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Delivery drivers urge Mayor Baste for business permit exemption
Title: Delivery Drivers Seek Exemption from Business Permit Requirement A group of delivery drivers in Davao is urging Mayor Sebastian Duterte to exempt them from the mandatory business permits. The drivers, including those from various delivery apps such as Grab and FoodPanda, are concerned about the financial burden imposed by the business permits, which range from P2,000 to P6,000. They argue that this requirement is unique to Davao City among all cities and provinces in the Philippines. Grab rider Rolando Atico emphasized the need for solidarity among all delivery drivers, regardless of the app they work for. He urged fellow drivers to support each other, as the financial impact may extend beyond just Grab and FoodPanda. Atico also requested Mayor Duterte to reconsider the requirement and reinstate the previous occupational permit, which only cost P125. The group is facing a 30-day deadline to obtain the business permits, and they are citing financial constraints as a reason for their request for an extension. Failure to comply could result in their removal from the delivery platforms, jeopardizing their livelihoods. Additionally, they are advocating for changes to Davao City's Revenue Code, proposing a model similar to Cebu City, where only an occupational permit is required. The drivers are also calling for an inquiry into the lack of transparency and unilateral actions of food delivery companies, particularly concerning rider capitalization and financial concerns. They believe that a thorough investigation will help ensure fairness and equity in their financial obligations and working relationship with the delivery companies. Maribel Paguican, the Business Bureau officer-in-charge, stated that non-certified delivery riders categorized as service contractors must obtain a business permit. She mentioned two permits for occupational and business activities, with a discounted structure for delivery riders. However, concerns have been raised about increased taxes, potentially ranging from P3,000 to P6,000, along with an additional tax on top of the declared income of P1,400. The delivery drivers' plea for exemption from the business permit requirement reflects their concerns about the financial impact and the potential threat to their livelihoods. Their call for solidarity and support from fellow drivers highlights the urgency of the situation. This story sheds light on the challenges faced by delivery drivers in Davao and the implications of the business permit requirement on their financial well-being. It also underscores their efforts to seek fairness and equity in their working relationship with the authorities and delivery companies......»»
Samal resort gets notice of violation over hawksbill turtle hatchlings
The Department of Natural Resources-Davao Region (DENR-Davao) has issued a notice of violation to Isla Reta Beach Resort in Samal for the illegal possession of hawksbill turtle hatchlings. The resort violated Republic Act 9147, which prohibits the exploitation of wildlife resources and their habitats. The law strictly prohibits collecting, hunting, or possessing wildlife or their by-products, with penalties including imprisonment and fines. In response to the notice, the resort's owner must release the turtle hatchlings within a day, or face legal action. Despite the resort's intention to care for and release the hatchlings after six months, DENR-Davao found 130 hatchlings inside styro boxes and emphasized the critical importance of immediately releasing them to ensure their survival. The Philippines recognizes five sea turtle species, with hawksbill and leatherback classified as critically endangered. DENR-Davao encourages individuals to report wildlife sightings and pledges to conduct public awareness campaigns for wildlife conservation. Isla Reta Beach Resort faced criticism for unauthorized plans to raise the hatchlings......»»
Groups urge to include placemaking in planning for public spaces
The push for placemaking in planning for public spaces was emphasized by various groups during a recent forum in Davao City. ATTY. Mark Peñalver, executive director of Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis), stressed the importance of incorporating placemaking in public space planning to not only enhance the physical environment but also to promote inclusivity. He highlighted the exclusion of certain sectors in existing public spaces and emphasized the need for stakeholders' input and acknowledgment of their stories in the planning process. Dr. Derlie Mateo-Babiano, an associate professor in Urban Planning Assistant, described placemaking as a means to transform places into spaces that people will cherish. She emphasized the significance of engaging the community in the planning process to understand their cultural, environmental, and other needs. Peñalver also cited a successful placemaking project in Davao Executive Homes, which catered to children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs, demonstrating the positive impact of placemaking. Furthermore, Peñalver advocated for the institutionalization of placemaking in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and other development plans in Davao City. He highlighted the potential of placemaking to ensure that government projects are beneficial to the community. Architect Harold Delima, co-convenor of Placemaking Davao, discussed ongoing workshops with various demographics to integrate placemaking into the city's development. The groups involved are hopeful that placemaking will become a fundamental aspect of public space planning in Davao City, aiming to create inclusive and community-centered environments......»»
BSP onboards 1st nonbank electronic money issuer
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) achieved a significant milestone by welcoming OmniPay, Inc. as the first nonbank electronic money issuer (EMI) participant in its Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) payment system, PhilPaSSplus. This move aligns with the National Payment Systems Act and signifies a more inclusive national payment system, allowing nonbank financial institutions to conduct efficient and low-risk funds transfers directly through the central bank. Assistant Governor Mary Anne P. Lim emphasized the BSP's commitment to safeguarding the entire Peso RTGS payment system amidst global trends of diversified participation. With 236 institutions, including various banks and nonbank entities, utilizing PhilPaSSplus for large value transactions and retail payment clearing, the BSP's initiative reflects a broader trend of central banks facilitating direct access for nonbank entities to settlement services. This development comes as international standard-setting bodies work on access guidelines to manage risks in evolving payment systems with new players and financial technologies......»»
6 killed, 31 injured in Philippine landslide
Six people died, 31 people were injured, and 46 others are still missing in a rain-induced landslide in a mountainous region in southern Philippines, local media DZRH News reported on Wednesday.Source: CGTN.....»»
Rescuers recover another body in southern Philippine landslide
MANILA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers on Saturday recovered the body of the last missing man buried in Thursday's rain-induced landslide that ripped through a mining village in Davao de Oro province in the southern Philippines, officials said. In a social media post, the municipal government of Monkayo said rescuers found the body of the 45-year-old man, the last person missing, bringing the death toll in the vil.....»»
Rescuers recover another body in southern Philippine landslide
MANILA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers on Saturday recovered the body of the last missing man buried in Thursday's rain-induced landslide that ripped through a mining village in Davao de Oro province in the southern Philippines, officials said. In a social media post, the municipal government of Monkayo said rescuers found the body of the 45-year-old man, the last person missing, bringing the death toll in the vil.....»»
Duterte calls Philippine president a drug addict as rift deepens - Philippines
Ferdinand Marcos Jr hits back with fentanyl insult amid breakdown in relations between political families The former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte accused his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, of being a drug addict who risked being ousted from office in an expletive-laden tirade that underlined the breakdown in relations between the two powerful political families. Dutertes speech on Sunday, in which he claimed Marc.....»»
De Lima to seek demurrer on final drug case
The camp of former senator Leila de Lima is set to file a motion for leave of court to file a demurrer to evidence in connection with the third and final drug case filed against her......»»
‘This cannot be our reality’: De Lima honors drug war victims on 7th arrest anniversary
'Injustice continues to cast a long shadow over our nation, its darkness deepened by the countless Filipinos who perished in the brutal war on drugs. Their stories cry out for justice, yet accountability remains an elusive dream,' says Leila de Lima.....»»
Opposition bares some Senate bets for 2025 elections
Liberal Party spokesperson Leila de Lima says that the party will try to convince former vice president Leni Robredo to join the opposition's senatorial ticket.....»»
REVIEW – San Rafael: Reminding us what teaching a love story is for
BOOK REVIEW: San Rafael by Leila Rispens-Noel8 Letters Bookstore & Publishing, 2023 One sweltering afternoon, Isabel headed for the lagoon. She walked through a rocky narrow track with dense cogon and other grasses on either side. Ice-cold water cascaded down the rocky hill, its roar filling the air. The water was crystal clear-clear enough to […].....»»
NTF-ELCAC should have ended with Duterte — ex-senator
Former senator and justice secretary Leila de Lima said that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict should have been disbanded since former President Rodrigo Duterte stepped out of office......»»
Our politicos’ drug of choice
“I think it’s the fentanyl.”.....»»
The gloves are off
Which substance scrambles the brain more, cocaine or fentanyl?.....»»
Marcos, Duterte ‘drug war’ erupts
Turning the tables on former president Rodrigo Duterte who had publicly called him a drug addict, President Marcos said yesterday his predecessor is highly addicted to the painkiller fentanyl, the serious side effects of which may have affected his thinking and behavior......»»
Marcos, Romualdez lash out at Dutertes for ‘drug addict’ accusation
In a first, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has rebuked former President Rodrigo Duterte for publicly accusing him of taking illegal drugs, saying that the former leader is suffering from his use of the “highly addictive” Fentanyl drug......»»
A SOJOURNER’S VIEW: Love In The Time Of Turmoil
REVIEW OF A NOVEL: SAN RAFAELBy Leila Noel-RispensPublished by 8Letters Bookstore & Publishing CEBU CITY (MindaNews / 11 January) — Whether it is in plays, novels or films – Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, Love in a Time of Cholera, The English Patient, Dr. Zhivago, Titanic, Maruja, Tatlong Taong Walang Dios, Relasyon – love stories unfolding in a conflict […].....»»
131 LGUs in state of calamity due to El Niño
Over a hundred local government units have declared a state of calamity over El Niño-induced droughts and extreme heat. .....»»
Landslide fatalities reach 85 as search, retrieval continue
Ten days of search, rescue and retrieval operations have brought the number of fatalities to 85 in the rain-induced landslide in Maco, Davao de Oro......»»