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Bill seeks to eliminate travel tax for Filipinos, aims to boost tourism
manilatimes12d ago

Bill seeks to eliminate travel tax for Filipinos, aims to boost tourism

CEBU CITY — Travel taxes for Filipinos may be eliminated under a new bill filed in Congress.Cebu City South District Rep. and House Deputy Majority Leader Eduardo “Edu” Rama Jr. filed House Bill 7367 on Tuesday seeking to abolish the travel tax for Filipino nationals leaving the country.Rama said the measure aims to reduce what he described as an “undue financial burden” on families, students, senior citizens, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), allowing them to exercise their constitutional right to travel freely.“All Filipinos must be able to travel freely, without undue financial or regulatory hindrance,” he wrote in the bill’s explanatory note.Under current rules, travelers pay fees ranging from P300 to P2,700 per departure, depending on flight class and eligibility for reduced rates.First-class passengers pay P2,700, while economy travelers pay P1,620. Standard reduced rates are P1,350 for first class and P810 for economy, while OFWs pay P400 for first class and P300 for economy.Rama said these fees can pose a significant burden, especially for families or groups traveling for work, study, or personal reasons.The bill also aligns with the Philippines’ commitments under the 2002 Asean Tourism Agreement, which calls on member states to facilitate travel within the region and phase out taxes on Asean nationals.Rama cited Memorandum Order 29, which exempts travelers from Mindanao and Palawan airports from travel taxes when going to Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia under the BIMP-EAGA initiative.He said lower travel costs can encourage mobility, tourism, and economic activity.Currently, travel tax revenues support programs under the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).Rama suggested that these programs could instead be funded through the government’s regular budget.The proposed bill would stop the collection of travel taxes for flights booked after the law takes effect and repeal Presidential Decree 1183 and related laws.Rama said the measure would also help position the Philippines as a competitive regional tourism and transit hub.The bill is now pending before the House of Representatives for committee deliberation and plenary discussion.Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco emphasized that travel tax collections provide tangible benefits to Filipinos, with 50 percent allocated to tourism infrastructure.Speaking at the Asean Tourism Forum in Lapu-Lapu City, Frasco noted that the funds help the government deliver local tourism projects nationwide, including rest areas, information centers, jetty ports, boardwalks, and visitor centers.She added that about 40 percent of travel tax revenues support tourism education, while 10 percent go to heritage agencies, helping preserve the country’s cultural and heritage destinations.Frasco expressed hope that legislators will recognize these contributions when considering proposals to abolish the travel tax, noting that tourism infrastructure in the Philippines relies heavily on these funds.

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All Americans Should Have Access to Private Investment – American Investment Council
platodata12d ago

All Americans Should Have Access to Private Investment – American Investment Council

January 30, 2026 AIC President and CEO Will Dunham released the following statement regarding President Trump’s Executive Order to democratize access to alternative assets for 401(k) investors: “For decades, public pension funds have invested in private assets because they deliver strong returns over the long term and are a smart, safe way to diversify retirement savings. President [...]

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Ethereum Trades At A Historical Accumulation Level: Can Bulls Hold $2,600
newsbtc12d ago

Ethereum Trades At A Historical Accumulation Level: Can Bulls Hold $2,600

Ethereum has slipped below the $2,800 level and is now struggling to hold the $2,700 area, extending a phase of price weakness amid fragile market conditions. Recent price action shows limited follow-through on rebounds. With sellers continuing to cap upside attempts as broader risk appetite remains uneven. While spot momentum has softened, on-chain data suggests a more nuanced picture beneath the surface. Related Reading: XRP Risk-Adjusted Returns Signal Consolidation Rather Than Trend Formation – Details The realized price of the ETH accumulation address continues to trend higher and is now approaching the current market price. This dynamic indicates that accumulation activity has not stalled despite the drawdown. In practice, a rising realized price reflects coins being acquired at progressively higher cost bases, signaling continued participation from long-term buyers rather than capitulation. Importantly, this realized price zone has historically acted as a strong support level for accumulation whales. Notably, this price range has never been broken in prior tests. Each prior interaction with the realized price of the accumulation coincided with stabilization rather than an accelerated downside. Reinforcing its relevance as a structural reference. While this does not guarantee immediate upside or prevent short-term volatility, it provides context for the current consolidation near $2,700. Whale Cost Basis Emerges as Key Support A recent report from CryptoQuant explains that Ethereum has declined to around $2,682, a level that aligns closely with the realized price of the ETH accumulation address. This metric tracks the average cost basis of long-term accumulators. It provides a key reference point to assess where committed buyers stand. Historically, the realized price of accumulation addresses has acted as a strong structural support, particularly during corrective phases. When market price converges toward this level, it often reflects a transition from speculative selling to absorption by longer-term holders. In the current context, this zone is actively providing support, with price stabilizing rather than accelerating lower despite broader market pressure. CryptoQuant data also shows that whale accumulation remains active. Large holders continue to add ETH near these levels, suggesting confidence in this cost basis and reinforcing its role as a defended price zone. This behavior contrasts with distribution patterns typically seen near market tops, where realized prices flatten or decline as long-term holders reduce exposure. As long as the accumulation cohort maintains its position and does not begin to distribute, the probability of sustained downside below this level remains limited. Strong whale buying anchors price action near $2,680, establishing a meaningful support zone even as short-term volatility persists. Related Reading: Bitmine Stakes Additional 250,912 Ethereum Worth $745M – 61% Is Now Staked Ethereum Tests Long-Term Demand Ethereum’s price action continues to reflect a market under pressure. ETH is now trading around the $2,700–$2,750 zone after failing to hold above the $3,000 psychological level. The chart shows a clear sequence of lower highs and lower lows since the November peak, confirming that the broader trend remains corrective rather than impulsive. ETH is trading below its short- and medium-term moving averages. With the 50-day and 100-day averages acting as dynamic resistance on recent rebounds. The 200-day moving average, still trending higher above $3,500, highlights the loss of long-term momentum and reinforces the idea that the market has shifted into a consolidation-to-distribution phase rather than a continuation of the prior uptrend. Importantly, the $2,700 area aligns closely, driven by panic selling but rather by a lack of aggressive follow-through under pressure since December, suggesting the presence of structurally committed buyers. Volume has declined during recent sell-offs. This indicates that downside moves are not being driven by panic selling, but rather by a lack of aggressive follow-through from buyers. Related Reading: Ethereum Leverage Remains At Record High: What Happens Next? As long as ETH holds above the $2,650–$2,70signal a deeper retracement, whereasemain range-bound, with volatility compressing. A decisive breakdown below this zone would open the door to a deeper retracement, while stabilization here would support the case for base-building rather than trend continuation. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

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iPhone 18 Pro Max: Apple’s Cleanest Design in a Decade
geeky_gadgets12d ago

iPhone 18 Pro Max: Apple’s Cleanest Design in a Decade

The iPhone 18 Pro series marks a pivotal moment in smartphone evolution, combining advanced technology, refined design, and a strong commitment to sustainability. Apple’s latest flagship models introduce new features that enhance performance, improve energy efficiency, and elevate user experience. This article explores the key innovations of the iPhone 18 Pro and their implications for [...]The post iPhone 18 Pro Max: Apple’s Cleanest Design in a Decade appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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DOST-TAPI recognizes winners of 2025 Gawad Alunig x Dalumat
gmanetwork_ph12d ago

DOST-TAPI recognizes winners of 2025 Gawad Alunig x Dalumat

The Department of Science and Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) presented awards to the winners of the 2025 Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD) during the 39th TAPI anniversary celebration at the Manila Hotel on Friday.

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