By Rose de la Cruz

Public school teachers who are tasked with manning polling precincts and as canvassers—and are thus exposed to so much risks of violence—must not be taxed of their honoraria and other benefits this coming election.

Rep. Bong Belaro, 1 Ang Edukasyon partylist, which is one of the contenders this Monday, said he authored House Bill 7732 seeking a 100 percent tax exemption on the honorarium and other benefits of teachers and other personnel rendering election service.

“The 100 percent tax-exemption this bill seeks to grant pales in comparison with the teachers' sacrifice,” Belaro said.

Belaro said “there is no urgent necessity to deduct taxes from the election duty pay because "income taxation covers an entire taxable year and the time for the teacher-taxpayer to settle that is April next year."

"Also, the honoraria and benefits are not annually recurring income. Comelec said their budget for it is less than P2 billion. Budget-wise, any tax on that income has negligible impact on the overall revenue haul of the government," Belaro pointed out.

Read more: Don’t tax teachers’ election honoraria, benefits

By Rose de la Cruz

Bangko Sentral Governor Benjamin Diokno said that the 3 percent inflation last April is consistent with BSP’s expectations that inflation would settle at a target range of 2 to 4 percent for 2019 and 2020.

However, the continued increase in global crude oil prices and possibility of a prolonged El Niño episode could be a source of upside price pressures over the near term.

The weakening global economic environment could present downside risks to inflation. Against these upside and downside risks, the BSP continues to keep a close watch over…

Read more: April inflation of 3% is within target

By Rose de la Cruz

The good news for first-time job seekers, or those who just finished college and K-to 12, is they won’t be paying the usual fees for clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation, the police and the National Statistics Offices.

This after the First-time Jobseekers Assistance Act (RA 11261) was signed into law by President Duterte and which could be swiftly implemented this summer after these graduates get their diplomas.

Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, one of the authors in the house of said bill, explained that through administrative issuances, the National Bureau of Investigation and…

Read more: First-time jobseekers law passed

By Rose de la Cruz

To institutionalize the medical and diagnostic program for SM employees and their dependents, SM Foundation Inc. again held last May 4 its quarterly medical and diagnostic mission at SM Fairview which was availed of by 2,585 employees and their dependents.

Executive Director Connie Angeles for health and medical programs, said that from hereon,  the quarterly mission for employees in the National Capital Region would always be held in SM Fairview, while those from south of Metro Manila would be done at SM Dasmarinas in Cavite and in SM City Pampanga, for…

Read more: SM Foundation institutionalizes medical service for employees