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BusinessMirror Editorial
HB 4774: Rational tax reform or not?
The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Bill Act, or House Bill 4774, is probably the closest we can expect to come to sensible tax collection, as there are provisions that will make everyone unhappy.
Unlocking the potential of war-torn Mindanao
Businesses are created primarily to make money for shareholders. Whether we broadly define the purpose of a business as “serving society” or, in a narrower term, such as “meeting customer needs”, the ultimate goal is to generate wealth for investors. Sometimes, however, some companies explore ways to give back to the community or to help in nation-building. That’s when the profit motive is being subjugated by a noble intention.
Discernment may hold the key
THERE must be something in President Duterte’s character and demeanor that endears him to his hosts when he visits foreign countries, which many of us in our country, notably his critics, have so far failed to discern since he assumed the presidency. Otherwise, why is it that, despite his controversial statements, his seemingly uncontrollable tongue, the bad things that have been and are being written about him in the local and foreign press, particularly his “bloody and brutal” war on drugs, he has managed to score impressively in his foreign trips, far beyond the expectations of even his most ardent admirers?
Democracy… American style
THE next time the United States of America lectures the world about democracy, it should be reminded of a couple of thoughts.
Friday the 13th
IF you are superstitious, the worst days of the year come on a Friday, when it is also the 13th day of the month.
How to sabotage Duterte’s programs
LIKE most Filipinos who love President Duterte, we see the Chief Executive as a patriot with a genuine love for the poor. Knowing where his heart is, we have faith in the President’s desire to bring back the Philippines to a better economic situation, where everybody benefits from the wealth that the country generates. We believe he is doing his utmost best to level the playing field for businesses to flourish.
Of lawmakers and troublemakers
LEGISLATORS are all supposed to be good at making laws. But some of them appear better at making trouble, not necessarily by being rowdy or boisterous, although they are perfectly capable of being so at times. What is meant here is that they are capable of fomenting trouble in the guise of doing good for the people. They espouse causes or programs that benefit their constituents, regardless of whether these would adversely affect countless others. Their ultimate aim, of course, is to earn brownie points (we call them pogi points), which the dictionary defines as an imaginary award given to those for an attempt to please. To many of these legislators, the award is not imaginary and it is usually collected come election time. This is why most of the populist causes they espouse surface when election talk begins to fill the air, which is usually several months before the polls. Some legislators of this breed are early birds though; they raise their populist causes long, long before.
Risky business
THERE might have been controversies regarding the selection of entries, one film may have gotten in trouble for the alleged slaughter of a real dog, and this festival may not have gotten even half the earnings of its predecessors.
No free lunch from the government
Misattributed from Thomas Jefferson to former US President Gerald Ford is the anonymous quote, “A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.” But people are still convinced that the ultimate source of a “free lunch” is the government.
The shortest path to inclusive growth
An archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines offers world-class beaches, historical sites and natural wonders. It also enjoys a reputation as home to the happiest people on Earth. Despite boasting a range of tourist destinations and a reputation for hospitality, however, the country’s tourism industry has a long way to catch up with powerhouse neighbors, such as Malaysia and Thailand, which traditionally receive in excess of 20 million international visitors every year.
Duterte’s extended honeymoon period
New presidents get to enjoy the so-called honeymoon period. It is a sort of feeling-out period when even those at the opposing end would reserve criticisms for several months, giving new chief executives a good head start because they get very little or no negative reports in the mainstream media.
No predictions for 2017
WE polished our crystal ball to see what might happen in 2017. However, the purpose of a newspaper is to report the news and offer our analysis of the impact of current events, not to look into the dark abyss across future days.
Is the ‘Ministry of Truth’ coming?
AN issue that has become front-page news in the past months may become a critical problem in 2017, but not in the way you might think.