo states that all electrical equipment and appliances shall be maintained in operational condition and discouraged the use of defective gadgets that can cause over-consumption of electricity.

The purchase of new electrical appliances such as refrigerator, electric airpots, oven toasters, electric fans shall no longer be authorized. All electrical equipment and appliances, except fax machines and refrigerators should be unplugged at the end of the day. Air conditioning units shall be used only from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. and the units should be regularly maintained in good operational condition, so that electrical consumption is reduced.

On the use of petroleum products, official vehicles whether assigned to directors or staff shall only be entitled to 40 liters of petroleum per week.

On communication, the use of e-mail for communication is highly recommended instead of sending thru fax courier services or calling thru mobile phones or IDD/NDD. Long distance calls are limited by listing down items for discussion before placing the call.

On water conservation, employees are advised to use disposable paper plates, spoon and forks and to promptly report leaks in the plumbing system. The use of a pail and a cotton cloth instead of a hose and sponge when washing service vehicles were recommended to reduce water waste.

Office supply expenses were also to be reduced by 10%.

Even snacks and meals served during meetings and trainings were not spared from the austerity plan. The memo said the department will limit snacks only to coffee/tea/juice and biscuits during meetings and trainings. They shall serve modest lunch for trainings and meetings that will last for more than two hours.

Meanwhile, with the economic difficulties brought about by the continuing oil price increase, students of the St. Joseph’s School here have come up with ways to save on scarce resources, which they shared during a symposium conducted recently.

Even as students, they said that their contribution can also make a difference by saving on small things in their own little ways like putting off the lights when not in use; studying in one place; closing the faucets well after use; ironing uniforms/clothes at the same time instead of one pair of uniforms everyday in order to conserve electricity; walking to school instead of riding; using firewood for cooking instead of the expensive liquefied petroleum gas; and saving their baon for more important things.

The symposium is one of the regular activities being conducted by the SJS Parents Guardians Association (PGA) in coordination with government line agencies in the locality. # Vency Bulayungan / PIA Ifugao

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