Radical changes in BMBE law to benefit SMEs-Casiño

The House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development is eyeing radical changes to Republic Act 9178 or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) Act of 2002 once the amendatory bill is approved.

“We are looking at very radical revisions in the BMBE Law that will strengthen the small and micro entrepreneurs in the country once the amendments are approved,” Committee chairperson, Representative Teddy Casiño said yesterday during a public hearing on the amendatory bill held at the Grand Menseng Hotel in Davao City.

This is the third leg of a series of public hearings held in Congress and in Cebu last year. The fourth and last public hearing will be held in Central Luzon, after which the amendatory bill is expected to be passed on third reading at the plenary.
Casiño said it is high time to amend the BMBE Law as it has been a failure and has failed to live up to its goals of providing incentives to the small and medium entrepreneurs. He said that in Davao City alone, only 44 entrepreneurs have registered under the program out of the thousands of small business owners in the city. Of this, he added, only seven have been granted income tax exemptions in 2011.

“There are many complaints about the implementation of the BMBE Law and one of this is the P1,000 payment for the certificate which is required to be registered under the law,” Casiño said. And even if the entrepreneurs get registered under the program, he added, they do not get tax exemptions from the national government because of the strict policies of the Bureau of Internal Revenue when it comes to tax exemptions.

He said the small businesses do not even enjoy benefits in the local level because they do are still required to pay local taxes and fees. They do not even have benefits in terms of credit, he added, because the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that no special facilities were created for them under the program.
“Small businesses in Davao have to wait for a long time for the approval of their applications for tax exemptions since these are being processed in the national level,” he said.

The amendatory bill is pushing for the automatic exemption of the small businesses under the BMBE Law both in the local and national taxes and fees for a period of between two to six years. Once this is implemented, he said, small businesses no longer have to pay certain fees to the local government like Mayor’s permit, business permit, garbage and other fees.

“We want them to be automatically exempted from the local charges and taxes but this is where the problem comes in since most local government units are apprehensive about the possible reduction in their income,” he said.

Casiño however said that a consensus among the LGUs they have talked to during the public hearings show that the exemptions may be allowed for small business with capitalization of less than P200 thousand and for a specified period only. After the maximum six-year period of exemption, then they have to pay, headed.

PhilHealth soon to make e-transactions mandatory for hospitals

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to make electronic transactions mandatory for hospitals that have the capability of connecting through the Internet.

This was revealed by PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon during his visit to Davao City last Saturday.

“Davao City is well-connected so there is no excuse for hospitals to not be connect
ed once we make electronic transactions mandatory for them,” Banzon said. He said the same case is true for Tagum City which seems to be also well-connected electronically.

Banzon said PhilHealth’s direction is towards the interconnection of PhilHealth with hospitals all over the country through electronic transactions, to make the transactions more efficient. He said PhilHealth is set to implement its automation program as part of its goal to provide improved services to its members.

One component of PhilHealth’s automation program is the e-claim project which will allow accredited hospitals to have access to the database of PhilHealth for purposes of

verifying the members’ eligibility. The ultimate goal, Banzon said, is to make the whole process efficient for its members.

Banzon cited the new case rate

payment method, which was implemented September last year, as a better way that allows PhilHea

lth members to determine the exact amount of their coverage for eleven most common medical cases like Pneumonia and Hypertension, and 12 surgical cases.

“Case rate is more beneficial both to PhilHealth members as it is more transparent, and to health care providers as it is simpler to administer,” he said. The illnesses and surgical cases covered under the case rate payment scheme are based on the cases which PhilHealth paid in the past years.

Juris breaths fresh air in davao concert scene

If you are looking forward to lots of bumpy and danceable numbers, then don't watch the pre-Valentine concert of Juris. But if you just want some heartwarming songs that will help you reminisce your past loves, your heartaches, your teenage kiligs and your first love, or you just want a relaxing night, then you can still catch Juris Live at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao tonight, for the second night of her 2-day Pre-Valentine Show.

Thank the Demolay Alumni Feliciano Inigo Chapter for bringing one of the ASAP sessionistas to her roots. Juris was born and educated in Davao--grade school and high school at the Ateneo de Davao and as she said during her show last night "It's always good to be back in Davao..."

Unknown to many, Juris is not only a soulful singer but she also writes songs. She wrote Di Lang Ikaw--with music by Aiza Seguerra. Just found out last night too that she's the voice behind the theme song of the unforgettable teleserye "Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin".

She sang one of my old-time favorites---Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka which was written by Mr. C and originally recorded by Basil Valdez. The song is Basil's all the way but her rendition of the song was very moving.

This is sort of a homecoming show for another Dabawenyo, Ken Cruz, who surprised me with his light singing of "I Don't Wanna Bore You With It" by Stevie Wonder.

Tickets are sold for P800 (VIP) and P500 (Patron). Viewing with dinner tickets are priced at VIP P1,100 and Patron P800.

Improved BIMP-EAGA air connectivity eyed as Davao hosts 3 EAGA air summits

A stronger air connectivity within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), an economic cooperation among the four regional economies, is expected as Davao hosts three very important summits this year.

“The three events are not big in terms of size but big in terms of the quality of the participants, most of them are decision-makers,” Department of Tourism XI director Art Boncato said.

Boncato said the Asia Air Access Forum will be participated in by regulatory bodies and airline officials who will present their plans for the region, The Airline CEO Summit will be a venue for the Chief Executive Officers of the airlines to meet and discuss the strategies and plans of connecting EAGA. The Air Network Forum will allow players to conduct a business to business interaction.

There will be an exhibit during the three Summits, where free exhibit space will be given to all airlines. The Airline Summit will include Garuda Airlines of Indonesia, Malaysia Airline, MAS Wings, Royal Brunei Airline and the airlines operating in the Philippines including PAL, Cebu Pacific, Zest Airline, Air Philippines and Sea Air.

“We are expecting around 200 participants mostly tourism players and the civil aviation authorities,” Boncato said. Other countries involved in the BIMP-EAGA will also be invited including China, Japan and Australia.

Boncato said the Southern Mindanao’s tourism sector is excited about the vibrant prospects for tourism considering the traditional markets for Davao tourism including the United States, Japan and South Korea. He said there are plans to explore the emerging tourism market in China and Singapore.

“There is a big potential for Davao in China as shown by the result of our trip to Beijing last year where Davao was a featured destination,” he said. They are also confident about Singapore as a tourism market for Davao as two airlines are already flying in and out to Singapore, he added.

He said the region’s tourism sector is serious in its bid to connect Manado and Davao. Boncato said Lion Air of Indonesia previously expressed its interest in coming to Davao and they have already met with DOT and Mindanao Development Authority. However, there was a lull in the talks “so we are seriously following this up.”

“The past year was much better than 2011 tourism-wise,” Boncato said. Davao’s major tourism market is still the MICE market or the Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibits.

Davao is eyeing the next Ad Congress, with additional 4,000 people that can be accommodated by the new facilities that will be built in the city this year, Boncato said.

Explosive components capable of destroying 2-storey bldg found

A sack containing up to 25 kilos of ammonium nitrate and several explosives components was recovered by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) along Bgy. Malagamot, Panacan at 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

“Initial investigations showed that the explosives components were intended for use in quarry and mining operations although it can also be used in crafting bombs,” DCPO director Col. Rene Aspera said during a press briefing at the DCPO Friday morning.

Aspera said included among the items they recovered inside the sack include 97 pieces non-electrical blasting caps, 25.2 kilos of ANFO or ammonium nitrate fuel, 89 pieces of Suprdyne Dynamite and 95 pieces of fuse lighter.

Both the DCPO and Task Force Davao received the information from 911, which got a call from a concerned citizen about several suspicious items scattered along the road and being played on by children.

Major Johngie N. Tizon said an IED reinforced by shrapnels like nails can kill and the extent of damage it can create depends on the size of the IED. He
brought out a sample containing 5 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and said “kaya nitong baliktarin ang isang 6x6 na army truck at kayang was akin ang isang smaller vehicle like a Humvee.”

“Ammonium nitrate weighing 25.2 kilos (like the one recovered by the DCPO and TF Davao Thursday) can demolish even a two-storey building,” he said.

Aspera said the person responsible for the sack carrying explosive components may have panicked upon sensing that there was a checkpoint in Ylang due to the heavy traffic along the Panacan-Sasa junction so he decided to turn to Malagamot instead. However, he added, “meron ding traffic sa Malagamot since there was a checkpoint also kaya siguro iniwan na lang ang sako sa daanan.”

Tizon said one reason for their initial theory that the explosives components were intended for quarry and mining and not for terrorist activities is the inclusion of a non-electrical blasting cap.

“Yung IED na ginagamit may electrical and dos not use a lighter pero ito sinisindihan pa,” he said.

Nokia launches two units with Dual SIM

Those who want to get life’s little perks when it comes to having thousands of music, videos, dual SIM and lots and lots of Gigabytes in their mobile phones but just don’t have the cash can now smile and say---at last!

Thanks to Nokia’s two new feature-rich mobile phones, the Nokia X1-01 and the Nokia C2-00, even the regular daily wage earners will now be able to get these features in their mobile phones, which used to be available only to high-end phones that can break the bank with their prices.

I instantly fell in love with the vibrant colors sported by the Nokia X1-01 especially the Ocean Blue. But when I saw the red unit then that when the problem started because now I can’t decide which color I want. This is a petty cool cellphone which, according to Nokia Corporate Communications manager Nikka Abes, meets every consumer’s requirements when it comes to “convenience, cost savings , coverage and multi-user need.”

Nokia Xi-01 comes with up to 16GB of memory so you can store as many of your favorite music. It has an MP3 player, one-press playlist creation and stereo FM radio which sounds great to any music lover. It also comes pre-loaded with games and has a flashlight. Aside from the colors already mentioned, you can also opt for other colors like Dark Grey and Orange. And let’s not forget it has dual SIM cards and has music side keys.

The more sophisticated of the two is the Nokia C2-00 which is not only dual SIM but offers the convenience of having one of the SIM doors on the side so it’s easy to change into a third or fourth provider without opening the back of the phone considering that most SIMs are located near the battery. This unit allows internet browsing but not WiFi so you need to pay for that. The phone comes with a 32GB memory, FM radio and VGA camera.

While the Nokia X1-01 is more eye-catching than the Nokia C2-00, you will probably go for the latter since it has an audio recording feature. It also comes in so-nice Magenta and other colors like Snow White, Jet Black and Dynamic Grey.

One thing going for the two new units is its affordability, with a P1,990 price tag for the Nokia X1-01 and a P2.990 price tag for the Nokia C2-00. The phones will be available in Davao City between June and July this year.

Dabawenyos at ABS CBN's SUPAHDANZ

Three young dancers from Davao City are making waves not just in Manila but all over the country! If you’re a regular Sunday viewer of ASAP at ABS CBN then you have probably seen them for several weeks already, making their moves and winning the hearts of dance enthusiasts including celebrities like Billy Crawford and KC Concepcion who are among the judges of ABS CBN’s SUPAHDANZ Competition.

The dance competition is a nationwide search for new dancers who can best show the Supahdanz moves. They started with 10 groups and after several thrilling Sundays, we only now have 4 crews who will compete for the finals.

Davao’s P.O.D. Dance Crew is composed of Ayana QUIROS Merquita and Jabs and Pen under the guidance of Jhoey Zulueta. The fight is getting too close as it nears the end but as of last Sunday, the P.O.D. remains at the top of the voting.

Dabawenyos and P.O.D. fans are urged to vote for the crew anytime through http://asap.abs-cbn.com/. Look for the ASAP SUPAHDANZ OFF POLL at the middle right side of the page and VOTE FOR POD. You can vote as many times as you want by just copying the link to your browser and following the same steps.