IN BRIEF

No NCAP spurs tra ic violations

THE suspension of the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) has emboldened motorists and car owners to violate traffic rules and ordinances in the metropolis, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

A total of 256,977 traffic violations have been recorded since the policy was suspended in August last year. Some of the violations monitored by the MMDA were disregarding traffic signs, number coding, loading and unloading, traffic obstruction, dress code, illegal parking, the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, reckless driving, and no crash helmet.

Monthly traffic violations also increased from 9,500 to 32,000 in May, the MMDA reported.

“Noong bago ma-suspend ang NCAP, nasa 9,500 ang average per month ng mga taong lumalabag po sa batas trapiko. Pagkatapos naman ma-suspend ang NCAP, tumaas sa susunod na buwan ng 22,000 at noong Mayo umabot naman ng 32,000 na po ang violations,” said MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan.

Joel E. Zurbano

Borongan airport opens new terminal

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has inaugurated the new departure terminal building of Borongan City Airport following its agreement with the local government for the maintenance and development of the facility.

The new Departure Terminal Building is one of the maintenance and development projects undertaken by the city government for the Borongan Airport that have been officially turned over to CAAP. CAAP Director General Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo expressed optimism that collaborative efforts by the national and local governments in the development of aviation infrastructure will lead to a shared vision for economic growth and national development.

The airport, which serves the general area of Borongan and other municipalities in Eastern Samar, opened its doors to commercial operations in December 2022.

According to Airport Flight Operations chairman Ruperto Ambil III, the facility had a total passenger movement of 4,022 passengers and 86 flights from December 2022 to May 2023. Joel

E. Zurbano

Workers get double pay on Eid’l Adha

PRIVATE sector workers who will report for work on Eid’l Adha, June 28, will get double pay, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma issued Advisory No. 14 which stipulates the proper computation of workers’ wages for the declared regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha or the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice.

“Employees who will work during the regular holiday are entitled to 200 percent of their wage for the first eight hours. The computation is basic wage x 200 percent,” the advisory stated.

If the employees will not report for work, they shall be paid 100 percent of their wage for that day, provided they worked or were on leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the regular holiday.

When the day immediately preceding the regular holiday is a non-working day in the establishment or the scheduled rest day of the employees, they shall be entitled to holiday pay if they worked or were on leave of absence with pay on the day immediately preceding the non-working day or rest day. Vito

Barcelo

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Wednesday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) P18-billion tax evasion charges against corporate officers, accounting firms, and certified public accountants of three companies for allegedly buying and using “fake receipts” since 2018 in their business transactions. “We filed cases against those who bought ghost receipts,” said BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. who led the filing of the criminal complaints.

Lumagui identified the three companies as World Balance, CHK Steel, and Gamon Resources. Copies of the complaints were not available as of posting.