Latest news with #P1.4
GMA Network
27-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Cebu Pacific rolls out P699 promo fares for int'l flights
Budget carrier Cebu Pacific on Tuesday announced one-way promotional fares for as low as P699 for international flights as part of its 'Juander Far and Wide' campaign. In an advisory, Cebu Pacific said travelers can book one-way base fares for international destinations from Manila, Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, or Davao at P699 until Saturday, May 31, 2025. The travel dates covered by the promotional fares, exclusive of fees and surcharges, are May 16 to October 31, 2025. The carrier's network covers 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. 'This seat sale is part of CEB's latest campaign, 'Juander Far and Wide,' aimed at encouraging passengers to explore more of the world one flight at a time across the airline's growing international network,' the advisory read. Cebu Pacific last July announced plans to purchase over 150 aircraft from Airbus for $24 billion or P1.4 trillion, making it the biggest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
DMW disputes Arnell Ignacio's claim OWWA land deal was aboveboard
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has challenged former OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio's claim that a P1.4-billion land deal followed legal procedures, calling the transaction 'anomalous.' DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said any property-related decisions involving the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration must first be presented to the OWWA Board of Trustees, where the DMW sits as a member. But the land purchase and key changes to the deed of sale were made without board approval, he said. 'We flagged it as irregular and demanded the return of the funds. Only then was the money refunded,' Cacdac told GMA Integrated News. Cacdac pointed out that in September 2024, Ignacio altered the deed of absolute sale to shift the local transfer tax obligation, amounting to P36 million, without consulting the board. The original version of the deed made OWWA responsible for the tax. The DMW also revealed that the presence of a tenant on the property was never disclosed. As a result, OWWA unknowingly became a 'landlord' and was not receiving rent until the matter was investigated. 'I asked him, 'Where's the rent?' He said, 'We're asking the rent collector.' I asked, 'Who?' He said, 'The former landowner.' Why was the former landowner authorized to collect rent on OWWA's behalf, without board approval?' Cacdac said. He added that the same person who received the P36 million was also given P1.4 million in rent collections. 'And if we hadn't demanded it, the money wouldn't have been returned,' he said. The DMW emphasized that these actions violated financial protocols and transparency standards. In his defense, Ignacio earlier said that the board was informed and that the Land Bank of the Philippines had appraised the property. 'The price OWWA paid reflects LandBank's assessment,' Ignacio said.
GMA Network
24-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DMW insists OWWA land deal 'anomalous'
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has refuted former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Arnell Ignacio's claim that the P1.4-billion land acquisition deal went through proper legal channels. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac, along with other DMW officials, said that critical steps—most notably, obtaining approval from the OWWA Board of Trustees—were entirely bypassed. According to Cacdac, under established law, any transaction and subsequent modifications involving OWWA properties must be presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees—which includes DMW representatives. However, the decision to purchase the property and alter key provisions in the Deed of Absolute Sale was never disclosed to the board. 'What we observed was an anomalous process. The money, which was refunded following our intervention, should have been produced as proof immediately,' Cacdac stated during an interview with GMA Integrated News. DMW officials detailed that in September 2024, Ignacio amended the deed to shift the responsibility for the local transfer tax. The original document clearly held OWWA accountable for the tax, but a later version redirected this obligation to involve a P36 million payment—a significant change that was made without notifying the board. The investigation uncovered that Ignacio failed to disclose the presence of a leasing tenant occupying the property. The board later discovered that OWWA had, in effect, assumed the role of 'landlord' without formal approval. In a pointed exchange, Cacdac questioned Ignacio's account of the transaction. 'I asked, 'Where is the rent?' and learned that it was still being collected by the previous landowner—someone who, without board approval, was authorized to act as a private rent collector for an amount reportedly around P1.4 million,' Cacdac explained. He added that such practices run counter to standard procedures and exacerbate concerns over financial transparency. Ignacio had earlier defended his actions by insisting that all transactions were reported to the board and that the property's valuation was properly assessed by the Land Bank of the Philippines—the designated government financial institution. 'It is the LandBank that determined the value, and the amount paid by OWWA reflects that assessment,' Ignacio said. However, Cacdac argued that the LandBank's reliance on the Right of Way Law was misplaced. 'That law is not applicable to this purchase, especially when there's no approved national infrastructure project and no board sanction to invoke it,' he said. DMW officials have already expanded their inquiry to the tax aspects of the deal. They are currently consulting with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to determine whether the proper tax—possibly value-added tax rather than capital gains tax—was applied, given that the seller is a realty corporation. As the investigation continues, DMW remains committed to demanding full transparency and adherence to protocol in all transactions involving public funds. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
DBM releases P1.4B for reconstruction, development of conflict-stricken areas
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of over P1.4 billion to support the rebuilding and development of conflict-stricken areas in the country. In a statement on Wednesday, the DBM said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the release of the fund for the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program. The PAMANA Program, implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is composed of micro-level interventions to respond to conflict and strengthen peace-building efforts, as well as support reconstruction and development in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas. The DBM said the PAMANA Program is being implemented in two tracks —the PAMANA Peace and Development Project and the PAMANA Local Government Unit (LGU)-Led Livelihood Track. The PAMANA Peace and Development Project seeks to empower conflict-vulnerable and conflict-affected regions and indigenous communities by providing improved access to basic services and a platform where identified communities can propose projects based on their needs. For this track, a total of P351.071 million is allocated for the capacity building of 198 target areas/communities in regions CAR, I, II, IV A-B, VI-VIII, X, and XIII, according to the Budget Department. The PAMANA DSWD/LGU-led livelihood track is composed of livelihood assistance programs implemented together with the LGUs to complement the community subprojects under the PAMANA Peace and Development Track. It aims to improve the socio-economic condition of the beneficiaries in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas towards sustainable development. A total of P1.049 billion has been allocated for this track for 981 target areas for Sustainable Livelihood Associations in regions CAR, II-VI, NIR, IX, and XIII, the DBM said. A total of P500 million shall be used for the peace and development case management process to facilitate the healing process of individuals, families, and communities over traumas from armed conflict struggles to build their resilience, consistent with the Special Provision of the DSWD budget under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the agency said. The DBM said the appropriated budget for the PAMANA Program is chargeable against the DSWD's budget under the 2025 GAA. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
OWWA exec sacked over 'anomalous' land acquisition deal — Palace
Malacañang said Wednesday that Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator Emma Sinclair was also removed from her post over the alleged anomalous land acquisition deal entered into by former OWWA administration Arnell Ignacio. This was disclosed by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro during a press briefing. Castro said Sinclair was sacked from her post due to loss of trust and confidence in relation to the P1.4 billion land acquisition deal. ''Maliban po diyan, mayroon pa pong isa na makakasama, ang deputy [administrator] na si Emma Sinclair, pareho po silang tinanggal. Hindi po sila pinagresign,'' Castro said. (Aside from [Arnell Ignacio], there is another one, Deputy Administrator Emma Sinclair. Both were fired, they were not asked to resign.) Castro said this should serve as a warning to all public servants that they will all be fired if they do not fulfill their duties to the public. Ignacio earlier said he will speak at the proper forum. GMA News Online has reached out to Sinclair for her side but she has yet to reply as of posting time. The Department of Migrant Workers earlier said it is gathering more information about the anomalous deal, which was supposedly not authorized by the OWWA board, before filing appropriate cases against those involved. The P1.4-billion land purchase deal under Ignacio's leadership was supposed to be for a halfway house or dormitory-type accommodation of overseas Filipino workers to be located near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, OWWA administrator Patricia Yvonne "PJ" Caunan. The DMW is still reviewing whether the project should push through or not, Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
