BIR unveils tax campaign logo in SurSur
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 14 – The Bureau
of Internal Revenue (BIR) District Office 106 in Surigao del Sur has joined the
simultaneous nationwide unveiling of the “2018 Salamat Sayo!” tax campaign logo
during the simple flag-raising ceremony program on February 12, 2018.
Roger Cadavas, BIR Revenue District Officer (RDO),
said that the activity of their office was President Rodrigo Duterte’s and BIR
Commissioner Ceasar Dulay’s way of saying “thank you” to the taxpaying public,
citing the agency’s record-high collection growth rate of up to P1.779 trillion
for the last five years.
The BIR chief added that such Salamat Sayo! logo
would soon be hung in tarps around the town for the public to see how great it
was for both President Duterte and Commissioner Dulay to feel such an
impressive tax collection feat made in 2017.
"Of course, the effort of all the men and
women of BIR was taken into account," Cadavas pointed out.
Meanwhile, the BIR District chief admitted a three
percent shortfall in collection here in 2017. He cited that as assigned they
were supposed to collect P986 million but was only able to rake P949
million. However, Cadavas was glad to
say that as compared to 2016 collection, they were able to exceed it with the
tax collected in 2017.
In a related development, the local BIR chief bared
that for 2018, they were assigned to get as much as P1.193 billion.
He then again made a strong appeal for an improved
level of tax compliance.
Besides, Cadavas also reminded taxpayers to always
demand for receipts.
The BIR chief shared the same observation,
particularly with most drivers or car owners. He stressed that these sectors
were not yet used to the habit of demanding for receipts after gassing up. On the other hand, he said that gas stations
just ignored this obligation to issue receipts, hence, no record of transaction
could be traced to the detriment of government. Expounding on the Tax Reform
for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, he went on saying that the state
was supposed to earn as much as P4.00 per liter in excise tax. (Radyo
Pilipinas-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
Two SurSur northern towns declare state of calamity
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 14 –
“Valentine’s Day” might not be that happy for the province of Surigao del Sur
after Tropical Storm Basyang made landfall in Cortes town and wreaked havoc on
February 13.
In fact, according to Abel De Guzman, Provincial
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, state of calamity had already
been declared in two municipalities – Carrascal and Lanuza. "Some
neighboring towns might follow suit depending on the result of the on-going
Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment," he added.
Among the northern towns mentioned, which were
mostly affected due to flooding,
Carrascal, 72 kilometers north of Tandag City, also known to be a mining
area, had been hit the worst. This was due to the landslide that occurred in
Barangays Babuyan and Gamuton. "As a result, five remains had been being
mourned, three of which were a mother and her two children," De Guzman
reported.
Besides, the PDRRM chief said that two bodies,
believed to be father and son, were still missing in Barangay Sibahay, Lanuza
town.
While awaiting submission of reports from both the
Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAg) and Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH), De Guzman admitted that his office had yet to account for all
damages incurred especially in agriculture and infrastructure.
As of PDRRM Council’s Situational Report No. 3
released at 9:00 a.m. on February 14, 2018, a total of 4,947 families had been
affected, but some 2,237 of which were reported to be still staying in
evacuation centers. (Radyo Pilipinas-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
NPA rebels kill Lumad leader in Surigao del Norte

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 14 (PIA) – A
Lumad leader was allegedly killed by the New People's Army (NPA) on February 9,
2018 at Sitio Palo 10, Brgy Camp Edward, Alegria town.
The victim was identified as Dakula Guillermo
Tiambong, 58 years old, a farmer and currently held the position as the
Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of the Mamanwa Tribe in
Alegria, Surigao del Norte.
Datu Tiambong was shot to death in front of his
family while attending his farm in the mountains of Brgy. Camp Edward, Alegria.
According to the victim's daughter, Girlie, days
before the shooting incident, her father received death threats from the NPAs
for being an active peace and development advocate.
In behalf of the Philippine Army, 30th Infantry
Battalion Commander Lt. Allen Raymund Tomas extended his deepest condolences to
the bereaved family.
“Datu Tiambong was the voice of the Mamanwa tribe
during the 3-days IP Summit in Davao on January 30 to February 1, 2018, where
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte met them,” Tomas said.
On his part, Philippine Army Brigade Commander
BGen. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal condemned the terrorist CPP-NPA for such unlawful
act of murder.
“This is again a clear violation of the human
rights. With their crime committed, full force of the law will be utilized to
bring justice to the victim," said Gacal.
Data Tiambong was the second Lumad leader killed by
the NPA after the IP Summit 2018. (30IB, Philippine Army/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Red tide alert still up in SurSur
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Feb. 14 (PIA) – Only
after coming out with three consecutive lab test with negative results can the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) officially and safely declare
Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur clear again of red tide toxin, according to
Bernesita Rojas, chief of the Provincial Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Office
(PFARO) here.
Although the PFAR Officer is optimistic that good
news will soon get its way, gathering of “all types of shellfish and Acetes sp.
or Alamang” from the area will have to remain banned as per Shellfish Bulletin
Nos. 03, 04, and 05 issued in early 2018.
Hence, “to avoid Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP),” Rojas took again
the advice of BFAR to the public “to refrain from harvesting, marketing and
consumption” of the said species.
On the other hand, quoting what was stated in the
official communication received from BFAR Caraga Regional Director Dr. Juan
Alabaladejo dated February 2, 2018, the PFAR chief mentioned that “fish,
squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are
fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines
were removed before cooking.”
Except that of Lianga Bay, all other bays in the
province have been cited free from red tide toxin contamination. (Radyo
Pilipinas-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
