Increase criminal liability of drivers of common carriers
CEBU CITY July 17 -- A bill is in the Senate that seeks to increase the criminal liability of drivers of common carriers to lessen road accidents.
The bill, Senate Bill No. 2085, authored by Senator Chiz Escudero, seeks to increase the criminal liability of drivers of common carriers involved in road accidents in a bid to curb the growing number of deaths and injuries attributed to reckless driving.
“Bus drivers, especially those traveling to and from the provinces, seem to be treating lightly their obligation to transport their passengers safely to their destination as evidenced by consecutive vehicular accidents involving buses for this week alone,” Escudero said.
Stated under his proposed bill, delinquent drivers may face jail terms from four months and one day to six months to 12 years in cases of injury and depending on the extent or gravity of the injury and 12 years to 20 years imprisonment in cases of death.
Apart from imposing stiffer penalties, the proposed bill would instill discipline on drivers of buses and other public utility vehicles as well as ensure the safety and security of the commuters.
Record from the Philippine National Police (PNP) reveals that the series of road accidents reported in the country that killed and injured quite a number of people usually involved common carriers or public utility vehicles like buses.
In the revised penal code, the penalty for errant drivers is just one month to four years and two months imprisonment depending on the gravity of the crime. (FCR/AYS-PIA7 Cebu, Office of Sen. Escudero)
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Cebu City to host 1st MSME Dev’t Councils National Conference
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, July 17 (PIA) -- Cebu City will host the first Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Councils National Conference on Thursday July 19 until 20 where at least 150 participants nationwide are expected to attend.
The Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BMSMED) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit Private Sector Promotion Program (GIZ PSP) are organizing the event.
Among the representatives attending the event are the National and Provincial MSMED councils, officials from the DTI Head Office and 86 provinces nationwide, secretariat heads and the GIZ, the DTI said.
The MSMEDC National Conference seeks to create greater awareness, commitment and action to the Aquino Administration’s ‘Big Push’ policy for MSME development, the DTI said.
Likewise, the conference will present the highlights of the DTI and GIZ PSP Program and its contribution to MSME development. It also aims to clarify the functional mandates of the Provincial MSMED Councils (PSMEDCs); learn from the good practices and exemplar initiatives; and create and reinforce networks toward mutually beneficial partnerships.
Activities lined up for the conference include presentation of good practices such as the use of the GIZ Capacity WORKS management model and others exemplifying the delivery of the MSMEDC functions, namely: policy formulation, program advocacy, program coordination and integration.
There will also be a showcase of value chain and local regional economic development (LRED) approaches adapted in the implementation of the MSME Development Plan.
The DTI further added that exemplary initiatives of MSMEs on development global themes that include gender, climate change, migration and corporate social responsibility will be similarly tackled.
Provincial MSMED Councils policy, program, activity and projects (PPAPs) proposed by Provincial MSMED Councils (PSMEDCs) that need to be elevated for approval of national government agency will be packaged and endorsed by the National MSMEDC to the concerned office.
Knowledge products such as collaterals on the PPAPs that were introduced and implemented by the Provincial MSMED Councils will likewise be placed on exhibit as a side event during the Conference.
Members of the MSMED Council are composed of the DTI, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Tourism, Small Business Corporation, private sector representatives including MSME sector in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, banking sector and labor sector.
For inquiries, interested parties are advised to call the DTI provincial offices. In Central Visayas, they may call the following telephone numbers: BOHOL PROVINCIAL OFFICE at (63) 038-501-8260, CEBU PROVINCIAL OFFICE at (63)(032) 412-1863 / 253-2631, NEGROS ORIENTAL PROVINCIAL OFFICE at (63)(035) 422-2764, SIQUIJOR PROVINCIAL OFFICE at (63)035-480-9065. (FCR-PIA7, Cebu with DTI 7 PR)
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DOH 7, VSMMC conduct earthquake drill
By Juju Manubag-Empuerto
CEBU CITY, July 17 (PIA) -- An earthquake drill was conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) 7 & the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) at the DOH 7 compound in Cebu City as part of the activities for the National Disaster Consciousness Month celebration this July.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council mandates each government office to conduct an earthquake drill.
Fifteen health personnel participated in the simulation exercise, while 25 nursing students from the University of San Carlos (USC) acted as victims during the search, rescue and first aid treatment operations. The health personnel had undergone a five-day training on Basic Life Support, Basic First Aid, Incident Command System, Mass Casualty Incident Management from July 9 to 13, 2012.
During the simulation, 10 mock victims placed under the red category and were given the top priority because of their critical condition. Four ambulance vans brought them to the VSMMC and the Bureau of Quarantine.
Alesna said that during any rescue operation, victims are categorized into four color codes: green, yellow, red and black.
First priority are victims under the green category or those with minor injuries but are able still walk. Second priority victims are classified under the yellow category and are to be transported to the hospital. Those under the black category are the casualties, said Alesna.
Casualties under the red category need to be transported immediately to VSMMC as soon as possible, said Dr Joseph Alesna, VSMMC – Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) coordinator.
The VSMMC have two color codes, Alesna added. The white code means to increase the readiness of the hospital while the blue color means that the hospital must expect 20 to 30 victims. (FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu).
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BIR District 13 in Cebu to conduct seminar on e-tax filing tomorrow
CEBU CITY, July 17 (PIA) -- A half-day seminar on electronic tax filing will be conducted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Regional District No. 13 based in Cebu City tomorrow afternoon, July 18 from 1 p.m.to 5 p.m. for non-large taxpayers.
Non-large taxpayers, particularly local contractors will be oriented on the procedures of enrollment to the e-tax filing. The seminar is free of charge.
E-tax filing makes it easier and convenient for taxpayers to pay the due taxes on time without the hassles of queuing to pay at the BIR offices.
All licensed contractors on the other hand, are mandated to enroll to the BIR’s Electronic Filing and Payment System (EFPS) as provided under Sec. 4 of Revenue Regulations No. 10-2012 dated June 1, 2012.
EFPS allows taxpayers to directly encode, submit tax returns and pay their taxes due online over the internet through the BIR website. It is available to selected taxpayers with e-mail account and internet access who are registered in the BIR Integrated Tax System.
Previously, only selected taxpayers can avail of the EFPS system such as large taxpayers, government bidders, taxpayers belonging to the top 5,000 individual taxpayers.
For further details, one may contact Queenie Luz, Auditor of the Taxpayers Assistance Unit at the number, 232-1186 (FCR-PIA6 Cebu with BIR PR)