Public urged to recirculate coins
There is no coin shortage
By Rachelle M. Nessia
Dumaguete City (March 29) — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is urging the public to circulate coins and accept them as legal tender in the midst of the perceived shortage of coins in the country.
There is P16.9 billion worth of coins circulating in the country as of December 31, 2009, or a total of 15.6 billion pieces.
Divina Salve, a research specialist at BSP here, pegs the ratio of the BSP-produced coins to the population at 187 per each Filipino as of the end of 2009.
Despite this, the perceived shortage of coins persists as “clearly the problem is not in the supply but in the circulation,” said Salve.
According to BSP’s website, the demand for coins remains unfilled in several parts of the country due to the low regard towards public lower-denominated coins and are kept inside bank vaults, piggy banks, inside drawers or thrown away or in video games and video karaoke machines
Salve stressed the need to flush out the coins in storage and for the public to cultivate a habit of regularly using coins in giving payments and exact change.
It costs several millions of pesos for BSP’s Mint Refinery and Operations Department to mint a fresh supply of coins.
“If the coins continue to be poorly circulated, BSP will be forced to produce more coins and this is very costly,” said Salve.
Local businesses have responded to BSP’s call to circulate coins, one of which is Super Lee Plaza wherein the department store’s employees were given P6 for every P5 worth of coins they turned over to the management.
Meanwhile, BSP is also encouraging the public to immediately report persons who are involved in defacing/mutilating and smuggling of Philippine coins, both of which are criminal acts under Presidential Decree 247. (PIA/RMN)
PNP8 pursuit operations leads to killing of one Palo robbery suspect, recovery of stolen items
Tacloban City (March 29) — One Palo, Leyte robbery suspect was killed in a shootout with the Palo Philippine National Police and the Regional Intelligence Division under the leadership of Police Chief Superintendent Rey Lanada.
The robbery took place on March 27, 2010, at about 12:30 in the morning at the victim?s residence at Barangay Arado.
Director Lanada said that one of the robbery suspects, a certain Guillera of Barangay San Juan, Sta. Fe, Leyte, was killed in a shootout while his men were pursuing the suspects.
Director Lanada added that follow-up operations resulted to the recovery of one laptop computer, two caliber 38 revolver and other undetermined stolen items.
After undergoing proper documentation procedures, the recovered stolen items were turned over to the rightful owner, Director Lanada said. (PIA 8/PCRD 
PGMA’s SIP benefits 15 Eastern Samar former rebels
Tacloban City (March 29) — No less than fifteen (15) former members of the New People’s Army from the different areas of Eastern Samar are the newest beneficiaries of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Social Integration Program for rebel returnees which is being implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
The checks were personally handed over to the beneficiaries by Mr. Florentino Somera, Jr., Regional Coordinator of OPAPP in Region VIII, Mr. Rebamontan Gil, Provincial Social Works and Development Officer of Eastern Samar, Captain Sergio Sabiano, Jr., Commanding Officer of 801st Brigade, and Col. Jaime Ferdinand Hidalgo of the 141 Battalion.
Mr. Somera said that the government will continue to review the said program in order to address the much needed support for the former rebels who returned to the folds of the law.
This will encourage more rebels who are still in the underground movement to avail of the program, Mr. Somera said.
Mr. Somera informed that the beneficiaries will also be receiving livelihood benefits that will be awarded as soon as the validation for their papers has been completed.
This was the second time last week that the OPAPP awarded such benefits to former rebels who voluntarily came back into the folds of law.
It would be recalled that a similar activity was conducted in Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office in Catarman, Northern Samar on March 25, where four (4) former rebels were also awarded with the same amount.
The activity was withnessed by the commanding officers of 803Bde, 20IB and 63IB together with Mrs. Carmen Mejia the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer of Northern Samar, who handed over the cash benefits to the former rebels.
Both Provincial Social Welfare and Development officers of the two provinces assured the Army units and the OPAPP representatives that they will continuously assist the former rebels until they are totally re-integrated in the society.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Arthur I. Tabaquero, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to all the stakeholders who shared their part and support to increase the numbers of rebels who turned their backs against the sole reason why peace and development of the country is hard to achieve.
Maj. Gen. Tabaquero is also expressed his optimism that with the increasing number of rebels who are showing interest to follow the track of their former comrades in going back to the womb of the government.
Sooner or later, Samar and Leyte provinces will also be declared as insurgency free areas just like Bohol and Cebu which will further boost up their economic condition.
In closing, General Tabaquero once again called upon the brothers and sisters whom he considered as victims of the communist terrorists’ deception, to lay down their arms, and return to the main stream society so that genuine peace and democracy will prevail and will bring forth development in Region 8. (PIA
BIR drums up campaign for filing of income tax
by PS Mabaquiao
San Jose, Antique (3 March) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue District No. 73 is doubling its efforts in its advocacy of increasing revenue and tax collection through the Filing of Income Tax Return.
Ursula V. Equiña, Revenue District Officer, BIR Antique said that there will be a Tax Caravan on March 4 around the major thoroughfares of San Jose, Antique’s business center to drum up campaign for filing of income tax which will be due on April 15.
The theme of the campaign is ” Making the Public Know” reflects the thrust of the Commissioner in pursuing a highly visible communication to all stakeholders of BIR tax administration activities. This also highlights the transparency policy of BIR which will eventually help in the improvement of voluntary compliance of the taxpayers.
Equiña enjoined businessmen/entrepreneurs to file their income tax early to avoid long queues in banks and BIR offices towards the deadline of the filing season.
BIR has issued a directive to all Authorized Agent Banks and Revenue District Offices to facilitate without delay the receipt of Income Tax Return and its attachment for convenience of taxpayers.
All BIR Authorized Agent Banks have also been requested to open on two consecutive Saturdays March 27 (in lieu of April 3 which is Black Saturday) and April 10 and to extend their banking hours up to 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, for the period April 5-15,2010, to accept tax returns and payments.
According to Equiña, corresponding fines and penalties will be charged to tax filers in case they cannot meet the deadline on April 15. (PIA)
