Context Dispatch
FIRB grants ₱20.9-B tax subsidy to boost public services
The Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), chaired by Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto, has approved ₱20.9 billion in tax subsidies for government institutions for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The move aims to enhance public service delivery by allowing agencies to redirect resources from tax obligations to operational efficiency.
New firefighting robots boost Makati’s emergency response – Mayor Abby
Makati Mayor Abby Binay today said the city government recently acquired three units of the Rosenbauer Smart Firefighting Robot to further enhance the city’s modern emergency response capabilities. The mayor said the robots offer an alternative way to aid in fire suppression and rescue efforts, especially in high-risk incidents such as those involving hazardous materials, reducing the risk to rescuers’ lives.
Smuggled vehicles declared as car parts seized
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted 12 smuggled vehicles declared falsely as car accessories, spotlighting persistent revenue leakage risks due to misdeclaration in Philippine ports.
DepEd widens Kinder entry age to include more 5-year-olds
More Filipino children will now be eligible for Kindergarten as the Department of Education (DepEd) revised the age cut-off policy for admission, expanding the window for learners turning five years old.
Customs brokers nabbed in P2M extortion bust
In signaling the crackdown on corrupt practices within the customs system, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday arrested two customs brokers for allegedly extorting P2 million from a local freight forwarder. The operation, conducted jointly by the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services at the Manila International Container Port and the National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD), led to the swift arrest of Wyeth Lara Navales and her sister Leila Lara Navales in Ermita, Manila.
