According to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., all local government units will be given fire trucks under a nationwide fire truck distribution program similar to the just completed Patient Transport Vehicle (PTV) program of the national government.
He disclosed during an event in Pampanga last week that funding for the program is already available, with procurement now underway.
The president said the initiative, to be implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), aims to ensure that all LGUs are equipped with fire trucks, noting that many municipalities either lack the equipment or are using outdated units.
He added that the government will determine the appropriate distribution of fire trucks among provinces, cities, and municipalities to ensure every LGU receives one.
The announcement makes it clear that local chief executives do not need to make sure that their respective LGUs will receive a firetruck, because they will get one each.
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After the Tribune recently posted on its social media page the photo of the obviously badly constructed concrete block, the contractor or subcontractor of the P280 million national road rehabilitation project being undertaken by the DPWH Regional Office speedily replaced the eroded concrete pavement block in front of the Fiat Village.
Sources say that the contractor’s quick action was prompted by a “friendly reminder” from the Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office 5, which apparently saw the post.
The proactive stance of the COA regional office should encourage ordinary citizens, particularly those who care about their taxes are used by government, to post on social media any evidence of irregularities in the implementation of infrastructure projects from road concreting to seawalls, river dikes and school buildings.
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One of the most applauded portions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s SONA last Monday was about taxes.
He said the government plans to expand the exemption on income tax from the present P250,000 to P350,000 along with lower income taxes on other income levels.
He also called for the removal of the minimum corporate income tax for small businesses and an amnesty covering unpaid income, estate and donor’s taxes, and VAT liabilities.
But this is not enough. Malacanang should also ask Congress to amend the National Internal Revenue Code to allow for simplified tax compliance for small businesses like sari-sari stores with gross income of less than P50,000 monthly and individuals engaged in renting out their property for less than a million pesos annually.
At present, a citizen leasing his old house for P3,000 monthly needs to pay 5% of the amount to BIR as well as physically file the forms with the office in San Isidro Village.
If the lessor is in Bato or San Andres, which is less than 20 kilometers away, he or she would have to pay more for transportation than the P150 tax payable to the government.
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THE CHOICE. An elderly doctor and a minister are seated next to each other on a plane. After a delay on the ground, the plane takes off and the pilot offers his apologies to the passengers, announcing that a round of free drinks will be served.
When the charming flight attendant comes around with her trolley, the doctor orders a gin and tonic for himself. When asked if he wants anything, the minister replies, “Oh! No! Thank you. I would rather commit adultery than drink alcohol.”
The elderly doctor promptly hands his gin and tonic back to the flight attendant and says, “Madam, I did not know there was a choice.”