After Duterte push, House tackles death penalty bills amid pandemic
MANILA, Philippines — Following the call of President Rodrigo Duterte, the House Committee on Justice on Wednesday began tackling bills pushing for the revival of the death penalty for some heinous crimes even as the country struggles against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The House panel started debates on 12 bills on the highly controversial […] The post After Duterte push, House tackles death penalty bills amid pandemic appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Duterte: No penalty for teacher in viral scolding video
Duterte simply advised the teacher to take a moment to calm down when feeling frustrated. .....»»
House panel to start deliberations on wage hike tomorrow
The House committee on labor and employment will start tomorrow deliberations on various bills proposing wage adjustments amid the high inflation rate in the country......»»
T-bills upsized to P19 billion
The government upsized its short-term securities to P19 billion, marking the second straight week of increased award amid better demand......»»
Exporters push for several trade-related bills
The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. is urging Congress to pass several economic and trade-related bills to sustain a rebound in exports amid the continuing weakness in the global economy and to achieve the intended targets under the export development plan......»»
3-month T-bills upsized
The government upsized its three-month short-term securities as the asking rates of investors dropped amid easing oil prices in the global market......»»
Government raises P51 billion from T-bills
The government managed to borrow P51 billion in short-term securities this month, roughly 93 percent of the target amount amid high asking rates from investors......»»
Malasakit Centers: Haven for poor Pinoys
Amid prevailing financial hardships particularly among poor Filipinos, the pivotal role of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s Malasakit Centers comes to fore through the compelling narrative of 23-year-old Wally Bernardo of Cavite. A small baking business, which Wally runs with his partner, helps cover his dialysis expenses. His ordeal started in 2017 when a nagging backache unveiled an unsettling reality — a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease secondary to arthritis. Initially misdiagnosed with high blood pressure, he soon found himself restricted to the regular hum of dialysis machines, a routine that escalated from three times a week to an excruciating 12 times a week, as his condition worsened. As Wally’s medical bills soared, he sought intervention from a Malasakit Center, which led to a much-needed relief for his dire financial situation. Recounting the day his relatives approached the center, Wally said, After that we approached the social health service as I knew there was Malasakit here.” “My relatives went there and gave us our bill. It was processed at about noon. In the afternoon we were already discharged.” The indelible mark of gratitude is apparent in Wally’s words, “Thank you to Senator Bong Go, to his staff. We are really grateful for his help, in giving us a guarantee letter, in assuring those who have not much finances.” As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go persistently encouraged the public to avail themselves of the medical and financial assistance offered by the Malasakit Centers. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, or Republic Act 11463, principally authored and sponsored by Go, has so far facilitated the establishment of 159 operational Malasakit Centers across the country. Meanwhile, Go’s outreach team, together with Mayor Elmor Vita and Councilor Rey Comendador, conducted a relief operation at the municipal gymnasium in Nagcarlan, Laguna last Tuesday, 17 October. Go provided masks, vitamins, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball for 450 market vendors. He also gave away shoes, and mobile phones to select recipients. The post Malasakit Centers: Haven for poor Pinoys appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilHealth insists ‘no data was compromised’ amid cyberattack
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth on Wednesday maintained its claim that its members' data was not compromised by the recent cyberattack on its system. In an interview with Daily Tribune, PhilHealth spokesperson and Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Israel Pargas reiterated that their database remained “intact”. He, however, admitted that hackers behind the cyberattack accessed the data that were stored in the servers affected by the hacking. “We cannot verify that. It can be a possibility because again, checking our database, it is still intact. If we check the database, it appears that no data was compromised or leaked,” he said. “However, since our employees are also working with regard to our members and all, it could be true that there may be data stolen by these hackers. It is uncertain whether any data was stolen or not,” he added. On Tuesday night, the Department of Information and Technology confirmed that the hackers have already started publishing PhilHealth employees’ data on the dark web. DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said the stolen data includes details on employees' identification cards, memorandum, directives, and hospital bills. The development came a day after the self-imposed deadline of the hackers on the government to pay a $300,000 ransom for the data expired. Dy said the information posted on the dark web could just be a “teaser” of what the hackers have stolen from the state-run health insurer’s system. At the same time, in an advisory, PhilHealth confirmed that some members' personal information including names, addresses, dates of birth, sex, phone numbers, and PhilHealth identification numbers were compromised. The corporation said it is “working to notify all affected individuals directly.” The state-run health insurer also urged its members to take precautionary measures in light of the cyberattack on its system. “Monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized activity,” it said. Members were also encouraged to place a fraud alert on their credit reports and change their passwords for their online accounts, especially their financial accounts. Members were also advised to be wary of phishing emails and smishing text messages. No numbers Asked how many members were affected by the incident, Pargas said PhilHealth has yet to know the quantity of the data stolen by the hackers. “There might have been data that were compromised but we don’t have any numbers yet,” he said. In case PhilHealth members receive suspicious calls about their data, they may report it through phic.actioncenter2023@gmail.com or phic.dpo@gmail.com, he said. Online Meanwhile, the state-run health insurer said its website, member portal, e-claims, HCI portal, Electronic Premium Remittance System, and electronic PhilHealth Acknowledgment Receipt can now be accessed by the public and their partners. On September 22, PhilHealth temporarily shut down its website and membership portal due to an "information security incident." The post PhilHealth insists ‘no data was compromised’ amid cyberattack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go reiterates call for increased health fund
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, emphasized in an interview on Tuesday, 26 September, the urgent need to bolster the Department of Health’s budget as the country movestowards pandemic recovery even amid several existing and emerging public health concerns. He recalled the budget deliberations in December 2019 when there were attempts to cut the budget of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for year 2020. “In the 2019 budget deliberations, I defended the RITM budget which was on the brink of being slashed. We even added more funds,” he narrated. This decision turned out to be crucial then, as RITM later played a vital role in Covid-19 testing when the pandemic started in 2020. Go noted that the restoration of RITM’s budget underscored the importance of adequately funding healthcare institutions, especially in unpredictable times. Go’s recollection came at a critical time when DoH is facing a P10-billion budget cut for 2024. The proposed budget cut would bring DoH’s overall budget down to P199.45 billion from P209.62 billion under the General Appropriations Act of 2023. With this, Go argued that the healthcare system needs more, not less, financial support. He then underscored the urgency for increased investment in the public healthcare system. Meanwhile, Go continued to push for the Department of Disaster Resilience and Mandatory Evacuation Center bills. Go’s office, in coordination with Mayor Clark Ngaya, distributed grocery packs to 500 typhoon “Egay” victims at the municipal hall in Barlig, Mountain Province last Monday, 25 September. The post Go reiterates call for increased health fund appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The Advantage of Adopting the Right Digital Tools for your Business
Amid the uncertainty in customer behaviors and trends from the crisis, this much is clear: updating the business for a digital-first world, led by purpose, is now a must for almost every company. To do so, they must determine where new business value exists in the new normal, what digital business models will capture it, and which tools and behaviors will support the adaptability and resilience that these models require. On this section, we talked to the creators behind the award-winning platform made for businesses like yours. The Digital Advantage Companies need an understanding of 3rd Platform technologies to capitalize on improved decision-making and to deliver enhanced, customized experiences to stakeholders. The rapid acceleration of 3rd Platform technology adoption means that corporates need to actively be looking for ways to improve their operational efficiency and customer service, otherwise, they will be in danger of falling too far behind digitally-native competitors to ever catch up. Efficiency Past recessions show that controlling costs by improving operational efficiency—a task for which digital solutions are perfectly suited for—is more effective in sustaining businesses through financial turbulence than traditional cost-cutting measures alone. The biggest efficiency play is automation. Streamlining operations and automating manual processes result in greater speed, less waste and more focus on revenue-generating activities. The economics of automation is simple: the same work is performed faster and with fewer mistakes, while human capital resources can be redeployed to higher-value tasks or to fill critical gaps. Convenience Company bank accounts are available in any device, the only things you need are internet connection and a few taps on the screen. This brings about an increase in customer satisfaction as they are able to constantly keep track of their account balances and manage the information on their personal profile (i.e. add new mailing address, e-mails, telephone numbers, etc.). In addition to this, there is no need to go to the bank to get checks as they can be instantly sent via email. 24/7 Reliability Online banking services are available 24/7 all year round, even on weekends. There is no need to line up and wait for the bank to open in order to conduct certain operations. This is a huge advantage that comes with digital solutions Security With all the recent news about data breaches, you might be wondering about the security of mobile and online banking. Security is top priority for banks when choosing whether or not to offer online banking. All banks use “Pentagon-grade” encryption technology and sophisticated firewalls. Mandatory security upgrades are required by bank regulators, so you can be confident that keeping your information secure is one of your bank’s utmost priorities. As digital transactions increase and productivity grow, companies must take proactive steps to protect their data privacy and security and adopt models that give them governance over their data. Today’s Platform Driven Solutions Self-service account management, bills payment and electronic fund transfers are considered the basic banking functions that each business should have. Account management allows viewing of account balances and transaction history without going to the bank. All these were made easy and accessible, by just logging into UnionBank’s The Portal app. Bills Payment, on the other hand, gives businesses access to a large list of billers. They can pay their water, electricity, telco, and other utilities online. BIR ePayment is also available, allowing users to pay taxes online. If the company is an accounting firm, they can also pay for their client’s taxes on The Portal app. Electronic fund transfers save companies time and reduce their risk exposure. Just upload the batch crediting file on the platform and it automatically disburses it to their recipients. Clients can also set up their recipients in UnionBank Business Banking so they receive email and SMS notifications every time they are credited. All these are made possible without stepping inside a branch. Batch Electronic Funds Transfer is also now made available for UnionBank Transfers and PESONet. This enables the streamlining of bulk account to account transfers to another UnionBank account or to other bank accounts. This has highlighted the ease and convenience of going digital to corporate clients versus processing transactions through the traditional way of banking over-the-counter or paying via cheques. Going beyond the basic functions of a normal digital banking tool, The Portal’s self-enrollment feature allows businesses to conveniently self-enroll their nominated accounts and users through the simple enrollment steps. Once completed, access to The Portal is granted and clients may enjoy the convenience of processing their funds transfer instructions online. In addition, there is an option to initiate the enrollment of the beneficiary accounts individually or in bulk. This can be essential for clients that need a payee maintenance feature to ensure that the initiated transactions are only credited to enrolled account. With the convenient, hassle-free and straight-through processing in The Portal, businesses can easily push fund transfers in the comfort of their own homes or offices. This pandemic serves as a widespread test case for the effectiveness of these digital solutions, many of which will be permanent fixtures and lead to long-term changes for many businesses. Organizations that embrace digital solutions have greater resiliency in the face of adversity and are way ahead of the competition, which will enable them to recover faster and pivot from playing defense to chasing growth. While many believe it is too idealistic to have a good workplace culture and excellent compensation, many jobseekers significantly consider these two factors when applying for a job, according to two studies. The 2021 Employee Experience Survey by Willis Towers Watson reported that 89 percent of respondents believe a positive employee experience is a crucial driver of engagement, while a 2023 survey from the online recruitment platform JobStreet found that 53 percent of Filipino job seekers would like to know the salary range offered while still in the recruitment process. Aside from great benefits and compensation, employees in the IT industry pointed out that a good work culture and environment, as well as training programs, are the top priorities of job seekers. Vanessa Liwanag, business development director at Yondu, acknowledged the company’s role in her growth, “Yondu has helped me develop my leadership, decision-making, and communication skills through its effective leadership training programs. The company also helped me grow personally because of its hybrid setup. This allows me to have a work-life balance. I can still care for my family and health while contributing to the organization.” Leather, who specializes in securing networks from vulnerabilities, noted that training programs are essential as trends continuously evolve. IT professionals need to keep up in order to be efficient. Steph, a software solutions engineer, echoed this, adding that since the industry is highly competitive and fast-paced, getting equipped with the right skills and knowledge is essential. Grace, a malware researcher, said that one advantage in the IT field is that since it’s a broad industry, there is always much to learn and room for improvement. Yondu, an IT solutions company wholly owned by Globe, offers all these benefits and compensation, a good working environment, and training programs to Yondudes, a nickname for its employees. Competitive pay and benefits are OK for Yondu as the company ensures this through regularly benchmarking market data and best practices. There are also tailor-fitted rewards programs according to talent segments. Yondu also ensures its employees remain competitive and well-equipped by industry standards through various training, reskilling, and upskilling programs to hone their skills in the constantly changing tech industry. Despite the fast-paced sector continuously evolving, Yondu still values work-life balance and provides programs to support Yondudes’ well-being further. “What sets Yondu apart from other organizations is its genuine focus on understanding and supporting its employees,” said Javen Babac, lead application support specialist at Yondu. “The company recognizes that employees perform their best when they feel valued and supported, and this philosophy sets Yondu apart by fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. The organization’s commitment to understanding its employees and providing the necessary resources demonstrates its dedication to employee well-being and sets a strong foundation for professional growth and job satisfaction.” The post The Advantage of Adopting the Right Digital Tools for your Business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bank lending declines, consumer loans rise
Bank lending of universal and commercial banks posted slower expansion amid higher money supply in the country, data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed on Thursday. Preliminary data showed that domestic liquidity (M3) grew by 5.9 percent year-on-year to about P16.4 trillion in June 2023 from 6.6 percent in May, driven by the sustained expansion in bank lending to non-financial private corporations and households. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, M3 increased by about 0.2 percent. Domestic claims rose by 10.1 percent year-on-year in June from 11.4 percent in the previous month. Claims in the private sector grew by 7.9 percent in June from 9.3 percent in May. Net claims on the central government also expanded by 17.2 percent in June from 18.3 percent in May, owing mainly to the borrowings by the National Government. Net foreign assets in peso terms fell by 2.8 percent year-on-year in June following a 2.7-percent expansion in May. The BSP's NFA position declined by 0.6 percent in June after increasing by 4.2 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile, the NFA of banks declined on account of higher bills payable. "Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to ensure that domestic liquidity conditions remain in line with the BSP's price and financial stability objectives," BSP said. Meanwhile, U/KBs' outstanding loans, excluding those placed in the central bank's reverse repurchase facility, grew at a slower rate of 7.8 percent year-on-year in June from 9.4 percent in May due to a continued rise in lending to key sectors. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, increased by 0.6 percent. Outstanding loans to residents, net of RRPs, also increased at a softer pace of 7.9 percent from 9.3 percent in May. Outstanding loans for production activities went up by 6.3 in June, following a 7.9-percent expansion in the previous month due to a continued rise in lending in electricity, gas, steam and airconditioning supply (11.8 percent); wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (9.7 percent); real estate activities (3.8 percent); financial and insurance activities (7.7 percent); and information and communication (11.2 percent). Likewise, outstanding loans to non-residents went up by 4.8 percent in June from 13.2 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile, consumer loans to residents rose at a slightly faster rate of 23.7 percent in June from 22.7 percent in May given the increase in credit card and motor vehicle loans. "The slowdown in credit activity reflects the impact of monetary policy tightening which continues to work its way through the economy," BSP said. "Looking ahead, the BSP remains prepared to ensure that domestic liquidity and lending dynamics are in line with its price and financial stability objectives," BSP added. The post Bank lending declines, consumer loans rise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t debt servicing higher this year
Debt payments by the national government increased year-on-year in the first half of the year due to higher amortization, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed on Monday. The national government's debt servicing reached P907.92 billion for the January to June period this year, up from the P458.35 billion paid out in the same term last year. Principal and interest payments are referred to as debt servicing. The debt service burden does not include actual outlays like refinancing, rescheduling existing debt or turning debt into equity. Payment of principal increased to P625.47 billion from P201.14 billion in the first six months of last year. During the year's first half, principal payments consist of domestic payments amounting to P561.42 billion and offshore debt payments worth P64.05 billion. On the other hand, interest payments rose to P282.46 billion in January to June this year from P257.21 billion in 2022. Domestic interest payments reached P192.89 billion during the first half of the year, down from P205.69 billion during the same period last year. It consisted of P74.73 billion in retail Treasury bonds, P108.37 billion in fixed-rate Treasury bonds, and P6.71 billion in Treasury bills. Meanwhile, interest on foreign debt increased to P89.57 billion during the first half from P51.23 billion a year ago. *June Financing Up* In June alone, debt payments amounted to P88.4 billion, up from P44.28 billion a year ago, due to higher interest payments. Of that amount, interest and principal payments reached P52.89 billion and P35.52 billion, respectively. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the rise in debt servicing during the year's first half could be attributed to higher borrowing costs amid higher interest rates locally and globally to tame inflation. "Weaker peso exchange rate since last year also increased the peso equivalent of the country's foreign debt and the debt servicing that comes along," Ricafort told DAILY TRIBUNE in a Viber message. He added that the further opening of the economy may have also increased some government spending, especially on infrastructure, thereby leading to the continued budget deficit and more gross borrowings to finance the deficit. "(This factor), in turn, led to new record high outstanding national government debt levels in recent months," Ricafort said. For context, BTr said the National Government's (NG) total outstanding debt stood at P14.15 trillion as of June 2023. Ricafort also said there is a need for government agencies to increase the utilization of government funds in view of the interest rates and other debt-servicing costs involved. The post Gov’t debt servicing higher this year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Victory for ordinary consumers
The Energy Regulatory Commission, on 8 August 2023, made the correct decision in suspending Resolution No. 07, S. 2011, which unfairly allowed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, or NGCP, to pass on its three-percent franchise tax to energy consumers. The suspension order was triggered by the Senate Energy Committee hearing in July where Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairman, moved to raise a review of the franchise tax of NGCP amid delays in the completion of 37 transmission projects. He pointed out the NGCP projects were delayed by 820 days or 2 years and 3 months. Adding insult to injury, Senator Tulfo said, the NGCP has been passing on its franchise tax to consumers since 2011. “Perhaps it’s time for ERC to revisit its Resolution No. 7, series of 2011. And since we’re at it, maybe it’s about time to revisit the franchise tax of NGCP and impose a regular income tax on them instead,” declared the good senator. Senator Win Gatchalian, vice chairman of the committee, said the ERC should not allow NGCP to pass on its franchise tax to consumers because there is a 2002 Supreme Court ruling that the income tax, which is not an operating expense, cannot be passed on by a utility to its consumers. In the case of NGCP, the franchise tax is not an operating expense. Moreover, the franchise tax, according to the NGCP franchise, is in lieu of income tax. As such, NGCP should not be allowed to pass on its franchise tax to consumers. You see, the government in granting NGCP a franchise to operate the power transmission system in the country, exempted the company from all kinds of taxes, including the 30 percent corporate income tax, except for a 3 percent franchise tax based on its annual gross receipts. However, in 2011, the ERC granted the NGCP’s application to allow the franchise tax to be part of the transmission costs included in the electricity bills of consumers. In RP vs Meralco (G.R. No 141314, 15 November 2002), the Supreme Court ruled that a public utility cannot charge its income tax to consumers by including it in its operating expenses that form part of the electricity bill since no benefit is derived from it by the consumers. The Supreme Court said that to charge consumers for expenses incurred by a public utility that is not related to the service or benefit derived by the consumers is unjustified and inequitable. Quoting from the case of Smyth v. Ames, 169 U.S. 466, 545 (1898), the Supreme Court declared: “[T]he public cannot properly be subjected to unreasonable rates in order simply that stockholders may earn dividends… If a corporation cannot maintain such a [facility] and earn dividends for stockholders, it is a misfortune for it and them which the Constitution does not require to be remedied by imposing unjust burdens on the public.” This 2002 ruling was recently reiterated in the May 2023 Supreme Court decision barring Maynilad and Manila Water from passing on to consumers their corporate income taxes as operating expenses. In a 102-page decision penned by Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC ruled that in operating the waterworks and sewerage system, Maynilad and Manila Water are public utilities that are expressly prohibited from passing on to consumers their corporate income taxes as operating expenses. Indeed, the act of NGCP of passing on its franchise tax to consumers is simply repulsive when the corporation has been given all the special privileges to operate the monopoly business of transmitting electricity and is exempted from all other taxes. The franchise tax is the single obligation imposed on NGCP, yet its handful of billionaire owners deigned to pass it on to the ordinary consumers, who do not enjoy the same privilege of tax exemption of the wealthy corporation. Passing on the NGCP’s franchise tax obligation to the consumers only furthers an economic system that makes the poor poorer and the rich richer. The post Victory for ordinary consumers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK water firms facing legal fight over pollution incidents
An environmental academic said Wednesday she had filed the first of multiple planned court actions against British water companies for underreporting pollution incidents and overcharging customers, in breach of UK laws. Carolyn Roberts, a professor and water and environment consultant, revealed she had lodged an initial claim against Severn Trent Water and planned further legal actions against five other firms on behalf of more than 20 million customers. Roberts, who is represented by the well-known British law firm Leigh Day, estimates the companies could face compensation bills of over £800 million ($1 billion) if the cases are successful. The first claim, filed last week against Severn Trent on behalf of eight million people, is estimated to be worth more than £330 million. It comes amid a long-running scandal over privatized water firms pumping raw sewage into waterways, provoking widespread public anger and promises of increased regulatory scrutiny from the government. Ministers announced last month that companies and individuals polluting Britain's rivers and other ecosystems will be liable for unlimited fines. "Like many others across the country, I have viewed with horror the escalating number of stories in the media regarding the volume of sewage discharged into our waterways and onto our beaches," Roberts said in a statement. "It appears that because of the serial and serious underreporting at the heart of these claims, water companies have been avoiding being penalized by Ofwat," she added, referring to the sector's regulator in the UK. "I believe this has resulted in consumers being unfairly overcharged for sewage services." Industry body Water UK said the accusations are "entirely without merit" and that 99 percent of sewage works are legally compliant. However, Roberts and Leigh Day said they intend to bring similar "collective actions" against Thames Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, and Northumbrian Water. They urged the companies' millions of customers to visit a website created to assess their eligibility for compensation. "These companies have allegedly been misleading their regulators by underreporting the number of pollution incidents, being discharges of wastewater from a company sewerage asset adversely affecting the water environment and resulting in higher customer bills," a statement on it read. Last month, a UK court fined Thames Water, the nation's biggest supplier, £3.3 million for polluting rivers. The fine came shortly after the UK's privatized water companies pledged to make massive investments to avoid repeats of the contamination. The post UK water firms facing legal fight over pollution incidents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aggregation brings power
In a 5 July meeting at the Palace, Prime Energy officials presented to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. a process that would prevent the cost of electricity from zooming up amid the depleted natural gas supply. The President was convinced the proposed gas aggregation strategy Prime Energy proposed would result in stable and cheaper energy in the country. “It seems that this gas aggregator idea is the key. Again, we have work to do,” Marcos said during the meeting. At the meeting, Prime Energy presented its grand plan for the revitalization of the Malampaya natural gas field, but there would be a lag between the start of the exploration to find reserves and the development of new wells, which would be a critical period. Prime Energy indicated that it will begin drilling two deep wells in the last quarter of 2024, with additional production from the Malampaya field expected to start only by the first half of 2026. The proposed solution is to import liquefied natural gas but the high cost is the problem, meaning that consumers’ monthly power bills may spike when LNG is fed to the lineup of power plants in Batangas. Aggregation involves the blending of gas from Malampaya with imported gas, thus softening the impact of the high cost of LNG. Energy supply firm First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group will provide the blending facility for Prime Energy through a lease deal. First Gen is currently developing an LNG and regasification terminal at its complex in Batangas City. It said the lease of its LNG terminal is part of the gas aggregation proposal that would connect to existing Malampaya gas facilities, which are now being operated by a consortium led by the Enrique Razon group’s Prime Energy. The aggregation framework would then tap the Malampaya consortium’s expertise in the natural gas market for the proposed fuel blending. Nearly all the technicians and personnel of Shell Petroleum Exploration who had been running the facility for the past 21 years were retained by the consortium. First Gen incidentally runs four gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 2,017 megawatts and which have been getting their supply from Malampaya for many years. The way that the partners explained their project was that it is intended to make it possible to blend currently declining volumes of indigenous Malampaya gas with imported LNG to ensure a least-cost solution for consumers, enhance energy security and provide a competitive power generation market. Such will be undertaken while exploration activities leading to the commercial development of new indigenous natural gas fields are undertaken. All these activities are in response to the national government’s urgent call for significant investments to ensure national competitiveness, according to First Gen. The Malampaya project needs to keep its share in the energy supply since it accounts for 20 percent of Luzon’s electricity needs. President Marcos signed the Renewal Agreement of Malampaya Service Contract 38 on 15 May, extending the life of the contract until February 2039. Drilling activities will cover the Camago and Malampaya East fields that are near the existing Malampaya platform. An extended contract freed at least $600 million worth of investments that will be used to drill two wells and construct subsea facilities. President Marcos’ signing of the extended deal removed the uncertainties that had saddled the project in the previous administration. It particularly silenced the opportunists who wanted to scuttle the contract and secure for their principal another deal at a huge discount. The post Aggregation brings power appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bills up amid P24-B recovery
Luzon customers may soon pay for additional charges in their monthly electricity bills as the Energy Regulatory Commission, or ERC, prepares to issue an order that will implement a high court-approved recovery of at least P24 billion in generation losses. In an interview with reporters last week, ERC chairperson lawyer Monalisa Dimalanta disclosed that the collection, which will likely be on a staggered basis within three years, takes effect next year. “We have calculated it, so the timing (of collection) is what we care about now. The cost is somehow hefty so we will spread the collection for three years,” Dimalanta said. ERC order According to her, the ERC will issue an order to allow the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, or IEMOP, to start the Luzon-wide collection of generation charges. “It will be co-collected with the consumers, but not all generation companies have claims, there are others who will pay for it,” she noted. For Manila Electric Co., or Meralco alone, the development means that customers will collectively pay to recover as much as P22.64 billion in generation loss from way back in 2013. This is part of the Supreme Court, or SC, ruling released last year. SC voids ERC order It can be recalled that the SC — through a decision promulgated on 3 August 2021, a copy of which was only released online on 1 July 2022 — voided the ERC order that was supposed to regulate prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, or WESM for November to December 2013. The move, according to ERC, should have capped spot market prices for the period to cut rates and lessen the high prices impact on customers by more than a third, or to just P7 million from P24 billion. The SC pointed out that the ERC’s order cannot be implemented due to the possibility of market power abuse, which could affect electricity prices. Address abnormal spike However, in its order, the ERC argued that it only wanted to address the abnormal spike and unreasonable electricity costs imposed by generation companies, or gencos during the period. The regulatory body also investigated alleged collusion among gencos to manipulate prices of electricity in the spot market during the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas facility for a similar period. Yet, the SC pointed out that the ERC failed to notify the affected parties about its probe, which violated the gencos’ right to due process. The post Bills up amid P24-B recovery appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CA conundrum
What gives in the recent Court of Appeals decision that effectively emasculated the Energy Regulatory Commission? The ruling, in effect, said SMC was correct in its petition to the ERC asserting a “change in circumstance” to allow it to set aside the fixed-price provision in its contract with Meralco. Moreover, the ruling favored SMC’s claim that the adjustment would result in the least electricity cost, which was the conglomerate’s contention when it filed the petition with ERC. In its plea, SMC’s power units sought a 30 to 34 centavos per kilowatt hour increase in the rate it charged Meralco. Meralco as the electricity distributor then passes on the cost to consumers in their monthly bills. The court in its decision weighed the impact of the various options and favored the one that SMC proffered as having the most benefit to consumers. The ERC in its October decision dismissing the petitions of SMC arms, South Premiere Power Corp. and San Miguel Energy Corp., cited the straight pricing scheme in the power supply agreements of both firms with Meralco. SMC, instead of petitioning ERC for a review, went straight to the Court of Appeals to seek temporary restraining orders for both SPPC and SMEC. The CA through its 13th Division promptly issued a TRO on SPPC which in effect suspended its contract with Meralco, as SMC had warned if the ERC did not go along with its wish for a price adjustment. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. then urged the court to review the TRO, fearing that it would result in higher electricity bills. The CA’s 16th Division then rejected the TRO petition of SMEC but allowed the consolidation of the cases with the 13th Division, which issued a ruling later upgrading the SPPC TRO into a writ of preliminary injunction. The latest 13th Division ruling was the provision of permanent injunctions to both SMEC and SPPC. Going by the principle of honoring contracts, ERC, as the regulator, needed to enforce the fixed-price provision in the PSAs which covered about 1 gigawatt of electricity supply to Meralco. SMC in the deliberations with the ERC said that it had been hemorrhaging money — P15 billion since 2021 from operating the Sual coal and the Ilijan natural gas power facilities amid high global coal prices and unilateral natural gas supply restrictions from Malampaya. The CA’s ruling overturned the ERC and thus allowed SMC to recover its claimed losses by passing it on to consumers. SMC can also seek new adjustments retroactively from the time that it was considered to have been affected by the high global prices and natural gas supply restrictions, based on the rulig. The CA decision would have the immediate effect of a likely price increase since the PSA would be terminated, forcing Meralco to buy electricity from the spot market. The ultimate effect of the CA decision, however, would be to weaken the regulatory function of the ERC since it will set a precedent for parties in a contract to undermine the regulator’s decision by going directly to the CA. The ERC, thus, is fighting to uphold its function under the Electricity Power Industry Reform Act or Epira with its vow to appeal the CA decision in the Supreme Court. “The decision is not yet final and we will still file a motion for reconsideration. If granted, that's another discussion. If denied, we will go all the way to the Supreme Court,” said ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta. It is indeed disconcerting that businesses that can pull all the strings overstep the rules, including the sanctity of contracts, aided by the court. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra in defending the ERC said the CA’s 13th Division “violated the separation of powers and overstepped its boundaries when it directed the parties (SMC and Meralco) to enter into good faith negotiations” on the PSA of SPPC. He said that the 25 January resolution granting the writ of preliminary injunction and issuing the directive to renegotiate the terms of the contract “impinges on the executive jurisdiction of both the Department of Energy and respondent ERC.” Guevarra said that a renegotiation “was not even prayed for in the petition.” The $64,000 question is what prompted the CA to go out of its way to favor SMC despite the business behemoth effectively breaching its contracts with Meralco. The post CA conundrum appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Water conservation directive now includes Metro residents and nearby provinces
The Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Sunday said it has expanded the coverage of its water conservation directive to residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjacent provinces. In its Bulletin No. 2, the WRMO instructed all barangay officials and condominium and subdivision managers to advise residents to conserve water through the reduction of activities that consume a large amount of water, such as watering the lawn and washing vehicles. This is to avert massive water interruptions in the coming months, the WRMO said in its release. The WRMO added that residents should likewise be encouraged to promote rainwater collection for non-potable use of water and to reuse laundry and dishwashing wastewater for watering plants. The WRMO also directed all local government units in NCR to fast-track the approval of pipe repairs of water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad. “As we prepare for even drier conditions due to El Niño, it is, more than ever, important to conserve water in order to prevent massive water interruptions later this year,” the WRMO said. Earlier, the WRMO issued its first-ever bulletin containing the guidelines for effective implementation of water conservation measures by all government offices, through their building administrators. WRMO’s Bulletin No. 1 was issued pursuant to Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 22 in which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. mandated all government agencies and instrumentalities to strictly implement water conservation measures as part of efforts to prevent a water crisis amid a looming El Niño phenomenon. In its second bulletin, the WRMO said its team shall conduct spot inspections of office buildings for unwarranted use of water, leaks, and faulty bathroom fixtures. The team will ensure that WRMO Bulletin Nos. 1 and 2 are posted in offices accordingly. The WRMO said that together with the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System (MWSS), it will review the monthly water bills of all government facilities in accordance with MC 22. Notices on excessive use of water shall be issued, it added. The office also advised the public to report leaks along streets to the MWSS (8929-5691, 8922-2969, 0967-3197144, or cch@mwss.gov.ph), or to the water service providers Manila Water (1627) or Maynilad (1626). Leaks within compounds which may need major repairs may be reported to the DENR-WRMO through wrmo@denr.gov.ph. WMRO’s Bulletin No. 2 was issued as the water level in Angat Dam, which supplies potable water to NCR and nearby provinces, continues to drop amid an impending El Niño dry spell. As of 8 July 2023, the water level in Angat Dam was at 179.99 meters, which is below the 180-meter minimum operating level. When below operating levels, the allocation for irrigation will be reduced and supply for NCR and the provinces of Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan will be at the minimum volume. As such, residents could expect lower water pressures mainly during the night and possible interruptions in certain areas serviced by MWSS. Under MC 22, President Marcos directed the WRMO to monitor the progress of all agencies towards conserving water through the analysis of their monthly water bills, with the aim of reducing their consumption by 10 percent. Created last April by virtue of Executive Order No. 22, WRMO is mandated to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water resources in the country. The post Water conservation directive now includes Metro residents and nearby provinces appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Heat wave in US turns Texas prisons into ‘ovens’
On the afternoon of 4 July, as Americans were celebrating the country's independence with elaborate fireworks displays, a prisoner named Joseph Martire passed out in his cell in Texas, amid the excessive heat that has been swamping much of the southern United States in recent days. In concrete, brick, and metal penitentiaries, industrial fans churn warm vapor without really cooling the air. And with no air conditioning in most prisons, when outside temperatures exceed 40ºC (104 Fahrenheit), it can feel even hotter inside the cells. Some prisoners sabotage the toilets in their cells to make the water overflow and wet the floor, which they then sleep on. Others wet their clothes to try to stay cool, according to convicts, ex-convicts and family members who spoke to AFP. In recent weeks, 35-year-old Martire had four heat-related health episodes at Estelle Prison in Huntsville, where he has served 16 years. "I just passed out, the medical (staff) refused to see me and I don't know what to do," he told his family by phone. They called the prison administration to seek help. When other inmates sense that someone has passed out in a nearby cell, they yell to attract a guard's attention, but staff shortages often mean delays, Martire said. The stricken inmate is then taken to an administrative area of the jail that does have air conditioning for so-called "respite." Prisoners try to linger as long as possible. "I've already had too many issues with my health before from the heat," Martire said. Asked what the heat in the cells is like, Amite Dominick of the NGO Advocates for Texas Community Prisons replied: "The fastest way I can explain that is, go sit in your car on a triple-digit day. Bring a blow dryer with you. Crack your window a little bit." Brick oven The Texas Tribune news site reported that at least nine people had died in state prisons in June from heart attacks or other possibly heat-related causes. But Amanda Hernandez, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), which is in charge of prisons, said the last heat death occurred in 2012. In June, the department treated seven cases of people affected "beyond first aid," but there were no fatalities, she said. The department, which oversees 126,000 prisoners, said that 32 people died in June, from a variety of causes. Dominick took issue with that breakdown. "The coroner will usually report something like 'cardiac arrest' because heat stroke is highly correlated with cardiac arrest," she said. "We're seeing the same reports. We're seeing medical evidence for what happens to the body. "You know, during these types of temperatures, these are heat-related deaths," Dominick added. Sean Adams, 36, served time in a prison called the Clemens Unit, in the Texas city of Brazoria, but which inmates call "Burns Like Hell." "It's one of the older units that was made out of, you know, red bricks," Adams said. "And so red bricks are essentially what ovens are made out of." The prisons agency said inmates have access to ice and water and can go to air-conditioned rest areas when necessary. So inhumane Samantha, whose daughter is a 25-year-old inmate at the Lane Murray prison, said three prisoners died there in June from heat-related causes. "The way that they're treated is so inhumane," she said. "In the summer months, when you're inside, you see multiple heat-induced seizures every day," said Marci Marie Simmons, a 44-year-old ex-convict and activist. She said that in late June, a 36-year-old inmate died in the Estelle prison hours after speaking with her mother and complaining about the heat. "If we go and leave a kid or a human being or an animal in a vehicle, we're going to prison. But the state of Texas wants to cook our Texans," said Michelle Lively, whose partner Shawn McMahon, 49, is in Wynne prison. "And some of them are dying, and they have short, like, stupid drug charges and they have a death sentence because they can't handle the heat," she said. In leaks to the media, prison workers have also complained about their working conditions, including the heat. Dominick said legislative efforts to do something about the heat have fallen short, with bills demanding air conditioning in prisons withering in the conservative-majority Texas Senate. Meanwhile, the state recently spent over $750,000 to purchase several air-cooled units for a large swine breeding operation run partly by inmates, Dominick said. "And they don't have it for human beings." The post Heat wave in US turns Texas prisons into ‘ovens’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Borrowings Spike 31.01%
The National Government's (NG) gross borrowings in April spiked by 31.01 percent year-on-year amid a rise in domestic borrowings, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed over the weekend. Data from the BTr showed that gross borrowings in April soared to P125.230 billion from P95.588 billion in the same month a year ago. However, month-on-month gross borrowings declined by 45.42 percent from the P229.432 billion recorded in January. In April, domestic debt accounted for 76.66 percent of total gross borrowings. Gross domestic borrowings increased by 0.43 percent to P96,002 billion in April, from P95.588 billion in the same month in 2022. During the month, the BTr raised none from retail Treasury bonds (RTBs), P94.475 billion from fixed-rate Treasury bonds, and P1.652 billion from Treasury bills. Meanwhile, gross external borrowings declined to P33.779 billion in April from P34.883 billion in the same month in 2022. External borrowings consisted of project loans at P6.213 billion and program loans at P27.566 billion. For the first four months of the year, gross borrowings declined by 12.16 percent to P1.026 trillion, from P1.168 trillion in the same period a year ago. Gross domestic debt declined by 13.68 percent to P780.785 billion in the January-to-April period, from P904.494 billion a year ago. Meanwhile, the external gross borrowing increased by 22.76 percent to P328.883 billion in the first four months of the year from P267.905 billion during the same period last year. The post Borrowings Spike 31.01% appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»