Fees increase effective Friday

TACLOBAN CITY- Even securing civil registry documents have been hit by the TRAIN Law.
Effective last Friday (February 2), fees on the issuances and authentications of birth, marriage and death certificates as well as certificate of no marriage (Cenomar) from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will go up due to the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law which took effect on January 1 of this year.
Nikki Joy Belas, information officer of PSA-8, based here, said that an increase of P15 will be imposed for those who will secure of these civil registry documents from their office effective this Friday.
From the previous P140, those who will secure birth, marriage and death certificates, they now have to pay P155 per copy while for the issuance of Cenomar, one has to pay P210 from the current rate of P195.
“The increase of the new rate effective February 2 is based on the implementation rules and regulations of BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) Revenue Regulations No.4-2018 for documentary stamp tax rate adjustment due to the TRAIN Law,” Belas said, citing the reason for the increase of the fees.
The implementation of the TRAIN Law resulted in the amendments of several sections of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 which mostly refers on documentary stamp tax or taxes impose on documents or instruments, among others.
Last year, the PSA in Eastern Visayas released 414,890 civil registry documents.
Belas, however, was not able to provide how much their office collected out of the release of these documents of the same period.
“But we have informed the public on the increase of the fees through media releases and in our website. We also announced this new rate adjustment through our public address system for those who are in our office,” she added.
Notices of rate increase were also placed inside their office, Belas said.
Among those who secure these documents are beneficiaries of the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), a cash grant program of the government aim to provide relief among the country’s poorest of the poor.
“I think the P15 increase is still within their reach. And it’s not only our office that will impose rate adjustments because of the implementation of this TRAIN Law,” Belas said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

2018 EVRAA Meet

CALBAYOG CITY- About 400 policemen are to be deployed in this city to secure the more than 8,000 athletes, and sports officials who will participate in the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet that is to start Sunday (February 4).
Calbayog City PNP OIC Chief Supt. Jose Junal Alamalo said of this assigned policemen, over 300 of them were from different police stations of the region.
Also deployed to help secure the safety of the young athletes and their coaches as well as the visitors are members of the Army, Coast Guard and other allied agencies who sent personnel to support in securing the regional sports events.
“As of now, we have 400 personnel coming from the PNP. That’s aside from those coming from the military, Coast Guard and other allied agencies who will work hand in hand to secure the delegates and guests,” Alamo said.
The security personnel are to be deployed to different billeting schools, playing venues, and other places in the city proper.
Alamo added that they will strictly implement policies, particularly in all the billeting venues, like the no ID no entry policy, to make sure that no unauthorized person could enter the premises.
“The no ID no entry in each billeting school will be implemented to make sure that no unauthorized person will be allowed to enter. This is part of the security measure that seems effective,” Alamo added.
He added that police visibility will be heightened and checkpoints in strategic places in the city will be put up during the week-long sporting activity.
“Police visibility is very important and that is what we are doing. We want to let the people feel of our presence and assured their security,” Alamo said.
For the past months, Calbayog City, this year’s host of the regional athletic event, had been haunted by series of killing incidents allegedly perpetrated by members of the private armed groups.
But the PNP assured that the delegates and guests who are in the city for the biggest event in the region will be safe.
“We are doing our best for the security of all delegations and guests. What we are just asking is the cooperation of everyone. Calbayog City, in general, is peaceful,” Alamo assured the public.
(JENNIFER SUMAGANG-ALLEGADO)

Part of ‘Yolanda’ assistance

MARABUT, Samar- Close to five years after super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ pummeled this town, 297 families from two villages here received their new and better houses from the Kuwait Red Crescent Society on Monday(January 29).
The donation of these housing units located in Barangay Amambucale and Legaspi, is part of their government’s assistance to the Philippines towards recovery after the onslaught of Yolanda, said Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer, deputy president of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society.
Aside from Al-Sayer, also present during the turn-over of these housing units were Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines, Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh, Samar Vice Governor Stephen James Tan and Marabut Mayor Elizabeth Ortillo.
Lene Grefil, a mother of two from Barangay Amambucale, said that she is happy for their new and sturdier home adding that the site is just within their village which means that they could still continue their fishing which is their main source of livelihood.
“I am thankful to the humanitarian agency that helped us. This house will secure my family during a typhoon,” she said.
Dionisio Ragut, a father of nine and from Brgy. Legaspi said that they will no longer evacuate because their new house is sturdier than their present house that is made from light materials.
“My family will now be safe. We’ll no longer worry to evacuate whenever there is a typhoon,” he said.
For Remedios Abun, 73, the housing unit awarded to them by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society is a blessing for her family.
“After almost five years of waiting, we now have this unit. I’m thankful that we were chosen to be a recipient,” Abun said.
Of the 297 housing units, 138 are located in Amambucale while 159 are located in Legaspi, two of the hard-hit villages of Marabut.
The housing project of Kuwait Red Crescent is part of the $9 million donation of Kuwaiti government to Yolanda survivors.
“Kuwait has always been a good friend to the Philippines that is why the Red Crescent immediately came and supervised the construction of the 297 units of houses to help the people of the Philippines. Kuwait has always been a friend of the Philippines that’s the main reason the Red Crescent Society help in the re-establishing of the people who lost their homes,” Al-Sayer said.
Aside from the housing project in Marabut town, they also sent food and non-food items and constructed school buildings to help the recovery of the education sector in different towns in Eastern Samar and Samar provinces devastated by Yolanda that pummeled the region on November 8, 2013.
The construction of housing units for Yolanda victims is a manifestation of the growing relationship between Kuwaiti and Philippine government, said Vice Gov.Tan.
“Even though our place was not that highlighted in the media after super typhoon Yolanda, you still noticed us and for us that is very much important. We really appreciate that,” he said. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

MANILA-The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines commends the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on the seizure of approximately six kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and the arrest of two Philippine citizens suspected to be involved in the importation of the methamphetamine.
On January 24 U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) provided PDEA and the Bureau of Customs information two parcels containing crystal methamphetamine destined for the Philippines. With the shipping and locator information, PDEA intercepted the parcels and seized approximately six kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, with an estimated value of P34 million.
On January 25, 2018, PDEA conducted a controlled delivery in Cavite and arrested two Philippine citizens for violating Philippine Republic Act 9165, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PR)

CATBALOGAN CITY- Officials from the three Samar provinces are calling for the expansion of areas to be covered under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program.
Areas identified under the Pamana program, which is being implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP), receives funding for construction of roads. These areas are remote and affected with insurgency problem.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, who chairs the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), said that there is a clamor from other officials of the three Samar provinces to expand the number of areas presently covered under the Pamana program.
At present, there are only 10 areas in Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar provinces that are under the Pamana project.
These are San Jose de Buan and Matuguinao, both in Samar; Silvino lobos, Las Navas, Catubig, Lope de Vega, San Roque and Mondragon in Northern Samar and Maslog and Jipapad, both in Eastern Samar.
It was learned that the provincial governments of Northern and Eastern Samar through their respective provincial board passed resolutions calling to include other areas of their respective provinces.
In the case of Eastern Samar, they have identified the towns of Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Can-avid, San Julian, Hernani, Llorente, Gen Macarthur and the city of Borongan to be included in the Pamana program.
Last year, OPAPP earmarked P447 million for the implementation of Pamana projects in the identified areas. The national government allotted P20 billion for Pamana projects across the country for the same year.
Gov. Tan said that the declaration by the military several towns in Samar provinces as insurgency-free has resulted for the government to reduce the funding of projects under Pamana.
“I am really sensitive in the declaration of insurgency-free. Yes, I know that there are areas that is free from insurgency but there are also areas where insurgency movement presence is still being felt,” Tan said.
The move of the military in 2015 declaring most areas of the province as insurgency-free was greatly opposed by the provincial government which prompted the Armed Forces of the Philippines to conduct a review.
“I always raise this issue during my discussion with top officials of the AFP and the Philippine National Police not to sugarcoat the situation just because of there is a directive from the higher-ups. I always tell them to assess the real situation on the ground before issuing such declaration,” Tan added.
Pamana Samar area manager Emilda Bonifacio advises the local leaders in Samar provinces to hasten the submission of their recommendation of areas they think need to be included under the Pamana program.
“Until now we do not have yet the complete listing of the Pamana areas. As of now only 10 LGUS in Eastern Visayas are included in the list of Pamana areas. Most of the projects that we are focusing on are on these 10 areas,” Bonifacio said.
Bonifacio added that the declaration of insurgency-free status has resulted for the region to receive a lower budget for Pamana projects.
“I think this will need to be revalidated if the information is true. It would be better if we will base our information from the ground than base it from the central office,” Bonifacio said.
She added that aside from insurgency problem, their agency is also looking to include poverty as basis for a municipality to be identified as a Pamana area.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) field office here will embark on a P458.65 million flood control projects this year in a bid to prevent overflowing of rivers.
The multi-million projects in 24 sites include the construction of embankments along riverbanks and coastlines considered as critical sections in the province.
DPWH Southern Leyte chief Ma. Margarita C. Junia said the construction of these concrete barriers is a practical solution to the problem of overflowing and erosion that posed danger to dwellers near rivers.
Of the 24 flood mitigation structures, 12 will be built in Sogod town; two each in Libagon, San Francisco, and San Juan; and one each in Malitbog, Hinunangan, Bontoc, St. Bernard, Silago, and Macrohon towns.
“The main objective in implementing these projects is to safeguard the lives and properties of the people against major floods,” Junia said.
Last year, the field office implemented six flood control projects along Subang Daku River in Sogod town with P278.24 million cost.
The district office will continue to identify other flood-prone areas as future sites of flood control projects. These projects are on top of drainage systems and declogging of waterways.
(GERICO A. SABALZA)