BIR La Union Exceeds Goal by Collecting P1.204-B

                             From January to May 2021

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in this Northern Luzon Province surpassed its January to May this year’s goal by collecting P1.204 billion.

Revenue District Office No. 3 Chief Charmaine C. dela Torre collected the more than a billion peso amount against the goal of P1.191 billion.

It was P13 million more than the mandated target on the five - month period by the national government.

Oplan Kandado and RATE

Dela Torre said that her office filed criminal cases of Run After Tax Evader (RATE) to two errant taxpayers and recommended the closure of two business establishments in the province through the vaunted Oplan Kandado (Operation Padlock). The twin cases of O.K have been forwarded already at the regional office of the tax agency in Calasiao, Pangasinan for review.

Revenue District Office No. 3 Chief Charmaine Caday dela Torre

“It is under the evaluation of the legal division right now. So if it will pass the screening board then we will proceed with the temporary closures of the two cases of the Kandado,” she stressed for this newspaper.

Execution of the O.P by the officials of the BIR comes from the final approval by the brass of the national office based in Quezon City.

Dela Torre did not divulge -as the agency’s policy – the respondents for the RATE and Oplan Kandado.

Optimistic to Hit the Goal

The top lady tax executive of the BIR - La Union is optimistic that she and her staff can soldier on to collect the P2.8 billion tax target at the end of this year despite the ravage of the pandemic that wrecks havoc on the national economy.

The goal given to Dela Torre is the second highest goal in the six RDOs in Region-1.

RDO No. 3 covers nineteen towns and this city. It became number one among the other five RDOs on Tax Awareness Program through exposures on the online platforms last year.

“We were number one in Region-1 and number nine nationwide,” Dela Torre proudly cited.

                                                   Surpassed Target

 Last Year RDO No. 3 collected 2.654 billion in year 2020 versus its goal of P2.168 billion with a surplus of P486 million (22.4%).

Celeste Sees Orbos as Foe in the 2022 Cong. Race

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza, MPA

BOLINAO, Pangasinan – Former Pangasinan First District Congressman Jesus “Boying” Celeste sees Tim Orbos as an opponent for the congressional seat of his younger brother come backing seasoned politico Art Celeste.

“It will be Orbos,” he told this Writer when asked if who among Sual Mayor Liseldo “Dong” Calugay, Alaminos former Vice Mayor Earl James Aquiono,and Orbos will be pitted against former nine years House of Representatives' member and ex- Alaminos City mayor Celeste on the May 9, 2022 election.

 A source said Orbos is more of a congressional material than the first term mayor of Sual. The first class town hosts the 1,200 mega watt coal powered plant and fourth richest municipality in the Philippines.

CONGRESSIONAL RIVAL: From left: Former Alaminos City Mayor Art Celeste and former Undersecretary of the Department of Transportation Tim Orbos.

 “For the Congressional seat, Ama Espino might listen to the Mayors' request for him to run (or it would still be Tim Orbos or Calugay) In terms of survey ratings, Tim Orbos got a higher score than Calugay. But Calugay has more "mola" than Orbos. Will they have more money than the Celestes? He who has the gold rules!” he cited in a condition of anonymity.

In the 2019 congressional derby, former Bolinao Mayor Arnold Celeste defeated Orbos in a tight race.

“But it is another fight for Orbos as Art is more popular than Noli (nickname of Arnold),” a supporter said.

The older Celeste has explanation to that hair thin margin the neophyte Orbos – a protegee of veteran politician former Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. – had with the victorious Noli.

Orbos, the younger brother of former Pangasinan Governor Oscar Orbos, was the former General Manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure of the Department of Transportation in the Duterte Administration.

Boying said that the family was enmeshed in an expensive governorship contest in 2019 where Art challenged Espino’s namesake and son the Governor of the vote - rich province in the Philippines where Art lost in that contest.

The 2019 election gamble stretched the financial capability of the Celestes to launch a close contest against the allies of the Espinos in the nine towns and one city’s district.

AUTHOR poses in El Pescador, Bolinao with two mayorship aspirants of Dasol and Sual, Pangasinan. Extreme left is Dasol Vice Mayor Rizalde "Sadong" Bernal and former First District Congressman Jesus "Boying" Celeste (extreme right).

With Art running for the national post, Arnold Celeste will file his candidacy in the fourth class one horse’s town Agno for mayorship against Espino’s ally sitting mayor Gualberto R. Sison.

Former Congressman Boying is hell bent to unseat Sual Mayor Calugay after the Espino's political juggernaut took the town by defeating former Mayor John Arcinue – a Celeste’s ally – in the May 2019 election.

The former solon said he was privy that their political opponents identified with the Espinos have met lately in one of the towns of Western Pangasinan.

“Hayaan mo sila. Hinde kami natatakot sa kanila kahit sino pa sa kanila ang tumakbo sa Congressional at Alaminos City nakahanda kami,” he confidently told this Writer.

This after hearing incessant rumors that made him pugnacious that the older Espino has moist eye for the Hundred Islands’ city.

“My latest info I gathered this afternoon was Tim Orbos will run for congressman  (District One). Earl Aquino intimated that Espino will run in Alaminos City two month ago. But things can change. Kailangan talagang malaman saan nag rehistro ang matanda. Dapat may informant ka sa Alaminos Comelec,” the spook said.

Until now political kibitzers are still guessing if the former Governor transferred his voter’s registration from Bautista, Pangasinan to either the First or Second Congressional Districts. The latter situs is where he will suppose to be drawing sword with former Congressman and Billionaire Mark Cojuangco who is bellicose to tangle with either the older Espino or his reelective son Congressman Jumel Espino.

Deep Throat-II said that the Espino- Orbos Team are continually meeting.

“The last meeting was at the birthday party of Lyn Ray Celino, the PDP mayoralty candidate from Anda who lost to Mayor Rarang. All incumbent mayors loyal to Espino including those who lost in the 2019 election were there”.

The former nine years congressman and the older brother of the Celeste siblings said there was no truth that his dashing young nephew and Art’s son Alaminos City Bryan C. Celeste will step down and becomes an actor for the celluloid screen.

“Mayor Arth Bryan C. Celeste, the youngest mayor in the Philippines seems to be losing his interest in politics. According to my source, he is considering entering showbiz. It seems that his showbiz girlfriend had an influence on him. He is good looking and a matinee idol material. Will his parents and uncles give him their blessing to leave the "family business"?,” Deep Throat -II posed.

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MGA PANANAW NI ATONG: Espino-Espino vs. Guico-Lambino sa 2022?

By RENATO "ATONG" REMOGAT 

Malamang na ang tambalang ito sa ilalim ng column na ito ang pusibleng magsasalpukan sa darating na halalan 2022.

Bagama’t wala pang malinaw na ka-tandem si Gobernador Amado “Pogi” Espino, III sa pagka-Bise Gobernador sa ngayon ay nakikinita ng ilang eksperto sa larangan ng pulitika ang pinsan niyang si Sangguniang Kabataan at Ex-Officio Board Member Jerome Vic Espino ang posibleng mapisil nila na ka-tiket ni Gob. Pogi.

Remogat

Kapansin-pansin anila ang palagiang presensiya ng nakakabatang Espino sa lahat ng lakad ni Gobernor Pogi lalo na ang programa niyang Abig- Laman na umiikot sa buong lalawigan.

Maraming haka-haka na ang Abig-Laman ay gawing Party List Party ng mga Espino. Pagnagkataon matibay ito at maging sakit ito ng ulo Abono Party List ni Ka Sendong So sa Mayo 9, 2022 na eleksiyon.

Sa ngayon ay nananatiling tahimik ang kampo ng mga Espino kung sinu-sino ang kanilang mga kaalyado mula Bise Gobernador, Congressman at mapa-Mayor habang ang kanilang katunggali ay lantaran ng pinapakita ang kanilang mga kahanay.

Naiulat din ng maaga ang intensiyon ni 2^nd District Board Member Nikki Boy Reyes na ka-tandem sana ng Espino ngunit parang malamig pa sa kanin ang pag- angat ng kanyang popularidad.

Sinasali rin ang pangalan nina 5^th District Chinky Perez-Tababa at graduating Pangasinan Councilor’s League President (PCL) Board member Shiela Marie Perez, ang unica hija ni Pangasinan Political Godfather Salvador’ Badong” Perez ng bayan ng San Manuel, at ang dating Gobernador- Kongresman Amado T. Espino Jr.

Ani ng ilang eksperto, mas lutang ang pangalan ni SK president BM Espino dahil sa hatak at popularidad niya sa mga kabataan o ang millennial sa buong Pangasinan kung kaya’t litaw na ang posibleng tambalang Espino-Espino ang magtutuloy.

Habang ang pwersa naman ng Guico-Lambino ay buo na mula una hanggang sa pang anim na distrito.

Narito ang kabuuan ng kanilang hanay; Governor, Ramon “Mon-mon” Guico; Vice Governor, Mark Lambino.

Para sa pagka Congressmen: 1^st District, Arthur Celeste; 2^nd District, Mark Cojuangco, 3^rd District, Rachel Arenas, 4^th District, Melanie Lambino, 5^th District, Ma-an Guico at 6^th District, Hermogenes Esperon. 

Pero mag antay muna tayo mga taga subaybay ng Northern Watch Newspaper dahil nanatili pa rin sa ngayon ang kumpirmasyon na manggaling mula kay  National Security Adviser Esperon.

Sa hanay naman ng mga Espino; Governor, Amado’ Pogi” Espino, Vice Governor, Jerome Vic Espino.

Para Congressmen: 1^st District, Tim Orbos; 2^nd District Jumel Espino; 3^rd District wala pa; 4^th District, Christopher De Venecia; 5^th District Nino Arboleda; at 6^th District, Marlyn Agabas.

Ang mga idenitalye dito ay ayon sa mga obserbasyon at analitiko ng mga dalubhasa sa pulitika na aking nakapanayam habang isinusulat ang balitang ito.

How the Pandemic Kills the Tourism Industry of this Town

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BOLINAO, Pangasinan - Former Pangasinan First District Congressman Jesus “Boying” Celeste said that out of 100 percent of tourists who used to visit this rustic town that abounds with chic and cozy hotels and resorts only five percent of the tourists patronize them.

He said that businessmen have been slumped by the pandemic after they could not pay the amortization in the banks where they owed loan they used to finance the construction of their establishments.

"Kawawa sila, binebenta na lang nila ang mga properties nila (I pity them because they have been selling their properties to survive),” the nine years’ term solon deplored how these traders faced a bank wall with their dilemma.

 A BELEAGUERED resort in Bolinao, Pangasinan. One of the many resorts and hotels affected by the fallout of the pandemic's Corona Virus Disease-19 that wreck havoc the Philippines' economy. Photo by Mortz C. Ortigoza

Celeste explained that the pandemic’s bellied up the tourism industry of the town whose pristine beaches are among the best in Northern Luzon that catered to foreign and local tourists.

”Malaki epekto nito dahil ang First District ay iyan ang pinakamalaking industry dito sa ating distrito ngayon ay turismo. Kaya noong (inaudible) ito’y malaking bagay ito. Maraming nawalan ng trabaho nawala ang income ng bawat mga establishment at saka ang naano ko rito mahirap ma recover (The havoc wrought by the pandemic was a major blow to the First District whose biggest industry is tourism. Many became jobless and lost their incomes because of the closures of many establishment. I saw they will have a tough time to recover),” he explained.

The First Congressional District hosts Hundred Islands National Park, one of the favorite tourist destinations in the north of the country, the famous rivers, springs, and sandy beaches of Bolinao, mangrove protected area and bird watching site in Bani, and ideal for cave spelunking in Mabini, Infanta, Bani towns.

Tourism in the country contributes 12.7 percent of the Philippines’s gross domestic product (GDP) and provides 5.4 million jobs in 2018. It was the hardest hit sector since the pandemic ran berserk in February 2020.

To pump prime the industry the government, according to Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, funded with P14 billion to rehabilitate the tourism infrastructures. P5 billion will be allocated to projects in Bohol, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Corregidor Island, and other tourist destinations. The construction of those infrastructures started in 2019 and have been seen to be the linchpin of thousands of new jobs.

Closures of Shops in Central P'sinan Loom - BIR

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The Bureau of Internal Revenue target three taxpayers in central Pangasinan for possible violation of the Oplan Kandado (Operation Padlock) and the Ran After Tax Evaders (RATE).

“Ang alam ko Iyong isa is Mangaldan and another I think is in San Jacinto or Manaoag. I’m not sure kung San Jacinto o Manaoag,” Revenue District Office No. 4 Chief Ernesto Mangabat told this newspaper about the towns of the suspects.

Oplan Kandado is an intensive campaign that seeks to close businesses with unpaid tax dues as well as those who are engaged in illegal practices like failure to register, under-declaration of taxable sales by more than 30 percent and refusal to issue receipts.

OPLAN KANDADO. Officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue implement Oplan Kandado (Operation Padlock) against errant owner of a commercial establishment in the Philippines by closing and padlocking his shop.

His staff had sent to the regional office the case of RATE for appreciation if it can hold ground.

Just like those two violators of O.P, Mangabat did not name the errant taxpayer to be sued under the Run After Tax Evader.

RATE is mandated to investigate criminal violations of the National Internal Revenue Code and assist in the prosecution of criminal cases that will generate the maximum deterrent effect.

The tax honcho cited that charging with Operation Kandado and RATE the violators entail prudent investigation by his officers and the regional office that is also based here.

“Ipapasa din namin sa national office for the approval. Kaya iyong pruseso natin ay talagang matagal. Hinde masasabi na we can do it in one month or two months”.

He said it is arduous after the complained taxpayer and/or his lawyer filed counter affidavit then his office will reevaluate their charges to him and pass it again to the same bodies he mentioned earlier. Mangabat cited it as due process.

“Oo and at the same time kung kaya niyang e-settle ang kanyang pagkakamali without the Oplan Kandado siyempre bakit pa natin ikakandado kung nakaya niya namang e-correct o nabayaran naman kaagad the amount na talagang babayaran”.

But those who have really committed based on the strength of evidence, Mangabat said it takes two months and half to finally unleash the officials of the tax agency to serve the notices of Operation Kandado and RATE against the business establishment and the violator.

Mangabat cited the tax target of P1, 079, 075, 000 for January to April this year was surpassed by his collection of P1, 341, 827, 000.

“We are over by P48, 278, 417 or 3.73%”.

This two cities and 14 towns’ supervised RDO has been given a tax goal of P4.5 billion to collect from taxpayers until December 31 this year.

Its tax goal last year was P3.3 billion.

If the pandemic did not wreck the economy last year and this year, RDO-4 will be collecting P7 billion this year as projected by tax experts.

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