MANILA –- The Philippines registered a $8.6 billion balance of payment surplus in the first 11 months of 2012, boosted by the surplus of nearly $2.2 billion for November alone.

Data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas yesterday showed the surplus last November is more than thrice the US$ 604 million surplus in the previous month and way higher than the US$ 364 million same period in 2011.

The surplus from January to November this year is, on the other hand, lower than the $10.3 billion registered same period last year.

File complaints for non-release
of 13 th month pay, DOLE urges

Regional director Ponciano Ligutom of the Department of Labor and Employment yester day said he is encouraging workers to file complaints at any DOLE office if their employers refuse to pay their 13 th month pay.

Ligutom said they had been reminding employers of their responsibilities to their workers, so DOLE does not want to keep calling their attention, but will take action if it's proven that they are not giving the bonus to their workers.

“Workers can file the complaint and we will immediately conduct an inspection,” Liguton said.

‘BIR surpasses
P1-trillion goal'

MANILA – The Bureau of Internal Revenue has reportedly breached the trillion-level collection as of mid-December, a government press release said.

No actual figures have been released, however, as the BIR faces a P1.066-trillion goal for 2012.

The agency has released preliminary figures show the agency has surpassed the trillion-level mark as of Monday, the press release said.