Samar gov’t offers cash reward for arrest of wanted private armies

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Samar provincial government would offer Php100,000 for the immediate arrest of private armies with standing warrant of arrest to attain peace and order in the area.

“The reward is in the hope that criminality in the province will stop and that for criminals to realize that their acts are not welcome in Samar,” said Governor Sharee Ann Tan.

The official made the announcement during the recent Samar Peace and Security Dialogue at the army camp in this city. Private armies members have been tagged as suspects in the recent killings.

“The provincial government has to go to this extent of offering the monetary reward to show to the world that we do not tolerate and we condemn senseless killing in the province,” Tan added.

“I hope that at least within the month, one person with warrant of arrest will be caught by authorities.”

Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Asher Dolina said they have already validated the names of wanted private armies.

“In coordination with the Philippine Army, we will run after them and impose the rule of law in the province of Samar,” Dolina said.

Dolina asked village officials to take part in the drive to hunt down criminals especially when these people are seen in their communities.

The police official, however, refused to divulge the number of wanted PAGS members in Samar as part of their operational plan.

Meawnhile, local officials in Samar from different political parties recently gathered for a peace and security dialogue initiated by the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Batallion and the Philippine National Police.

The dialogue prompted political opponents Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino to both agree to work for peace.

Town mayors of Sta. Margarita, Matuguinao, Almagro, and San Jorge were also present along with their village officials.

Maj. Gen. Jet Velarmino said the conduct of the dialogue is in response to the series of killings in Samar. From January to mid-September, there are already 34 shooting incidents, resulting to 22 deaths. Most of these were recorded in Calbayog City, the hometown of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento.

Last week, a family of five, including two children, were brutally killed in Victory village in Calbayog by alleged private armies.

Both Tan and Aquino agreed to stop and resolve the killings that are perceived to be politically motivated and perpetrated by private armies.

Tan said the provincial government of Samar will not tolerate any killings, especially when innocent people are the victims.

Aquino, for his part, appreciated the police and army in pursuing the dialogue.

Dolina said the dialogue is the beginning in their pursuit to impose rule of law in the province. (PNA)

Phivolcs issues sea-level monitoring advisory due to Chile quake

MANILA -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Thursday instructed certain provinces in the country to monitor the change in sea levels of their respective coasts following the magnitude 7.9 earthquake which jolted Chile.

In its "Tsunami Information No.1" released Thursday morning, Phivolcs, in particular, issued the advisory to the provinces of Batanes Group of Islands, Sorsogon, Cagayan Northern Samar, Ilocos Norte, Eastern Samar, Isabela, Leyte,Quezon, Southern Leyte, Aurora, Surigao del Norte, Camarines Norte, Surigao del Sur, Camarines Sur, Davao Oriental, Albay, Davao del Sur, Catanduanes and Davao Occidental.

Phivolcs said these provinces, fronting the Pacific Ocean, are "advised to wait and listen for updates." However, it said there is no evacuation order implemented in these areas.

The agency issued the advisory as it warned that the Chile earthquake has the "potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours."

The earthquake struck the South American nation at 6:55 a.m. Thursday Philippine time and has a depth of 33 kilometers. (Benjamin Nathaniel Bondoc/PNA)

Army installs new commander in Samar

FOTO FROM: Dpao Stormtroopers Facebook page

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Philippine Army has installed a new commander of a brigade that covers the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar.

Col. Perfecto M. Rimando is the new commander of 801st Infantry Brigade based in Camp Daza, Fatima, village, Hinabangan, Samar.

Rimando succeeded Brig. Gen. Leoncio A. Cirunay Jr., who assumed the position as commander of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command.

Prior to taking the helm of 801st Infantry Brigade, Rimando was the chief of Philippine Army Human Rights Office (PAHRO) based in Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila.

Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division presided the turnover of command on Monday.

Rimando vowed to continue to support the initiatives of the local government units and closely collaborate with the stakeholders in line with the AFP Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan”.

“I can still remember when I first set foot on the island of Samar 29 years ago as a platoon leader, and now I am here again as a brigade commander and have noticed many changes and improvements through the years. I am grateful to be here once again to do the task and mission that our people and our country expect from me,” Rimando said.

Velarmino, in his message, acknowledged Cirunay’s contribution to the relative peace that Samar and Eastern Samar provinces are now experiencing.

Likewise, he challenged the new commander to continue the plans and programs initiated by his predecessor that fit the current situation and work hard towards the realization of “Insurgency Free” Samar and Eastern Samar provinces.

“I commend Brig. Gen. Cirunay for his immeasurable contributions to the accomplishments of 8ID mission. With Col. Rimando as the new Commander of 801st Infantry Brigade, I know it is in good hands and with his past experiences in this area and support of the men and women of the 801st Brigade,” Velarmino said. (PNA)

East Visayas officials hail Sarmiento’s appointment as DILG chief

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 13 (PNA) - Eastern Visayas officials have hailed the recent appointment of Samar 1st District Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento as the new Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary a milestone for Eastern Visayas.

An Waray Party-list Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo said that only in the Aquino administration that personalities from Eastern Visayas are given key positions in the official family of the President.

Other Waray-speaking Cabinet members of President Benigno Aquino III are Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo and Department of Health Secretary Janette Garin.

Aside from them, family roots of Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez and Department of Energy Officer-in Charge Zenaida Monsada are also from Eastern Visayas.

“It’s a great challenge and an honor for us that the President trust people from our region,” Congressman Montejo said.

Former An Waray Party-list representative and now Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Board of Director Bem Noel said that Sarmiento is more than capable for the job as DILG chief.

Noel cited that before becoming a member of Congress, Sarmiento was a local chief executive, thus he knows the plight and situation and the needs of local government units, just like the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Tacloban City Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin said that it was the trust and confidence of the President on Sarmiento that make him land in one of the most powerful Cabinet positions.

“He is very qualified, more than qualified if you will look at his experience. Hopefully he will do a good job in the remaining months of the Aquino administration,” said Yaokasin.

Sarmiento, in an interview right after his appointment, thanked the President’s trust and confidence with him, but stressed that more work should be done as DILG chief.

Before accepting the position, Sarmiento said that he contemplated about it, considering on how he can serve better the country and the people. (PNA)

Gov't replants 1.8M coconut trees

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) here has already planted 1.8 million coconut seedlings all over the region as one of its rehabilitation projects to revive the coconut industry.

PCA Leyte provincial manager Joel Pilapil said they are optimistic of hitting the 3.2 million target trees for replanting by end of 2015.

"We have distributed dwarf variety because this produces faster than other varieties, the farmers can make use of its products in not less than three years after planting," he explained.

To prop up the replanting program, every farmer is given PHP30 by the government for every planted seedling.

This is one of the PCA’s projects under Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Programs (YRRP) alongside with coconut timber and utilization, coconut planting/replanting, coconut fertilization and coconut intercropping.

PCA also distributed mixed vegetable seeds for intercropping to different areas within the region as alternative source of income while waiting for the nuts to bear fruits.

"We cannot just wait for these coconut seedlings to grow, so we distributed seeds for intercropping. As of now, we already have 2,941 intercropped areas," Pilapil added.

The funds used for these projects according to him, came from last year’s budget, which was not fully used.

Super typhoon Yolanda damaged 33 million coconut trees in Eastern Visayas and 13 million of which were totally damaged mostly from the coconut farms in Leyte and Eastern Samar.

Copra, a byproduct of coconut, was the primary agricultural source of income of farmers in the region before the 2013 disaster. (PNA)

PCSO distributes 50 ambulances to Eastern Visayas towns, hospitals

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO) turned over on Friday 50 ambulances to local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas.

Leading the distribution were PCSO General Manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II, PCSO Board Members Betty B. Nantes, Mabel B. Mamba, Francisco G. Joaquin III and Florencio Gabriel G. Noel.

Noel, a former representative of An Waray Party-list, said the 50 ambulances worth PhP 885,000 each represent the second batch of the four batches of donations for the region.

The recipients of the ambulances are Bontoc, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Limasawa, Maasin City, Macrohon, Malitbog, Saint Bernard, San Ricardo, Silago, and Tomas Oppus in Southern Leyte province.

Calbayog City, Catbalogan City, Daram, Gandara, Pagsanghan, Paranas, Sta. Margarita, Sta. Rita in Samar; Capul, Catarman, Gamay, Laoang, Las Navas and San Roque in Northern Samar.

Bato, Baybay City, Dagami, Hindang, Palo in Leyte; Dolores, Maydolong, Quinapondan and Llorente in Eastern Samar; and Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, and Maripipi in Biliran.

There are also eight state-run hospitals that received ambulances: Biliran Provincial Hospital in Naval, Biliran; Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital in Borongan City, Eastern Samar; Leyte Provincial Hospital in Palo, Leyte;

Matalom Community Hospital in Matalom, Leyte; Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Hospital in Maasin City, Southern Leyte; Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan City, Samar; San Antonio District Hospital in San Antonio, Northern Samar; and Tabango Community Hospital in Tabango, Leyte.

Another recipient is the Tacloban Delta Volunteer Fire Rescue Inc. in Tacloban City.

“Funds for the procurement of ambulances were sourced out from the charity fund, which represents 30 percent of the gross sales of all the PCSO lotto games,” Noel said.

Noel reiterated his call to the mayors as well as chiefs of hospital present during the ceremony to follow the guidelines set forth in the memorandum of agreement (MOA). Politicians are barred from printing their names in the ambulance.

Meanwhile, on the same occasion, the 138 villages from the city of Tacloban received check amounting to PhP 48,000 each as financial assistance from PCSO for medicines, medical equipment and supplies. (PNA)

Sarmiento assumes post as new DILG secretary

MANILA -- Western Samar Representative and Liberal Party (LP) Secretary General Mel Senen S. Sarmiento officially takes over Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as its new secretary on Friday through a simple turnover ceremony held at the main office in Quezon City.

Outgoing Secretary Mar Roxas handed over the post to Sarmiento with a positive and confident outlook, noting that the Western Samar solon possesses integrity, competence, and experience.

Outgoing Secretary Mar Roxas formally turns over the leadership of the Department of Interior and Local Government to...

Posted by Philippine National Police on Friday, September 11, 2015

“His competence is well-established, his integrity (with) nearly 20 years of public service, ni minsan hindi nadapuan ng kahit anong mantsa, o anomalya (his name was never stained nor linked to any anomaly),” said Roxas.

Roxas, who is the standard bearer in the 2016 presidential polls, perceived a striking similarity between late DILG secretary Jessie Robredo and Sarmiento, highlighting that “he has received every award, every accolade” that Robredo received.

He also recognized the DILG family and assured Sarmiento that he will be working with a dedicated, persevering, and self-sacrificing government staff.

“They have always stepped up, always delivered, and have always given all that they can for the welfare of our people,” Roxas commended.

One remarkable moment during the ceremony was Roxas handing over a framed set of slippers to Sarmiento to serve as a “constant reminder” that there are still a lot of people to serve and reach out to.

Sarmiento started his public service as vice mayor of Calbayog City from 1992-1995. In 2001, Sarmiento won as mayor of Calbayog City and has served its people for three terms before winning as congressman of the first district of Samar in 2010. With two decades worth of experience, he has earned recognition and respect deserving of being the newly-installed DILG secretary.

DILG is responsible for supervising local governments, ensuring public safety, and promoting peace and order. Under this department are Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and other attached agencies. (PNA)

Calbayog Mayor: We are ready for tourists

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, September 11 (PIA)—Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino said that the city is ready to receive tourists during a press conference Monday.

This was his reaction when asked him if his people and the city are ready to receive tourists.

“We have hotels, restaurants, convention center, function rooms, our roads leading to tourist destinations are being prepared,” Aquino said.

Aquino told the media that his city is a city of waterfalls which has nine breathtaking and majestic ones, the waterfalls and the scenic beaches along Samar Sea has drawn tourists to this third largest city in the country. One of the waterfalls will also be developed to become a mini-hydro power plant, the mayor said.

He also asked those present to visit Malajog Beach where the city will construct a zipline.

As to tourists looking for food adventure to satisfy their gastronomic taste, Calbayog has the best tasting tinapa and other gourmet dishes. Actress and presidential sister Kris Aquino has mentioned that Calbayog has the best tinapa in his tv show recently.

Calbayog City has also the best hotels where the most famous is Ciriaco Hotel that faces the scenic Samar Sea.

Calbayog City is also considered the gateway to Christianity in the Visayas as the first wave of Jesuit missionaries commenced their mission there in 1596. Calbayog has also the so called pilgrimage tour where tourists are conducted to different Catholic Churches.

As to the peace and order and security of travelers, Aquino said that the city is relatively peaceful. He acknowledged the leadership of the P/Supt Ernesto Salvador Tagle of the city police force.

It will be recalled that the whole police force was replaced following the spate of killings in the city early in June 2015.

“Look at you, do you feel unsecure here?” he asked the media that attended the presscon, after the Vesper Day parade.

Aquino adds that since January up to June this year, some 53 thousand tourists have been registered where some 51 thousand are local ones and some 2 thousand, foreigners.

Although the police reports of some ten killings in the hinterlands in three months, the crime recorder said that they have reached a crime clearance index of 89.19% in July and 70% in August of this year.

Crime clearance index means that in a crime committed, the suspect is identified, the case is filed and the suspect arrested.

The killings happened in the hinterlands, the police officer told PIA.

With active security forces in town, the chief executive of Calbayog beckons tourists, come and visit Calbayog City for its natural wonders, gastronomic delights from Samar Sea and hospitality. (PIA 8-Samar with CTIO)

A Fiesta Press Conference with Mayor Ronaldo Aquino (September 7/City Mayor’s Conference Room) Mayor Aquino had a “...

Posted by LGU Calbayog Bulletin on Monday, September 7, 2015

Sarmiento is next DILG secretary

Photo Courtesy of MSSS Facebook Page

Samar First District  Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento will take the post as secretary of  the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), President Benigno Aquino III said on Tuesday, September 8.

"I offered the job to him [Sarmiento],” Aquino said when asked by if he has already chosen the next DILG chief.

“The transition is being worked out so that he is not thrown into the deep end right away, and there's a smooth transition between Secretary Roxas and Congressman Sarmiento," the president added

He said that Sarmiento's appointment is still subject to the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments.

Aquino confirmed this in a forum hosted by Philippine Daily Inquirer and was broadcasted in the government-run television network PTV-4.

Sarmiento is the secretary-general of the Liberal Party. He will replace outgoing DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, who is the party’s standard bearer for next year polls.

He is the former mayor of Calbayog City, whose celebrating its city fiesta on that day.

The appointment of Sarmiento makes him part of Aquino’s cabinet with only few months left in his administration.

DILG is in-charge of the local governments in the country and other government agencies like Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Fire Protection. (Samar News Reports)

WATCH THE FULL FORUM HERE: [The quotation can be found on 52:02]

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Miss Anyag 2015 Results

Miss Anyag 2015: NINA PIA BOCO

First Runner-Up:SHARMAINE SARMIENTO

Second Runner-Up:MELVA VACUNAWA

FOTOS: Jan Phillip Rentasida

Calbayog City Drum Corp Competition Result

Catbalogan targets 100,000 tourists this year

Mayor Stephanie Uy-Tan in the middle during Civic-Military and Manaragat Festival Parade August 23, 2015
Photo credits to: Michael Balan, taken from Facebook page Manaragat Festival: August Month-long City Fiesta Celebration

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The city government here is aiming to reach 100,000 tourist arrivals this year in its effort to make the city as one of the top destinations in the region.

Mayor Stephanie Uy-Tan said that from the more than 3,000 tourists in 2011, the city welcomed 90,000 visitors last year.

“The increase in arrival was enormous, which can also be attributed to the increasing number of tourism-related facilities in the city,” Uy-Tan said

This aside from the fact that Catbalogan is the center of commerce, trade, industry and education in Samar province.

The 100,000 tourist arrival target for this year is attainable, according to Uy-Tan, due to several activities that are beneficial to their tourism campaign.

Foremost to this is the activities for the upcoming 400th year celebration of the St. Bartholomew Parish next year.

Several activities have been prepared for the celebration next year that includes the presentation of various school on life of Catbalogan people from different era.

The recent achievement of Manaragat Festival at the Aliwan Fiesta will also boost their tourism campaign, Uy-Tan added.

According to the official, presenting the local traditions through dances has been proven to attract visitors. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/RTA/EGR

RDC Eastern Visayas probes Matnog port congestion

[Aug. 24] TACLOBAN CITY –- The Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) is now currently looking into the port congestion problem in Matnog, Sorsogon, which has slackened reconstruction activities in typhoon-ravaged areas.

RDC Chairman and Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said the region’s highest policy-making body has created a technical working group to study the port congestion concern.

The group is chaired by businessman Oliver Cam of the Eastern Visayas Chamber of Commerce and Industry with members from the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority, some representatives from Biliran and Samar local governments, National Economic Development Authority and some businessmen.

The group is expected to convene and report updates to the RDC on the ongoing study.

The RDC issued a resolution to study the port congestion problem after receiving reports from traders and logistic firms that there has been a significant backlog of seven to 14 days in the boarding of rolling cargoes at the said port since January 2015.

“Such delay in the queuing and loading of delivery truck carrying construction materials at the said port causes a subsequent delay in the implementation of government infrastructure projects in the region, especially Yolanda reconstruction projects,” Petilla said.

The delay, according to the RDC, has also “led to the escalation of prices of construction materials and basic goods and commodities in the region since the cost of delays is imputed to the retail prices of these commodities, in effect, passing the cost to the consuming public.”

The congestion, according to reports reaching the RDC, has triggered corruption. Some traffic enforcers and port personnel ask for bribes of PHP500 to PHP1500 in exchange for prioritization in loading to roll-on roll-off vessels.

“These multiple repercussions, if taken collectively and if unabated, will compromise further the socio-economic development in the region, considering the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda and its already poor performing economy and pervasive poverty problem,” the RDC resolution stated.

Cam said the congestion has been hurting the regional economy since 70 percent of supplies in the region is being transported by land.

“We have to get Bicol officials on board to improve the situation because we, as the poorest region are the one suffering,” Cam added.

Officials from Bicol are expected to present plans on how to resolve the congestion during the RDC meeting in Ormoc City next month. (PNA)

FFC/SQM

2 provinces, 5 towns in E. Visayas pass 2014 Seal of Good Local Governance

[Aug. 25] TACLOBAN CITY -- Two provinces and five towns in Eastern Visayas passed the 2014 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Regional Director Pedro A. Noval Jr. revealed on Monday the SGLG awardees in Region 8 include the provinces of Biliran and Northern Samar, and the towns of Barugo, Carigara and Jaro in Leyte; Limasawa in Southern Leyte; and Gandara in Samar.

The seven winning LGUs passed all three SGLG core indicators namely, disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), social protection, and good financial housekeeping; and at least one other essential indicator (business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order, and environment to earn the highly coveted award).

Noval was elated that seven local government units (LGUs) passed the high standards of the SGLG in its first year of implementation. He is optimistic that more will be able to earn the SGLG nod in the coming years.

“Most LGUs in Eastern Visayas are actually passers of the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping (SGFH), and if they are able to maintain that and perform well on DRRM and other indicators, it would enable them to cop the SGLG award,” Noval said.

He stressed that LGUs in the region could improve more on social protection, particularly on compliance to the Accessibility Law for persons with disabilities.

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas launched SGLG in 2014 to build on the successful run of the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) that was introduced by his predecessor the late Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

SGLG challenges LGUs to continue good governance practices and improve basic services, in addition to measuring their compliance to the Full Disclosure Policy and observance of COA guidelines.

To ensure objectivity, DILG cross-posted DILG field officers during the evaluations. The SGLG criteria are product of a series of workshops and consultations with trained DILG personnel.

Noval said DILG will hold appropriate awards rites this September in each winning LGU, where the SGLG marker will be formally conferred and installed in a conspicuous area in the town hall.

Further, SGLG recipients will have the opportunity to avail of the DILG performance challenge fund (PCF) to be used for development projects. Under SGLG, the PCF incentive fund for each winning province is PHP7 million, while for towns it is now PHP3 million each -- up from PHP1 million under SGH. (PNA)

JBP/SQM/DILG REGION 8-PR

Sarmiento urges Congress to pass joint resolution to adjust tax exemption on 'balikbayan' boxes

[Aug. 25] MANILA,  -- Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said on Tuesday the controversy over the decision of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to open "balikbayan" boxes and impose taxes on the basis of a 37-year-old law is a wake-up call for Congress to immediately amend Presidential Decree 1464, otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code of the 1978.

Sarmiento also expressed support for President Benigno S. Aquino III's decision to order the BOC under Commissioner Alberto Lina to stop opening "balikbayan" boxes unless X-ray and K-9 examinations indicate possible contraband items.

"This decision of President Aquino only shows that he understands the problem and he shares the sentiment of our people," Sarmiento said.

He noted that there is nothing wrong with the decision of the BOC to conduct inspections on arriving balikbayan boxes as long as all the necessary measures are put in place to ensure that no parcel is lost or damaged in the process.

What is wrong, however, is the imposition of taxes on balikbayan boxes based on the provisions of an outdated tariff and customs law. He said the PhP10,000 and below threshold for tax exemption on parcels sent by overseas Filipinos is obsolete and should no longer be applied until new amendments are introduced.

"There's nothing wrong with these inspections because that is part of the mandate of the BOC. I'm afraid, however, that our kababayans who are sending balikbayan boxes to their relatives and friends here in the Philippines are also correct in their claim that threshold for taxable parcel which is PhP10,000 is already too unrealistic and outdated. This is something that the BOC should consider for humanitarian grounds until Congress makes the necessary correction on our present Tariff and Customs Law," Sarmiento said.

"Commissioner Lina should realize that PhP10,000 nowadays is only worth two pairs of shoes or just around 100 cans of Spam. Using the taxable threshold set by a 37- year-old law is definitely unacceptable and outrageous to our overseas Filipino who have been the country's lifeblood," Sarmiento added.

He admitted, however, that this controversy over the balikbayan boxes should serve as a wake-up call for Congress to finally look into Presidential Decree and amend the threshold to a more realistic amount.

At present, the international threshold for tax-free overseas parcel is USD1,000 and below or PhP44,000 and below.

And since the threshold amount is the only provision in the entire PD 1464 that requires amendment, Sarmiento said that Congress can just pass a joint resolution increasing the PhP10,000 tax-free threshold to PhP50,000 and below to avoid a long drawn legislative process.

"If there's one thing that came out of this controversy, it is the realization that we already have an obsolete Tariff and Customs Law. We should quickly amend this but in the meantime, I think that the BOC should be more considerate in as far as these balikbayan boxes are concerned. We can skip the normal process of legislating laws by simply passing a joint resolution amending the threshold for tax exemptions," Sarmiento stressed. (Sammy F. Martin/PNA)