Metro Briefs: April 11, 2019

Taguig OKs incentives for students of city-run university

Undergraduate students of Taguig City University may now receive as much as P10,000 in financial assistance and cash incentives per semester.

Under the recently approved City Ordinance No. 8, all undergraduate students of the city-run university will automatically receive P5,000 in financial aid every semester, whether they are Taguig residents or not.

In addition, students that have a general weighted average of at least 1.75 with no failing or incomplete grades or dropped subjects in the previous semester may also get an additional incentive of P5,000 per semester.

To qualify for the merit incentive, applicants should also have been Taguig City residents for at least three years.

They must also be of good moral character and a registered voter in the city if they are 18 years old and above. If the student is below 18 years old, one of the parents should be a registered Taguig voter.

Applicants will be evaluated by a screening committee created and authorized by the Taguig mayor.

For Taguig students from other schools, they can also avail themselves of the Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-Need scholarship which covers tuition and allowances ranging from P15,000 to P60,000.—Dexter Cabalza

Makati hits 56% of 2019 revenue target in just 2 months

The local government of Makati — currently the richest city in the country — has achieved 56 percent of its 2019 revenue target of P17.12 billion in just two months.

As of February, Makati’s total revenue collection reached over P9 billion, up by 11 percent compared to the same period last year, according to city treasurer Jesusa Cuneta.

The bulk of the money came from business taxes, which hit P4.8 billion (an increase of 14 percent compared to the same period in 2018) and real property taxes that totaled P4.06 billion (up by 10 percent).

Records from the Business Permits Office also showed that new business registrants went up to 1,248 compared to last year’s 1,126 with a combined capital investment of P17.28 billion.

Business permit renewals also increased in the first quarter, hitting 33,908 as of March, compared to 32,875 during the same period in 2018.

Last year, Makati unseated Quezon City as the country’s richest local government, posting total assets of P196.5 billion, according to the 2017 annual financial report released by the Commission on Audit.

The increase was attributed to the added value of the local road network of the city’s 19 barangays, including road right of way, road pavements and drainage, amounting to P127.2 billion. —Dexter Cabalza

The Lord’s Flock offers free Lenten recollection

The Lord’s Flock Catholic Charismatic Community is inviting the public to a free three-day Lenten recollection to reflect on the personal meaning of God’s passion, death and resurrection.

The speakers will be Fr. JC Gallora on Holy Wednesday, April 17, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m; Sr. Techie Rodriguez and Fr. Bong Guerrero on Maundy Thursday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to noon; and Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD on Good Friday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The recollection will be held at 5 Catanduanes St., near the corner of West and Del Monte Avenues in Quezon City.

For more information, call 3765780 or 0917-5645470.

Brahma Kumaris holds Peace of Mind retreat

Brahma Kumaris will conduct a one-day Peace of Mind retreat on April 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in its Makati and Quezon City meditation centers.

In its Manila center, the retreat will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., also on April 18.

In Tagaytay City, there will be a two-day retreat from 4 p.m. on April 18 until 3 p.m., April 20.

Call Brahma Kumaris Makati at 8907960 or text 0917-8340118, Quezon City (9264273 or 0975-0250352), Manila (9848852 or 0905-2300308 and Tagaytay (046-4832128 or 09175020243).

Please reserve on or before the morning of April 17.