T
he Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Tuesday welcomed lawyer Joel Anthony M. Viado as its new Commissioner.
Viado, who was previously designated as the agency’s officer-in-charge last month, has been in the BI as a Deputy Commissioner since April 2023.
His appointment completes the three-member BI Board of Commissioners, alongside Deputy Commissioners Daniel Laogan and Aldwin Alegre.
As a lawyer with a deep understanding of immigration laws, Viado reiterated his
support for the passage of a new immigration law to replace the country’s 84-year-old Philippine Immigration Act, which he described as outdated and an obstacle to the agency’s modernization efforts.
He noted that the new law would not only
streamline immigration procedures but also strengthen border security and improve the governance of immigration policies.
"The Bureau is fully supportive of the President’s initiative to prioritize a new immigration law, which will enhance our operations and allow us to serve the
public more effectively," Viado stated.
In addition to pushing for legislative reform, Viado stressed the importance of combating corruption within the Bureau through the automation of key processes. “We will take advantage of the aggressive thrust of the national government in terms of ICT,” said Viado. >>READ MORE
Incumbent Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and Vice Mayor Yul Servo are seeking a second term in the May 2025 midterm elections.
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The standard bearers of the capital city's local dominant political party Asenso Manileño filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) before the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) at the SM City Manila Cinema 12 on Thursday.
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The tandem vowed to continue serving under the principle of good and honest governance that is centered on the ​
delivery of more basic services for the most needy sectors, especially the senior citizens.
"We will definitely win. We will not engage in mudslinging kasi hindi naman po kami pinalaki ng magulang namin na manira po ng ibang tao (we were not raised by our parents to malign other people),” Lacuna said in an interview.
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After filing their COCs, Lacuna and Servo
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former Taguig City councilor Michelle Anne Gonzales as the new commissioner of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor.
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Gonzales will replace Paolo Guanco based on her appointment paper signed by Marcos on Sept. 27 which was made available to the media on Thursday by the Office of the Executive Secretary.
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Before her appointment, Gonzales served as Taguig second district councilor from 2010 to 2016.
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She is also the mother of National Youth Commission Commissioner-At-Large Mae Mae Gonzales.
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In August, the President appointed former Lipa City Mayor Meynardo Sabili as the new chairperson of the PCUP.​
The crew of MT Tritrust and MT Mega Ensoleilee, the two fuel tankers caught by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the act of illegal transfer of smuggled fuel at Navotas Fish Port, will face charges for transporting unmarked fuel in commercial quantities.
The seven-page Inquest Resolution dated September 21, 2024, from the Office of the City Prosecutor of Navotas City showed that the prosecutor found prima facie evidence and reasonable certainty of conviction for filing criminal charges against the crew of the two fuel tankers for violation of Section 265-A of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), as amended by Section 80 of Republic Act No. 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio lauded the swift action by the Manila International Container Port Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS).
The Inquest Resolution, which recommended the filing of cases against
the twenty-three (23) crew members of both vessels, took note of the failed fuel marking results initiated by the BOC.
Under Section 80 of Republic Act No. 10963 (TRAIN law), which amended Section 265-A of the NIRC, persons found to be engaged in the sale, trade, delivery, distribution, or transportation of unmarked fuel will be fined P2.5 million for the first, P5 million for the second, and P10 million for the third offense, as well as the revocation of their license to engage in any trade or business.
BOC-CIIS Director Verne Y. Enciso assured that the BOC, together with the Department of Justice (DOJ), will continue running after fuel smugglers and anyone involved in the illegal transfer of fuel or “paihi” system.
“We’ve been monitoring these illegal activities for some time now and gathered the needed information not only to catch these perpetrators but to make sure that appropriate cases are filed against them. We are coordinating with other relevant agencies to stop those involved in this modus,” he said. >>>READ MORE
By TONY CHAVEZ
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday supported calls for sufficient funding of the amended Centenarian’s Act, which now extends a cash gift worth P10,000 to senior citizens who reach the milestone ages of 80, 85, 90, and 95.
Speaker Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus members House of Representatives, had this to say amid the country’s celebration of Elderly Filipino Week this first week of October.
"I welcome the recent approval of amendments to the Centenarian’s Act under Republic Act (RA) 11982. This is a significant step in ensuring that our elders, who have dedicated their lives to their families and communities, receive the recognition and care they truly deserve," he said.
"During this celebration of Elderly Week, let's take the opportunity to align the legislature and executives' objectives in getting the funding needed to roll out the additional benefits for our beloved seniors," said Speaker Romualdez, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president. ​
House Committee on Senior Citizens chairman and Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes recently proposed meeting the law's funding requirement.
Romualdez said he "fully supports" these suggestions from the elderly solon.
"I agree that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should consider sourcing the necessary funds either from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) savings or from the Unprogrammed Funds of the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA)," said the House chief.
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"Given the relatively modest amount required and the urgency of delivering this benefit, tapping into these existing resources is both practical and feasible," noted Speaker Romualdez.
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"Furthermore, I endorse the call to clarify the implementation of this law, particularly for those senior citizens whose birthdays >>>READ MORE​
By TONY CHAVEZ
The crew of MT Tritrust and MT Mega Ensoleilee, the two fuel tankers caught by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the act of illegal transfer of smuggled fuel at Navotas Fish Port, will face charges for transporting unmarked fuel in commercial quantities.
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The seven-page Inquest Resolution dated September 21, 2024, from the Office of the City Prosecutor of Navotas City showed that the prosecutor found prima facie evidence and reasonable certainty of conviction for filing criminal charges against the crew of the two fuel tankers for violation of Section 265-A of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), as amended by Section 80 of Republic Act No. 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio lauded the swift action by the Manila International Container Port Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CIIS). >>>READ MORE​
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has established 981 storage facilities nationwide to ensure the agency’s faster disaster response operations, an official said on Thursday.
​DSWD Assistant Secretary Juan Carlo Marquez said the 981 warehouses are located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, helping the agency “in our prepositioning of relief supplies as well as in fast-tracking our disaster response and relief operations across the country.”
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Marquez said the expansion of warehouses has resulted in more efficient disaster response “with a number of DSWD Field Offices (FOs) even gaining commendation from the legislative branch with their swift action amid the onslaught of recent disasters.”
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“During our budget hearing in Congress, our Central Luzon Regional Director Venus Rebuldela and NCR [National Capital Region] Regional Director Michael Joseph Lorico were respectively hailed by their congressmen due to their quick response at the height of Typhoon Carina,” he said.
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​He said the prepositioning efforts were instrumental in DSWD’s swift response since warehouses have hubs, spokes and last-mile facilities.
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To date, the DSWD has 12 hubs serving as the central storage facilities with three National Resource Operations Centers in Pasay City, Valenzuela City, and Paranaque City; and the Visayas Disaster Resource Centers in Mandaue City, Cebu.
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There are also four DSWD FO 3-Central Luzon hubs in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac; and one DSWD FO 11-Davao Region hub in Pantukan, Davao de Oro.
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Another hub is currently being built in Butuan City in the Caraga Region that will serve the whole of Mindanao.
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Aside from the hubs, the DSWD has 75
>>>READ MORE