The canonization of J-Lo?

Let us congratulate the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), particularly the Large Taxpayers Service, for having collected revenues in excess of last month’s collection. It has been reported that this month’s revenue collection amounted to P32.06 billion, higher than its goal of P30.59 billion.

In fact, it appears that for the past several months, the collection has been steadily going up. This only shows that if the BIR is efficient in its performance, it can improve the income of the country. Obviously. But what we are saying is that once the BIR sheds its lousy image, clean up its ranks and motivate its people through excellent leadership and management, they can do the job, and they will do the job.

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Another good news: The report that the national debt has decreased by as much as 1.2 percent or P47 billion during the 11-month period from the previous year is music to our ears. In fact, our national debt has been going down quite steadily since 2006 because of the savings from the appreciation of the peso against the dollar. All these things would not have happened had it not been for the proper economic fundamentals which President Arroyo has carried out in her determined effort to improve the country’s economy. Now her inputs are proving right.

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The Department of Tourism (DOT), on the other hand, forecasts $5.8 billion tourism receipts this year, up by $1 billion from the previous year. At present, the DOT is intensifying its campaign in Europe, where the big spending tourists are, while encouraging them to stay longer in the country with a host of attractive offerings. All the key players in the Arroyo administration are working toward a more economically vibrant Philippines, and even businessmen are upbeat about the future.

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In these times of impermanence, i.e., impermanent friends, impermanent loyalties, changeable ethics and principles and the impermanence of politics itself, we are rendered hopeful by the action of a group of local executives who came to Malacañang on their own free will and accord to assure the President of their full support. It is an unsolicited unselfish act and I salute Govs. Douglas Cagas, Natalio Beltran, Dakila Cua, Vicente Pimentel, Rogelio Espina, Ben Evardone, Raffy Nantes, Tet Garcia, Jun-Jun Ynares, Sally Zaldivar Perez and Alvaro Antonio, and mayors from Luzon, namely, Gerry Pelayo, Rey Catacutan, Guillermo Acero, Mario Reyes, Antonio Raymundo, Boking Morales, Efren Cruz and Pedro Cuerpo. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, chairman of the League of Cities, also lauded the President for the country’s “unprecedented economic growth” that should be sustained. The local executives all manifested their optimism that the Arroyo administration will continue to move forward and weather all the political storms that only hamper the progress of the Filipino. Thank you, all.

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I am always fascinated by the public utility (PU) buses plying Edsa as I wrote about this subject in a previous column. Did you know how many PU buses ply the Edsa route? Just for samplers, a few days ago while I was coming from the domestic airport on my way to Channel 4, I decided to jot down the names of buses and, in just a span of a few minutes, I observed all types of buses in all shapes, sizes and colors, some 120 or so different carriers with such exotic names as Mayamy, Lippad, King of Kings, Dreamline, Merzan, Arabia Boy and many others. Many of these buses are half-full, especially at midday. If you multiply these carriers with the number of units they own, one can just imagine the degree of traffic they bring onto the streets and the amount of pollution, as many of them are smoke-belchers. Adding to it the number of provincial buses traversing Edsa on their way to their terminals, you can imagine the multiplying effect on traffic congestion, pollution and mayhem. I hope the LTO and the LTFRB will take note of the statistics I have given to aid them in their program to lighten traffic and decrease pollution in the environment. 

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Last Sunday I attended the 5 p.m. Mass at the Christ the King church. I was sitting at the back pew and I could not help but overhear a number of lay ministers discussing about a certain Jun Lozada, the newly anointed whistle blower. They were saying that they “feel nauseated by the fantastic revelations of Mr. Lozada” and that they suspected that it was something scripted or already planned out long before his testimony in the Senate. One of them joked that “at the rate Mr. Lozada is being lionized and made bigger than life, maybe the religious community in La Salle, the nuns from several religious orders, will petition the Pope for the canonization of Mr. Lozada.” One of them commented that “once upon a time, Lucifer himself was an angel in heaven.” As far as I’m concerned, no comment muna.

After four hours of deliberations late Tuesday, the conference committee tasked with consolidating two bills for the cheap and quality medicines bill was still in a deadlock.

The political implications of the ZTE-NBN scandal are difficult to forecast and may not even be as important as the ultimate economic fallout to the country.

Does “to invent” mean to create something out of nothing? That was the question posed to the panel of resource persons discussing the subject of patents and technology.

Alálaong bagá: People in thirst

In the Bible, thirst usually means more than just the physical need for water. Thirst can uncover deep faithlessness and insolence (Exodus 17:3-7). Likewise, slaking thirst can well indicate the wellspring of living water unto eternal life (John 4:4-42). The Third Sunday of Lent is to provide us with the opportunity to recommit ourselves to our choice for Christ.

About Town: Rizal mayor takes local autonomy too far

I’m all for local autonomy. We should give local executives ample powers as well as the resources to uplift the quality of life of their constituents and help the communities they lead to achieve economic and social progress.

Tax Law for Business: Here comes the taxman again!

In its desire to ride with the boom in the real- estate business, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has proposed a new regulation that would require the early payment of value-added tax (VAT) on real-estate transactions.

Reflections from the Mirror: The canonization of J-Lo?

Let us congratulate the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), particularly the Large Taxpayers Service, for having collected revenues in excess of last month’s collection. It has been reported that this month’s revenue collection amounted to P32.06 billion, higher than its goal of P30.59 billion.

Philip M. Lustre Jr.: The imperative for moral cleansing

Just like in any other soft state, corruption is a major political problem in the country. The entire nation has no choice but to engage in a very thorough but cathartic (or liberating) process of moral cleansing.