Aquino, declares January of every year as ‘Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month’
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the month of January of every year as “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month.”
In Proclamation No. 313 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on January 12, 2012, President Aquino issued the declaration to promote public awareness and use of indigenous textiles in the country.
Under Republic Act 9242 otherwise known as the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law of 2004, tropical fabrics are defined as those containing natural fibers produced, spun, woven or knitted, and finished in the Philippines. These fabrics are used mostly for the uniforms of government officials and employees.
"The implementation of RA No. 9242 shall raise awareness on the utilization of natural fibers like pineapple, banana, abaca and Philippine silk for textile and allied products and bring about the revival and upgrading of the local textile and garments industries, thus redounding to the creation of livelihood in the agricultural and industrial sectors," the President said.
The Chief Executive noted that Proclamation No. 86 (s. 2010) declared January 24, 2011 as “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day” under the auspices of the Philippine Textile Research institute (PTRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which increased interest on tropical fabrics from among the local industries.
In issuing Proclamation No. 313, the President cited "the need to sustain the gains from the celebration of the first Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day and to engage a more active participation of government institutions and local industries on the use of Philippine Tropical Fabrics, as well as local natural fibers."
President Aquino, directed the PTRI-DOST to source funds to defray the cost of the celebration.
He also ordered the PTRI-DOST to ensure that extensive research on the judicious utilization of local natural fibers be continued.
“All fabric producers, textile manufacturers, garments and geotextile industries, including the private sector, associations, institutions and the academe, are hereby enjoined to actively participate in the proper observance of the “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month” and to partner with the government in bringing about an evolution of the Philippine textile industry as an emerging leader in the global textile market," President Aquino said. (PCOO)
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Malacanang says Aquino gov't committed to rationalize sin taxes
Malacanang expressed the Aquino administration’s commitment and unyielding efforts to rationalize the collection of sin taxes in the country to get more revenues for the government that could be used for various developmental programs.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the amendment to the structure of sin taxes collection is long overdue.
“The situation is this: We are rationalizing the various levels of sin taxes. At present, there are a number of levels - four levelsare that we would like to rationalize...this amendment is long overdue,” Lacierda said.
When asked on the government’s position of entering into a compromise with major stakeholders that will be affected by the rationalization, Lacierda said that the government is not considering such move pending the discussion of the amendments in the committee level.
“No, well, it’s up to the legislators to do that. We have presented our bill and so our position is very clear: we want to rationalize the sin taxes. As to whatever compromises, that is something that they will have to present… I mean, the tobacco industry would have to present their position in the debates in the committee level,” Lacierda said.
The government expects to earn P60 billion a year from the rationalization of taxes on alcohol and tobacco products. Without such a bill, the finance department estimates that government will lose P2 billion to P2.4 billion a year by 2013. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the month of January of every year as “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month.”
In Proclamation No. 313 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on January 12, 2012, President Aquino issued the declaration to promote public awareness and use of indigenous textiles in the country.
Under Republic Act 9242 otherwise known as the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law of 2004, tropical fabrics are defined as those containing natural fibers produced, spun, woven or knitted, and finished in the Philippines. These fabrics are used mostly for the uniforms of government officials and employees.
"The implementation of RA No. 9242 shall raise awareness on the utilization of natural fibers like pineapple, banana, abaca and Philippine silk for textile and allied products and bring about the revival and upgrading of the local textile and garments industries, thus redounding to the creation of livelihood in the agricultural and industrial sectors," the President said.
The Chief Executive noted that Proclamation No. 86 (s. 2010) declared January 24, 2011 as “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day” under the auspices of the Philippine Textile Research institute (PTRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which increased interest on tropical fabrics from among the local industries.
In issuing Proclamation No. 313, the President cited "the need to sustain the gains from the celebration of the first Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day and to engage a more active participation of government institutions and local industries on the use of Philippine Tropical Fabrics, as well as local natural fibers."
President Aquino, directed the PTRI-DOST to source funds to defray the cost of the celebration.
He also ordered the PTRI-DOST to ensure that extensive research on the judicious utilization of local natural fibers be continued.
“All fabric producers, textile manufacturers, garments and geotextile industries, including the private sector, associations, institutions and the academe, are hereby enjoined to actively participate in the proper observance of the “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month” and to partner with the government in bringing about an evolution of the Philippine textile industry as an emerging leader in the global textile market," President Aquino said. (PCOO)
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Malacanang says Aquino gov't committed to rationalize sin taxes
Malacanang expressed the Aquino administration’s commitment and unyielding efforts to rationalize the collection of sin taxes in the country to get more revenues for the government that could be used for various developmental programs.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the amendment to the structure of sin taxes collection is long overdue.
“The situation is this: We are rationalizing the various levels of sin taxes. At present, there are a number of levels - four levelsare that we would like to rationalize...this amendment is long overdue,” Lacierda said.
When asked on the government’s position of entering into a compromise with major stakeholders that will be affected by the rationalization, Lacierda said that the government is not considering such move pending the discussion of the amendments in the committee level.
“No, well, it’s up to the legislators to do that. We have presented our bill and so our position is very clear: we want to rationalize the sin taxes. As to whatever compromises, that is something that they will have to present… I mean, the tobacco industry would have to present their position in the debates in the committee level,” Lacierda said.
The government expects to earn P60 billion a year from the rationalization of taxes on alcohol and tobacco products. Without such a bill, the finance department estimates that government will lose P2 billion to P2.4 billion a year by 2013. (PCOO)
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Malacanang says Aquino government implementing measures to contain inflation
The Aquino government started implementing measures to contain inflation amid global economic slowdown, a Palace official said on Monday.
During the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement following the forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that the inflation will be "well-contained until 2013."
"Well, our concern should always be high inflation as it would mean higher prices and all those consequent factors. What the economic managers have so far done is to contain and, in fact, Bangko Sentral has agreed that the inflation rate would be kept and it would be contained," Lacierda said.
Pressures on global commodity prices are seen to continue to abate amid weaker global growth prospects, according to news reports. Due to these developments, the Philippine economy is likely to face external headwinds in 2012.
Lacierda, however, said the Aquino administration remains optimistic that the inflation outlook will remain within the target range.
"And so we believe that we would be able to weather whatever storms that would be coming as long as we manage the economy properly," Lacierda said.
Although the BSP sees a manageable inflation outlook, it remains watchful of the impact of developments in Europe on investor sentiment and global aggregate demand. (PCOO)
