NIA plans to build floating solar power plants on dams, reservoirs

June 13, 2018 | 5:59 pm

The National Irrigation Administration is venturing into floating solar power plant on its dams and reservoirs, the agency said on Wednesday, June 13, as it looks into a proposal from the SN Aboitiz Power group to put up water-based energy project in Magat dam in Isabela.
“Such power group will conduct a 2,500-square meter pilot project over the Magat reservoir, a small-scale preliminary study prior to the performance of the large-scale project. The floating solar power project size is yet to be decided after the study,” it said in a statement.
NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya said that one hectare of solar field can produce one megawatt (MW).
For instance, in Magat dam with a reservoir of 4,500 hectares, if 200 hectares will be utilized for water-based solar power, 200 MW will be generated and 200 hectares of agricultural lands will be saved. — Victor V. Saulon

More illegally connected pipes uncovered in Boracay’s drainage system

June 13, 2018 | 5:51 pm

Boracay Island Water Co., Inc. has plugged 36 more illegally connected pipes to the island’s drainage system, its parent firm said on Wednesday, June 13, as the water company takes part in the island’s drainage clearing operations.
“We need everyone to act responsibly and to properly connect to a reliable sewer system to permanently put a stop to the illegal connections of sewer lines to the drainage system which is intended solely for rain water and not wastewater. These illegal acts of violators have become the main cause of our system overflows polluting our waters,” said Joseph Michael Santos, Boracay Water general manager and chief operating officer.
The plugging of the illegally pipe connections is part of the continuing efforts by the company to ensure proper wastewater management on the island in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). — Victor V. Saulon

DTI preparing rules to implement new ease of doing business law

June 13, 2018 | 5:38 pm

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has directed involved agencies to fast-track the terms of the new Ease of Doing Business Law of 2018.
“The future gameplan calls for the immediate organization of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA). I direct the DTI Competitiveness Bureau, which is the Temporary Secretariat of the ARTA, to ensure that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are approved within 90 working days,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said during the 6th Ease of Doing Business Summit (EODB) held Wednesday in Pasay City.
The council will be coming up with a strategic EODB Work Plan which will take into account the reforms that are in progress. — Janina C. Lim

SEIPI sees production cost rising by 40% because of TRAIN 2

June 13, 2018 | 5:34 pm

The Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) said the proposed terms under the tax reform’s second package may hike the production cost of its member-firms by an average of 40%.
“The bottomline is it was gonna increase the cost for the compan[ies] on the average by about 40%,” SEIPI President Danilo C. Lachica said in a press briefing in Pasay City.
The official emphasized that the figure resulted from the group’s computation of the average assessment of all its members, noting that some firms may not be as hurt as others by the TRAIN 2. — Janina C. Lim

China may use control over disputed sea to challenge US presence in region — US report

June 13, 2018 | 5:26 pm

A report from the United States Congressional Research Service revealed China’s capability to control the South China Sea in the event that a war breaks out between China and the United States.
US Navy Admiral Philip Davidson was quoted as saying in the report in part that “China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States.”
The official made the statement during a hearing last April by the US Senate Armed Services Committee.
Mr. Davidson also warned that if the Chinese military facilities in South China Sea would be occupied, it may “use these bases to challenge US presence in the region.” He added that “any forces deployed to the islands would easily overwhelm the military forces of any South China Sea-claimants.”
The report also mentioned that the US may be drawn into a conflict due to its obligations under bilateral security treaties with Japan and the Philippines.
It also described China’s approach to assert its claims in South China as “salami-slicing strategy” in order to “gradually change the status quo in China’s favor.” — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Chances of passing fiscal incentives reform "higher than ever", think tank says

June 13, 2018 | 3:54 pm

Advocacy think tank Action for Economic Reforms (AER) said that the chances of passing fiscal incentives reform in the 17th Congress are at their highest level, after over a decade of continued attempts.

“We think that the chances are highest now than ever,” said AER Industrial Policy Coordinator Jenina Joy Chavez.

The first proposal to streamline fiscal incentives given to firms begun in the 10th Congress, Ms. Chavez said. But these had not gained much traction.

Ms. Chavez said that now would be an “opportune time,” given the availability of comprehensive data to back deliberations on corporate tax incentives after the enactment of the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act.

She added that the Finance and Trade department are now in sync in pushing for the reform, as both were at loggerheads in the past.

Ms. Chavez also said that the Duterte administration’s infrastructure program would be concrete evidence that the recouped funds from streamlining tax incentives would be used in actual projects that would benefit the country. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

BIR uncovers 11 smuggled cigarette-making machines in Pampanga complex

June 13, 2018 | 3:45 pm

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) has uncovered a number of smuggled cigarette-making machines, the Department of Finance (DoF) reported.

In a statement, the DoF said that the BIR “seized four unlicensed cigarette making machines, six cigarette-packing machines and a filter-making machine along with fake cigarette tax stamps inside the San Simon Industrial Park in Pampanga. The bureau reported to the Finance chief that the machines were smuggled into the country.”

“Two factories in Cagayan de Oro, meanwhile, yielded unregistered cigarette making machines, packaging machines and a filter making machine during recent operations also conducted by the BIR strike team. Filter rods, tipping paper, cigarette paper, cut filters, inner liners pack and wrap film, plug wraps, acetate tow and other materials used to manufacture cigarettes were also seized during the raids,” it added.

This comes after the BIR seized a total of 531 mastercases of smuggled cigarettes with various brands so far.

“You better trace where these machines came from,” Dominguez said. “Who are the people behind this? How did these machines get in?,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said to the Customs bureau during their Executive Committee meeting on Monday.

Customs Deputy Commissioner Edward James Dy Buco meanwhile said that the unsanctioned entry of machines will be investigated. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Ombudsman team recommends graft charges against former VP Jejomar Binay

June 13, 2018 | 3:41 pm

The Office of the Ombudsman special fact-finding team has recommended charging graft complaints against former Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay and 36 others over the sale of the Boy Scout of the Philippines-owned property in Makati City.

The Field Identification Office (FIO) reported it has completed investigations over the “grossly undervalued” sale of the 10,000- square meter property to Alphaland Makati Place, Inc. (AMPI)

The FIO found the property was sold in June 2011 for P600 million, way below the P1.75 billion mortgage price.

The sale was grossly undervalued considering that under the Omnibus Loan and Security Agreement between BSP and AMPI, the Malugay property was mortgaged for P1,750,000,000.00 which is indicative of the property’s true value,” the Ombudsman said in a statement issued Wednesday. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

MB gearing up to tackle rising inflation, rapid economic activity

June 13, 2018 | 3:33 pm

The Monetary Board (MB) is gearing up for its next rate-setting meeting given a “fairly complex” context of faster inflation and rapid economic activity, the central bank chief said, as the exchange rate also treads a fresh low in over a decade.
“The MB will be evaluating a very rich and broad range of information at its policy meeting next week,” BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. said in a text message to reporters. “Recent developments on inflation and economic activity are key inputs but these are certainly not the only consideration.”
“We’ll be examining closely all the potential drivers of future inflation through the various transmission channels as affected by global developments, expectations formation, and uncertainty. It’s a fairly complex environment that we need to navigate,” he said.
Mr. Espenilla made the remarks when asked to comment on the continued depreciation of the peso, which weakened further to P53 per dollar on Wednesday. Some analysts are reportedly attributing the downtrend to uncertainty over the BSP’s next moves, ahead of their June 21 rate-setting meeting. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez

Malacañang welcomes successful Trump-Kim summit, promises PH support

June 13, 2018 | 3:03 pm

Malacañang on Wednesday welcomed the successful meeting of United States (U.S.) President Donald J. Trump with North Korean (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12, saying it underscores the “value of diplomacy and peaceful dialogue.”
“We welcome the landmark summit between US President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a statement.
“This development, which has underscored in the strongest terms the value of diplomacy and peaceful dialogue, augurs well for the peace, security and stability in the region and the world,” he said.
The Palace also said it is willing to support the budding US-DPRK friendship. “History has indeed been written. At the same time, this is but the beginning of a process. The Philippines is ready and willing to lend its support toward bringing it to fruition,” Mr. Roque also said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

CHEd to sign MoA on implementation of Free Higher Education Law

June 13, 2018 | 2:59 pm

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) is set to sign today a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) nationwide to launch the implementation of the Republic Act 10931 or the Free Higher Education Law.

The law, according to its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), covers all Filipino students who are either currently enrolled at the time of its effectivity, or shall enroll at any time thereafter, in courses leading to a bachelor’s degree in any SUC and LUC.

“All students availing themselves of the free higher education provision shall be entitled to: (a) free tuition for all courses/subjects/classes enrolled in during a particular semester/term, as part of the curriculum and are essential to obtaining a degree. This includes approved petitioned classes, but not non-credit, within-semester tutorial or review classes, nor review and enhancement classes offered by the [higher education institution]; (b) free miscellaneous and other school fees,” the IRR also said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

DoTr sets completion date for new transpo hub in Parañaque

June 13, 2018 | 2:54 pm

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it is expecting the completion of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) by July.
“The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) is now at 91.54% completion rate and is targeted to be inaugurated next month,” it said in a statement.
It added, the terminal will “resemble an airport terminal with multi-level platforms” when finished. “It is also equipped with an Online Bus Ticketing System, an online and on-site booking and ticketing system for a faster and easier commuting experience. The terminal will also be equipped with Wi-Fi and charging points.” — Denise A. Valdez