GOCCs hand P36.86 billion in dividends to Aquino, national treasury
GOCCs hand over checks of dividends, remittances to Aquino, national treasury. KRISTINE SABILLO/INQUIRER.net
Government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) on Wednesday morning handed over P36.86 billion worth of checks to President Benigno Aquino III during the annual ceremonial turnover of dividends.
Forty-eight GOCCs participated in the ceremony held at Rizal Hall in Malacañang.
Aquino congratulated the GOCCs, saying, “We really should applaud each one of you who helped in the reforms, which shows what could have happened if we started earlier.”
The Governance Commission on GOCCs (GCG) said “GOCC Day” is being celebrated yearly in “recognition of GOCCs’ achievements and their significant contributions to the country’s national development.”
Last year’s remittances were up by more than P4.5 billion, from P32.31 billion in 2013.
A total of P131.28 billion have been remitted by GOCCs under Aquino’s administration (2010-2015). Meanwhile, P84.18 billion in remittances were collected from 2001 to 2009 under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“My appeal: Let us not stop; let us not be content with what we have achieved; let’s think of more ways to further improve benefits and services for the people,” Aquino said.
Of the GOCCs, the Land Bank of the Philippines had the highest dividends at P6.254 billion. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), on the other hand, posted the largest amount of remittances (including dividends) at P10.137 billion.
Included in the so-called Billionaires’ Club are the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (P3.201 billion in remittances); Development Bank of the Philippines (P3.135 billion); Food Terminal Inc. (P2.305 billion); Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (P2.1 billion); Philippine Ports Authority (P1.817 billion); Philippine National Oil Company (P1.525 billion); Manila International Airport Authority (P1.339 billion), and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (P1.2 billion).
GOCCs are required by Republic Act No. 7656 to remit at least 50 percent of their income as dividends to the national government.
Other remittances include proceeds of sale of assets and income from various fees.
GCG chair Cesar Villanueva said various structural reforms have been implemented, including a “no gift policy.”
He said the GCG also aimed to encourage whistle-blowers or those willing to expose illegal and dishonest acts by requiring each GOCC to adopt its own whistle-blowing program. IDL/RC
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