Congratulations! The Supreme Court released the results of the 2014 bar examaminations on Thursday, 26 March 2015. Out of the 5,984 law school graduates that took the 2014 bar exam, only 1,126 passed (18.82% passing rate). The Top 10 bar passers and the full list of successful bar examinees are reproduced below:
Continue readingCongress has moved the 2015 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to the last Monday of October 2016. The law, Republic Act No. 10656 (full text below), was signed by President Benigno Aquino III on 25 March 2015. Here’s a rundown of relevant dates:
Continue readingThe first arrest under Republic Act No. 10586 (also known as the “Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013? and its Implementing Rules and Regulations was made in March 2015. Whether one subscribes to the policy behind the new law or one would simply avoid the penalty of imprisonment that comes with violations of this law, it is always helpful to be familiar with its basic provisions. After all, ignorance of the law excuses no one.
Continue readingA 15-peso increase minimum wage was approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) and announced by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz. “The new minimum wage in the National Capital Region has been raised to P481 for workers in the non-agriculture sector and P444 for workers in the agricultural sector. The minimum wage hike is expected to be affirmed by the NWPC this week, and the RTWPB will publish it, after which it will take effect 15 days after its publication,” DOLE-NCR Regional Director Alex Avila said in a report. This issuance is Wage Order No. NCR-19, reproduced in full below (see also Primer on Wage Order NCR-19).
Continue readingMarch 9, 2015
SUBJECT: Implementing the Provisions of Republic Act No. 10653, More Particularly on the Increase of the Total Amount of Exclusion to P82,000.oo for 13th Month Pay and Other Benefits from Gross Income Effectively Further Amending the Pertinent Provisions of Revenue Regulations No. 2-98
Continue reading[This is the full text of the Supreme Court’s Resolution in the case of Valerio E. Kalaw vs. Ma. Elena Fernandez, G.R. No. 166357, 14 January 2015, with Justice Bersamin as ponente. This is reproduced for academic reasons, for those who seek a more thorough understanding of the case. See also: The “Relaxation” of Rules in Declaration of Nullity of Marriage Based on Psychological Incapacity.]
Continue readingHow much foreign ownership is allowed for mining companies in the Philippines? The Supreme Court again discussed this issue in a recent ruling denying a motion for reconsideration filed by certain mining companies in the Philippines. The controversy is anchored on the requirement that mining, among other activities, is reserved by the Constitution — the highest law of the land — for Filipinos. Sec. 2, Art. XII of the Constitution, which provides that the exploration, development, and utilization of of natural resources is reserved to Filipinos, whether natural persons or juridical persons. Filipino juridical persons refer to “corporations or associations at least sixty per centrum of whose capital is owned by such citizens.”
Continue readingThe Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the compliance period — until 30 June 2015 (per Memorandum Circular No. 1, series of 2015) — for companies and partnerships to comply with the required designation of the principal office address. We believe that it’s helpful to disseminate the information to non-clients as well, so we are summarizing the requirements below, culled from SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6 (series of 2014; full text) and SEC Memorandum Circular No. 16 (series of 2014; full text).
Continue reading[See also SEC Rules on Principal Offic Address; and Memorandum Circular No. 6, series of 2014]
TO : ALL CONCERNED
SUBJECT : PRINCIPAL OFFICE ADDRESS OF CORPORATIONS
AND PARTNERSHIPS