IPC Urges PH Biz to Innovate with Digital Work Tools

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Local cloud services pioneer IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.) recently announced that it will be holding regular digital enterprise innovation seminars for business owners and entrepreneurs, free of charge.

Entitled “Gear up to Innovate: An essential blueprint for digital transformation”, the session aims to emphasize to Filipino businesses the importance of taking on a digital mindset in today’s highly connected world. Insights about digital best practices will be shared and the most relevant cloud-based business tools will be explored in-depth.

“Digital is the new Normal. If a company doesn't take advantage of today’s plethora of readily available enterprise applications, it runs the risk of being left behind by competition who do,” said Niño Valmonte, Director for Product Management & Marketing at IPC. “Doing business in this day and age compels us to adopt a digital mindset, and the fastest and most cost-efficient way to do it is through the cloud.”

Attendees will be engaged in an immersive demo of collaborative business applications and witness how workplace productivity can be elevated through these tools. More importantly, IPC will elaborate on the effective ways to migrate business processes to the cloud.

The “Gear up to Innovate” seminar series starts on August 19, 2016 and will run until the end of the year. It will be held at 1:30 PM - 5:50 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from there on at 34F RCBC Plaza Tower 2, Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

Participants will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. To register, visit http://gearup.ipc.ph.

Taxes Every Future Homeowner Should Keep In Mind

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Lamudi lists down legal dues that you need to know to be a responsible homeowner.

Due diligence does not stop when you have raised the amount you need to acquire a property. The responsibility of a homeowner starts as soon as the deed of sale is signed and goes on until forever. Thus, while you are preparing for your monthly amortization, it is best to familiarize yourself with the taxes and legal fees that you are about to face.

Real estate buying is a tedious process both financially and legally. However, property assets and investments that will soon be under your name and inside your pocket is definitely worth the trouble. To arm your property purchase, Lamudi Philippines lists down the basics that are essential to know.

Real Property Tax

One major law relating to owning a home is paying the Real Property Tax (RPT) every year. Once you step into your new home, it is advisable to have it appraised and assessed for accurate taxation values. All real property are evaluated according to current and fair market value prevailing in the locality where the property is situated. Owners will pay an RPT rate of 2% on properties in cities and municipalities in Metro Manila, while 1% if the property is located in the provinces.

It is imperative to always pay the RPT on time for it will incur penalties that will add burden to your tax obligations. Delinquent payments subject the payer to payment interest at the rate of 2% per month delayed to a maximum of 72% or 36 months. Then again, while late payments are crucial, paying in advance is also rewarding. Discounts are given to homeowners who settle their taxes beforehand.

For taxpayer’s conveniences, other payment options are also available. The RPT can be paid in full or annually and by installment or quarterly. For yearly schedule, payment is due on or before the 31st of January each year, while paying quarterly must be consistently paid on these dates: first quarter, on or before March 31; second quarter, on or before June 30; third quarter, on or before September 30; and on or before December 31 for the fourth quarter.

For payment or to inquire on your home’s RPT, just go to the Treasurer’s Office of the city or municipality where your property is located.

Aside from the Real Property Tax, there are other fees that are equally important. These fees and taxes for real estate transactions in the country are usually divided between the buyer and the seller and are subject to mutual agreement. However, the Contract of Sale or the Deed of Sale must specifically declare the parties in charge of shouldering the costs to avoid confusion or legal problems.

Capital Gains Tax and Other Taxes

The seller’s responsibilities includes Capital Gain Tax, which is 6% of the selling price, zonal value, or fair market value of the property, whichever is higher; and the Business Tax, if applicable, the rate of which will depend on the LGU where the property is located.

On the other hand, the buyer’s accountabilities is comprised of the following:

●     Documentary Stamps Tax – 1.5% of selling price or Zonal Value, whichever is higher

●     Transfer Tax – rate depends on location of property (ranging from 0.25% to 0.75% of selling price or zonal value, whichever is higher)

●     Registration Fee or the graduated rate based on the selling price

Owning a house is a lifetime responsibility, so to break free from possible legal problems in the future, it is best to be familiar and reliable in doing your duties and responsibilities as a taxpayer and as a homeowner.

DOE Taps USAID for Review of Energy Mix

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy is tapping technical experts to discuss possible collaboration in coming up with a responsive and dynamic energy mix for the Philippines.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi met with members of the USAID’s Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability (B-LEADERS) recently to discuss the formulation of an optimal energy mix and look into local reserve requirements.

“Our main concern now is to increase the availability of quality, reliable, secure and affordable supply,” Secretary Cusi said, stressing the need for power supply amidst the fluctuating power supply situation of the county.

“We are also looking at establishing an “army of reserves” so that when there is lack of supply, we have something to rely on,” he added.

The DOE will be coordinating with the USAID B-Leaders and will form a team that will conduct a review of the current energy mix.


“We want to be certain on the decisions that we will make in order to entice more investments.” Sec. Cusi said.

The study will focus on the energy requirements for economic growth trends, load consumption profiles for energy consumers, emerging energy technologies and local industry readiness, transmission configurations and network development. The team will also look into the availability of indigenous energy for ensuring stable pricing to lessen dependence on energy that is dependent on international market prices.