NGCP is a separate entity from TransCo

LEGAZPI CITY, March 15 (PIA) -- The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), a privately-owned company with a 25-year concession to operate the country’s power grid, has clarified that it is a separate and distinct entity from the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo).

NGCP made the clarification as it filed on 21 February 2012 a Motion for Partial Reconsideration seeking the amendment of a Court of Appeals (CA) Decision on the Petition CA-GR SP No. 113603 entitled “National Grid Corporation of the Philippines vs. The Municipality of Labrador, Pangasinan, Edualino Casipit and Lank Bank of the Philippines.”

The municipality of Labrador is demanding the enforcement of local government taxes due from TransCo. NGCP asserts that the tax liabilities amounting to Php221.7 million are TransCo’s.

The petition was filed in view of the Warrant of Distraint and Garnishment received by Land Bank of the Philippines from the Municipal Treasurer of Labrador, Pangasinan ordering the seizure and/or confiscation of NGCP’s bank deposit with Land Bank to the extent of Php221,731,015.11.

The CA Decision dated 31 January 2012 did not rule with finality that NGCP is liable to assume the local business tax liabilities of TransCo. The CA only dismissed the Petition for lack of jurisdiction and also stated that the Petition raised factual issues that need to be tried in the lower court.

Despite dismissal of the case for lack of jurisdiction, the CA declared in the last portion of its Decision that based on its preliminary findings, NGCP and TransCo have no separate and distinct personalities, that Distraint is being enforced not on the property of NGCP but against the properties of TransCo in NGCP’s possession, and that the takeover by NGCP of the business of TransCo raised the presumption that NGCP assumed possession of TransCo’s assets, cash and receivables, including charges for local taxes.

NGCP, however, insists that TransCo’s tax payables due to the national government and any LGU were not transferred to it, and remains TransCo’s responsibility, despite the turn-over of the business.

The aforesaid set of preliminary findings included in the CA Decision is the same portion that NGCP seeks to be deleted in its Motion for Partial Reconsideration for being null and void, considering that the preliminary findings were based on presumptions and without any factual basis and supporting evidence.

NGCP maintains that the portion is clearly erroneous and inconsistent with the ruling of lack of jurisdiction over the issues.

TransCo, a government-owned and controlled corporation, used to operate and maintain the country’s power transmission system. After a public bidding in December 2007, the management concession contract was awarded to NGCP, which secured a congressional franchise to operate the transmission network; but ownership of all transmission assets remains with TransCo.

In a similar Petition that NGCP filed involving Metrobank in November 2011, the CA also dismissed the case and the Municipality of Labrador sought to enforce the same Warrant of Distraint against NGCP’s bank account. NGCP filed a Petition for Injunction with Application for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City. The RTC issued a TRO and a preliminary injunction restraining Metrobank from releasing NGCP’s bank deposit and delivering NGCP’s funds to the Municipality of Labrador.

NGCP is prepared to do the same – file a Petition for Injunction with Application for a TRO – before the appropriate RTC should the Municipality of Labrador enforce again the Warrant of Distraint and Garnishment against NGCP’s bank deposit with Land Bank. NGCP reiterates that it has no enforceable tax obligations to the Municipality of Labrador in connection with the prior operations of TransCo. (MAL/NGCP-CCPAD)

Bantay Dagat steps up preservation, pursues sustainable development of local tourism

SORSOGON CITY, March 15 (PIA) -- Bantay Dagat adhoc committee in Donsol town has organized the Bantay Dagat Federation to preserve and develop the rich marine resources and sustain ecotourism industry of their municipality.

In a meeting Tueday (March 13), Salvador P. Adrao Jr., former tourism officer of Donsol, now a councilor and lead convenor of the Donsol Bantay Daga, said that the measure is an offshoot of the Bantay Dagat’s previous meetings to come up with the different strategies to protect and conserve the whale shark , thus improving the existing guidelines in its protection and their other rich marine resource.

"The whale shark is our 'money- generating provider' ” that even led to the tremendous development in our municipality in terms of world exposure, and which change our life in our once before unknown town, Donsol,"Adrao said.

"Our town is now truly famous because of the whale shark ( rhincodon typus) the biggest known fish in the world, that thrives here in our municipal waters and have made Donsol as one of the world’s best ecotourism destinations today in our country," he said.

Adrao also said starting January of this year, although there were rains, this situation did not stop the coming of tourists in Donsol from different places the world over.

“The whale shark of Donsol is now a world renown phenomena in terms of tourism destinations, and tourists who go for adventure for an up close and personal thrill have made Donsol the prime ecotourism destination here in the Philippines,”Adrao said.

The plan in preserving the Donsol marine resources with organizational structures involving other agencies mandated to assist in the conservation of the environment and promotion of tourism.

"Now that the summer season is on, we have to be more vigilant in implementing the presrvation of our marine resources and adherence to our tourism rules," Adrao underscored.

The Bantay Dagat Municipal Federation zeroed in on the commitment to have a sense of urgency in showing how tourism in their locality should be valued with discipline, how tourists should be provided security, treated with respect, and how the implementation of tourism rules, particularly in the conservation and preservation of their marine resources, will be given importance to sustain their place as a prime ecotourism destination.(MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

DILG, DTI to hold training on Upscaling Business Permit Licensing System Reforms

VIRAC, Catanduanes, March 15 (PIA) -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is spearheading an orientation seminar on Upscaling Business Permit Licensing System (BPLS) Reforms for the four remaining non-BPLS towns in the province on March 20,2012.

The joint project of DILG and DTI dubbed as BPLS Reform Project for local government units (LGUs) was launched in a move to speed up the issuance of business permits and licenses in cities and municipalities of the country.

The objectives of the project include recommending standards for BPLS which the LGU can follow; develop capacity building programs for BPLS streamlining; organize government departments at the regional level to work with LGUs in implementing BPLS reforms; and harmonize different reform initiatives by development partners on BPLS project.

It covers four components: Simplification and Standardization of BPLS for new registration and renewals; Computerization; Improving Customer Relations; and Institutionalization of the Reforms.

Speakers during the activity will come from DILG and DTI. Topics to be discussed are: Legal Basis/ government plan for upscaling BPLS,

Examining the business process, BPLS standard on steps and processing time, implementing one unified form, streamlining process registration in LGUs and sharing of best experiences and practices.

There shall also be an allotted time for participants to give their impression and they shall also be given awarding certificates.

To date, LGUs who are still non-BPLS towns are Baras, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc and Panganiban. (MAL/EAB-PIA Catanduanes)

DOH V intensifies advocacy for responsible pet ownership

LEGAZPI CITY, Mar 14 (PIA) -- Department of Health (DOH) in the region intensifies its advocacy for Responsible Pet Ownership in celebration of National Rabies Awareness month.

Dr. Allan Lucañas, Infectious Diseases Cluster head, are calling for the cooperation of pet owners to control the rise of rabies cases. He added that pet dogs in particular must be taken to the veterinarians every year not only for vaccination but also for prevention of other diseases aside from rabies.

Responsible pet ownership calls for pet owners to give their pets enough exercise, proper care and nutrition and to keep them on leash, Lucañas said.

Meanwhile the DOH V together with the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and local government units (LGUs) likewise continue its Anti-rabies campaign in the region. Part of this campaign is the training of doctors in Animal Bite Treatment Centers and continuous supply of medicine and vaccine against rabies.

Dr. Pancho Melia, veterinarian from PVO said that their main activities for this month are population control of dogs and information dissemination against rabies. He also added that the said programs are to be implemented for the whole year.

DOH V also reminded the public to take extra care especially this summer vacation since it is when most cases of dog bites are registered.

From January 1 to March 2 this year, three cases of death by rabies have been recorded in Albay province. For 2011, 25 cases of death by rabies are registered from January 1 to December 31, of which nine are from this province. (MAL/SAA, PIA V)