Month: June 2023

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday said it has issued a memorandum circular to provide clarity on the policies and guidelines on the validity of the taxpayer identification number (TIN) card and certificate of registration (COR). In a statement, BIR said Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 58-2023 states that the old TIN card (colored yellow-orange) was no longer issued by the BIR starting July 26, 2021. This was replaced by a colored green TIN card (BIR Form No. 1931). However, BIR clarified that despite the issuance of the new TIN card, previously-issued yellow-orange colored old TIN cards are still valid TIN ID which do not expire. The new TIN card shall be issued to individual taxpayers if he is being issued a TIN for the first time; a married female updates her name; change in the registered address; or the TIN card was lost or damaged. The request for TIN card issuance shall be submitted personally by the taxpayer to the Revenue District Office (RDO) where he or she is registered since generation of TIN card can be made only in the RDO where the taxpayer is registered. The BIR said no authorized representative shall be allowed to secure TIN card on behalf of the taxpayer. In emergency or valid cases when the taxpayer cannot personally appear in the RDO, a special power of attorney (SPA) must be presented by the authorized representative to the revenue district officer or assistant revenue district officer, together with a government-issued ID of both the representative and the taxpayer. The reason for non-appearance and relationship of taxpayer with the authorized representative should also be stated in the SPA. To apply for a TIN card, BIR said a taxpayer must have a duly accomplished BIR Form No. 1905, one copy of 1×1 ID picture to be pasted on the TIN card in the presence of the BIR personnel, and any government-issued ID. In case of re-issuance due to damaged or lost TIN card, an affidavit of loss and PHP100 replacement fee shall be paid in the district office. The BIR said there is no cut-off time in receiving applications for issuance of TIN card. For COR, BIR said printed in old template or yellow-orange colored is still valid and does not expire as long as the information printed therein are still up to date. Replacement of COR shall only be made if there are updates or changes in the information printed on the face of COR. The electronic COR generated by the Philippine Business Hub (PBH) and Online Registration and Update System (ORUS) printed by taxpayers is valid and does not require signature. The electronic COR bears a quick response (QR) code that can be validated online when scanned. The COR or electronic COR issued by the ORUS or PBH is required to be posted conspicuously in the place of business. ‘With the said clarifications, we hope that we were able to enlighten our taxpayers on the bureau’s policy on the issuance and validity of TIN and COR so that there will be no more unnecessary lining up of taxpayers in the RDOs in relation to the two frontline transactions,’ said Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr

Source: Philippines News Agency

In response to the imminent threats of the El Niño phenomenon, the island city of Samal in Davao del Norte is crafting a contingency plan to address the adverse effects of the periodic weather condition. In a statement Thursday, Samal City Public Order and Safety Office (CPOSO) chief Rosemarie Garde said one of the city’s goal is to ensure sustainable water management in the area in anticipation of the drought. Based on the six-month forecast by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), recent conditions indicate that El Niño may occur from June to August this year, with an 80 percent probability. PAGASA added that the dry spell may persist until the first quarter of 2024. Garde said the city’s drought contingency plan is being crafted based on the presumable worst-case scenario that could occur on the island, recognizing the need for proactive action in the face of climate change and increasing water scarcity. ‘The plan formulation involves extensive consultation with environmental experts and a collaborative effort involving the participation of local and national government, stakeholders, water management, community organizations, and residents,’ she said. Garde said the plan primarily aims to protect water service providers, address the pressing challenges posed by drought conditions and ensure a long-term water supply for the entire island. ‘This is a comprehensive strategy that includes innovative measures and a collaborative approach to reducing the impact of droughts and securing water supplies for communities and industries alike,’ she said. The plan also entails strategies and measures that will be implemented in stages such as water conservation and efficiency; diversification of water sources; improved infrastructure and storage capacity; public awareness and education; emergency response; and drought management. ‘After the drought contingency plan is developed, regular monitoring and evaluation will ensure that it remains adaptable to changing conditions and emerging technologies,’ Garde added. Nine sub-clusters under drought response were also created, consisting of food, health, law and order, logistics, emergency telecommunications, and education, among others.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Three more Kadiwa stores will open in Antique this month to expand to 23 the available outlets in this province. ‘The Department of Agriculture upon the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is establishing more Kadiwa stores in partnership with the cooperatives to ensure that rice and other agricultural crops could be bought by the consumers especially the indigents at lower prices,” said Engineer Israel de Guzman, general manager of the Jubilee Agila Bayanihan Agriculture Cooperative, in an interview on Thursday. The cooperative that supervises the operations of the program in Antique opened four outlets in the municipality of Sibalom, the biggest town of the province, bringing to 20 the total operating stores in the province this week. The three stores will be opened in the municipalities of Hamtic, Anini-y and Tobias Fornier. ‘The local government unit of Hamtic has offered a space for the Kadiwa retail store inside their town public market,’ he added. The new outlet will be bigger when compared with their existing store in Barangay Bia-an. De Guzman said one of their best-selling commodities is rice that they sell at PHP20 a kilo, citing feedback from their store operators. ‘The Kadiwa stores especially had been helpful to the indigents who need to buy rice for PHP20 per kilo during this time when we are experiencing heavy rainfall,’ De Guzman said. The demand is high during rainy days because consumers need to stock their supply amid the inclement weather that limits their movement. One outlet can dispose of two sacks of rice in a day. He added that with donations from some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), they were able to keep the price at PHP20 a kilo, which is lower than those being sold in commercial stores. The donated amount served as a counterpart payment, he said. The OFWs are die-hard supporters of President Marcos and are keen on seeing that the Kadiwa realizes its objective of selling affordable, fresh, and quality agricultural products to consumers, particularly the indigents

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has sent veterinary doctors and technical staff to Negros Oriental to immediately contain the spread of African swine fever (ASF) to other towns and cities, an official said on Thursday. Dr. Alfonso Tundag, quarantine officer of BAI-Negros Oriental, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview that four livestock inspectors from their central office arrived here Tuesday to aid the team of veterinarians recently deployed to the province. Last week, three veterinary doctors also came to the province to assist in surveillance and biosecurity measures to ensure that the ASF virus would not jump to swine populations outside of Dauin and Sibulan towns. ‘Their presence here is a big help to us in combating the ASF, considering the limited expertise, knowledge, and manpower here,’ Tundag said. The Department of Agriculture 7 (Central Visayas) also sent personnel to Negros Oriental last week as combined efforts continue in the culling of pigs affected by the ASF in some barangays in Dauin and Sibulan, as well as surveillance and other measures. Provincial Veterinary Office chief Belinda Villahermosa said in a press conference late Wednesday afternoon that containment measures must be working as no additional pig deaths were recorded in Sibilan town in the past two days. Only 18 hogs were culled in Sibulan. In Barangay Maayong Tubig Dauin, 427 hog deaths were already reported as of May 31, Villahermosa said. Of the total, 283 of these were culled while 144 died of ASF, she added. Three more ‘puroks’ or clusters in that village have been added to the list of affected areas after some pigs tested positive for ASF. In Sibulan, authorities have tagged Barangay Tubtubon as ‘ground zero’ for the ASF, although two nearby barangays were also earlier included in the list of areas with pig deaths associated with the virus. ‘It is easier to contain the spread in Sibulan because we have seen that there are fewer backyard hog raisers and are not closely situated unlike in Dauin,’ she said partly in Cebuano. Tundag said it is difficult to put in place biosecurity measures in Dauin because the houses where pigs are being raised are close to each other, ‘thus there is a bigger chance to transfer the virus unintentionally.’ He lamented the lack of support from the community or barangays, noting that some pigs managed to leave the areas where containment measures are in place despite seven checkpoints being established. Meanwhile, Board Member Woodrow Maquiling, Committee on Agriculture chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, led provincial government officials, BAI veterinarians, government staff, and media members in partaking of lechon after the press conference at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office here. This is to show the public that it is still safe to eat pork and other by-products in the province despite the presence of ASF, provided that the pigs go through the usual protocols, safety inspection, and certification by proper offices, he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency