Princess Brima

10/25/2019

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in the Workplace

In the workplace, are you the type to criticize all your output? Do you find asking for help challenging? Or do you often over-analyze your competence, experience or knowledge in your own profession? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then you may be suffering Imposter Syndrome, a workplace phenomenon that can severely impact your confidence, career progress, and cause negativity in the workplace. In this article, we discuss what Imposter Syndrome is, why you should know how

Doing Business in the Philippines • 10/14/2019

5 Steps on How to Create a Standout LinkedIn Profile

If you ask Google what LinkedIn is, the search results will generally describe it as a benchmark social networking platform used by and for new college graduates, job seekers, industry professionals, and businesses. But if you ask me, I’d put it simply and say that LinkedIn is like Facebook, but for working professionals. If you use Facebook to showcase and celebrate your personal life, hobbies, and achievements, think of LinkedIn similarly but exclusively for your career and industry. It is a

KC Global Talent Solutions • 09/30/2019

5 Steps on How to Create a Standout LinkedIn Profile

5 Steps on How to Create a Standout LinkedIn Profile [infographic] A LinkedIn profile can bring jobs and connections to you. But having a simple, uninspired profile will not. You can maximize your visibility with this 5-step guide to get the best results on LinkedIn. A good majority of your profile’s initial setup should be spent working on this section as this serves as your first impression to the viewer, and first impressions matter. • Headline • MAKE IT QUICK – Elaborate your interests, pr

Kittelson & Carpo • 09/20/2019

Philippine Government to Improve Business Data Privacy Standards

According to the National Privacy Commission (NPC), the Philippine government is now taking further initiatives towards increasing the standards of business data privacy in the country. In August, the Philippine government signed up to be the ninth country in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Cross-Border Privacy Rules (APEC CBPR) system. The CBPR system serves as a formal data certification mechanism that grants accredited corporations the facilities to handle and transfer data securely ac

Carpo Law & Associates • 09/13/2019

Malacañang Expects the First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act to Boost Job Optimism

The Malacañang Palace is anticipating an increase in public optimism in the availability of jobs for first-time jobseekers after President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law waiving all government fees on public documents needed for employment. According to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted on 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above nationwide, the net optimism on work availability in the Philippines has climbed to an “excellent” mark from the previous “very high” in March 2019

Visas Philippines • 09/12/2019

House OKs Bill Allowing Foreigners to Practice Their Profession in the Philippines

The House of Representatives recently approved House Bill (HB) No. 300, an amendment for the Foreign Investments Act (FIA), which seeks to remove constraints on foreigners practicing their profession in the Philippines. The bill will enable more foreigners to pursue a career in the country and directly reduce the local hire threshold for businesses with foreign investors. Members of the House of Representatives officially came down to a vote of 201 to 6 in favor of the newly proposed HB No. 300

Kittelson & Carpo • 09/06/2019

Philippine Government to Offer Grants and Subsidies to Startup Companies

The Philippine government is now encouraging local and foreign entrepreneurs to establish or develop their own startup company by offering special incentives and eliminating existing financial constraints to promote innovation in the country’s startup community. Enacted in April of this year, the Republic Act No.11337, or the Innovative Startup Act, provides the startup community with numerous benefits, such as the following: • None use of office space and equipment, and Under the new law, the

Carpo Law & Associates • 09/05/2019

PSA Announces Registration for National ID Will Start on July 2020

During its pilot test registration on September 2, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced that it will open the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) to the Filipino public by mid-2020. “We are on track to have the system fully operational and to start the mass registration by mid-2020, and complete the enrollment of the population by mid-2022,” PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa said in a statement. The aim of the PhilSys is to provide a valid proof of identity for all Filipi

Visas Philippines • 09/02/2019

US Embassy Declares Visa Process Now Easy and the Issuance Rate High

Officials from the Consular Section of the United States (US) Embassy in Manila stated during their relaunch of the #WalangSikreto campaign earlier this month that the US visa application process in the Philippines is now easier and more transparent, adding that the current approval rate is also exceptionally ‘high’ for all applicants. Deputy Consul General Kimberly Kelly, along with her colleagues from the US Embassy, dismissed the disputes claiming that securing a US visa in the Philippines i

Kittelson & Carpo • 09/02/2019

BSP to Develop a Credit Risk Database for MSMEs in the Philippines

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), or the central bank of the Philippines, announced that it is working with various government agencies and corporate partners in the development of credit scoring models and the establishment of a credit risk database to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno disclosed the plans towards achieving their goal of strengthening the country’s financial infrastructure by supporting innovation and bridg

Carpo Law & Associates • 08/23/2019

DOLE to Release IRR of Service Charge Law Within 90 Days

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced the agency’s intent to release the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11360, or the “Service Charge Law,” within the next three months. The law grants the equal distribution of 100% of the restaurant service charges collected by service industry workers of hotels, restaurants, and similar establishments (HRSEs). The Service Charge Law was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last

Visas Philippines • 08/23/2019

US Embassy to Remove Eligibility of Visa Applicants with Fake Papers

US Embassy to Remove Eligibility of Visa Applicants with Fake Papers The United States (US) Embassy in Manila cautioned eager visa applicants in the Philippines to be wary of transacting public documents with “expediters” and “fixers” for their visa applications, as they may permanently lose eligibility to travel to the US. “There is no secret formula” in the visa application process, the US Embassy’s Fraud Prevention Manager Leon Gendin declared during the agency’s 14th media event, on Thursd

Kittelson & Carpo • 08/19/2019

BSP Assures the Public that Banks Cannot Raise ATM Fees Without Approval

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), or the central bank of the Philippines, assured the public on Tuesday, August 13, that banks nationwide are not authorized to increase their automated teller machine (ATM) transaction charges without the BSP’s approval. Speculations of an impending hike in ATM transaction fees were reported immediately following the lifting of Memorandum No. M-2019-020, a ‘6-year freeze’ on ATM bank fees adjustments, causing concern from the House of Representatives and th

Carpo Law & Associates • 08/16/2019

DOH Signs IRR for National Integrated Cancer Control Law

The Department of Health has formally signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Republic Act 11215, otherwise known as the “National Integrated Cancer Control Act” (NICCA), a law that grants access to quality and affordable care for Filipino cancer patients and survivors. The law, enacted in February 14, aims to provide quality cancer health services and financial risk protection to alleviate the financial burden of diagnosed Filipinos or their loved ones affected by cancer. Acco

Kittelson & Carpo • 08/15/2019

BSP Approves the Risk Management Guidelines for Bank Investments

The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, issued its newly approved risk management guidelines on financial investments. The guidelines, authorized during the board’s assembly on July 11, require banks and quasi-banks (QBs) to conduct appropriate due diligence on all their investments before and consistently during all of their activities on an ongoing basis. “The conduct of due diligence reviews for new plain vanilla instruments acquired

Visas Philippines • 08/14/2019

DOT Open to Review the Visa Upon Arrival Policy Issued to Foreign Tourists

The Department of Tourism (DOT) declared its willingness to review the current Visa Upon Arrival (VUA) policy issued to foreign visitors in response to the security concerns brought about by the recent influx of undocumented foreigners in the Philippines. Following a comment made by the National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon about the increase in the number of undocumented foreigners and the security threats this may pose, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. put forth a recommend

Carpo Law & Associates • 08/07/2019

Vetoed Security of Tenure (SoT) Bill Now Refiled for Amendment at the House of Representatives

On Monday, July 29, the Security of Tenure (SoT) Bill, the monumental legislation that promises to put a stop to all illegal employment schemes and the subcontracting of regular Filipino workers, has been refiled for revision in the House of Representatives. Initially, the SoT Bill was approved on its third and final reading in May, vetoed by President Rodrigo Duterte in July, and now adopted by the Congress — with the main purpose of finalizing the new version that will provide a balance betwe

Visas Philippines • 08/05/2019

BI Urges the Public to Avoid Availing the Services of Fixers

On Wednesday, July 24, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) alerted the people of the nation to be wary of ‘fixers’ and nonaccredited travel agents who peddle their assistance and ‘short-cut’ services in exchange for fees. The arrest of an alleged fixer by the operatives of the Philippine National Police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP IMEG) in Mandaluyong City the day prior prompted a direct statement from BI Commissioner Jaime Morente to address this issue. According to reports, PN

Kittelson & Carpo • 07/29/2019

Duterte Signs Innovative Startup Act into Law to Benefit Startup Companies

President Rodrigo Duterte has officially signed into law Republic Act No. 11337, or better known as the Innovative Startup Act, a new law that seeks to provide tax benefits to all registered startup companies in the Philippines. According to the official copy of the law released on July 17 by the Malacañang Palace, RA 11337 shall support the research and development of startups and startup enablers in the Philippines by allowing the creation of a Philippine Startup Development Program or referr

Carpo Law & Associates • 07/29/2019

Government Signs IRR of Ease of Doing Business Law in the Philippines

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Civil Service Commission (CSC), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) came together on July 17, 2019 to sign and publish the highly anticipated Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Services Law (EODB Law) in Manila, Philippines. Answering directly to President Rodrigo Duterte, the newly appointed Deputy Director General of ARTA, Lawyer Ernesto Perez expresse