Introduction Republic Act No. 11697, or An Act Providing for the Development of the Electric Vehicle Industry (EVIDA Law), became effective on 15 April 2022. The EVIDA Law outlines the regulatory framework and creates a comprehensive roadmap for the operation of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Philippines. It governs "the manufacture, assembly, importation, construction, installation, maintenance, trade and utilization, research and development, and regulation of electric vehicles" ...
In September 2021, the House of Representatives of the Philippines approved House Bill (HB) 7425 upon its third reading. HB 7425 seeks to impose a 12% value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions in the Philippines ...
On January 31, 2018, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez issued RR No. 7-2018 which restored the provision on Notice of Informal Conference as a due process requirement in the issuance of a deficiency tax assessment. RR No. 7- 2018 was published in the Manila Bulletin on February 1, 2018 and took effect on February 16, 2018 ...
SyCipLaw's Tax Department has prepared Tax Issues and Practical Solutions (T.I.P.S.) for February.The February 2024 issue covers the following tax issues:1. What is Republic Act No. 11976 and why is it relevant to tax?2. Are cross-border services provided by non-resident foreign corporations now subject to income tax and VAT under Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 5-2024?Please read the full texthereor via thislink ...
SyCipLaw's Tax Department has prepared an international edition of its Tax Issues and Practical Solutions (T.I.P.S.) for the first quarter of 2024. The SyCipLaw T.I.P.S - International Edition covers the following tax issues: 1. Are informal settlement agreements between the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and the taxpayer valid and binding? 2. While a tax case is pending in court, may the CIR and the taxpayer enter into a compromise agreement and request for judicial approval thereof? 3 ...
Country overview 1. Give an overview of the country’s economy, its structure and main characteristics, and prevailing government economic policy, particularly as regards foreign investment. The Philippines is an archipelago composed of more than 7,000 islands with 82 provinces divided in 18 regions. Rich in natural resources, it has a total land area of about 300,000 square kilometres. It is divided into three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao ...
PCC Issues Motu Proprio Merger Review Guidelines for Digital Markets On 21 August 2023, the Philippine Competition Commission (“PCC”) issued the Guidelines for the motu proprio review of Mergers and Acquisitions in Digital Markets (the “Guidelines”) to provide greater transparency and predictability over the PCC’s power of motu proprio review of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) within the digital market ...
SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan (SyCipLaw) Partner Aaron Roi “Ace” Riturban and Special Counsel Catherina “Kate” Fernandez discuss the current regulatory framework as well as recent legal developments governing the mining industry in the Philippines. Tune in here:https://chambers-podcast.zencast.website/episodes/developments-in-the-mining-industry-in-the-philippines Continue reading here:https://chambers ...
On August 23, 2022, the Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) issuedLabor Advisory No. 17, series of 2022, which governs the suspension of work in the private sector by reason of weather disturbances and similar occurrences. It provides that in the exercise of management prerogative, the employer may suspend work to ensure the safety and health of employees during weather disturbances and similar occurrences ...
On July 28, 2016, the Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) issued Labor Advisory No 10-2016 (“Advisory”) reiterating the prohibition against labor-only contracting and Department Order No. 162-2016 (“Department Order”) suspending the registration of new applicants as contractors or subcontractors under Department Order No. 18-A (“DO 18-A”) ...
In Toyo Seat Philippines Corporation v. Annabelle C. Velasco, et al. (G.R. No. 240774, March 03, 2021), the Supreme Court reiterated that workers may be considered project employees regardless of the nature of the work they perform, as long as the essential elements of project employment are alleged and proven ...
The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) has issued Memorandum Circular 2020-00761 on August 3, 2020 and this sets out the Guidelines on Minimum Public Ownership Requirement for Initial and Backdoor Listings (2020 MPO Guidelines) ...
The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) issued Memorandum CN-No. 2020-0104, 1 dated December 21, 2020, on the amendments to its Voluntary Delisting Rules. These amendments tighten the approval requirements for delisting and seek to ensure the fairness of the tender offer price ...
Background On October 2, 2023, the Philippine Stock Exchange ("PSE") issuedPSE Memorandum CN-2023-0048, which declared the PSE Short Selling Guidelines effective. On October 11, 2023, the PSE also issuedPSE Memorandum CN No. 2023-0053, setting out the Regulatory Requirements for Securities Borrowing and Lending. Further toPSE Memorandum CN-2023-0056, the PSE officially launched its Short Selling Program on November 6, 2023 ...
Under the Renewable Energy Act (Republic Act No. 9513) (the “RE Act”), it is a policy of the state to increase the utilization of renewable energy (“RE”) by institutionalizing the development of national and local capabilities in the use of RE systems ...
This Q&A is part of the publication prepared to provide insights into hiring remote workers in Asia Pacific by members of the Employment Law Alliance (ELA). SyCipLaw contributed the guide for the Philippine jurisdiction. You may access the complete publication here. Q. Is it possible for a foreign jurisdiction entity to hire remote workers in your country? What are the basic legal requirements (if any) for hiring remote workers from a foreign jurisdiction (contractor vs ...
This is a briefing on the following issuances as of May 4, 2020 in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic:A. Courts in Areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to Reopen on May 4, 2020B. Reduced Bail and Release on Recognizance for Indigent DetaineesC. Bayanihan Act IRRs and Other IssuancesA. Courts in Areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to Reopen on May 4, 2020Supreme CourtAdministrative Circular No ...
Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act On May 06, 2022, Republic Act (RA) No. 11765, or the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, was signed into law ...
This briefing provides an overview of the salient points of Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Circular No. 016 (Rules Implementing the Criminal Provisions of Republic Act No. 10667, Otherwise Known As the Philippine Competition Act)1 (“PCA Rules on Criminal Provisions”). A ...
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 20, series of 2023, titled Final Extension of Amnesty Applications until 31 December 2023 (the"Circular") to grant a final extension up to December 31, 2023 for amnesty applications for late and non-filing of general information sheets ("GIS"), annual financial statements ("AFS"), as well as non-compliance with SEC Memorandum Circular No ...
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued Memorandum Circular No. 23, Series of 2020 (CDV Circular), dated August 18, 2020, which provides a regulatory framework for the creation and operation of Corporate Debt Vehicles (CDV). The circular aims to alleviate the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on large corporations and medium-sized enterprises by giving them another mode of raising capital through the intermediation of a mutual fund. 1 ...
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 17, series of 2023, titled Extension of Amnesty Applications until 06 November 2023 (SEC MC No. 17-2023 or the "Circular") to grant a final extension up to November 6, 2023 for amnesty applications for late and non-filing of general information sheets ("GIS"), annual financial statements ("AFS"), as well as non-compliance with SEC Memorandum Circular No ...
SmartAir, a social enterprise that educates the public about air pollution, has been shortlisted for the “Powered by Pro Bono Award” at this year’s TrustLaw Awards. This award highlights NGOs or social enterprises that have used pro bono legal advice to scale up their operations, improve the delivery of their social mission or pivot their activities to make a greater impact on the businesses and people they support ...
Under article 253(d) of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), when an association, partnership or corporation commits an act or omission that violates the Tax Code, the penalty "shall be imposed on the partner, president, general manager, branch manager, treasurer, officer-in-charge, and the employees responsible for the violation". This means that any of the persons enumerated may be criminally prosecuted for the corporation or partnership's criminal act or omission under the code ...
The Supreme Court has issued Supreme Court Administrative Matter No. 20-12-01-SC (Re: Proposed Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing) dated December 9, 20201 (Court Videoconferencing Guidelines) to ensure that hearings via videoconferencing are conducted in an orderly manner and that the constitutional rights of the accused are protected ...
