TAXES ON MINING COs
[PHOTO - NOYNOYING? Heavy
load President Benigno Aquino III is all set to attend a series of meetings in
the Palace after examining documents at the Private Office in
Malacañang.]
MANILA, MARCH 19,
2012 (GULF NEWS ONLINE) By Barbara Mae
Dacanay, Bureau Chief Published: 15:16 March 20, 2012
New form of protest called Noynoying "does not merit attention",
says Philippine president Benigno Aquino III.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino said he should not be criticised for
"Noynoying," a term used to describe protesters at the University of the
Philippines in Quezon City when they laid on the road last week, looking bored
to portray an inactive leader, a local paper reported.
"I have all the statistics (to prove that I am not Noynoying)," Aquino, whose
nickname is Noynoy, told the Inquirer in Baguio City.
"I've been in office for 21 months and the record (of the stock exchange
index) was broken 21 times," Aquino said.
Mall goers are not just malling, they buy and carry packages, Aquino said to
prove that the Philippine economy is improving.
"The construction industry (fuelled by the private sector) is booming," said
Aquino, following criticism that he has stalled government infrastructure
projects.
He did not mention job creation for some four million new graduates.
"When we started out (in mid-2010), given the enormity of the problems [we
found], we thought two years minimum before you start sensing things are
changing. But I think it's already happening," Aquino said, adding, "I will just
try to do what is right and what I think would give results."
Describing his critics, Aquino said, "How can one show something to a person
who does not want to see, or make him listen when he does not want to listen?"
Noynoying "does not merit attention," he concluded.
In defense of Aquino, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad also told the Inquirer
that Aquino's campaign against corruption will affect poverty reduction and job
creation.
The term used to describe Aquino was a mere personal attack, Abad said.
However, Congressman Raymond Palatino of Kabataan, a sectoral party, said,
"Noynoying will be ignored by the public if it doesn't have a basis."
"Noynoying is no longer an activist initiative (against Aquino), it has been
readily embraced and popularized by the public, especially netizens," Palatino
said, adding the "the public, not us activists" popularised the word.
The groups that coined the word Noynoying were "merely expressing the growing
discontent of the public regarding the President's performance on economic
issues," explained Congressman Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers, a sectoral party
at the House of Representatives.
"It has gained currency with the public because it perfectly captures their
frustration with P-Noy' (Aquino's other name)," said Tinio.
Aquino wants higher taxes imposed on mining firms
By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief Published: 15:09 March 20, 2012
[PHOTO - 'The Philippine government intends to impose far heavier taxes
and tougher environmental restrictions on the mining industry', President
Benigno Aquino said Tuesday: President Benigno Aquino gestures as he speaks
during an interview with AFP at Malacanang Palace in Manila on Tuesday, March
20, 2012. Aquino said the government was trying to arrive at a fair percentage
of revenues from mining firms. AFP PHOTO/TED
ALJIBE]
Philippine president says he is studying a proposal to raise revenue sharing
between mining firms and government.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino called for higher taxes and royalty from
mining firms, adding he is studying a proposal to raise revenue sharing between
mining firms and the government, a local paper said.
"We want to ensure we get a fair share (from mining firms…because this will)
maximise the utility of the resource for our people," Aquino told the Inquirer.
The government has been receiving two-percent (excise) tax from mining firms.
"This takes care of everything that might happen if there is a disaster," Aquino
explained.
At the same time, various figures were proposed regarding royalty from mining
firms, said Aquino, who did not give details.
There are proposals to expand the implementation of the proposed five per
cent royalty under existing regulations for mines operating in mineral
reservations, explained Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.
Currently, 11 of 31 medium and large scale mining companies have been paying
five-percent royalty on top of the two percent excise tax under existing laws,
Paje said. He did not identify the percentage of proposed royalty the government
wants from mining firms.
With regards revenue sharing, there were proposals for a 50-50 per cent
sharing of earnings between the government and the mining firms, said Aquino,
adding that nothing has been decided yet.
The proposed revenue sharing is a major point of contention, said Paje, but
did not give more details.
Moreover, there were 78 eco-tourism sites where mining will not be allowed,
said Aquino, adding the tourism department has identified these sites.
"It will be too much of a risk (if mining is allowed in these areas), given
the fact that they (at the tourism department) just reported that we're on track
to surpass the growth in tourism arrivals," said Aquino.
The government has no policy of banning mining in the Philippines, said
Aquino, adding the government will also allow the proliferation of small-scale
mining.
"They (those who are drafting the proposed executive order on mining) tell me
that they are very close to submitting it to me for final approval," Aquino
said.
Aquino led earlier a meeting attended by department and government agency
representatives to discuss the executive order that will spell out the
government's mining policy.
Complaints were raised by mining leaders after several drafts of the proposed
executive order were leaked to various sources.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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