TAXI FARE HIKE STARTING JANUARY 14, 2011

TAXI FARE HIKE STARTING JANUARY 14, 2011

LTFRB approved a rate hike for taxis in the Philippines beginning next week, January 14, 2011. The flag-down rates will increase to P40 from the current P30, and every succeeding quarter of a kilometer or 250 meters will increase to P3.50 from P2.50.

Please take note that only those taxi with machine dispensing receipts could ask the passenger with the recent increase.

Chinese Visa Validity

Chinese Visa Validity
 

The validity of a Chinese visa can be anywhere from 3 (three)- 24 (twenty four) months depending on the type of visa you requested.

Normally this are the validity of Chinese Visa issued in the Philippines

• a single entry visa which is valid for 3 months
   
• a double entry visa which is valid for 6 months
   
• a multiple entry visa which is valid for 6, 12 or 24 months. 

The validity of a visa starts from date of issue, and applicant needs to enter China before the expiration date listed on the visa.

If  you are going to China for example on April 1, and your visa expires on April 10, you can still enter China, as long as you enter China before the expiration date.  You can stay for 30 or more days as specified on your visa. The duration of stay starts from the day you enter China. 

The best time to apply for your Chinese visa is 1-2 months before your travel date. However, if you are running short on time, you can avail of the rush visa processing @ China Embassy.

Sawasdee Bi Mai!!!

Kiong hei wat chay!

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Happy New year!

Manigong Bagong Taon sa atin lahat!

TIPS AND TIDBITS OF CHINA VISA APPLICATION

TIPS AND TIDBITS- CHINA VISA APPLICATION

First and foremost, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, from date of application, in order to receive a visa. 

If you are going to China as a tourist and you don't have an invitation or a relative in China.  
You can write N/A or None at sections 4.7-4.10 of the visa application. Do not leave them blank.

Your bank certificate MUST HAVE AN OFFICIAL RECEIPT from your bank, don't have one? Then the embassy won't accept nor process your visa application.

Have a happy and safe trip everyone!

DO IT YOURSELF CHINA VISA

DO IT YOURSELF CHINA VISA

Yes, kamatis! It is doable! You, yourself and you, beautiful being, could do it by yourself, sans travel agency which charges from P 1,600 to rocket high P 2,500 per application per person basis. Yes, dude! Whether you get a visa or not, you still have to pay P2,500 everytime your visa application is denied. Ouch!

Peace, dear travel agents! I just wanted to share to my readers how they could save some moolah doing it by themselves, but of course, dear friends, you could still opt to get the services of these travel agents. Just choose well. I saw some list of banned travel agents at the Chinese embassy. So please be careful and choose well!

First and foremost, before going to the Chinese embassy you could download the visa application form from http://ph.china-embassy.org/eng/sgxx/lxfs/

Or you could get a FREE visa form directly at 


Chinese Embassy
2nd Floor World Center Building
330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City.

Office hours (for giving out queue numbers): 8:00 a.m.-11 a.m. 

The Chinese embassy is located just in front of Mapua Campus corner N. Garcia St., formerly Reposo St. in Makati City opens at 8 in the morning. There’s already a long queue by 7:00a.m. So be early! They usually stop giving out numbers at eleven o' clock in the morning. So better be early 'coz you will not be allowed to get inside the embassy without the ticket number.

Applying for a Chinese Visa is easy but would require you to have a lot of patience to wait for your turn!

Tourist/L Visa Requirement for China First-Timers (Filipino Citizen):

1. Original Passport  - please take note that passport must have blank pages and be valid for at least six (6) months before expiration.
   
2. A photocopy of your passport's first page -bio and last page -details of contact person in case of emergency. 
3. Round-trip plane ticket. If not coming back to the Philippines, you must present an onward flight ticket. e.g China to Hongkong, etc.
4. Hotel booking or letter of invitation from friend or relative living in China.
5. NBI Clearance- Original copy, valid for travel abroad.
6. SSS ID or E-1. Photocopy or a static information or contributions info. May be a print out from SSS online.
7. Photocopy of your TIN ID and ITR .
8. Bank certificate. Should have at least 50k  100k (new requirement*)- Should at least be three months old or much better if it is a year old account. Attach the original official receipt for the bank certificate. To be safe, bring your bankbook too.
9. Certificate of Employment and a photocopy of your company ID.
10. Accomplished visa application form ( provided at the embassy; may be downloaded too) 
11. Affix with one passport-sized photo. Photo should be against a light background.
12. If you have a Chinese name, better practice how to write it, because you could write it in your application form.

Armed with your documents, go to the Chinese embassy early then take a number from the person in charge, if your number is a zillion away, celebrate! Because you could go shopping at nearby Glorietta, and just estimate what time you should go back.  Don't worry if you miss your turn,  you will always be accommodated at around 5 p.m. after all the numbers are called. Just be there before 5 p.m. with your number.

You need to approach the particular window indicated at the LED signage. Then after submitting all the requirements at the designated window, the interviewer would then review your requirements. They will ask you a few questions, and  if you are qualified then they will tell you how many days you will be allowed to stay in China and give you a pink slip, which means you’ll be getting your visa in 4 days if you will not opt to have it rushed. But if your requirements are lacking , then they will ask you to submit more documents and other requirements they find suitable to ask from you.

A single entry visa is usually given to first timers. Length of stay being given ranges from 7 days, 15 days and 30 days.

Visa fee is Php 1,400 pesos to be paid on the day you claim your visa/passport.

Yes, dude, you have to come back to claim your visa/ passport after 4 days~! So if you don't have time, just ask your relatives or friends and let them do the lining up and pick up for you! Just make sure that he/she has the money and the pink slip!

You can Contact The Chinese Embassy regarding your Applications by sending your Inquiry by calling their landline: 0063-2-8482395 ( Work Day 09:00 --11:00, 14:00--16:00 )
Or by sendfing a fax:0063-2-8482386Or via Email: phchinaembassy@hotmail.com

SLEx TOLL HIKE

 SLEx TOLL HIKE

Motorists plying the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) will have to pay significantly higher toll fees beginning next year after the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) gave the go signal for the increase.

The new rate of P3.02 per kilometer, over 300% more than the current rate of 78 centavos, will be implemented at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2011.

But SLEx operator South Luzon Tollways Corp. (SLTC) said it would give consumers discounts between January and March as it plans to implement the toll increase in staggered basis.

Instead of charging the whole P3.02, SLTC said it would only charge P2.68 per kilometer in January. By February, it will increase the rate to P2.80, then P2.90 by March.

This means motorists traveling from Alabang, Muntinlupa City to Calamba, Laguna will have to pay P76 in January from the current P22, and this would go up to P86 when the full rate increase takes effect in April.

For the Calamba to Sto. Tomas, Batangas stretch, motorists will be charged P23 next year.

According to SLTC,, the total discount for the 3 months to March was estimated at P75 million, an amount considered as foregone revenue on their part.

SLTC also announced that they will implement a "toll holiday" for the entire Alabang to Sto. Tomas stretch on Christmas eve (from 10 p.m. December 24 until 6 a.m. December 25) and on New Year's eve (from 10 p.m. December 31 until 6 a.m. January 1).

SLTC noted that while it volunteered to provide consumers relief in the early months of 2011, it was still in talks with the government for the recovery of P1.1 billion in foregone revenue arising from the delay in the implementation of the new rates from August to December.

The TRB, however, was insisting it would not compensate SLTC for the said lost revenue due to a recent Supreme Court decision.

Higher fares

Because of the impending toll hike at SLEx, the South Luzon Bus Operators' Association (SOLUBOA) said it has no other choice but to seek a fare hike.

SOLUBOA President Homer Mercado said they will file a petition for a P0.30 per kilometer increase in fares before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

If approved, the regular fare for the first 50 kilometers will increase from P65 to P80. - Reports from Zen Hernandez and Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News

SLEX TOLL HOLIDAY ON DECEMBER 31 to JANUARY 1

SLEX TOLL HOLIDAY ON DECEMBER 31 to JANUARY 1
 
As a treat to expressway users, the South Luzon Tollway Corporation (SLTC) will waive collection of the toll for the 36-kilometer expressway from Alabang in Muntinlupa to Sto. Tomas in Batangas from 10 p.m. of December 31 to 6 a.m. of January 1.

The STAR Tollway Corporation (STC) will observe the same toll holiday at the 42-kilometer highway from Sto. Tomas to Balagtas town in Batangas province.

Given the toll holiday, motorists are expected to save P86 at SLEx and P60 at STAR.
 
Meanwhile, Citra Metro Manila Tollway Corporation (CMMTC) will not implement a similar toll holiday for users of South Metro Manila Skyway, it is still letting motorists use the elevated portion of the expressway from Bicutan to Sucat toll free until the Alabang extension is finished by May 2011.
 
Last December 22, 2010, CMMTC reverted to its P85 toll rate for the use of the elevated Skyway.

SLEX TOLL HIKE ON JANUARY 1, 2011

SLEX TOLL HIKE ON JANUARY 1, 2011


Rates for Class 1 vehicles including jeepneys, pickups, vans and cars will go up to P3.03 per km from 76 centavos.

Because of this, motorists will have to pay P86 from the current P22 for the Alabang-Calamba stretch.

Rates for Class 2 vehicles such as buses will be P6.06/kilometer from P1.52, thus the Alabang to Calamba charge will rise to P172 from P42.86.

Class 3 rates for trucks will be P9.09 per kilometer from P2.28, which brings the toll for the stretch of highway to P258 from P64.30.

In a separate report, the BusinessWorld said the discounted January rates translate to P76, P152 and P228 for Class 1, 2 and 3 vehicles, respectively, for the Alabang-Calamba portion of the highway.

The discount will go down to 30 centavos in February, and 13 centavos in March.

The South Luzon Tollway Corp. reportedly spent P12 billion for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Alabang to Calamba stretch.

Moreover, the BusinessWorld report said additional toll fee hikes can still be expected as the SC still has to rule on the imposition of the 12-percent value-added tax. — LBG, GMANews.TV

Official List of 2011 Philippine Holidays

Official List of 2011 Philippine Holidays

A. Regular Holidays

January 1 - New Year's Day
April 9 - Day of Valour (Araw ng Kagitingan)
April 21 - Maundy Thursday
April 22 - Good Friday
May 1 - Labor Day
June 12 - Independence Day
August 29 - National Heroes Day
November 1 - All Saints' Day
November 30 - Bonifacio Day
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 30 - Rizal Day


B. Special Non-Working Holidays

August 21 - Ninoy Aquino Day
August 30 - Eidul Fitr
November 2 - All Souls Day
November 6 - Eidul Adha
December 24 - Christmas Eve
December 31 - New Year's Eve


C. Others

February 25 - 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary- Special Holidays for schools
July 27 - Founding Anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo- Special National Working Holiday