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Palay production likely dropped in Q2 — PSA

A farmer threshes newly harvested palay grains at a ricefield in Mogpog, Marinduque in central Philippines, March 22, 2016. — REUTERS

PALAY (unmilled rice) production is estimated to have declined 8.6% during the second quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

In a report, the PSA said that the palay harvest is estimated at 3.88 million metric tons (MMT), which if realized, would fall short of the 4.25 MMT in actual output a year earlier.

The PSA’s outlook is based on the standing rice crop as of June 1.

The Department of Agriculture is projecting palay output to rise to 20.44 MMT this year, against 20.06 MMT in actual production in 2023.

The PSA said that total harvest area likely decreased 7.2% year on year to 891,770 hectares.

It added that about 86.6% of the crops as of June 1 has been harvested, equivalent to about 3.16 MMT.

It said that yield per hectare may have declined by 1.4% to 4.36 MT.

“Of the 119.870 hectares of standing palay yet to be harvested, 1.4% were in the reproductive stage and 98.6% were in the maturing stage,” it added.

Separately, the PSA said the national rice inventory was 2.16 MMT as of June 1.

It reported that rice stocks rose 19% from a year earlier.

The PSA said that rice inventories from the National Food Authority (NFA) rose 62.5% followed by stocks held by commercial traders, which were 56.7%.

On the other hand, it noted a decline in rise held by households of 21.3%.

“Of this month’s total rice stocks, 61.4% were held by the commercial sector, 32.2% by households, and 6.4% NFA depositories,” it added.

Meanwhile, the PSA said that corn production likely dropped 19.3% to 1.19 MMT during the second quarter.

Corn stocks as of June 1 was estimated at 750,760 MT, declining 15.3% from a year earlier.

Corn stocks held by commercial traders rose 7.5%, while household stocks fell 15.6%.

About 93.6% of this month’s corn stocks were held by commercial traders, with the remaining 6.4% held by households. — Adrian H. Halili

Energy storage partnership sees size of APAC market at 3,000 island communities

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

US ENERGY storage company Amber Kinetics said the potential Asia-Pacific (APAC) market for its storage technology being co-developed with regional partners is about 3,000 island communities.

“Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. has identified 3,000 islands that will require this technology all over the Asia-Pacific region,” Amber Kinetics Chief Executive Officer Edgar O. Chua said on the sidelines of the US Embassy’s 16th Media Seminar last week.

“We are about to complete the testing and development; we are expecting that in August,” he added.

The development of the technology stems from a memorandum of understanding signed by Amber Kinetics, Aboitiz Power Corp., Kawasaki Heavy, and IKS Co. Ltd. in February 2023.

“What we signed in Tokyo was a joint cooperation to work on the development of the iVSG (virtual synchronous generator). So the technology, iVSG, comes from Kawasaki, and a component of iVSG needs storage, so that’s where we come in,” he said. 

“iVSG also needs an inverter, so that’s where IKS comes in, and then Aboitiz Power is our partner that will provide the proof of concept. Eventually… Aboitiz Power can also be a partner in marketing the solution,” he added.

Currently, the consortium is developing the proof of concept on a small scale at De La Salle University. This week, Amber Kinetics is set to discuss with Aboitiz Power arrangements for testing on a larger scale.

“We are about to start discussions with Aboitiz to identify which sites would be good sites for the testing of the proof of concept of the technology,” he said.

“The technology is really geared for microgrids, so we need to identify which islands will be ideal to work with,” he added.

Mr. Chua said that the solution will also be applicable to Aboitiz Power’s more mainstream operations as it can help stabilize grids when sourcing from renewables.

According to Kawasaki Heavy’s website, iVSG is software that enables an inverter to behave like a synchronous generator, ensuring grid stability.

Mr. Chua said that such technology is important as the grid may become unstable while sourcing from renewables as the power generated fluctuates. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Philippine rice import forecast raised to 4.7 MMT for 2023-2024 — USDA

BW FILE PHOTO

THE US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it raised its Philippine rice import forecast for marketing year 2023-2024 to 4.7 million metric tons (MMT) from 4.6 MMT estimated a month earlier.

In its Grain: World Markets and Trade report, the USDA said the updated estimate is now in line with its rice import projection for the 2024-2025 marketing year.

“The Philippines is a major consumer of rice and, in recent years, has become the largest rice importer with recent policy changes spurring additional imports,” the USDA said.

In June, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) No. 62 which lowered the tariff on imported rice to 15% from 35% until 2028. The new tariff regime is subject to review every four months.

The EO is expected to reduce the retail price of rice by P6 to P7 per kilogram, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“Lower tariffs are expected to decrease landed prices, easing inflationary pressures while spurring additional Filipino rice consumption,” the DA added.

The USDA said the new estimate was spurred by stronger than expected import volumes during the first six months of 2024.

Rice imports amounted to 2.32 MMT during the six months to June, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), citing totals as of July 4.

In the year earlier period, rice imports were 1.86 MMT.

The Agriculture department is projecting rice imports of 3.9 MMT this year.

The USDA added that importers have shifted some purchases to other countries due to rising global rice prices and tighter supply from Vietnam.

In January, the Philippine and Vietnamese governments signed an agreement giving the Philippines a quota of 1.5 MMT to 2 MMT of rice annually for five years.

Shipments from Vietnam have totaled 1.72 MMT, followed by Thailand with 352,331 MT.

The USDA said that the increased import volumes have resulted “in closer connectivity between international and Philippine rice prices.”

A kilogram of imported well milled rice sold for between P51-P55 in Metro Manila markets, while regular-milled rice fetched P46-51 per kilo, according to DA price monitors as of July 11.

Asked to comment, Ateneo de Manila economist Leonardo A. Lanzona said that lifting of the Indian government’s ban on rice exports may drive the Philippines to import more.

“With the lifting of India’s ban, the probability of even higher imports seems more certain,” Mr. Lanzona said via Messenger chat.

“As the agricultural sector continues to face hurdles due to weather conditions, the government has instituted a tariff policy designed in favor of consumers,” he added.

Last year, India banned the exports of non-basmati white rice due to domestic supply concerns. Imports from India was estimated at 21,701 MT, the BPI said.

In October, the Indian government gave the Philippines an export quota of 295,000 MT for non-basmati white rice.

The USDA said that due to the ban on Indian rice exports, the Philippines leaned more heavily on suppliers Vietnam and Thailand, pushing up their export prices.

“Buyers in the Philippines chose to pay these elevated prices from Southeast Asian suppliers, which resulted in higher retail prices in the Philippines,” it added.

Former Agriculture Undersecretary Fermin D. Adriano said that with the lowering of tariffs, imported rice will become cheaper than its domestic equivalent.

However, he added that traders may delay their imports until the Supreme Court (SC) decides on a farmer petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against EO 62.

“Importers will hedge over importing rice for as long as TRO issue is not settled because they will lose money,” Mr. Adriano said in a Viber message. — Adrian H. Halili

Underspending still seen as ‘big risk’ to growth this year

BW FILE PHOTO

UNDERSPENDING by government agencies could yet pose a drag on economic growth this year, analysts said.

“I certainly think that underspending is a big risk, given that we’ve yet to see any meaningful consolidation of the government budget — in nominal terms — since the deficit blew out during the pandemic,” Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief Emerging Asia Economist Miguel Chanco said in an e-mail.

“But this is likely also a reflection of the slowdown in growth, which will affect government revenue and, in turn, constrain the ability of the government to spend.”

On the sidelines of an event last week, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said that government agencies’ overall disbursement and obligation rate as of the end of the first quarter was 45.6%.

When asked about the risk of underspending this year, Ms. Pangandaman told reporters: “There is still (a risk,) because (government agencies) still have issues in procurement.”

Obligation refers to a government agency’s payables for projects which are due in the near to medium term. On the other hand, disbursements are the actual cash withdrawals from the Treasury to fund liabilities from its programs or projects.

The government seeks to ensure timely spending of funds to keep up the momentum for gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has asked all underspending agencies to submit their “catch-up plans” to address low budget utilization and issues with project or program implementation.

Quarterly, it also assesses government agencies’ spending performance especially for big-ticket items.

“The DBM conducts periodic agency performance reviews to assess both physical and financial performance, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and provide necessary support to keep projects on track,” Budget Undersecretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran said via Viber.

Government agencies and offices were also reminded to procure in a timely manner to ensure projects are bid out on time.

Early procurement is also a feature of the proposed New Government Procurement Reform Act, which is awaiting the President’s signature.

“These communications keep agencies on track with their reporting obligations and emphasize the importance of adhering to budgetary schedules,” Ms. Libiran said.

Last year, fiscal underspending was cited as one of the reasons for the 4.3% GDP growth posted in the second quarter, the weakest in two years.

To improve state spending, legislators must reduce “patronage-driven” insertions in agency budgets, according to Institute for Leadership, Empowerment, and Democracy, Inc. public budget analyst Zy-za Nadine M. Suzara.

“These insertions cause delays in procurement and implementation, and thus (represent) underspending on the part of the agencies,” she said via Viber. “How can early procurement be done if the projects are inserted right before the budget is passed?”

Government agencies and offices must also bolster planning and budgeting linkages across the bureaucracy, Ms. Suzara added.

Terry L. Ridon, a public investment analyst and convener of think tank InfraWatch PH, said the benchmark for monitoring state spending is too low.

“The 25% (overall obligation and utilization rate per quarter) is such an unrealistic and low benchmark which allows poor performers to justify their failure in efficiently using state resources,” he said via Viber.

“Timely spending is most crucial in the building of capital resources such as buildings and other infrastructure because the sooner roads and bridges are built, the sooner can economic activity in various areas scale towards unprecedented levels,” Mr. Ridon noted. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

How AI is fundamentally changing recruitment

IN BRIEF:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the recruitment landscape, offering solutions to enhance efficiency, reduce bias, and improve candidate experiences.

• AI-driven tools are aiding predictive hiring, administrative task reduction, and strategic decision-making, but challenges such as maintaining the human touch and ensuring quality remain.

• As AI continues to evolve, recruiters must balance technology with human-centric approaches to talent acquisition.

The recruitment process has always been a critical aspect of organizational success, serving as the means to acquiring the talent that drives innovation and growth. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the talent acquisition landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation. This article explores how AI is revolutionizing recruitment, the benefits and challenges it presents, as well as the strategies for striking the right balance between technology and human interaction.

RECALIBRATING THE HIRING PROCESS
The pandemic has led to more companies using advanced HR technology to find and keep valuable employees. Because hiring the right talent is crucial for the success of any organization, this has increased the use of automated hiring tools to make better hiring decisions. These tools use AI to look at candidates more deeply than just their resumes, considering their potential for innovation and other important qualities, which helps to avoid bias and makes hiring more efficient.

AI in hiring doesn’t just make things more efficient; it also changes how companies plan for their future workforce. With AI, companies can predict what skills they will need and address any shortages by hiring or training people in advance. AI can look at job candidates from all over the world, helping companies find a diverse range of employees and create teams that are more innovative and successful in a global business setting. AI also helps make hiring fairer by reducing bias, leading to a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

Digital hiring solutions could revolutionize the way organizations identify, assess, and recommend candidates. By analyzing talent data, AI can build predictive profiles that align with the company’s cultural context and can look at data to predict which candidates will fit the company’s culture well, which could result in longer tenures and better performance. 

LEVERAGING AI FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS
AI-powered digital accelerators are dynamic tools that continuously improve themselves by updating and adjusting their algorithms. This ensures they stay effective over time. These technologies can be smoothly incorporated into a company’s overall management system, which helps the company look at hiring as part of the big picture. They make finding candidates faster and help companies make smarter hiring choices.

AI IN TALENT ACQUISITION
AI is changing how companies hire people, but it’s not perfect. Relying too much on AI might mean missing good candidates if the AI doesn’t understand all the details in resumes. People also worry about losing the personal side of hiring, which is about knowing people and how they work together. To fix these issues, companies are using both AI and human judgment together. Examples are as follows:

1. Resume Screening with Human Review: AI software initially screens resumes to filter out candidates based on specific criteria such as skills, experience, and education. Recruiters then manually review the shortlisted candidates to consider additional factors that AI might overlook, such as unique experiences or potential for growth.

2. AI-driven Assessments with Human Interviews: Candidates might be asked to complete online assessments powered by AI, which evaluate their skills, personality, and cognitive abilities. The results are then reviewed by hiring managers who conduct personal interviews to get a better sense of the candidate’s soft skills and cultural fit.

3. Chatbots with Recruiter Follow-ups: AI chatbots can engage with candidates for initial data collection and answering FAQs. Recruiters can then follow up with candidates who pass this initial screening for more in-depth conversations and relationship building.

4. Predictive Analytics with Human Decision-making: AI can analyze large datasets to predict which candidates are most likely to succeed in a role. Hiring managers use these insights to inform their decisions but also rely on their professional judgment and experience when making the final call

5. Automated Sourcing with Personalized Outreach: AI tools can identify potential candidates from various sources such as job boards, social media, and professional networks. Recruiters then personally reach out to these candidates to ensure a more human touch in the recruitment process.

6. Video Interviews with AI Analysis and Human Review: Candidates might be asked to record video interviews that AI software analyzes for speech patterns, facial expressions, and body language. Recruiters review these analyses alongside the actual video to make more informed decisions about the candidates.

By integrating AI tools with human expertise, companies can benefit from the efficiency and data-driven insights of AI while still maintaining the critical human elements of intuition, empathy, and complex decision-making that are essential for successful talent acquisition.

Additionally, not all companies can afford to use AI for hiring, especially if they don’t hire often or the jobs are very specialized. To help with this, there are new AI services that let companies pay only when they use them, making AI available to more businesses.

AI’S IMPACT ON FILIPINO RECRUITERS
According to the 2024 Work Trend Index from Microsoft Corp. and LinkedIn, 89% of Filipino leaders think their organization must leverage AI to stay competitive in the global market. The Philippines, like many other countries, has been adopting AI in various aspects of recruitment including 1) Automated resume screening, 2) Use of chatbots for candidate engagement, and 3) AI for candidate sourcing.

The adoption of AI in recruitment and retention in the Philippines reflects a broader global trend towards digital transformation in HR. However, the extent of AI adoption can vary widely among organizations, depending on their size, industry, and resources. It’s also important to note that while AI can significantly enhance HR functions, it is typically used in conjunction with human expertise to ensure that the recruitment and retention processes remain balanced and fair.

STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE
AI is fundamentally changing recruitment by providing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce bias, and improve the overall candidate experience. However, the successful integration of AI in recruitment requires a holistic approach that maintains the human element, ensuring that the technology serves to complement rather than replace the talent that is vital to the acquisition process.

Understanding how AI is reshaping the hiring landscape is crucial for recruiters and chief human resources officers (CHROs) to meet evolving business and employee expectations. As AI and the HR function continue to evolve, organizations must balance traditional competencies like risk and compliance while paving the way for future innovations.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Rossana A. Fajardo is the consulting leader of SGV & Co.

Local government units told to follow suit after Bulacan prohibits POGOs

PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-ORGANIZED CRIME COMMISSION

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter and Chloe Mari A. Hufana

A PHILIPPINE senator on Sunday urged local government units (LGUs) to ban offshore gaming operations after Bulacan did so last week given their alleged links to crimes.

“LGUs should emulate the decisive action taken by the Bulacan provincial government and several other city governments to outlaw Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) in our communities,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement.

“Given the various criminal activities associated with POGO operations, our communities stand a better chance of achieving inclusive economic growth without POGOs,” he added.

The senator said the ban would ensure peace and order in local communities.

The Senate ways and means and dangerous drugs committees are set to tackle a bill that seeks to outlaw all forms of online gambling.

Under Senate Bill No. 1281, people who gamble on the internet face six months of jail time and a fine of as much as P500,000. The measure seeks to repeal all laws, executive orders and other rules that allow online gambling.

Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando last week issued an order banning offshore gaming operations in the province.

The provincial board had also passed an ordinance banning POGOs and other similar activities within the territorial jurisdiction” of Bulacan.

“There are social issues, human trafficking, torture, money laundering, kidnapping, prostitution, different crimes in POGOs,” Bulacan Vice Governor Aexis C. Castro told reporters last week after the board approved the ordinance. “We would not let these things happen in Bulacan as these are all crimes brought by POGOs.”

The Senate is in the middle of its probe looking into crimes linked to POGOs, which are mostly Chinese gambling firms that operate online casinos from the Philippines.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco told a Senate hearing last week that his agency has banned POGO hubs and was working on guidelines on these gambling operations.

Pagcor earlier said the government could lose P20 billion in yearly revenues if POGOs are banned.

Congress under former President Rodrigo R. Duterte passed a law taxing POGOs to legalize them, despite concerns about their social costs. Chinese President Xi Jinping had asked him to ban their operations.

The benefits of a total POGO ban outweigh the risks of their continued operations, Calixto V. Chikiamco, Foundation for Economic Freedom president, told BusinessWorld in a Viber message.

“Economic managers are united in saying that the social and economic costs of hosting POGOs exceed the diminishing revenue we generate from them,” he said.

“Hosting POGOs represent a reputational risk for the Philippines and aggravates our relationship with China, which also doesn’t want these POGOs operating here and targeting customers in China,” he added.

EMPLOYMENT COSTS
Edwin S. Estrada, a faculty of the School of Diplomacy and Governance of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, said crimes threaten national security.

“Crime always affects national security and peace and order whether coming from locals or foreigners,” he said in a Viber message. “China doesn’t want us to accommodate POGOs precisely because of the illicit activities connected to them.”

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto earlier said a letter recommending a total POGO ban had been sent to Mr. Marcos.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the Cabinet had yet to discuss the ban.

Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., told BusinessWorld in a Viber message that POGO operations in the country had diminished over the years.

Still, he said a total ban could affect local employment and demand for real estate.

“[The ban] may have adverse impacts in terms of reduced employment for locals in POGO operations, reduced demand for real estate rentals for residential, office and commercial properties and even purchases of residential condominiums,” he said.

Retailers and other commercial establishments could also face reduced demand.

“Supplies or any other businesses or industries in the supply chain of POGOs could be adversely affected such as rental/lease income, employment agencies and other related and allied products and services needed by POGOs from locals,” Mr. Ricafort said.

Transport and logistics serving POGOs could also lose their business, he added.

Pagcor, which regulates these gambling firms, said tighter regulation would be better.

“We prefer to simply tighten regulations and enhance law enforcement against illegal operators to protect legitimate operators and foreign investors in the sector which now include many nationalities aside from the Chinese,” Pagcor Assistant Vice-President for Corporate Communications Catalino B. Alano, Jr. said in a Viber message.

He said Chinese investors account for only 50% of licensed operators.

“We have no guarantee that once we ban the legitimate operators, they will simply close shop and return to their countries of origin where they are likely to face prosecution and jail, or worse,” Mr. Tengco said in a statement on July 11.

He said operators might go underground once they are banned. He added that the real problems are the criminal syndicates masquerading as POGOs.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission has raided POGO hubs believed to be linked to human trafficking and other crimes.

The Senate over the weekend issued an arrest warrant against the mayor after citing her in contempt for skipping Senate hearings.

Marcos urged to build expert pool in nuclear energy, ensure safety

BW FILE PHOTO

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

THE GOVERNMENT of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. should build a pool of experts in nuclear technology and ensure its safe implementation if it plans on pursuing it as a vital part of the country’s energy mix, according to economists.

“We need to ensure its safety,” Leonardo A. Lanzona, who teaches economics at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook  Messenger chat. “It seems more crucial to develop training centers for people who will work in these nuclear plants and study and research centers that can create the necessary expertise to expand its utilization.”

Washington and Manila’s  Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, also known as the 123 Agreement, entered into force on July 2, the US State Department said in a statement on July 9. Both countries signed the deal in November.

The pact provides a legal framework for the export of nuclear materials, equipment and components from the US to the Philippines.

But Jose Enrique A. Africa, executive director of think tank Ibon Foundation, said nuclear energy could be more expensive than renewable energy and other reliable power sources.

“It’s also doubtful that there is any local expertise or technology that greatly limits our capacity to independently assess and monitor risky foreign nuclear power,” he said in a Viber message.

“The government may be better off pursuing renewable energy systems that are safer and cheaper and where we can still plausibly develop indigenous capacity.”

The 123 Agreement would pave the way for collaboration with US experts to assess the Philippines’ capacity to implement a nuclear energy program, Energy Director Michael O. Sinocruz told BusinessWorld in a Viber message.

In December, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 2506, which seeks to establish a Philippine Atomic Energy Regulation Commission to oversee the licensing, protection, safety and other operations related to the development of nuclear energy. The measure has yet to be tackled by a Senate committee.

The House of Representatives in November passed on final reading a bill that will establish a similar body called the Philippine Atomic Regulatory Authority, which will have “the sole and exclusive jurisdiction to exercise regulatory control for the peaceful, safe and secure uses of nuclear energy and radiation sources.”

The Energy department last week said an inter-agency committee on nuclear energy is working on a roadmap to implement nuclear energy in power generation.

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevarra said the agency plans to hold two green energy auctions before the end of the year, consisting of geothermal, pump-storage hydro and impounding hydro sources.

The Philippines seeks to boost the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix from 22% to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

“The US government’s haste to get a bigger share of the civilian nuclear energy export market should not come at the expense of the Philippines’ national interests,” Mr. Africa said. “Nuclear energy remains risky, and safety demands reliable regulatory and infrastructure frameworks that the country doesn’t have.”

Consumer representation at local power auctions pushed

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

CONGRESS should look at amending a law that liberalized the power industry to allow consumer representation during power auctions, ensuring transparency during the bidding process, an energy advocate said last week.

Consumers are only represented in energy affairs during public consultations, Nic Satur, Jr., chief advocate officer of Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE), said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“Consumers should be more actively involved in creating positive change in the energy sector beyond just attending public consultations,” he told BusinessWorld.

“By involving a consumer representative, the auctions will benefit from an additional layer of oversight, ensuring that the bidding is conducted with the utmost integrity and that the outcomes are truly in the best interests of the consumers,” he added.

Bills seeking to amend the 2001 Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) are pending in the energy committees of both Houses of Congress.

Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez this month said the House of Representatives seeks to pass the measure before the Christmas break.

He also said the House is looking at amending the 23-year-old power law to make electricity cheaper.

Philippine electricity rates are among the highest in Southeast Asia, according to a 2022 study by the Ateneo de Manila University.

“[It can] be attributed to poor oversight, monitoring and implementation by energy regulators and the government,” Mr. Satur said.

“High electricity rates are further aggravated by EPIRA’s pass-through provisions, taxes, and universal charges,” he added.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) should be strengthened so it could penalize erring power companies, Mr. Satur said. Penalties paid should be given to consumers instead of being sent to the Bureau of the Treasury, he added.

Congress should also look at prohibiting cross-ownership between power distribution and generation companies to avoid anti-competitive behavior, he said.

“Allowing cross-ownership within the energy sector could put consumers at a disadvantage, leading to higher prices, reduced choices and potentially lower quality of service,” Mr. Satur said.

“It could consolidate power within a few companies and players, diminishing the competitive drive essential for efficiency, reasonable price and innovation.”

The bill amending the law is among the priority bills set by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for the 19th Congress.

House bills seeking to amend the EPIRA are pending in the House energy committee. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Marcos condemns Trump shooting

PPA-NOEL B. PABALATE

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos., Jr. on Sunday condemned the attack on Donald J. Trump in Pennsylvania at the weekend, in which the former US President was shot in the ear.

“Together with all democracy-loving peoples around the world, we condemn all forms of political violence,” he said in an X post. “The voice of the people must always remain supreme.”

The 78-year-old Mr. Trump, who is running under the Republican party and is leading in national polls, said on his Truth Social platform that the bullet had “pierced” the upper part of his right ear.

The shooter was found dead, a rally attendee was killed, while two other spectators were hurt, the US Secret Service said in a statement. Secret Service personnel immediately shielded the former President after gun shots went off, with guards clad in body armor taking to the stage to look for the shooter.

The Secret Service said it had started looking into the shooting and was briefing Democratic President Joseph R. Biden, who is Mr. Trump’s political rival.

Mr. Trump has been accused of mishandling classified government files, falsifying business documents to conceal a hush-money payment and conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in the state of Georgia.

“It is with great relief that we receive the news that former President Donald Trump is fine and well after the attempt to assassinate him,” Mr. Marcos said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Central Mindanao towns flooded

COTABATO CITY — Floodwaters from heavy rains swept through 18 more towns in three Central Mindanao provinces on Saturday, forcing  about 40,000 residents to flee and destroying bridges and at least 23 houses.

Many of the flooded towns in Maguindanao del Sur and Cotabato provinces were close to swamps and rivers linked to the 220,000-hectare Ligawasan Delta, a catch basin for more than a dozen waterways from mountain ranges.

The Ligawasan Delta swells fast during rainy days, causing floods in nearby towns.

Rampaging floods destroyed two bridges in the Tambis and Kidayan stretches of the Kalamansig-Palimbang Highway that straddles through the seaside Kalamansig and Palimbang towns in Sultan Kudarat province.

Cotabato Governor Emmylou T. Mendoza has sent emergency responders to flooded villages in Kabacan and Pikit towns, which are both known as gateways to the Ligawasan Delta.

The Office of Civil Defense-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Ministry of Social Services and Development-BARMM were trying to reach out to residents of flood-stricken areas in Montawal and Pagalungan towns in Maguindanao del Sur and in some of the 63 Bangsamoro villages in Cotabato. — John Felix M. Unson

NSWMC told to issue NEAP list

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has ordered the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) and its attached agencies to issue a list of nonenvironmentally acceptable products (NEAP) within six months.

The court also ordered the government body to review and update the list year and inform the court about its enforcement progress, as it issued a so-called writ of kalikasan in favor of several environmental groups including Oceana Philippines International.

The writ compels the government to address the harmful effects of plastics and plastic pollution.

The appellate court said the commission failed to issue the list, which is required under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“It baffles the court how, for more than 20 years, respondents refused to come up with a NEAP list when they admit that they have already identified several plastic items as nonenvironmentally acceptable products,” according to the 44-page decision written by Associate Justice Ruben Reynaldo G. Roxas.

It noted that the Environment department, whose chief was among those sued, had declared plastic softdrink straw and plastic coffee stirrers as nonenvironmentally acceptable as early as 2021.

The DENR did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

“The violation caused by respondent NSWMC’s failure to formulate the nonenvironmentally acceptable product list involves or will lead to an environmental damage of such magnitude as to prejudice the life, health or property of inhabitants in two or more cities or provinces,” the court said.

Items on the list will be prohibited unless there are no alternatives available to consumers at no more than 10% greater cost.

The appellate court’s Former 10th Division Special Division of Five in the July 9 ruling said the NSWMC should not be allowed to continue to drag their feet in complying with their legal duties. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Pampanga’s cash advances flagged

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE COMMISSION on Audit (CoA) has flagged the provincial government of Pampanga for giving cash advances to fund officers who have failed to document their liquidiations.

The practice exposes state funds to misuse, state auditors said in a report.  CoA noted that it had flagged these “deficiencies” in the past, which continued last year.

The Pampanga provincial government of did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

CoA said Pampanga should regulate the practice by disallowing new ones until these are completely liquidated. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

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