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Veteran journalist, book author Rene Acosta is new NPO chief
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed veteran journalist and book author Renato “Rene” Acosta as the new head of the National Printing Office, an attached agency of the Presidential Communications Office, Malacañang announced Saturday. Press Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said that Acosta will replace Carlos Bathan as the director of the government’s official printing arm. Acosta was a fellow of the East-West Center in Washington DC and an alumnus of the US State Department’s premier professional exchange program International Visitor Leadership Program. The Philippine-based journalist has contributed stories and analyses on domestic and regional issues for renowned international think tanks, such as the Washington DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies and Oxford Analytica in the United Kingdom. Acosta had also written and edited stories for the online portal of the US Pacific Command’s Asia Pacific Defense Forum, now known as Indo-Pacific Forum. He also worked for the United States Naval Research Institute News. His book, titled “The War on Terror: How the Philippine Military and the US Broke the Axis of Terror in the Philippines,” was published and launched in Singapore by Penguin Random House. Acosta was also the “featured author” in 2019 by the Singapore Writers Festival—considered one of Asia’s premier literary events. The journalist and book author delivered lectures on the three themes during the 10-day literary feast sponsored by the Singapore Arts Council. Until his appointment, Acosta was a reporter for BusinessMirror, which he joined in its founding in 2005, and where he had been covering defense and national security issues during the past years. Acosta was a former president of the Defense Press Corps of the Philippines. He began his journalism career at the state-owned Philippine News Agency in 1989 while still a journalism student and later rose from the ranks. Acosta wrote and edited stories for wire agencies during his junior years as a reporter. He was also based and worked for a newspaper in Western Pacific. Before joining BusinessMirror from the defunct Today newspaper, Acosta briefly worked for the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines as a communication consultant, where he helped work for the removal of the country from the Priority Watch List on piracy by the US Trade Representative’s office. Acosta also founded and edited the defunct Intellectual Property Rights Review—the first newspaper in the world of intellectual property rights that was hailed by worldwide IPR advocates. The NPO, the agency that Acosta now headed, is tasked to continue to provide printing services to government agencies and instrumentalities as mandated by law. It also provides printing of official ballots and election paraphernalia which could be shared with Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, upon the discretion of the Commission on Election consistent with the provision of the Election Code of 1987. The post Veteran journalist, book author Rene Acosta is new NPO chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CoA reorganization imminent (1)
Being a party to the moral and fiscal upheaval that rocked the financial institutions and put to shame the honor and dignity of the nation, in the recent past, there is the general feeling among the learned in government and the private sector, including the academe, that the officials and employees holding critical positions in the Commission on Audit or CoA be reorganized. After the appointment of Atty. Gamaliel A. Cordoba, as the new chairman of CoA, a state of reorganization is felt throughout the audit institution and all attention reckons to the powers and functions of the Commission Proper, the collegial body that governs the entire organization as mandated by the Constitution. The Chairman: The Chairman acts as the presiding officer of the Commission Proper. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission on Audit and is responsible for the general administration of the Commission. (section 6(3), Title I, P.D. 1445). As Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, the Chairman shall control and supervise the general administration of the Commission, direct and manage the implementation and execution of policies, standards, rules, and regulations promulgated by the Commission, and control and supervise the audit of highly technical or confidential transactions or accounts of any government agency. (Section 2, Rule II, 1997 Revised Rules of Procedures of the Commission on Audit). The two commissioners: The two commissioners may assist in the general administration of the Commission, upon proper delegation by the Chairman. They shall assist in the review and evaluation of existing policies as well as in the formulation of new ones. (Section 5, Chapter I, Subtitle B, Title I, Book v, Administrative Code of 1987, Volume II).: It is the policy of CoA that a reshuffle may be effected even without the consent of the official or employee concerned when required or deemed necessary in the interest, or need of the service, subject to the restrictions prescribed. Pursuant to CSC Memorandum Circular No. 2, s. 2005, dated 4 January 2005, reassignment outside geographical location if with consent shall have no limit. However, if it is without consent, reassignment shall be for one year only. Reassignment outside the geographical location may be from one regional office or RO to another RO or from the RO to the central office and vice versa. The periodic reshuffling of CoA personnel is effected through the issuance of a Reassignment Orders which indicate the position and rank of the personnel concerned as well as the present and new units of assignment. The name of the recommending and implementing officials are likewise indicated in the Order. Except when the date of effectivity is specified in the Order, the official or employee concerned assumes post in his/her new place of assignment within one month from the date of his/her receipt of the corresponding Reassignment Order. No new legislation from Congress shall be needed to satisfy the urgency for reorganization. It simply needs the reshuffling of officials and personnel who have relatively overstayed in their position as shown in their assignment orders, and who appeared to have been given special treatment by the previous administration. Numerous voices are being heard from within CoA that “those who were close with the gods before were holding juicy positions; now, how come, the same people are enjoying higher and juicier new postings? When will their bliss ever end?” “Kami naman (Consider us, too),” said CoA personnel who have been assigned for decades in the central office and never to the field audit assignment, although they too are qualified, have been performing administrative jobs since their entry to CoA. Subject to reshuffle is all positions below the chairman and commissioners; National Government Audit Sector. Clusters covering Executive Oversight; Legislative, Judicial, and Constitutional; Local Government and Security; Education; Social and Scientific; Agricultural and Environmental; Commerce, Industry, and External Affairs; and Infrastructure. (To be continued) The post CoA reorganization imminent (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DFA is opening 177.5K passport slots at Metro Manila malls; Here s how to book yours
The Department of Foreign Affairs is opening five special off-site locations in Metro Manila on Wednesday to provide an additional 177,500 passport appointment slots to residents of the region and nearby areas. .....»»
Mandatory appointment of PENRO pushed
Recognizing that illegal logging activities remain rampant in some provinces, Siquijor Rep. Jake Vincent Villa has filed a bill seeking the mandatory appointment of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO). He filed House Bill No. 7382 to amend the Local Government Code by making mandatory instead of optional the appointment of PENRO. Villa sought to specifically amend Section 463 under Chapter 2, Title 4, Book 3 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, to ensure that there will be an official tasked to safeguard and promote environmental protection in the provinces. “As time passes, changes to the environment in all provinces become readily apparent. From once a land of flora and fauna turned concrete jungle of buildings and infrastructures. As changes occur, in particular, climate change transformation of some of our forests lands into virtual savannas aggravated by illegal logging activities have scalped off the precious cover that in the past has served as protection against rampaging rain water during the typhoon season,” Villa said. “The government should be enjoined to protect and preserve our precious forest reserves to avoid destructive flooding,” Villa said. “It is also for the same reasons that the government should designate an official who should be responsible for ensuring that the lands in every province are protected from wanton and illegal cutting of logs and that in areas where reforestation is needed, the same shall be undertaken to avoid destructive flooding in the future,” he added. HB 7382 also seeks to amend Article 115 (b) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA No. 7160 by including PENRO in the list of appointive provincial officials. At present, there are only 13 mandatory appointive provincial officials – Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, provincial treasurer, provincial accountant, provincial budget officer, provincial planning and development coordinator, provincial engineer, provincial health officer, provincial administrator, provincial legal officer, provincial agriculturist; provincial social welfare and development officer, provincial veterinarian, and provincial general services officer......»»
BOI offers stronger tax perks
For manufacturer Manufacturers in the Philippines are allowed to carry over any operating loss from financial year 2020-2021 as tax deduction from gross income over the next five taxable years, according to the Board of Investments (BOI). BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo said this has been allowed under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2, which provides P165 billion in economic stimulus package. “A range of new financial measures and incentives are now available to manufacturers in the Philippines, thanks to new legislation recently signed into law,” said Rodolfo, who is also Trade and Industry’s Undersecretary for industry promotions group. The ‘Bayanihan 2 Act’ is aimed at helping the Philippines recover from the economic impact of Covid-19. It was signed into law by President Duterte in September. Elsewhere, he said, many qualified manufacturers will be exempt from business taxes, import duties, and other fees on a range of products. This includes the production of medical equipment and Covid-19 related items such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as well as the raw materials relevant to the manufacturing of these items. The same relief measures will also apply to the production of equipment for waste management, including waste segregation, storage, collection, sorting, treatment and disposal services. The Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) is urging manufacturers and other large businesses to take advantage of these provisions. For more details on doing so, businesses can book an appointment with BOI via their Facebook page and speak to a dedicated specialist. Information is also available on BOI’s Covid-19 resource hub for businesses. “We know that Covid-19 is still having a significant impact on the operations of manufacturers across the Philippines, and we at BOI are doing all we can to help them,” said Rodolfo as he urged businesses to visit BOI resource hub website and book an appointment with BOI via its Facebook page. “Our dedicated specialists can help businesses understand more about how they can take advantage of the incentives and support in the Bayanihan 2 Act” The Bayanihan 2 stimulus package consists of P140 billion of regular appropriations and an additional standby fund of P25.5 billion. Under the law, P3 billion will be allotted for the procurement of personal protective equipment, face masks, and face shields; P4.5 billion for the construction of temporary medical isolation and quarantine facilities and the expansion of government hospital capacity; and P13.5 billion for emergency employment and compensation of health workers. A total of P4.5 billion will be used to finance isolation facilities, hotel accommodation, food, and transportation of Covid-19 patients; and PHP5 billion for the hiring of contact tracers. Other allocations include P13 billion for the cash-for-work program; P9.5 billion for assistance to public utility drivers and other programs of the transportation department; P6 billion for “individuals in crisis” and other programs of the social welfare department; P4 billion for the tourism industry; and P4 billion for the education department’s implementation of digital learning. Bayanihan 2 is the second installment of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Bayanihan 1), which gave Duterte emergency powers to address the Covid-19 crisis in the country. The Bayanihan 1 law, signed by the president on March 25, already expired on June 25, 2020......»»
CAB: Expect no changes in airfares next month
Travelers planning to book a summer trip can expect airfares to remain the same in April, as the government made no changes in the fuel surcharge that airlines can pass on......»»
Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel may kakaibang adventure sa upcoming movie
IKA nga nila, “dreams come true.” Kaya naman, samahan natin sa kakaibang adventure ang Hollywood stars na sina Zachary Levi at Zooey Deschanel sa upcoming movie na pinamagatang “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” Ang pelikula ay ang kauna-unahang film adaptation ng 1995 children’s classic book na may kaparehong titulo na isinulat ng American cartoonist na.....»»
AboitizPower names new president
Aboitiz Power Corp. the listed power arm of the Aboitiz Group, has announced the appointment of Danel Aboitiz as the next president and CEO of the company starting July 1......»»
Q& A: Filipina author Mixkaela Villalon on writing and publishing her book ‘Interregnum’
Villalon talks 'Interregnum,' why she highlights the Filipino social conditions in her work, and how she unlearned viewing the male experience as universal when reading.....»»
7 Habits of Success Every Entrepreneur Should Practice
A business starts with an idea and then turns to action but it’s not that simple. Keeping your business running smoothly requires effort and dedication as well as wisdom from successful people in the entrepreneur world. Inspired by a book by Stephen Covey “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” we can grasp some practical […].....»»
CA approves ad interim appointment of Recto
The Commission on Appointments approved yesterday the ad interim appointment of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, who vowed to plug tax leaks, improve tax administration and prevent wasteful expenditures......»»
Nesthy, Aira claim Paris berths
In an fateful Monday in Busto Arsizio, Italy, Team Phl unleashed its two remaining fighters who both came out with brave, triumphant feats to book berths in the Paris Olympics this July......»»
‘Abused’ wife blocks CA promotion of AFP general
The ad interim appointment of Brig. Gen. Ranulfo Sevilla was deferred yesterday after his wife accused him of domestic abuse, according to the Commission on Appointments......»»
Life after kidnapping
For the first time in a long while, I exchanged my evening Net-flix bingeing for a book.....»»
Petecio, Villegas book Paris Olympic berths
Nesthy Petecio delivered another epic result that she was known to bring and bested a feisty Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey, 4-1, in their women’s 57-kilogram duel that earned the former a second Olympic tour of duty......»»
Banks’ bad loans ratio highest in 8 months
The share of bad loans to the banking sector’s total loan book went up to an eight-month high in January, snapping two straight months of decline, as borrowers felt the pinch of elevated interest rates......»»
Junior Altas gain crack at first crown
Jan Roluna was a surprise package and unlikely hero as Perpetual Help downed Mapua, 96-91, to book a breakthrough finals appearance in the NCAA Season 99 juniors basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena yesterday......»»
President Marcos gives Sandro ‘Sex for Lazy People’
For his eldest son’s 30th birthday, President Marcos gifted a book titled “Sex for Lazy People: 50 Effortless Positions So You Can Do It Without Overdoing It” by Ginny Hogan......»»
CEU gains semis; Diliman forces rubber
Defending champion Centro Escolar University made quick work of Guang Ming College, 83-57, to book the first ticket to the semifinals in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum Season 6 at the Paco Arena yesterday......»»
CEU wallops Guang Ming to clinch UCAL semis berth
Defending champion Centro Escolar University made quick work of Guang Ming College, 83-57, to book the first ticket to the semifinals in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League-PG Flex Linoleum Season 6......»»