Sugar groups gird for battle vs. BIR
FILING OF RAPS LIKELY:
COSCOLLUELA
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The sugar industry may take legal action against the Bureau of Internal Revenue for imposing a Value-Added Tax on raw sugar, Rafael Coscolluela, president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, said yesterday.

Representatives of four sugar federations – CONFED, United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines, National Federation of Sugar Producers, and Panay Sugar Planters Federation were scheduled to meet with their lawyers last night, Manuel Lamata, UNIFED president said.

The meeting was held to discuss possible legal remedies, a court case is very likely, Coscolluela said.

‘Pork barrel scam
hurting LGUs, too’
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The officers of the Philippine Councilor’s League said the P10-billion pork barrel scam has affected the delivery of basic services to local government units.

PCL national chairman Alan Zulueta said his advocacy is that the pork barrel should be given to the LGUs.

Zulueta said that, instead of being given 40 percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment, the national government should give the LGU’s 60 percent.

“Why deprive us of the power to deliver basic services or scholarships and other programs?” He asked.

PCL pushing for GSIS
terminal compensation 
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The Philippine Councilor’s League is pushing for the availment of a two-month terminal compensation from the Government Service Insurance System, after completing their term as councilors, its national vice-chairman for Visayas, Kabankalan City Mayor Raul Rivera, said yesterday.

Rivera, who represents the PCL-Negros Occidental chapter at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, also said that, aside from availment of terminal compensation, they are also lobbying for a step increment for all councilors, that is being opposed by the Department of Budget and Management.

He said these are among the concerns they will raise with Senator Peter Alan Cayetano, who will be the guest speaker of PCL national executive officers and national board meeting today at the Pavillon Hotel in Bacolod City.