PAG-Ibig hosts mass wedding this Valentine’s Day

By Ruby Leonora R. Balistoy

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, Feb 7 (PIA) --True to its name, the Home Development Mutual Fund, widely known as PAG-IBIG Fund, is now gearing up for the grandest mass wedding rites this Valentines Day.

Elizabeth M. Amarille, officer-in charge, Pag-ibig Fund Malaybalay Branch, said under its “I Do. I Do. Araw ng Pag-ibig (Love Day)” project, the mass wedding is offered to those couples living together for more than five years who had no legal civil unions because they could not afford fees at the National Statistics Office (NSO), civil registry and for the judge who will conduct the wedding ceremony.

“But first, they must become a Pag-ibig member,” she said.

Amarille said a participant will have a chance to win a brand new house and lot during wedding rites.

Those interested can apply at Malaybalay City civil registry office at city hall. A P100 registration fee will be charged per applicant.

Amarille said this project not only helps live-in couples legalize their union, it also develops them towards establishing financial security for their families.

Those who want to join the civil mass wedding can register at Malaybalay civil registration and bring an affidavit that they live together, a community tax certificate, birth certificate, certificate of no marriage, barangay certificate and valid identification cards.

For more information they can call Malaybalay Local Civil Registrar at (088)221-3705. (RLRB/PIA 10, Bukidnon)

PWDs, senior citizens must have a check-in-counter in the airport

What every air passenger ought to know: Air Passenger Bill of Rights

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb 7 (PIA) -- Spare senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) from lining up in airports, give them the dignity they deserve. A designated check in counter for aircraft travel must be provided for PWDs, senior citizens, and persons requiring special assistance or handling, if practicable according to the Air Passenger Bill of Rights.

A joint admin order no. 01 of the Department of Telecommunications (DOTC) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or commonly known as the Air Passenger Bill of Rights states that air passengers must know their rights including the right to information before purchase, right to receive the full value of the service purchased and the right to compensation.

Every passenger should be given time to check in, according to the bill.

A passenger must not be considered late or no-show and should not be denied to check-in if he or she is within the air carrier’s cordoned or other designated check-in area at least one hour before the published Estimated Time of Departure (ETD), or within the prescribed time set by the carrier.

Further, a passenger cannot be denied the right to board the aircraft without his consent. But in case of cancellation from the air carrier at least 24 hours before ETD, passengers should be notified beforehand and should rebook or reimburse passenger at the option of the latter.

Air carriers cancelling flights less than 24 hours before ETD, passengers must be notified beforehand, given amenities (food, drinks, hotel amenities), reimbursed of the value of the fare, taxes and surcharges, and other optional fees, to be endorsed to another air carrier without paying any fare difference or to rebook the ticket without additional charge.

And if cancellation flight of aircraft is due to other causes like force majeure, safety and/or security reasons, passengers should be reimbursed of the full value of the fare, the bill emphasized.

In case terminal delays for three hours after ETD on the other hand whether or not attributed to the carrier, passengers must be provided free phone calls, text or e-mails, and first aid, if necessary including refreshment or meals, rebook or refund or endorsement to another carrier.

If it is six hours delayed after ETD and causes are attributed to the air carrier, air company must consider the flight cancelled for the purpose of availing the rights and amenities provided for in case of actual cancellation. (JMOR-PIA10)

Air passengers have right to compensation for delayed, lost or damaged baggage

By Jasper Marie Oblina-Rucat

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb 7 (PIA) -- Every air passenger has the right to be informed of the fact of off-loading, according to Air Passenger Bill of Rights by Joint Admin Order of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Telecommunications (DOTC).

A P2,000 worth of compensation must be given to the passenger for every 24-hours delay and/or refund of checked baggage fees if the baggage was not delivered within 24 hours from the arrival of the flight, as stated in the bill.

Further, if the baggage is lost or has suffered any damage, passengers of domestic flights have the right to a maximum amount equivalent to half of the amount in the relevant convention (for international flights) in its peso equivalent.

If after seven days the passenger or consignee still has not received the baggage and it is not delivered, then it is presumed lost, the bill further emphasizes.

Should there be death or bodily injury of any air passenger, compensation must be provided.

Among the modes in which these payments will be made is via check, cash or document necessary to claim the compensation or benefits. The document should be convertible to cash within 15 days from the date the occasion occurred. (JMOR-PIA10)

BIR-Marawi confident of achieving 2013 collection goal

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 7 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Marawi City is confident that it can achieve its collection target for the year 2013.

Revenue District Officer Aminoding Macarampat said they will work hard to meet this year’s goal of P483,066,000, an increase of P121,169,000 or 33.48 percent from the P361,897,000 target last year.

According to him, the implementation of previous programs that were proven effective such as the intensified tax information campaign and tax compliance verification drive will still be continued until such time that residents, business establishments, and institutions in the entire province become tax-compliant.

He said tax seminars and info drives via radio, television and print media will be conducted to educate taxpayers on the new BIR issuances as well as to remind them of their tax obligation.

We will tap the assistance of the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army to ensure the peaceful conduct of tax mapping operations on business establishments, hospitals and clinics, and private education institutions within the jurisdiction of the Revenue District Office, he added.

Macarampat said strict monitoring of withholding tax compliance will also be undertaken.

We already wrote a letter to the Department of Education in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) asking help for the updating of personnel records, he further said.

A personal appeal will also be made to the ARMM regional accountants, departments and agencies devolved to the ARMM, the Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus, and local government units (LGUs) for the proper withholding tax compliance, he added.

In addition, coordination with the local counterparts of the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines will be continued with respect to the compliance of LGUs.

A close monitoring of withholding tax remittances on infrastructure projects undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways, National Irrigation Authority, LGUs, and all implementing line agencies under the umbrella of the ARMM will likewise be carried-out by the BIR.

Macarampat said BIR personnel will be mobilized to man the filing centers in the MSU campus, city hall, and provincial capitol to cater to the needs of tax-paying public this coming filing season.

For January alone, BIR Marawi collected P50,906,108.18, up by P1,804,108.18 or 3.67 percent from the P49,102,000 goal for the month.

The actual collection for the month is also higher by P12,840,188.95 compared the P38,065,919.23 collections it posted in the same month of last year. (APB-PIA 10)

DOTC to inform transport groups of election prohibitions

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, Feb 7 (PIA) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has deputized the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to disseminate certain prohibitions relative to the May 13, 2013 national and local elections.

Particularly, the DOTC is tasked to inform all owners and operators of land and air transportation facilities and telecommunications services, holders of certificates of public convenience, franchises or other forms of authorization, that the following provisions under the Omnibus Election Code are considered election offenses:

Giving or accepting transportation, free of charge, directly or indirectly during the five (5) hours before and after a public meeting, on the day preceding the election and on election day by any candidate, political party or organization.

Giving or accepting contributions for partisan political activity given directly or indirectly by natural or juridical persons operating a public utility or by those who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply the government or any of its agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities with goods or services or to perform construction or other work.

Giving and accepting contributions by natural or juridical persons who have been granted franchise, incentives, exemptions, or allocations or similar privileges or concessions by the government or any of its agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities including government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCC).

Giving and accepting contributions by natural or juridical persons who within one (1) year prior to the date of the election have been granted loans or other accommodations in excess of PI00,000 by the government or any of its agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities including GOCC’s.

Meanwhile, the Comelec said it is unlawful for any person or organization, whether civic or religious, to directly or indirectly solicit and/ or accept from any candidate for public office or from his campaign manager, agent or representative, or any person acting in their behalf, any gift, food, transportations, contribution or donation in cash or in kind from the start of the election period up to and including the election day.

Likewise, it is unlawful to use under any guise whatsoever, directly or indirectly of any printing press, radio or television station or audio-visual equipment operated by the government or by its subdivisions, instrumentalities, agencies or instrumentalities, including GOCC’s.

It is also unlawful to use any equipment, facility, apparatus, paraphernalia or vehicle owned by the government or by its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, including GOCC’s or by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for any election campaign for any partisan political activity. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Region 10 posts highest rate case in dengue among other diseases

By Jorie C. Valcorza

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb.6 (PIA) -- The Department of Health in Region 10 (DOH - 10) annual disease surveillance report shows dengue fever as the leading disease, in terms of cases, as monitored at the different sentinel sites in the region.

From the regional total of 15,813 cases, it posted the highest number of cases with 6,478 from January 1 to December 31, 2012, followed by influenza (3,364), typhoid fever (3,278), and leptospirosis (946).

The report shows that dengue cases for this period were 221.66 percent higher as compared to 2011.

DOH Regional Epidemiology, Surveillance and Disaster Response Unit (RESDRU) likewise disclosed that 69.9 of the recorded cases were from the province of Misamis Oriental including cities of Cagayan de Oro, El Salvador, and Gingoog.

Around 600 dengue cases have already been recorded by RESDRU as of February 1, and this is found 248 percent higher for the same time period last year, which posted only some 172 cases.

Influenza cases on the other hand, had decreased by 25 percent (3,364) as compared to the 2011, when it posted 4,506 cases.

Fifty-seven percent of the observed influenza cases were from Misamis Occidental, while Tangub City had the highest number of cases with 26 percent. (JCV-PIA 10)