Day: November 1, 2024

Davao: The Court of Tax Appeals reversed a 2019 ruling by the Digos, Davao del Sur Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 19 that allowed the provincial government’s PHP2.5 million franchise tax assessment on the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo). According to Philippines News Agency, in a decision dated Oct. 31, the CTA Second Division declared that “respondent’s (Davao del Sur) local franchise tax assessments (on TransCo) for the years 2002 to 2008 have no legal bases and as such, are void.” The court also noted that the RTC had effectively nullified the local franchise tax assessments issued by the province against

Cebu: Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia on Friday said elderly citizens here will receive maintenance medication starting January 2025. In a barangay assembly in the coastal village of Tinago, Garcia said there are available funds for this program that will benefit over 90,000 seniors. “That’s why next year, I promise you that we have put in the budget that next year, January, we will start giving daily maintenance medicine,” the mayor said. “You will not buy those medicines anymore,” he vowed. According to Philippines News Agency, the mayor said the program came when many senior citizens asked about it when he

Cebu: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) 7 (Central Visayas) has intensified its operations against ‘colorum’ or unlicensed motorbancas traveling with passengers without passing safety checks with authorities during the long holiday. Commodore Weniel Azcuna, the PCG-7 director, highlighted the dangers posed by these unlicensed motorbancas to passengers traveling to their home provinces to observe All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days without undergoing pre-travel inspections. According to Philippines News Agency, Azcuna urged the public to avoid patronizing unregistered motorbancas to prevent inconveniences when these vessels are apprehended by the coast guard while at sea. During his visit to Cebu City Pier

Antique: The Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) is aiming for a repeat of last year’s success with zero major incidents during the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day observance. APPO Information Officer Lt. Col. Willy Diel reported that the provincial police force, led by Director Col. Lea Rose Peña, has been actively monitoring the 52 cemeteries in Antique, with no significant untoward incidents reported. According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Col. Diel highlighted that the 1,000 police personnel were deployed early to their designated cemeteries to establish Police Assistance Desks (PADs) and ensure a peaceful and orderly observance. The traffic

MANILA: Oil prices continued to climb on Friday following news reports that Iran is preparing to strike Israel in a few days. The international oil benchmark of Brent crude increased by 0.55 percent to USD74.43 per barrel at 11.09 a.m. local time (0809 GMT), up from the previous session’s close of USD74.02. The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate also rose by 0.64 percent to USD70.74 per barrel, compared to USD70.29 at the prior session’s close. According to Philippines News Agency, Brent oil price increased by 2.2 percent and WTI rose by 2.1 percent during the day on Thursday. The concern