CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Today we
celebrate the most joyous occasion in our Christian Life - the birth of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
A special
time to the good Lord for all of the blessings He continuous to pour upon us,
as signified by sending His only begotten Son to personify His great love for
mankind.
Let us
work on these blessings with all our hearts and mind so that others may enjoy
them, and live in His love to make this world of ours a most beautiful and
enjoyable place to live in.
A very
Merry Christmas to one and all!
(Sgd.)
SONNY COLOMA
Secretary
Malacañang hails Tugonon’s first runner-up win
at Ms. Universe Pageant
Malacañang hailed on Thursday the first
runner-up finish of Janine Tugonon at the Ms. Universe pageant held at the
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada; saying her achievement
showcased to the world, “the grace, sophistication, and beauty” of Filipinas.
In a
statement, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said Tugonon’s win
further highlighted the exceptional characteristics of Filipinos as
“world-class.”
“Ms. Janine
Tugonon, by winning 1st runner up in the Miss Universe pageant, held up the
country’s banner and showed the world, once again, the grace, sophistication,
and beauty that Filipinas possess,” Valte said.
“From her
winning as Binibining Pilipinas to representing our proud nation on the stage
of Miss Universe, the Filipino people have supported Ms. Tugonon throughout her
journey and in the hearts of our countrymen; she is our winner, our Miss
Philippines,” she added.
“With the
victory of Ms. Tugonon, we find even more proof of the exceptional
characteristics of Filipinas and Filipinos to be truly world-class,” Valte
said.
With the
win, Janine Tugonon now joins former Binibining Pilipinas-Universe winners,
Venus Raj in 2010 (4th runner-up) and Shamcey Supsup in 2011 (3rd runner-up),
who have been included in the top five of the prestigious pageant.
This
year’s Ms. Universe is Miss USA's Olivia Culpo who, together with Tugonon, Miss
Venezuela Irene Sofia Esser Quintero, Miss Australia Renae Ayris, and Miss
Brazil Gabriela Markus, complete the the top five beauty finalists of Ms.
Universe 2012. PND (rck)
President Aquino signs into law Republic Act No.
10351, An Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco in Malacanang
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law
Republic Act 10351 (An Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco)
otherwise known as the Sin Tax Reform 2012 in ceremonies in Malacañang Palace
on Thursday.
The
signing ceremony was witnessed by representatives from the Senate, Congress,
Department of Health, Department of Finance, Department of Budget and
Management, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of
Transportation and Communications, other government agencies, health
professionals, medical societies, patients’ groups, academe, and other health
advocates from the civil society.
The Sin
Tax Reform 2012 is considered as the only tax reform on alcohol and tabacco
products that favor both the government and the Filipino people.
The
Republic Act 10351 is a consolidation of House Bill 5727 as amended and Senate
Bill 3299 as amended.
The House
Bill 5727 as amended was passed by the House of Representatives last June 6,
2012, while Senate Bill 3299 as amended was passed by the Senate last November
20, 2012.
The
bicameral conference committee report reconciling the two bills was ratified by
both Houses of Congress last December 11, 2012. The measure, a priority of the
Aquino administration, was certified urgent by the President of the Philippines
to ensure its speedy passage.
The
enactment of the law is a victory in the government's campaign to protect the
people, especially the young and the poor, from the ill effects of smoking and
excessive drinking. The reform aims to reduce tobacco and alcohol consumption
among the Filipinos that leads to better health outcomes.
The law aims
to generate government's revenues to fund the Universal Health Care.
After
deducting the allocations for assistance to tobacco farmers under existing laws
R.A. 7171 and R.A. 8240, eighty percent (80%) of the remaining balance of the
incremental revenue will be earmarked for the universal health care under the
National Health Insurance Program and twenty percent (20%) will be allocated
nationwide for medical assistance and health enhancement facilities program.
The law
provides additional funding for tobacco farmers' livelihood program.
The Sin
Tax Reform law paves the way for the removal of the price/brand classification
freeze. The proper tax classification of alcohol and tobacco products will be
determined every two (2) years.
With the
crafting of the law, there will be gradual shift to a unitary taxation in order
to simplify the current multi-tiered structure.
To
prevent the excise taxes to be eroded by inflation, the excise tax rates will
be increased by 4% every year effective 2016 for distilled spirits, and 2018
for cigarettes and beer.
The sin
tax reform conforms to the World Trade Organization's ruling on distilled
spirits and World Health Organization- Framework Convention on Tobacco Control'
commitment on cigarettes. The excise tax incidence for cigarettes, which is the
ratio of excise tax to price, will increase from the current 29.1% to 52.5% in
2013 and 63% by 2017.
The law
also aims to generate more revenues for the government. On the first year of
implementation, the government is expected to raise additional revenues worth
P33.96 billion, of which, P23.4 billion is from cigarrettes, P6.06 billion from
distilled spirits and P4.5 billion from fermented liquors.
Also in
attendance were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, House Speaker Feliciano
Belmonte Jr. Senator Franklin Drilon; Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Bureau of
Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, Deputy Speaker Maria Isabel Climaco,
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin Representative Isidro Ungab, Chair
of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Representative Henedina Abad, among
others.
Representatives from the World Health
Organization, the United States Agency for International Development and the
World Bank and industry and business sectors also attended the event. PND (js)
President Aquino says passage of Sin Tax Reform
2012 to help government to provide better health for Filipinos
President Benigno S. Aquino III said the passage
of the Republic Act 10351 (An Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and
Tobacco) otherwise known as the Sin Tax Reform 2012 will help the government to
provide better health for all Filipinos.
In his
speech during the signing of the Sin Tax Reform 2012 held at the Rizal Hall of
the Malacanang Palace on Thursday, the Chief Executive said the law was crafted
to generate revenues for the government to make Kalusugan Pangkalahatan or
Universal Health Care a reality for the people.
"Sa
araw pong ito, nilagdaan natin, sa wakas—ulitin ko lang po, sa wakas—ang isang
batas na magsisilbing maagang Pamasko sa milyun-milyong Pilipino—mga Pilipinong
masasaklaw sa abot-kamay nang Universal Health Care program; mga Pilipinong
makikinabang sa mga bagong klinika at ospital na mapopondohan at maipapatayo;
mga Pilipinong maililihis sa bisyo ng paninigarilyo at labis na pag-inom. Batas
na po ang ipinaglaban nating Sin Tax Reform Act," the Chief Executive
said.
The
President said the passage of the law is a vital step forward in improving and
expanding public health safety nets for all Filipinos.
"Malinaw po ang batayang prinsipyo ng
batas na ito: Hangad nating gawing abot-kamay para sa lahat ang benepisyong
pangkalusugan, mayaman man o mahirap, sagrado po kasi ang buhay ng
Pilipino," he said.
President
Aquino said the Sin Tax Reform 2012 provides additional funding for tobacco
farmers' livelihood program.
"Lilinawin ko rin lang po sa mga
magsasakang nabulungan ng agam-agam ng ilang sektor na kontra sa batas na ito:
Wala po kayong dapat ikabahala. Ang benepisyong natatanggap ninyo dati ay hindi
maglalaho; ang totoo nga po—sa amin pong pakiwari—lalaki pa iyan, habang
tumitibay naman ang suporta sa inyo ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng iba pang
ayuda," he said.
The
President thanked Senator Franklin M. Drilon, acting chair of the Senate
Committee on Ways and Means, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and other
legislators for their efforts in ensuring the passage of the health measure.
He also
thanked the support of the Department of Health, Department of Finance, Bureau
of Internal Revenue and the government's partners in the academe, medical
societies, patients’ groups, business sector, farmers' groups, and economists
and other members of civil society for the passage of the health measure.
"Batid po natin ang matagal na
pakikipagsapalaran ng maraming sektor para sa Sin Tax Reform; 1997 pa po nang
unang ihain ang ganitong klaseng panukala sa Kongreso. Halos labing-anim na
mahabang taon kung kailan pinagdebatehan, binusisi, at kung minsan, halos
isinantabi ang isang panukalang batas na magliligtas sa buhay ng mga
Pilipino," he said.
"Maraming nag-isip na imposibleng maipasa
ang Sin Tax Reform Bill: malakas ang kalaban; maingay, organisado, at malalim
ang bulsa ng mga kumukontra," he noted.
"Pero gaya po ng paulit-ulit nating
napatunayan: Walang imposible sa Pilipinong sumasagwan sa iisang direksyon,
nasa tamang lugar ang puso, at handang manindigan para sa kanyang mga
prinsipyo. Hangga’t nasa likod po natin ang ating mga boss, walang balakid na
hindi natin madadaig," he said. PND (js)
President Aquino welcomes Donaire to Malacañang
President Benigno S. Aquino III warmly welcomed
Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire to Malacañang after the Filipino boxing
superstar, fresh from his successful defense of his World Boxing Organization
super bantamweight title against Mexican Jorge Arce last December 15, paid a
courtesy call on the Chief Executive on Thursday.
Also on
hand to welcome Donaire were Presidential Communications Development and
Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang and Deputy Presidential
Spokesperson Abigail Valte.
In an
interview with media after the close to an hour meeting, Donaire, who described
the President as “very chill” said he and the President discussed the various
plans and strategies he had lined up to improve the lives of Filipinos.
“In
American words, we call him (President Aquino) very chill. He just has a very
positive aura, he’s just very relaxed and he talks about his ideas for the
Philippines,” Donaire said.
Donaire
said he was awestruck at the eloquence, will and dedication of the President
into fulfilling these ideas so that all Filipinos could rise above and become
better people.
“This is
one person na nakita ko talaga who just wants a good nation, wants our nation
to improve. Makikita mo talaga from his words and from his demeanor and his
emotions that he really loves this country and to me, it was such an honor that
I was able to talk to him,” Donaire said.
He added
that the President also offered him advice particularly on his boxing career.
“Binigyan
niya ako ng pointers as to- there is a beginning and there is an ending- and
that when that time comes for me, especially in boxing, I should do (and
decide) things the right way,” Donaire said. PND (rck)
Aquino administration welcomes move of standard
and poor’s for raising credit rating outlook for Philippine economy
The Aquino administration welcomed the move of
the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) for raising its credit rating outlook for
the Philippine economy from stable to positive.
"Standard
& Poor’s (S&P) has raised its credit rating outlook for the Philippine
economy from “BB+ Stable” to “BB+ Positive.” This means that we can expect,
barring any unforeseen circumstances, an actual credit rating upgrade in the
coming months," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a
statement issued on Thursday.
"In
its rationale, S&P hailed the Aquino administration for its “improved
capacity to effect reform,” according to Lacierda, which he said stems from “a
level of legitimacy, support, and stability that reduced political uncertainty
and allows for improved legislative efficiency.”
Lacierda
said the improved outlook comes at the heels of the signing of the landmark
bill reforming sin taxes that will further strengthen the government’s fiscal
position.
"We
welcome this acknowledgment of the positive strides the Philippines has taken
under the Aquino administration and a recognition of our thrust that indeed
good governance results in good economics," he said.
A
positive outlook means a country's rating may be raised within the next year.
"We
revised the outlook to positive to reflect our reappraisal of the political and
institutional factors underlying the ratings," analyst Agost Benard said
in the statement. PND (js)
