Familiarizing the new peso bills is the best way to avoid counterfeits - BSP

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan 29 (PIA) -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) here underscored the importance of knowing the security features of the new generation currency.

One should familiarize the design and distinct features of the new generation currency to avoid receiving and passing counterfeit bills, said Dexter Erick A. Demafeliz, Senior Research Specialist of BSP-Cagayan de Oro Branch during the "Ang Rehiyon Karon" (The Region Today) radio program aired on Friday over DXIM Radyo ng Bayan- Cagayan de Oro.

Demafeliz said the new generation currency has upgraded security features to protect the public from counterfeits.

These features include the kind of paper, serial numbers, embedded security fibers, watermark, concealed value and security threads, among others.

The new generation currency has four-level security features ranging from those that are highly visible to the public and recognizable by professional cash handlers or bank tellers to those detectable by the BSP and law enforcers with the use of specialized equipment.

He said the changing of the design or upgrading of the security features of the banknotes is a natural practice of the BSP to protect the integrity of the currency.

According to him, the new design is user-friendly and allows easy identification since the size and the dominant color of each banknote denomination are retained.

The face value of the banknotes on the front side of the currency are also intaglio-printed to give an embossed feel that will help the visually-impaired differentiate each denomination, Demafeliz further said.

He added that the new generation currency not only pays tribute to Filipinos who played significant roles in moulding the nation’s history but also highlights the world heritage sites and natural wonders of the country.

Meantime, the BSP-Cagayan de Oro Branch is continuously conducting information campaign and briefing to educate the public on how to tell genuine bills from counterfeits.

The "Ang Rehiyon Karon" is a one-hour radio program of the Regional Development Council (RDC) - Region 10's Communication Advocacy Program Task Force (CAP TF) that talks about the latest development in Northern Mindanao. It is aired every last Friday of the month and anchored by the Philippine Information Agency. (APB/PIA-10)

Northern Mindanao coaches get ready for Pambansang Palaro 2013

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Jan 29 (PIA) – A seminar-workshop in Sports Medicine and Sports Nutrition was held for the Northern Mindanao coaches and chaperons participating in the 2013 Palarong Pambansa (National Athletic Association Meet) set in Dumaguete City, April 14-20, this year.

The activity was aimed to equip the participants knowledge in the prevention and management of injuries that will probably be encountered by the athletes and on the protocol of any on-toward incidents during the training, Dr. Allan G. Farnazo, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Edcucation (DepEd), region 10, said.

Attended by coaches and chaperons from the region’s 14 schools divisions, the workshop was also aimed to prepare them for the long training to be done on both division-based and Unified Athletic Training which will run for 72 days, before the national event.

Discussed during the two-day workshop were topics like the Domains of Effective Coaching, Sports Ethics and Sanctions of Coaches, Eligibility of Coaches and Athletes, Orientation on Training, the Development of Training Design.

Meanwhile, about 100 athletes from region 10 are joining the Palarong Pambansa in various events, namely: Archery, Arnis, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Gymnastics, Softball, Swimming, Taekwando, Chess, Football, Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis, Sepak Takraw and Boxing.

Also included are Athletics, Swimming and Goal Ball for the visually impaired and mentally challenged children and youth with disability CWD/YWD) , Farnazo said.

On the other hand, the division-based trainings in the different sports events will run from Jan. 15-Feb. 15, 2003, by the schools division winners in the recent Palarong Pampook of region 10, Farnazo added. (RCA-PIA10)

All systems go for the PhilHealth 2013 run in Marawi City

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Jan 29 (PIA) -- It’s all systems go for the conduct of the PhilHealth Run 2013 here in the city.

According to Dr. Sainuddin Moti, chairman of the PhilHealth Run 2013 here, the run will kick off on February 17 at Lanao People’s Park in Amai Pakpak Avenue.

The event, dubbed as “PhilHealth Run 2013: Nationwide Run for Mother and Child Protection,” will be held simultaneously in more than 18 sites nationwide to mark PhilHealth’s 18th year anniversary.

This run aims to raise funds for the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), a national referral hospital that admits patients with illnesses requiring subspecialty care such as childhood cancer.

Moti said proceeds of the run will also be given to a local beneficiary and will support other programs and activities on mother and child protection.

He revealed that they are eyeing the Philippine National Red Cross-Lanao del Sur/Marawi City Chapter to be the local beneficiary of this year's Philhealth run.

Those interested to join can register at PhilHealth Regional Office ARMM located at Noramis Building, O.M. Dianalan Blvd., this city.

The run will have five categories: three-kilometer (3K), five-kilometer (5K), 10-kilometer (10K), 18-kilometer (18K), and 3K kiddie run.

Registration fees range from P250 for the Kiddie and 3K run, P300 for the 5K, P350 for the 10K, up to P450 for the 18K.

These fees are inclusive of the official singlet, race bib, timing chip, finisher’s certificate, and a raffle coupon, as well as finisher’s medal for the 18K. (APB-PIA-10)

SSS, DILG renew partnership, strengthen workers' protection

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Jan 29 (PIA) -- The Social Security System (SSS) has renewed its partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to strengthen the monitoring of businesses’ SSS compliance as part of the pension fund’s campaign to protect its members from erring employers.

There is a new agreement that provides for regular sharing of information between the SSS and local government units (LGUs), which will serve as basis in the issuance of business permits or licenses needed by employers to continue operating every year, explained SSS Manager Cheryl Jariol of Iligan Branch.

In an earlier arrangement between SSS and DILG dating back to 2001, employers and business operators were required to submit a Certificate of SSS Coverage and Compliance before they could secure a business permit or license, or "Mayor’s Permit," from their LGU during the business renewal period at the start of every year.

Under the new agreement, SSS branches will provide their covered LGUs on the last business day of every year a list of registered employers, business owners or operators with SSS delinquencies. Employers with overdue SSS obligations will not be issued a Mayor’s Permit, although LGUs have the option to issue three-month temporary permits to give these businesses time to settle their delinquent SSS accounts.

If the validity of the temporary permit has lapsed after three months and the employer is still non-compliant, no regular permits will be issued to the employer until the SSS delinquency has been settled.

Jariol added, this SSS-DILG agreement reflects the government’s aim to ensure that employers uphold their obligations to workers. Employers also stand to benefit because this simplifies the process of renewing their permits, and ultimately promote a more business-friendly environment.

Since SSS account officers conduct ocular inspection of employers in their assigned areas, we will also update LGUs of businesses discovered to be operating without SSS registration. This helps the concerned LGU to verify if they also lack business permits, said Jariol.

LGUs, on the other hand, will give SSS branches a list of establishments with new or renewed business permits, and another list of businesses granted temporary permits, not later than the end of February every year.

The agreement, which took effect after it was signed last December 26, 2012, also provides for SSS participation in Business One-Stop Shops (BOSS) that LGUs set up during the business renewal period every January to help employers settle their SSS delinquencies.

The state-run SSS currently has over 600,000 registered businesses. The Social Security law requires employers to report newly-hired workers for SSS coverage within 30 days, deduct contributions from employees’ salaries, and remit workers’ monthly premiums to SSS on time. (LVG-PIA10/SSS Iligan)

COMELEC to hold mock elections in CdeO on Feb. 2

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan 28 (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will hold its mock election here on Saturday, February 2 in preparation for the upcoming May 13 national and local elections.

According to Lailani Nazi of COMELEC here, the activity will comprise of two selected barangays in the city namely Brgy. 1 and Brgy. Balulang. Precincts 0001A and 0156A, respectively, each precinct will have 50 registered voters as participants in the mock elections, said Nazi.

Further, installation of the needed machines such as precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and transmission devices will be done starting 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Directly after that, open voting will start. By 10:00 a.m. voting will be closed. Finally, transmission of data will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon.

This activity will be held simultaneously in City Central School for Brgy. 1 and Balulang Elementary School for Brgy. Balulang. (JMOR/PIA10)

BIR to taxpayers: Engage only with accredited tax agents

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan. 28 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is reminding all taxpayers to engage only the services of BIR-accredited tax agents/practitioners.

Taxpayers should secure a copy of the agent/ practitioner’s certificate of accreditation and take note of the taxpayer identification number, accreditation number, date of issuance and date of expiry before engaging the service of the tax agent/practitioner, said BIR-Revenue Region 16 in a media statement.

The bureau earlier issued Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 6-2013 to clarify certain concerns of taxpayers regarding the audit program and their responsibility in selecting tax agents/practitioners to make representation in the BIR in their behalf.

The Circular was issued because it was observed that there are tax agents/practitioners who write in behalf of the taxpayer and/or represent the taxpayer questioning the validity of the electronic letter of authority (eLA) issued, as well as other procedures related to audit such as issuance of Subpoena Duces Tecum and assessment notices.

However, it has been found out that many of these tax agents/practitioners are not accredited by the BIR as required under Revenue Regulations (RR) 11-2006, as amended by RR Nos. 4-2010 and 14-2010.

The Circular clarified that tax agents/practitioners who are engaged in the regular preparation, certification, audit and filing of tax returns, information returns or other statements or reports required by the Code or Regulations; and those who regularly appear in meetings, conferences, and hearings before any office of the BIR officially on behalf of a taxpayer or client in all matters relating to client’s rights, privileges, or liabilities under laws or regulations administered by the BIR, shall be deemed to be engaged in tax practice and are required to apply for accreditation pursuant to Section2(e) of RR No. 11-2006, as amended.

Those engaged in the regular preparation of requests for ruling, petitions for investigation, protests, requests for refund or tax credit certificates, compromise settlement and/or abatement of tax liabilities and other official papers and correspondence with the BIR, and other similar or related activities are also covered by the Circular.

Meanwhile, a database of accredited, suspended and delisted tax agents/practitioners is maintained by BIR, hence, taxpayers can check the status of accreditation at the BIR Regional Office or Revenue District Offices.

The Chairman of the Revenue Accreditation Board for BIR-Revenue Region 16 is Assistant Regional Director Nuzar Balatero. Revenue Region 16 covers all the cities and municipalities of Northern Mindanao including Lanao del Sur and Marawi City of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. (APB/PIA10/BIR-RR16)