Best Posts in Forum: Businesses - Services - Products

For those considering enrolling their better half in the Social Security System in the Philippines so that she can avail of the state pension when the time comes (there are other minor benefits but the state pension is by far the most important).
I have read the SSS law (link), and my conclusions are:
1. Yes it makes sense to enroll, if she's not already enrolled (compulsory) because of a paid job, however
2. The way the system works for voluntary members (like a housewife would be) is rather arbitrary, with discretionary rules.
This leads to the following for a partner at age 40:
If you pay the premiums for the maximum "monthly salary credit", currently 13% of 25k a month, but this will rise in 2025 to 15% of 35k a month, so around 5k a month in premiums, then there's basically 4 choices.
a. You can enroll now and pay for let's say 25 years until she turns 65, then she would get 300+1000+50% of the 35k=18,800 peso per month pension.
b. You can do the same but she "retires" at 60 (so pay 20 years). Then she'd get 15,300 a month.
c. She can enroll at age 50 and pay for 10 years, so retire at 60 and get 15,000 a month.
d. She can enroll at age 60 and pay for 5 years, retire at 65 and get the same 15,000 a month.

My conclusion is that under the current law it seems like the most economical plan to start putting 4k a month in a savings account now, then enroll at 50, and pay the premiums for 10 years from the savings account.
The other options are simply not as good.

Obviously they should change the system to a much more gradual change between options, so individuals can't game the system anymore, but it is what it is.

 

We got this at SM City Mall yesterday, they have quite a few Tesco items but they are mixed up with all the other stuff so you have to search for them.

 

Hey, there! It's been a while since my last post in this forum but I am back with some great news to those who want to know more about the local culture by learning the local dialect or BISAYA/VISAYA.

The Bisayan classes will be done via Zoom (3x a week plus one physical meeting ( with all health protocols applied).

The Learn Bisaya Online is set on Sept., this year. Time will be agreed by the members but tentatively, the Zoom meetings will be held at 8 pm or if you have suggestions, feel free to share them here.

 

I started my own Coronary Rehab here at home. Soon discovered that I needed something to monitor my pulse. Having spent several weeks in the ICU in three different hospitals. I was familiar with those finger tip devises. Found them at "Berovan Marketing" on the North Hwy. It is called "Fingertip Pulse Oximeter" cost ₱4,500.oo. Found a knee brace there also.

 

I recently posted a list of recommended health professionals, which some people seem to have found useful.

I am thinking of doing the same for Tradesmen - probably splitting it into categories, such as vehicle-related and house-related. I may also add places where related products are best obtained (car/bike parts, building/DIY parts, etc.)

I will search the threads to see what I can find and collate but would welcome any recommendations. For vehicle-related, I have just read a thread where 'Lenny' scores highly for selling cars and a car lot opposite the hypermart for paint jobs. I have heard of Centro as good for car repairs/servicing. It would be useful to know of good general builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, metal workers (for gates etc.), glaziers, etc.

I am not trying to replicate or replace the various Forum subdivisions, without them I would know nothing, but to bring information from them into one posting to save searching and to help newbies.

We should help each other as much as we can because - unlike a recent posting comment - it is good to like each other and help each other.

 

New place in town for smoked pork and beef... Smoke House on the south road across the street from U Wash and on the same side as the Patron station about half a click south of Gie Gie"s. I have been twice and purchased smoked belly (bacon) and pork and beef sausage and now smoked beef (from Australia) all were very good and prices seem reasonable.

 

by Executive Optical in the Mall. Seems that they have thrown bare rabbit in the brier bush. d*mn that is SOOOO painful. It started on 11/02/17. I went to them to replace my 19 year old proscription glasses. Got the exam and told them to order. After I paid they gave me a sales invoice # 0329 showing that I paid the full amount, signed by the manager and me. In doing so said sales invoice # 0329 became a legal and binding contract. The glasses would be ready for pick-up on or before 11/10/17. On 11/09/17 I stopped in and they told me that they had NOT ORDERED my glasses! They said that they will not order them until I paid an additional 1500.oo. showed then THEIR contract dated and signed on 11/02/17 clearly marked "PAID IN FULL". Now I assure you that 1500 would have made no difference in my monthly budget, or my dissection to get these badly needed proscription glasses. I did take offense to their "breach of their own contract". I took it to "DTI" and through DTI we settled our differences. I assumed that it was over, I should have known better, knowing that they are willing to breach their own contract. Wife was talking to one of their employees last week and she was told that Executive Optical had black listed me and that I was never to inter their business again. When I received that news I almost broke down and cried.
Imagine that, bare fox done threw bare rabbit in the brier bush.
Tomorrow I will pick-up my new proscription glasses from a honest retailer. Nothing like getting black listed from a retailer that breaches their own contracts. Buyer beware!

 

With so many times searching Google looking for advice regarding Government Offices here in Dumaguete, I thought I would post the following link that lists the majority of Dumaguete City Government Offices including a link for Philhealth...

Dumaguete City Government Offices:
http://google.com/government-offices/

Dumaguete Philhealth:
http://google.com/philhealth-dumaguete/

Government Offices Capitol Area: (Negros Oriental)
http://google.com/government-offices-negros-oriental/

Dumaguete Department of Foreign Affairs: (DFA)
http://google.com/dfa-office-dumaguete/

Offices covered in the Dumaguete City Government Offices include the following;

Dumaguete Mayor & Vice Mayor
City Administrator
City Accountant
City Treasurer
City Planning and Development
Dumaguete Tourism Office
City Environment and Natural Resources
City Population Commission
Public Information
Sports and Games Office
Human Resources
Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
City Dumpsite Ecological Park
General Services Office (GSO)
City Assessor
City Budget
Office of the Senior Citizens Affair
City Livelihood and Home Industry Development Office
City Health Office
City Civil Registrar
City Legal Office
Public Library
City Engineer
City Livelihood and Home Industries Development Office
Funeral Services
City Nutrition Office
City Veterinarian
Dumaguete (PESO) Public Employment Service Office
Dumaguete Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Office
City Economic Enterprise (Public Market)
City Agriculture Office
Dumaguete City Traffic Management Office
Dumaguete City Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD)
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
Dumaguete Water District