The influential Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) will vote for a new president next week following the withdrawal of Noel Bonoan—less than a month after election—amid a marital drama.
“With this and after careful reflection, I made my decision. My hope is that this will avoid distracting the organization from its mission of instilling management excellence in the Philippines,” Bonoan said in his withdrawal letter addressed to current MAP president Rene Almendras.
Another source said women’s rights groups had complained to MAP board about Bonoan. In his letter, Bonoan said those groups alluded to a complaint affidavit that had been filed by his former wife—one that was subsequently withdrawn—alongside allegations raised in an ongoing annulment case.
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Bonoan said he acknowledged the distress that such allegations have caused within and outside MAP, even as he lamented that “conspicuously missing” was his side of the story.
Almendras, for his part, said Bonoan’s decision not to accept the role showed how the latter had put MAP’s “best interests above personal considerations.”
“I express my respect for Noel’s professionalism and sincerity in upholding the ideals we espouse in MAP through his decision,” Almendras said.
Bonoan is vice chair, chief operating officer and head of advisory at KPMG R.G. Manabat and Co. He also served as an undersecretary at the Department of Finance. —Alden M. Monzon
Crackdown on fake PWD IDs
After a recent Senate probe pegged the revenue losses from such a tax evasion scheme at a whopping P88.2 billion, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has had enough and is set to start a massive crackdown on the sale and use of fake person with disability (PWD) identification cards (ID).
The BIR said unscrupulous individuals have exploited the system by selling fake PWD IDs to those fraudulently seeking to claim these benefits. These fake IDs are not only sold on the streets but also through online marketplaces, making them easily accessible.
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As such, the bureau said it will continue to conduct tax audits on transactions involving PWDs reported by establishments.
At the same time, the BIR will intensify its coordination with relevant agencies, including the Department of Health and the National Council on Disability Affairs, to verify the legitimacy of PWD IDs.
But beyond the losses, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said this illegal activity is also a disrespect to legitimate PWDs.
“The discount given by law to PWDs is for the improvement of their well-being and easing of their financial burden,” Lumagui said. —Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
No way but up for CebPac
Budget carrier Cebu Pacific definitely saw a remarkable year—from clinching the biggest aircraft acquisition deal in Philippine aviation history to buying boutique airline AirSwift from the Zobel family.
Candice Iyog, the Gokongwei-led airline’s chief marketing and customer experience officer, only expects a brighter future in 2025 for the carrier that has been launching new and exciting routes here and abroad.
Cebu Pacific will welcome the year with a total of 116 destinations in its network, showing a growth from 104 when it started 2024.
It has so far received 15 new aircraft this year to augment passenger capacity. Three more are expected for the rest of the year.
“We continue to grow while we actively manage the impact of supply chain issues and built network resilience,” Iyog said during a media thanksgiving event in Makati on Wednesday evening.
This year, the airline targets to fly 24 million passengers, higher than 20 million in 2023, as it expands both its domestic and international network.—Tyrone Jasper C. Piad