Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 11701

Renewables illusion and coal realism

THE “renewables cheaper than coal, fossil fuels” urban legend continues until today. For instance, three articles published in BusinessWorld recently:
1. Reducing power plant carbon emissions by 70% is doable (Aug. 20) by Roberto Verzola.
2. Rooftop solar could help reduce diesel, coal imports — report (Aug. 21).
3. Low-carbon path (Aug. 27) by Roberto Verzola.
Among the arguments of these and other papers are the following:
1. “Rooftop solar costs P2.50 per kWh without financing expenses, P5.3 per kWh with financing expenses. Utility-scale solar power can cost as little as P2.99 per kWh” (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analytics (IEEFA).
2. “Low carbon scenario of 64,280 GWh by 2022, 54.602 GWh by 2030” (Verzola).
3. “Low-carbon scenario limits at most 64,280 GWh (54%) of fossil-based generation by 2022, balance of 53,720 GWh (46%) must be covered by RE (Verzola).

A lot if not all of these numbers and projections are products of delusion and irrationality.
On #1, if solar cost is indeed declining, then why don’t the solar lobbyists and developers simply abandon the high feed-in-tariff (FIT) or guaranteed high price for 20 years, now P10+/kWh? Why not call for drastic reduction of FIT to P4-P5/kWh, even abolish FIT altogether?
On #2, as the Philippines relies more on coal — 38.8% of 72.92 tera-watt hours (TWH) of electricity generation in 2012, up to 49.6% of 94.37 TWH of generation in 2017 — our electricity prices decline. See Meralco rates for instance, weighted average for all customers (residential, commercial, industrial). The rates exclude VAT but include all other non-recoverable taxes and charges.
In addition, we already have 94.37 TWH of power generation in 2017 (75% of which are from fossil fuels coal, natural gas, oil), some guys want us to use just 2/3 of that by 2022, very backward thinking.
On #3, moving away from coal and fossil fuels and embracing renewables like wind/solar has been the goal of many developed countries for the past two decades or more. And yet by 2017, many of them still rely 30% or higher on coal while their RE generation (wind, solar, biomass, geothermal) remains small.
The solar lobbyists also silently demand to cut and murder all tall trees near houses with solar roof and all utility solar farms. Solar hates shades — from clouds, rains and tall trees. It is anti-green.
The bottom line of more renewables cronyism via continued expensive subsidies, mandatory dispatch and related provisions is that whether we have less rain, no rain or more rains; less flood, no flood or more floods, less storms or more storms, we should endure expensive and unstable electricity. We should send more money to the UN, Al Gore, CCC, WWF and Greenpeace, get more climate loans from the WB and ADB. Lousy.
 
Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is president of Minimal Government Thinkers and a fellow of Stratbase — ADRi.
minimalgovernment@gmail.com

Video games and intellectual property

LAST Aug. 26, 2018, the international gaming community watched intently as two of the world’s best DOTA2 teams went head to head for the championship title of The International 2018 (TI8), the biggest annual competition in the e-sports universe. OG emerged victorious, not only earning the respect of millions of players, but also a staggering USD11,227,487.00 as prize money.
Most e-sports, or electronic sports, involve formally organized teams of gamers competing against each other in online or offline video games. Today, playing video games is not just for fun, but has become a legitimate professional career option for avid gamers. Starting out as a mere pastime, video games have developed into a worldwide, multibillion-dollar industry where revenues are no longer limited to just the sale of actual video games but can also come from computers, toys and various other merchandise, and in-game purchases.
While it is true that the fans, players, programmers, video game writers and designers, among others, contribute to the overall success of the video game industry, many often overlook the vital role intellectual property laws play in keeping the industry alive, thriving, and, most importantly, profitable. Without legal protection, video games would probably not have evolved into the multi-faceted, technical, and creative masterpieces we know them to be today, with each video game composed of a source code layered with audiovisual effects, artistic character and environmental design, musical scores, storylines, and unique gameplay, to name a few.
According to Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, a copyright protects literary and artistic works from the moment of their creation. As applied to video games, copyright covers the source codes or software, character and environmental design, music, dialogue, and story. This means that these aspects of the game cannot be copied without obtaining the consent of their creators first, otherwise the imitators may be liable for copyright infringement, entailing the payment of damages. Other remedies, such as an injunction, may also be obtained. In the American case of Atari, Inc. (Atari) vs. North America Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. (NAPCEC), Atari acquired the rights to produce Namco’s popular Pac-Man game in its Atari 2600 console. However, NAPCEC, at the same time, developed a game entitled K.C. Munchkin which greatly resembled the Pac-Man game, in terms of gameplay and character design. Atari was eventually able to secure an order from the US Court of Appeals to prevent the release of K.C. Munchkin, with the court siding with Atari that the latter was indeed substantially similar to the Pac-Man game.
The same law also affords protection to owners of trademarks who registered the same with the Intellectual Property Office, subject to certain exceptions under the law. A trademark is defined as any visible sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of an enterprise. In the realm of video games, a trademark includes the game company’s logo, the game title, and character names, among others. Trademark registration ensures that the goodwill associated with the trademark will not be unlawfully appropriated by another. Anyone found guilty of trademark infringement may be liable for damages, among other penalties. Examples of registered video game trademarks include “XBOX,” “POKÉMON,” and “NBA.”
With regard to video game consoles and its accessories, the law may treat them as patentable inventions, if qualified. A patent is defined as any technical solution of a problem in any field of human activity which is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable. However, to be protected against infringement, one has to successfully register his invention or design first before anyone else. Further, for game developers, it should be noted that gameplay of a video game can also be patented if they satisfy the criteria under the law. For instance, KOEI Company, the owner of the Dynasty Warriors franchise, a video game available in PlayStation consoles, was able to successfully secure a patent registration for its iconic group battle methodology under US Patent No. 6,729,954.
Truly, without the protection of the law as mentioned above, video game programmers and designers would have no incentive to create new and innovative games; and unscrupulous companies and individuals would brazenly and openly copy whatever video game they desire, effectively deteriorating the quality of games being released into the market. Without intellectual property laws, then TI8, wherein millions of fans worldwide passionately followed their gaming idols, would not have happened.
To TNC and Mineski, who represented the Philippines and bravely fought in the TI8, great job and keep up the good work in inspiring future Filipino professional e-sports athletes to achieve their dream. This year was just not your year, but as they say online, GG.
This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not offered as and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion.
 
Raymond C. Sanchez, Jr. is an associate of the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW).
rjsanchezjr@accralaw.com
830-8000.

Duterte hit by new ICC complaint over drug war

ACTIVISTS AND FAMILIES of eight victims of the Philippines’ “war on drugs” filed a complaint on Tuesday with the International Criminal Court (ICC), a second petition accusing President Rodrigo R. Duterte of murder and crimes against humanity.
The 50-page complaint calls for Mr. Duterte’s indictment over thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings during his crackdown on drugs, which the activists and families said included “brazen” executions by police acting with impunity.
Critics of the campaign were being “persecuted,” they said, and cases filed by victims’ families had gone nowhere. The latest move is led by a network of activists, priests and members of the poor, urban communities that have borne the brunt of a fierce two-year campaign in which police have killed about 4,400 people, causing international alarm.
Human rights groups believe the death toll could be far higher than the one the police give, and accuse law enforcement of summarily executing suspected drug users and small-time dealers, using only cursory intelligence. Police reject that.
Neri Colmenares, a lawyer representing the group, told reporters: “Duterte is personally liable for ordering state police to undertake mass killings.”
Mr. Duterte insists he told police to kill only in self-defence and has lashed out at critics while demonstrating no remorse for the deaths. In a national address last month, he said the drugs war would be remain “relentless and chilling.”
Spokesman Benigno Durana of the Philippine National Police said the only order Mr. Duterte gave to police was “to wage war on drugs and criminality within the bounds of the law.”
The ICC petition, known as a communication, follows a similar complaint filed in April 2017 by a Philippine lawyer and backed by two opposition lawmakers, into which the ICC in February started a preliminary examination.
Presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque, Jr. said the latest petition was “doomed,” because the Philippines’ was no longer covered by the ICC’s Rome Statute.
“That’s not a complaint; that’s a communication because it’s still to be acted upon by the ICC. Procedure is different. Anyone can file a communication. Even the Pope has a communication filed against him. So that doesn’t mean anything,” he added.
Mr. Duterte unilaterally withdrew in March from the ICC’s founding treaty, saying it skirted due process and presumption of his innocence and sought to portray him as a “ruthless and heartless violator of human rights.”
He even threatened to arrest ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda if she were to come to the Philippines to investigate him, and said he would convince other countries to follow him in quitting the ICC. It was a stark contrast from the early days of Duterte’s presidency, when he had routinely disparaged the ICC and dared it to go after him, expressing his readiness to go on trial in The Hague and “rot in jail.”
Opposition lawmakers maintain that Mr. Duterte’s withdrawal from the treaty, which takes effect in March 2019, was illegal because it was done without Senate approval. They have challenged it at the Supreme Court but were a no-show at oral arguments on Tuesday.
Kristina Conti, another lawyer backing the complaint, said it had been filed before the ICC because as a serving president, Duterte had immunity from legal action.
The ICC prosecutor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment and could not be reached out of normal office hours. — main report by Reuters, with Arjay L. Balinbin and Vann Marlo M. Villegas

House approves 100-day maternity leave on 2nd reading

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
THE BILL EXTENDING paid maternity leave to 100 days from the current 60 days has hurdled second reading at the House of Representatives, Tuesday.
Voting viva voce, the House approved House Bill 4113, “The 100-Day Maternity Leave Law,” which will also grant all covered female workers in the government and private sector an additional thirty-day leave without pay.
As the measure provides, women in government offices who are on maternity leave shall receive full pay based on their average weekly or regular wages. This is regardless of the worker’s civil status, and of whether the delivery is normal or by cesarean procedure, which have different maternity periods under the current law.
A woman employed in the private sector shall be “paid her daily maternity benefit… based on the average monthly salary credit.”
The measure also covers women working in the informal economy and also applies to those whose delivery resulted in a miscarriage.
Female workers with pending administrative cases will also continue to enjoy maternity benefits.
The bill was authored by Representatives Emmeline Y. Aglipay-Villar, Francisca L. Castro, Pia S. Cayetano, Emmi A. De Jesus, Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica, and Micaela S. Violago, among others.
The bill’s counterpart, Senate Bill No. 1305, grants a maternity leave of 120 days and an optional 30-day extension. It has been approved on third and final reading.

Opposition leader urges De Castro to stay out of ‘politically charged cases’

THE LEADER of the opposition in the Senate wants Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro to “inhibit (herself) from politically charged cases, as a way to address “questions, issues, and doubts” on her appointment over the weekend.
Ms. De Castro held her first news conference on Tuesday, taking the occasion to assert her independence and track record in the judiciary.
In his statement on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon of the opposition Liberal Party (LP) said: “All questions, issues, and doubts surrounding the appointment of Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, particularly with regard to her impartiality, can only be addressed if the newly-appointed chief magistrate refrains from participating in any political case pending before the court.”
“I encourage her to inhibit from politically charged cases in order to uphold the integrity of the decision that the Supreme Court may make during her short tenure,” Mr. Drilon also said.
He added: “I have known Chief Justice de Castro for over two decades and I have known her to be a woman of intelligence and integrity. However, whether she can do as much, set a trend, or influence the Supreme Court, during her five weeks tenure as Chief Justice is something that is difficult to expect given such limitation. What else can she do within her term?”
Pending in the Supreme Court is an electoral protest by Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. against Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, the current LP chairwoman. Malacañang has said President Rodrigo R. Duterte may step down if Mr. Marcos wins his protest case.
In her press conference, Ms. De Castro said in part: “I think they should look at my record,…my long service in the judiciary, and I don’t think that one incident like you mentioned would have been enough for me to be elevated to the highest position of the judiciary.” She was referring to her vote in the quo warranto petition that served to oust her predecessor and mutual critic, Ma. Lourdes P.A. Sereno.
“We should all move on and work together for the good of our judiciary. Let’s put the past behind us, but of course we should not forget the lessons that we learned in the history of the judiciary,” the new chief justice also said.
Ms. De Castro also said, “I would like to inform everyone that up to this time, I have not met the President…I did not approach him whether directly or through anybody. So he appointed me without knowing me personally. So I don’t think that the President will do anything that will impair the independence of the judiciary.”
She added, “We would like to express our appreciation that the President has that strong political will, to see to it that the merit system which is the hallmark of public appointment is followed, and upholding the time-honored tradition seniority in the Supreme Court.”
Regarding the impeachment complaints filed against her and six other Supreme Court justices, Ms. De Castro said, “I have no time to think about it, because you know,…I have very few weeks to work here in the Court, and I don’t want to be distracted by anything else. My schedule is full. I have so many activities set in the coming weeks, I do not wish to be distracted by that.”
“I want the De Castro Court to be remembered as the Court that restored collegiality in the Supreme Court, the Court which was able to institute several reforms in the judicial process. And I think I can do that in such a way that processes in the judiciary become more expeditious, less costly, and more accessible to the general public,” she also said. — with Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Official appointments released for NYC, ERC, other agencies

National Youth Commission (NYC)-Luzon representative Ronald Gian Carlo L. Cardema

APPOINTMENT PAPERS were released for officials in various government offices, including National Youth Commission (NYC)-Luzon representative Ronald Gian Carlo L. Cardema, who will now head the agency for three years. Mr. Cardema, who is more known as head of the Duterte Youth Movement, replaces resigned Cariza R. Sequerra.
ERC
The appointment of lawyer Alexis M. Lumbatan as a board member of the Energy Regulatory Commission has also been made official. Mr. Lumbatan, former member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, will hold the ERC post until July 2025.
PNOC, OTHER AGENCIES
The other appointments are: retired Air Force officer Romeo D. Poquiz as member of the Philippine National Oil Company Board of Directors until June 30, 2019; Antonio T. Kho Jr. as Commission on Elections commissioner until Feb. 2022; Francisco Gil N. Garcia, president of the University of Southern Mindanao, as academic community representative to the Philippine Rice Research Institute Board of Trustees for two years; Myrla B. Paradillo, Luzon representative to the Cooperative Development Authority Board of Administrators for six years; lawyer Kristian Vicente T. Gargantiel as member of the DBP Data Center, Inc. Board of Directors until June 30, 2019; and Maria Luisa I. Belen as director II of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Business leaders tackle federalism in forum

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
BUSINESSMEN on Tuesday raised concerns on the proposed shift to a federal form of government and the tax system under the draft Charter crafted by the Consultative Committee (ConCom) to Review the 1987 Constitution.
Retired chief justice and ConCom head Reynato S. Puno, at a forum in Makati on Tuesday morning, Aug. 28, addressed members of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on the draft constitution for federalism.
In his speech, Mr. Puno stressed that federalism is the practical solution to the country’s “century-old poverty.”
“There may be other solutions to our problems… But certainly, the solution is not the status quo that has continuously cultivated a culture of dependence, a culture of mendicancy in our regions, a culture that continues to impoverish our regions,” he said in part.
The forum panelists were Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. independent director Rafael M. Alunan, P&A Grant Thornton chairman and CEO and Finex president Maria Victoria C. Españo, Banco Mexico, Inc. president Victor Y. Lim, Jr., Association of Credit Rating Agencies in Asia secretary-general Santiago F. Dumlao, Jr., Lazaro Bernardo Tiu & Associates managing director Romeo L. Bernardo, and MAP National Issues Committee chairman Eduardo H. Yap as moderator.
Mr. Dumlao questioned the timing of the proposed shift to a federal setup. “Some are saying that we need to understand more the federalism concept that we propose and let us not rush, and that we should wait for the Bangsamoro [Organic] Law to be implemented and see how we can learn out of this similarly federalism approach,” he said.
For his part, Mr. Puno said: “Let us look at the pressing problems of the country. The continuing revolution in the countryside, the continuing threat of terrorism, not just by the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) but also by the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) and other Muslims factions, and the widespread poverty in our country. You are now saying that we now have this Bangsamoro Law. But there’s no assurance that the Bangsamoro Law will be a successful experiment.”
He added that if “we are giving the demands” of the Bangsamoro people, “why should we not give the demands of our regions to minimize our problem on poverty?”
“If I discuss federalism with our poor people, the ultimate question being asked is: ‘What material benefit will I get under federalism?’ In your case, given your superior status in our society, I hope you will not ask that [same] question; rather, I hope that you remember the words of a wise man: ‘I am because we are.’”
For her part, Ms. Españo’s question focused on how the government can ensure that local and national tax systems are harmonized and guarantee that “each region will not define its own tax which may result in double taxation.” She noted as well concerns among businesses on the “consistency of laws and the preservation of the sanctity of contracts” under federalism.
In response, Mr. Puno said: “Tomorrow, we shall be meeting with the [President’s] economic managers, (Finance Secretary) Sonny (G.) Dominguez III, (Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M.) Pernia, and others.”
“I am confident that we shall be able to find the correct fiscal formula….I am suggesting, perhaps, we can go forward if there will be a….flexible fiscal formula,” Mr. Puno also said.
A flexible fiscal formula, according to Mr. Puno, “will be determined by an intergovernmental council, which is composed of representatives from the executive, from the legislature, and from the council of the governors.”
He said the flexible fiscal formula he is suggesting “is flexible in the sense that the formula can be reviewed and the council can tilt it in favor of the federal government.”
“I am confident that the lack of agreement with respect to the fiscal formula can be subject to compromise,” Mr. Puno added.
Sought for comment, Mr. Yap said Mr. Puno “presented a strong case” in favor of federalism.
“At the end of the day, it will depend on Congress,” Mr. Yap added, regarding whether Charter change will push through.
“As Justice Puno said, abolishing the political dynasty is key to him. Now, in our assessment, it looks like the political dynasties are very much well-entrenched in Congress. So, the likelihood of that happening is dim,” he also said.
Mr. Yap said MAP will be conducting another forum on federalism on Sept. 11. “The next forum that we are going to have will be on the contra-arguments….So, this is very serious and we want to learn more. At this point, if you ask me, it’s premature to render an opinion. This is a very complex issue, very fundamental and transformational. We need to listen and learn more.”

Drilon: Carpio’s appointment as next chief justice still possible

SENATE Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, in a statement on Tuesday, said it was still possible for Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio to be nominated as the next chief justice after the retirement of Chief Justice Teresita de Castro in October.
“The President has announced that Justice Teresita de Castro is appointed Chief Justice with her seniority as a principal and major consideration. That could be a good indication for Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to be the next Chief Justice,” Mr. Drilon said in his statement.
He noted that Mr. Carpio “declined the nomination for the vacancy created by the removal (by quo warranto) of (Maria Lourdes P.A.) Sereno because he did not want to benefit from the removal of Sereno, which he has opposed.”
 
“But Carpio’s reason for declining any nomination for chief justice is no longer applicable today, because the vacancy that will be created next is by reason of de Castro’s retirement – not the removal of Sereno,” Mr. Drilon said. 
He added: “Contrary to news reports that the President has shut the door for a possible Carpio-led Supreme Court once the newly-appointed Chief Justice retires in October, I read the President’s statement to mean that, he respects Carpio’s refusal to be nominated as Chief Justice for the vacancy created by the removal of Ma. Lourdes Sereno.” 
 
“Unless I am wrong, the President did not close the door to future nominations of Carpio as next Chief Justice. In fact, the President’s statement that seniority is his major and principal consideration in appointing individuals to the government boosts Carpio’s chance of becoming the next chief justice.”
“Hence, I urge the most senior associate justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Carpio, to reconsider his stand and heed the call for him to apply as a successor of de Castro. I urge him to apply as the next chief justice.”

Maritime law enforcers from 7 nations join SEACAT

REPRESENTATIVES FROM seven countries are participating in the SEACAT (Southeast Asia Cooperation And Training) Exercise’s boarding workshop, ongoing from Aug. 27-31 at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Surface Support Force in South Harbor, Manila. The PCG, which is hosting the SEACAT for the second time, said the exercises are intended to address common concerns on maritime security threats in the ASEAN region such as illegal fishing, smuggling, illegal drug and human trafficking. The 100 participants come from the PCG, Philippine Navy, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Singapore Navy, Royal Thai Navy, Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, Indonesian Navy-Komando Armanda I, Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency, and Thailand Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Center. The training will be concluded by a sea phase activity in Philippine waters, one in Subic, Zambales in the west and at the Sulu Sea in the south.

7 Boracay entrepreneurs get loan from SB Corp.

THE GOVERNMENT-run Small Business Corp. (SB Corp.) announced yesterday that it has started releasing loans to micro enterprises affected by the six-month shutdown of resort island Boracay, more than four months since the closure started on April 26. In a statement, the Department of Trade and Industry’s loan arm said the initial released funds were distributed to seven entrepreneurs who each received P30,000 through the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program. The P3 is intended to support micro entrepreneurs by providing affordable, low cost and easy-to-pay loans to help them expand their businesses. Loan payment terms vary from monthly to semi-monthly over a period of six months to one year, depending on the borrower’s financial capacity. “Helping the people of Boracay Island and local tourism during this period means ensuring their micro entrepreneurs have access to available funds to support their businesses,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said in the statement. — Janina C. Lim

New inter-agency traffic council gears up to ease congestion in Metro Cebu

THE NEWLY-formed Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) under the Cebu provincial government has started training traffic management officers of the towns and cities as a first step to easing road congestion, particularly within the Metro Cebu area. Cebu Provincial Traffic Management focal person Jonathan F. Tumulak, in a statement, said the I-ACT will formally convene immediately after Cebu Governor Gov. Hilario P. Davide III signs the ordinance creating the council. The signing was scheduled yesterday. “I-ACT will serve as the mother of all traffic management offices that is being created in most LGUs (local government units); they will become an avenue where our towns can voice out their traffic concerns, and the body can help solve this concern,” Mr. Tumulak said. The council will be chaired by the governor, with members and representatives from the LGUs and national agencies, including the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Department of Public Works and Highways. Next week, the provincial board is expected to approve the Unified Traffic Code for Cebu Province, which includes a provision on “inter-operability” among the LGUs — the cities of Carcar, Naga, Talisay, Danao, and Mandaue; and the towns of Minglanilla, San Fernando, Compostela and Carmen. The I-ACT will also implement the local public transport route plan (LPTRP), which will be developed by each LGU with consideration on recent economic developments in their respective areas.

Davao officials say staying in top 5 cities good despite drop in competitiveness ranking

DAVAO CITY dropped one rank to 4th most competitive highly-urbanized city in the country for 2018, but officials say staying within the top five continues to reflect good governance. “Davao City has consistently ranked among the top 5 most competitive cities in the Philippines in the past years,” City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) head Ivan C. Cortez said. The city ranked 5th in 2015 and 2016, and moved up to 3rd last year. “The skid from 3rd to 4th can be explained by the different concepts in the business permitting processes,” Mr. Cortez told BusinessWorld, explaining that with the new system, the whole process of getting a permit is counted as five days if the applicant has to go to different offices even if the permit is released in just one day. “The award is the testament of all the efforts made by all of the departments of the city government… With this award, we can see that the government is unceasingly giving its best to continue to improve its services,” Mr. Cortez said. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, for her part, attributed the award and other achievements to the strong partnership between the city government and the private sector. The Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index is an annual ranking developed and collated by the National Competitiveness Council. — Carmencita A. Carillo
>> See the list on https://goo.gl/NA4h6p

1...11,70011,70111,702...13,891Page 11,701 of 13,891
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube