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Topic: TRAIN Law
Issue: Implementing of the tax-reform law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Stand: In favor
Claims: Gives our Government Additional Revenues, Gives us more Benefits, and Pushes us to Save Money.
Thesis Statement: The new tax reform law should be implemented for it gives our government additional revenues, gives us more benefits and pushes us to save money
Last December 19, 2017, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the Tax Reformation for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. It is the first tax reform package for a fairer and simpler system for tax to us Filipinos and was effective on the first day of 2018. Many changes and adjustments happened but this law could change our nation to achieve better status. The TRAIN will provide hefty income tax cuts for majority of Filipino taxpayers while raising additional funds to help support the government’s accelerated spending on its “Build, Build, Build” and social services programs. This tax reform package corrects a longstanding inequity of the tax system by reducing personal income taxes for 99 percent of taxpayers, thereby giving them the much needed relief after 20 years of non-adjustment of the tax rates and brackets. This law should be supported for it gives our government additional revenues, gives us more benefits and pushes us to save money.
What are the claims that support the TRAIN Law?
1. It gives our government additional revenues.
Even as the government slashed personal income tax rates, revenue collections are expected to breach the P4-trillion mark by 2022 with the help of new or higher taxes imposed on consumption under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Act. Department of Finance (DOF) data showed that incorporating the Train as well as President Rodrigo Duterte’s veto message in the new tax measure will bring total tax and non-tax revenues this year to P2.806 trillion, equivalent to 16 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). It means that every year, the budget of our country becomes bigger and bigger that our government can have additional revenues for the improvement of the different government sectors in our country. Having more means giving more which is very beneficial for us citizens and to solve the most pronounced problems of our nation facing for such a long time.
2. It gives us more benefits.
The tax reform law which is now being implemented will benefit everyone, including the poor. Given that our government has additional revenues can give us many benefits. Our country will be able to help us on our needs like the services they give for all of us. We can have more services in terms of health, education, security, and economic. Having them can make our country compete globally. Moreover, workers can have increased salaries. Salaries that were once deducted 5% to 32% in tax rate now have 0% tax deduction from 2018 and beyond. Tax exemption includes the mandated 13th month bonus and other bonuses. This means every employee can now take home more than they did the previous years. But since everything is a give-and-take process, some goods will be priced higher from now on. Also, the compliance of tax will become spimler. Simplified tax filing and payment process is expected as workers with an annual salary of P250,000 will be exempted from tax starting this year. This means workers who fall in this bracket will now no longer have to file income tax returns (ITR). Self-employed and professionals still have to file their ITRs for record and monitoring purposes of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). In compliance also to this simplification, BIR will also cut the current 12 pages of the ITR to four pages. And lastly our government promises help. The government has promised a P200-a-month conditional cash transfer to poor families to cushion the impact of the law to the poor. For the next two years this will be increased to P300 a month.
3. It pushes us to save money.
It’s a fact that the signing of the TRAIN Law means the Filipinos will start to feel the effects of it just like the increase of the cost in market. However, it can be a way for us Filipinos to embrace change. Private car owners will not feel the effect of the Php3.00/liter increase in gasoline. Why? Because filling up your gas tank with 60 liters of fuel will only translate to Php180 additional cost as a result of the TRAIN implementation. Increased fuel price will make you think twice about those unnecessary joyrides. Hopefully this translates to less pollution and traffic. If you plan to buy a car and you’re complaining about the higher vehicle prices because of the excise taxes, then maybe you need to think twice about buying that car. Maybe you can’t afford it. Or if you badly need a car then perhaps a Mitsubishi Mirage can already serve the purpose. Besides, the terrible traffic won’t require you to have a powerful car engine anyway. Overall, the improved purchasing power of Filipino workers as a result of the tax reform law will provide flexibility to cut down on unnecessary spending and allow people to save more. This could mean less spending on unnecessary stuffs, soft drinks, cigarettes, alcohol and other vices.
Let’s give this first tax reform package a chance to succeed. It is intended to rise around Php100billion additional revenues for the government. The second tax package aims to raise more revenues, implement more fair tax policies, and perhaps refine any imperfections in the first package. It is targeted to be passed this coming March. The government deserves all the support it can get from its own citizens. The massive infrastructure spending cannot be done for free nor can it be financed only through loans. So we have to do our share in nation-building. At least we have a government that implements new tax policies with the welfare of the ordinary Filipino worker in mind. Drug problem and criminality is down. The economy is doing well. Stock market at all-time highs. The currency is stable. And the ordinary Filipino workers are now happy. I personally give credit to the strong decisive leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for all the good things that are happening in our country.
References:
De Vera, B. (2018). Gov’t revenue seen to surpass P4-T mark by 2022 under TRAIN law. Retrieved February 25, 2018, http://business.inquirer.net/243870/govt-revenue-seen-surpass-p4-t-mark-2022-train-law
Maramara, K. (2018). Here’s How the TRAIN Law Will Affect Everyone. Retrieved February 25, 2018, http://8list.ph/heres-how-the-train-law-will-affect-everyone/2/
Roque, C. (2018). TRAIN law benefits everyone, including poor. Retrieved February 25, 2018, http://conceptnewscentral.com/index.php/2018/01/03/train-law-benefits-everyone-including-poor-roque/
“The Perfect Storm” – A Movie Review
I. Movie Poster
The Perfect Storm (2000)
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
II. About the Movie
Series of gigantic waves, blow of roaring winds, growls of thunders and lightning tragically ended the lives of the crew of a fishing boat in the lost seas. It was October 1991 when a tropical Hurricane in Bermuda collided with a Cold Front from Great Lakes produced a perfect storm that causes the life ending happenings of the Andrea Gail crews. The Perfect Storm tells the story of the ship’s brave and hard-working crew which is based on the best-selling book of Sebastian Junger and which is said to be true story. The Captain of the Andrea Gail Billy Tyne (George Clooney), cannot have their bounty catch on his trips to the sea and with a limited budget, he and his crews, — Bob Shatford (Mark Wahlberg), Dale Murphy (John C. Reilly), and David Sullivan (William Fichtner) sailed once again to give another shot for their catch without knowing the tragedy they will face.
- Rating: PG-13 (for language and scenes of peril)
- Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama
- Directed By: Wolfgang Petersen
- Written By: William D. Wittlif, Bo Goldman
- Runtime: 129 minutes
- Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
- Casts: George Clooney, Mark Wahlber, John C. Reilly, William Fichtner, John Hawkes, Allen Payne, Alfred Pierre, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Karen Allen, Melissa Brown, Cherry Jones, Bob Gunton, Alexander McAnally III, Michael Ironside, Bob Brown, and Janet Wright.
III. Critique/Review/Reaction
Reviewer’s Score: 8.5/10
For once, I’m amazed we watched a film which has realistic FX and CGI. Actors dominated their job that shines all throughout the movie. However, there’s an issue for me in the ending.
Sebastian Junger, the original author of the bestseller book The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men against the Sea which is published in 1997. The story retold the tragic maritime tale of Gloucester fishing boat Andrea Gail which faced its last resort on the coast of Nova Scotia with its crew members. Later in 2000, Warner Bros. Pictures turned the reading material into a film entitled “The Perfect Storm”.
The director, Wolfgang Petersen made a great job of giving justice to the book of Sebatisan Junger. The flow of the story is smooth sailing as it was presented clearly for us to understand and enjoy. I like how he used symbolisms in his work, but we need a second look and active thinking to get what he want to relay.
Special Effects were superb! Since it portrays disastrous scenes, crews made their job successfully. I was amazed that all the fishes including the big white shark were all the product of CGI and rubbers. It made the film more thrilling that made the audience feel the atmosphere of the setting.
On the actor’s side, they accomplished their jobs well. George Clooney, the leading actor gave his A-game on acting. He portrayed well of being the captain. He imposed the characteristics of a true master of the vessel. The supporting actors also did their job well. I like how the conflict of the two crew members was highlighted because it gave a different flavor in the environment on their workplace. I am also impressed that the actors knows the technical terms in the maritime industry, giving they have no knowledge of what it is in the first place. I also noticed the explicitness of words that made their dialogues heavier. Hats off to the actors!
I have some issues on some scenes in the movie. First is the sail boat which has no voyage plans that was run by an old man. In seafaring, it is a big no for a master to go on a voyage or trip without having complete planning. Next is the hand of Murph that was hooked, it is impossible for him to work effectively after damaging his hand. It is questionable that he can do his job well after that big fishing hook was pierced in his hand. It can improve the conflicts they faced if one of the crews were disabled. It will be a great challenge for them to operate their duties if one is disabled. Also, I have issues on the scenes which are very sensual and erotic. This can be a problem since the movie was rated 13 and some youngsters can see it. They should have lessened the explicitness of the scenes. Lastly, the ending should have been great if the families of the crew members were highlighted. It turned out to be a cliffhanger when Christina was staring on the sea in the ending. Even if there’s issues discussed, the movie is still great to watch.
Overall, the movie is great. I could have given it 10 out of 10 if it lessened the erotic scenes and unnecessary events. But, the actors made their job well; I was impressed that they made us feel the life on board the ship when encountering rough seas. It will be a great anticipation of what life is in the sea for aspiring seafarers. Good job for Sebastian Junger who wrote the book and to Wolfgang Petersen on bring the story back to life. “The Perfect Storm” is must watch!
Movie Review by: John Ronuel S. Clementir Grade 11-Bridge
Performance no. 2: Effective Paragraph
Rising of Sea Levels. Rising of Big Problems?
The rise of sea levels greatly impacts the seafaring world. Sea level rise can be defined as an increase in the level of the surface of the ocean relative to the land. It is also known as the main effect of climate change affecting our nation and its people. It has certain impacts on people, environment and to the seafaring industry. Such commonly known impacts are harder labor of the seafarers on board the ship, higher risk of danger of the seafarers, and economic deflation on shipping industry.
To begin with, sea level rise is mainly caused by global warming. An increase in the atmospheric average temperature due to the buildup of certain gases in the atmosphere is mainly caused by the burning fossil fuels. As the atmosphere warms, the surface layer of the ocean warms as well, expanding in volume and thus raising sea level. For example, when factories burn fossil fuels, the gases will go to the atmosphere where they will be build up; this causes the atmosphere to get warmer, melting the ices in the Southern poles leading to sea level rise.
Rising of sea levels has a great impact on the seafarers job on board the ship. Abnormality of the sea level can affect the job of the officers to plot accurately. It will be a big problem for them because plotting is very important during voyages. It will need more manning and there will be delays in other jobs to be done. Also, seafarers will have a hard time in working in the deck of the ship. Rising of sea levels leads to an increase in the action of the currents which results to a harder job for them. Working and maintaining the condition of the ship is hard job to do, and what more if it’ll be done with big waves on the side.
Also, it causes higher risks of dangers in the ship. Collision might happen because of the abnormality in the sea levels. As mention earlier, the officers are affected plotting accurately the ship. Plotting the ship incorrectly causes ships to move into a wrong route and worse to collide with other ships. It’ll also cause shrinkage of the ship, travelling in big waves has higher risks of danger. Sea level rise causes the action of the currents to increase which gives a big problem for the seafarers on their voyages.
Lastly, it leads to deflating the economy of the shipping industry. The travel time of the ship will be affected and generally it will cost a big amount of money. For example, the fuel cost, they will travel for a long period of time and it will use a a large amount of fuel that is too costly for them. Also, their budget for the voyage will be affected. If they will travel for a much longer time there is a great possibility of having shortage of their budget since more travel time means more amount of money to be used.
In conclusion, sea level rise is mainly caused by global warming; it has many effects on the seafaring world such as, it causes harder labor of the seafarers on board the ship, higher risk of danger of the seafarers, and economic deflation on shipping industry.
#9 John Ronuel S. Clementir Grade 11 – Bridge
Performance no 1: Thesis Statement and Outline
Audience: Students of JBLFMU-Arevalo
Tone: Light and Educational
Thesis Statement: The rise of sea levels greatly impacts the seafaring world.
I. Harder labor of the seafarers on board the ship.
A. Adjustments like plotting of the sea levels need more manning.
B. Difficulty of the seafarers to work on the deck because of the rising of sea levels.
II. Higher risk of danger of the seafarers.
A. Risk of collision due to changes of sea level.
B. Rising of sea levels result to an increase in the action of the currents that leads to the shrinkage of ships.
III. Economic deflation on shipping industry
A. The travel time of the ship will be affected that will cost a great amount of money.
1.) Fuel cost
2.) Budget for the voyage
#9 John Ronuel S. Clementir Grade 11 – Bridge
Ronuel Clementir xx 