Tag Archives: Philippines

AS VOLKSWAGEN BOWS OUT OF PHILIPPINES, ADOBO CHRONICLES INUNDATED WITH OFFERS FOR ITS COMPANY CAR

September 15, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Volkswagen is bowing out from the Philippine government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program, saying the program is preferential to existing auto players, and the production hurdle therein is too high.

The move has effectively cost the Philippines $200 million in investments that Volkswagen Philippines has been willing to infuse in its manufacturing operations. After much speculation as being the third carmaker vying for a spot in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) CARS Program, the German firm dispelled the rumors and effectively ended all speculation.

“The program is favorable to incumbents. It’s not attractive to new entrants,” John Philip S. Orbeta, chairman and president of Volkswagen, told reporters on Friday.

The 200,000-unit production hurdle was the main deterrent hindering the world’s largest automaker from participating in the program, as it dictates the volume to be reached in a span of six years—a herculean task for a new entrant.

Unlike existing car firms that have already reached the scale in sales and production to qualify for the program and are in a better position to hit the 33,000-unit-a-year requirement, Volkswagen will have to start from scratch.

Following the announcement from the German automaker, The Adobo Chronicles® has received hundreds of offers from Filipino millionaires who wanted to purchase its company car, a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan.

“It will be such a great prestige to own a Volkswagen considering that locally-manufactured units will not be available at all because of the car manufacturer’s withdrawal from the Philippines,” one potential buyer said.

Although the Tiguan was assembled in the United States, it has the mark of the Philippines because of its unique license plate, MYADOBO.

The Adobo Chronicles® has not decided if it wants to sell its company car.

Economy, Government, Politics

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT AQUINO WANTS TO TAX FILIPINOS EVEN MORE, UP TO FORTY PERCENT

September 15, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines ( The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Philippine President Aquino is not convinced lowering income tax rates will benefit the majority of the Filipino people, saying improving tax collection — not reducing it — has been one of his administration’s greatest accomplisments.

Aquino’s statement came after he rejected a House bill seeking to lower income tax rates in the Philippines. If approved, the government is estimated to lose at least P30 billion or $641.49 million during its first year of implementation.

“Especially with the coming 2016 election year, we need to increase, not reduce, income taxes in order to sustain the many unfinished infrastructure projects of the government. Plus we need the funds to run a successful political campaign to make sure the administration’s bet, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, becomes the next president,” he said.

The current personal income tax rate in the Philippines is 32 percent.

Aquino wants to immediatelty increase it to 40 percent.

Asked by reporter how he came up with the proposed figure, Aquino said, “It’s easier for the Bureau of Internal Revenue to deal with a round number.”

Government, Human Interest, International

FILIPINO VICTIMS OF 2013 TYPHOON YOLANDA ASK UNITED NATIONS FOR ‘REFUGEE STATUS’

September 9, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Filipino victims of Typhoon Yolanda (2013 file photo by Reuters)

Tens of thousands of Filipinos displaced by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013 are clamoring to be re-classified as “refugees” so that they can find permanent homes and better living conditions in Europe and other countries that have opened their borders to Syrian refugees.

Yolanda slammed Eastern Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013, leaving more than 6,000 people dead.

Back in January this year, Vice President Jejomar Binay said that a total of 205,128 houses were needed for Yolanda victims in 116 cities and municipalities. As of the end of 2014, a total of only 2,100 housing units have been completed.

Binay was chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and head of the Yolanda Resettlement Cluster before his resignation from President NoyNoy Aquino’s cabinet in June this year.

The Aquino government had said that it is targeting to finish the construction of an additional 120,000 housing units by the end of this year.

That still leaves tens of thousands more who would need roofs over their heads.

Feeling almost hopeless about their dire situation, the displaced typhoon victims have petitioned the United Nations to re-classify their status to “refugees,” saying that with the ineptitude of the Aquino government, their only hope is to find refuge elsewhere.

The governments of China, Australia, Canada and some countries within the European Union (EU) have reportedly expressed willingness to accept the Filipino “refugees.”

Ironically, the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday announced that the Philippines is ready to take in Syrian refugees in response to the humanitarian crisis in Europe.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the Philippines could be a temporary destination as refugees await acceptance from a host country for resettlement.