The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has earned for the national government a total of P8.78 billion in potential tax collections after the Bureau won 65 of the 76 tax assessment cases it filed in the courts for the entire 2007. Also last year, the BIR netted an additional P641.27 million in potential savings after 27 refund cases filed against the Bureau were denied. This was disclosed today by BIR Deputy Commissioner for Legal and Inspection Group Atty. Gregorio V. Cabantac after a review of all legal proceedings of the BIR last year from the combined cases decided by the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), Court of Appeals (CA), Supreme Court (SC), Department of Justice (DoJ), and the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs).

Australia gives P33 M for FMD

Australia will provide further funding of P32.8 million (A$ 865,000) to assist the Philippine government finally eradicate foot and mouth disease. Luzon is the only major Philippine island yet to be internationally certified as foot and mouth disease-free by the World Organization for Animal Health. The other two major island groups, Visayas and Mindanao, have earlier achieved international certification as disease-free with assistance from Australia. A ceremonial signing of the project agreement between the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) was held on 28 February during the founding anniversary of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the attached agency under the DA implementing the foot and mouth disease eradication program. DA Undersecretary Atty. Bernie Fondevilla, Australian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Stephen Scott, and FAO Representative Mr. Kazuyuki Tsurumi signed the donor agreement for the additional support to foot and mouth disease eradication in the presence BAI Director Dr. Davinio Catbagan. Since 1996, Australia has contributed $ 9 million to help.

HANOI, Mar. 6 (Reuters) — Vietnam will ship only 1 million tons of rice to the Philippines this year, state media reported on Thursday, the lower end of a request from Manila and more than a quarter less than last year. The Philippines had asked Vietnam, the world’s second largest rice exporter, to supply 1-1.5 million tons of rice to help cover a projected stock shortfall amid tight global supply and rising prices. Vietnam had been asked to deliver 1.5 million tons, but could only deliver 1 million tons, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Nguyen Thanh Bien was quoted by the An Ninh Thu Do newspaper as saying. The report also quoted other ministry officials attending a rice export conference in Hanoi on Wednesday as saying priority would be given to large volume buyers and traditional customers, including the Philippines and Cuba. Vietnam shipped 4.5 million tons of rice last year, of which 1.4 million tons went to the Philippines. On Wednesday rice prices in Vietnam climbed to a record $ 550 a ton free on board Saigon port, almost double last year, but sales were slow as a curb on new non-government export deals rolled over into March. "The government wanted to keep the rice to make sure it has enough to supply to the Philippines under government contracts," a trader said.

As part of the company’s vision to be a global food company, Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines will soon inaugurate the most modern desiccated coconut manufacturing facility in the Philippines. This new, purpose-built manufacturing facility is located within the company’s current site in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Philippines and is the most significant investment in the desiccated coconut industry todate. This new plant has been carefully designed to ensure compliance and adherence to the rigorous food safety and product quality standards of our customers throughout the world. In addition to this new facility, Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines will consolidate all our manufacturing operations including production of our specialty and value-added coconut products to our current plant site in Davao del Sur, Philippines within the 3rd quarter of 2008. Headquartered in Makati City, Franklin Baker Company was established in 1921 and pioneered the manufacturing of desiccated coconut in the Philippines.