THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is seeing a delay in the resumption of the billing and settlement of amounts in the reserve market as the regulator still has to consult the stakeholders on the proposed price cap.
“We have already received many comments. It looks like it will be a long discussion, which may impact the timeline for the resumption of the reserve market because we definitely want the resumption to happen only when we have the offer floor and price cap,” ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta told reporters on Wednesday.
Ms. Dimalanta said that they have tracked “more than 100 comments from stakeholders”that they need to sort out.
She earlier said that the ERC is eyeing the reserve market to return to full operations on July 26, as it is tied to the billing cycle.
In a draft resolution, the ERC has proposed setting a floor price of P0 per megawatt-hour and a ceiling price of P19 per kilowatt-hour for trading power reserves.
The ERC has called on all interested parties to submit comments on or before July 8, with a public consultation set for July 11.
The reserve market allows the system operator to procure power reserves from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) to meet the reserve requirements of the energy system.
In March, the ERC suspended the operations of the billing and settlement of the price determination methodology for the implementation of the co-optimized energy and reserve market in the WESM.
It said that the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines reported significant price increases in reserve costs for March compared to February.
The regulatory body ordered the settlement of 30% of the amounts due on the reserve market transactions during the March billing month to allow power generators to partially recover their costs.
Citing simulations, the ERC projected the partial payments to be worth P1.7 billion, which has already been recovered during the June electricity billing.
The reserves traded for the March period were valued at P5.7 billion.
The full commercial operations of the reserve market commenced in January. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
Part of nation-building is ensuring physical structures like roads, power lines, or hospitals are in place to facilitate commerce, connect cities, and improve the quality of life in a region. Infrastructure is essential in creating an environment that enables economic prosperity and development in a country.
As a savvy business mogul who has been a fixture in improving life for Filipinos, Manuel V. Pangilinan, more often referred to as MVP, has made significant contributions across major industries in the Philippines such as telecommunications, utilities, media, and sports. As the chairman and CEO of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), Mr. Pangilinan has been instrumental to laying the foundation for the infrastructure that connects the Philippines today.
Through MPIC’s tollway unit, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), MVP has provided a safe and convenient mobility experience to travelers as well as brought progress to communities through sustainable infrastructure. In terms of vehicle traffic volume, revenue levels, asset base, and the combined length of expressways, the MPTC is the largest toll road developer in the Philippines.
One of their developments, in a joint venture with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), is the Manila-Cavite Expressway Project (CAVITEX), a 14-kilometer (km) tollway that traverses the Coast of Manila and connects Roxas Boulevard to Cavite. With exits to Bacoor, Las Piñas, and Kawit, Cavite, the road was designed to link Metro Manila with thriving provinces in Southern Luzon. Inaugurated by then President Benigno S.C. Aquino III in 2011, CAVITEX has eased traffic on major stretches and reduced travel time for Filipinos going to Cavite.
Recently, it was reported that the Pangilinan-led company is keen on buying out the remaining interest of the government. In their current deal, the PRA operates and manages the expressway while MPTC’s subsidiary, Cavitex Infrastructure Corp., is tasked with the design, finance, and construction of the toll roads.
Another connector of provinces in Southern Luzon, the MPTC’s Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) reduces the travel time from Kawit, Cavite to Biñan, Laguna from two hours to 35 minutes. The 44.58-km four-lane closed-system tolled expressway is a private-public partnership between the Department of Public Works and Highways, as the implementing agency; and MPCALA Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of the MPTC.
CALAX is uniquely designed to feature several commercial establishments and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as an Automatic License Plate Recognition System that allows barrier-less entry, IP-based Speed Detection Cameras, and CCTVs. The expressway recently opened its Silang-Aguinaldo Interchange that leads to Tagaytay City last year and is on track to complete its Governor’s Drive Interchange by third quarter of 2025.
Pioneering expressways in the Visayas region, MVP’s MPTC built the country’s longest and tallest bridge connecting Mactan Island with mainland Cebu through the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX). The 8.9-km CCLEX is the Pangilinan-led company’s first venture outside of Luzon and the first tollway of the MPTC to be fully cashless.
Recently opened in 2022, the tollway is set to add the Guadalupe ramp which will connect three interior villages in the city to the CCLEX and make a significant impact to the local economy. The construction of the P6-billion ramp will start later this year and is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.
Operating north of Metro Manila, another MPTC subsidiary, the North Luzon Expressway Corp. is the builder-concessionaire and handler of three major expressways spanning over 200 kilometers that link Metro Manila to North and Central Luzon: the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and NLEX Connector. Formerly known as the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), NLEX Corp. has operated for over 20 years engaging in the development, design, construction, finance, operation, and management of toll road projects.
NLEX practically functions as the gateway for travelers going from the capital to the northern parts of Luzon. The 105-km tollway spans from its Balintawak Interchange to three different provinces with exits in Hacienda Luicita, Tarlac, Porac, Pampanga, and Tipo in Bataan. Built during the 1960s, NLEX’s main segment is built parallel to the Manila North Road, also known as the MacArthur Highway.
Linked to NLEX, the SCTEX is a logistical hub that has revolutionized the way business and leisure are conducted in the region. The 94-kilometer expressway connects Central Luzon’s most thriving areas: Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, and the Central Technopark in Tarlac.
The tollway, a venture between the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and MPTC, also leads further north of Luzon through its link with San Miguel Corp.’s Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.
Meanwhile, NLEX Corp.’s connector project aims to link the northern expressway to its southern counterpart, the South Luzon Expressway. Mostly traversing along the Philippine National Rail track, the eight-kilometer elevated four-lane tollway is expected to benefit at least 35,000 motorists daily and decongest Metro Manila traffic. NLEX Connector Road may be accessed along C3 Road in Caloocan City and along España and Magsaysay Boulevards in Manila.
Aside from their tollways here in the country, the Pangilinan-led company also has ventures in neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. Through Metro Pacific Tollways Asia (MPT Asia), Mr. Pangilinan has significant stakes in two major infrastructure companies in ASEAN: a 76.31% share in PT Nusantara Infrastructure in Indonesia and a 44.9% share in CII Bridges & Roads of Vietnam.
MVP’s network of expressways in Indonesia is passed through by more than 300,000 vehicles daily while his company’s bridges and roads in Vietnam help nearly 50,000 motorists daily in Vietnam. Furthermore, MPTC plans to grow the portfolio of MPT Asia by investing and gaining stakes in existing toll roads in the said countries and potentially, Malaysia.
Mr. Pangilinan’s legacy in nation-building is marked by building and managing extensive networks of expressways, bridges, and toll roads that have boosted the country’s logistics and economy while improving the quality of life of millions of Filipinos. Through his commitment to developing infrastructure, MVP has not only linked several parts of the archipelago but also united the people that he connected. — Jomarc Angelo M. Corpuz
JINGU GAIEN Ginkgo Street in autumn. — KAKIDAI/ WIKIMEDIA.ORG
IT’S A NARRATIVE that might have sprung straight from the script of a Studio Ghibli movie, or perhaps a Joni Mitchell song. Big corporations and government interests unite to raze trees, demolish a beloved park, and commercialize a communal area — all in the name of profits, in the face of local opposition, and even against the dying wishes of a beloved national treasure.
The redevelopment of Jingu Gaien, a green oasis in Tokyo’s city center, has been dividing opinion for years. Protesters decry the planned rebuilding of its baseball and rugby stadiums, which they say will result in the destruction of “thousands” of trees. But like many compelling stories, this is mostly fiction.
The park dates back a century to the construction of Meiji Shrine, proposed by Eiichi Shibusawa, the “father of Japanese capitalism” who last week debuted on the new design of Japan’s largest banknote. Since I first wrote about the redevelopment last year, the debate has intensified. A Unesco-affiliated body has raised opposition, the Supreme Court rejected an injunction to stop work, and it became a battleground in the recent Tokyo governor election, where an opposition-backed candidate pledged to put the project to the people in a first-ever referendum.
While her defeat means a plebiscite won’t happen, the success of the narrative — akin to paving paradise and putting up a parking lot — has been confounding. Nowhere was this made more evident than in the statement by the International Council on Monuments and Sites. In a so-called heritage alert, it said that the project would lead to “complete destruction of the urban forest formed and nurtured over the past 100 years.”
One of Japan’s most prominent international figures, composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, wrote to Governor Yuriko Koike calling on her to halt the project just weeks before his death last year. In the words of one critic, it’s “like building skyscrapers in the middle of Central Park.”
Let’s leave this scenario for folk songs, and look at the facts. The project involves three new high-rises, one of them rebuilding trading house Itochu Corp.’s headquarters, a decades-old piece of unremarkable architecture already 22 stories tall. It’ll be replaced by 38-floor building on a thoroughfare already dominated by high-rises (speaking of Central Park, how much taller have surrounding buildings become in recent decades?). Two new structures will be added, one comprising 18 stories on the site of the current baseball stadium; the other, 40 stories tall, will replace — and I’m not making this up — a literal parking lot.
Paradise it currently isn’t. While the area is nice to jog around, much of it is inaccessible. Indeed, the park is not public land at all: It belongs to the Shinto religious organization Meiji Jingu, which administers the shrine and is pushing for the redevelopment as it depends on money raised from leasing out facilities to sustain the much larger main gardens.
The most maddening theme is over the “complete destruction of the urban forest.” Jingu Gaien is famed for the promenade of almost 150 ginkgo trees, which leads off Aoyama-dori Avenue into the park. They are so associated with the area that most local residents I’ve spoken to mistakenly believe that these trees will be razed. From the beginning, plans have always involved preserving the rows of ginkgos.1
Many of the “thousands of trees” activists decry would be more properly termed shrubs — azaleas and other bushes that can be found anywhere in the city. While it’s true that several hundred trees will be cut down, these will be replaced, leaving more green space and trees in the park after the development than before.
The other divisive decision is the redevelopment of the baseball stadium, used by the local Yakult Swallows pro team. In English media coverage, it’s typically cited as one of the last remaining parks where Babe Ruth played. Indeed, the venue feels from a bygone era, and would require massive renovation to reach modern standards. Plans instead call for it to be moved to the site of the current rugby field, where there’s more room to develop and add modern facilities, including a hotel (a new rugby facility will be built on the site of the current ballpark).
The Swallows merely rent the stadium but deserve an up-to-date facility; at a time when many developers are planning new sports venues in Tokyo (and elsewhere), there’s nothing to stop them from moving out of the existing, decaying stadium.2
Sakamoto, who had a lifelong record of supporting tree-planting, was well-intended in his opposition. But, while this is difficult to say about the recently deceased, much of his political activism hasn’t aged well. Protests that he took part in in 2015 to halt legislation to expand Japan’s regional security role now look not only hyperbolic, but naive in the face of increasing aggression by Japan’s neighbors. And his dismissive comment at an anti-nuclear protest in 2012 in the highly emotive wake of the Fukushima disaster, decrying the risk of nuclear power to generate “mere electricity,” sits at odds with a nation where lives are in danger this very week from a sweltering heatwave. Countries without sufficient power supplies are seeing deaths in the hundreds and thousands.
The stakes in Jingu Gaien are smaller. But it’s important that anti-progress narratives are met head-on. It’s easy to say no, to dig one’s heels in and resist change. But Shibusawa, the early industrialist who aided the creation of Meiji Jingu, knew well that legacy comes from creating things, and envisioned a world where private business contributed to the public good. Neither scaremongering nor catchy protest songs help.
BLOOMBERG OPINION
1 Some 19 ginkgo trees, off the main strip, will be removed, and if possible, transplanted.
2 Indeed, the same concern is precisely what led to the first redevelopment of “The House That Ruth Built” — Yankee Stadium — in the 1970s, which was then replaced entirely by 2009.
X had Mia Goth’s Maxine shooting a porn flick on a farm owned by elderly Pearl (also Mia Goth) at the same time she’s being stalked by a serial killer; Pearl as prequel to X sketches the eponymous woman’s life as a young farmer’s spouse in 1918, uncovering her dreams and frustrations and why Maxine’s barebones film production outfit fascinates her so.
X was Ti West’s tribute parody of 1970s cinema, channeling in particular The Texas Chainsaw Massacre through the making of a porn film (a genre which also experienced its golden period (Behind the Green Door, The Devil in Miss Jones) around the same time); it was stealthy fun with both Maxine and Pearl sneaking around and through farmhouse and nearby barn, peering on and tiptoeing up to each other. Maybe the high point of all the unsettlingly erotic shenanigans is Pearl climbing into bed and mashing the sleeping younger woman’s breast — Mia Goth molesting Mia Goth; could there be a more potent image of celebrity narcissism?
Pearl — easily my favorite of the three films in the series — was an even more startling portmanteau: a slasher channeling the sinuous moves of a widescreen technicolor Douglas Sirk, the idealized past slyly undercut by Sirk’s critically framing eye. Where Maxine is already debauched and only hardened by her ordeal, Pearl is an innocent (relatively speaking) raised high by her hopes, then brought to ruin by her ambition (and control-freak mother), her true nature emerging from the ashes.
MaXXXine picks up where X left off, with Maxine fleeing to 1980s Hollywood, the glitz, the glamor, the horrific bad taste all on display. Director West is channeling John Carpenter and Dario Argento and Brian De Palma now, Carpenter with his gliding camera and surgical editing, Argento with his shocking color palette, De Palma with his split screens and video footage. It’s fun to watch West making fun of pulpy 1980s moviemaking conventions and Goth’s Maxine striding through it all in tightfitting double denims and white pumps, not so much an avenging as ass-wiggling angel of death.
Oddly there’s little sinew tying Pearl to X and MaXXXine beyond a handful of similarities to both women’s trajectories: both are driven by a hunger for stardom, both reveal hidden reserves of sensuality and violence. The biggest difference may be where either woman lands: Pearl lying before the front door of her farmhouse, Maxine living in an apartment above a video rental store, window facing one of the seedier sections of Hollywood Boulevard.
I mention Argento and Carpenter but really the MVP 1980s filmmaker when it came to inspiration has to be De Palma, particularly Body Double which also involved a killer, a horror film, a porn star. Wests excesses aren’t as inventive — we don’t have a giant power drill whining through a Hollywood mansion’s second floor (and a woman’s torso) and we don’t have dream sequences flitting between memory and reality in the hero’s head; I suppose many a horror bro feels disappointed at the paucity of perversion on display.
But West seems focused not so much on baroque horror or lurid thrills as he is on Maxine’s personal trajectory, trying to remain true to her character as revealed in the closing moments of X and fitfully throughout this sequel (West — along with Goth, who acts as producer — is being as coy as a professional stripteaser). Maxine, as suggested by a home movie and various news clippings, is a victim of childhood trauma and possible psychological abuse; what sets this apart from most horror films of the serial killer variety is that she’s survived and the experience has strengthened her, even emboldened her. Unlike Pearl, Maxine has had much of her vulnerable underbelly already cauterized; all that’s left is for her to cauterize the remaining soft parts for more scar tissue to grow over.
Come to think of it, there may be more to the parallels between Maxine and Pearl than meets the eye. We get hints of Maxine’s family; couldn’t Pearl’s own be West’s way of exploring that history in a roundabout manner? We see Maxine as a reflection of Pearl, more fully exposed to the modern world — younger meets older, contemporary meets retro; the scene of the two of them in bed together might hold more significance than we originally thought, might, you could argue, be the key image of the trilogy.
No Maxine isn’t a very sympathetic character; if anything she’s most sympathetic when we catch glimpses of said remaining soft parts (mainly her childhood, whatever acquaintances remain on her shrinking friends’ list, and the moment when she reaches out to her lawyer Teddy Night [an enjoyable Giancarlo Esposito] for help) — prior to welding armor plating over them.
And Maxine has learned to fight back, unlike most female protagonists in ’80s and recent horror flicks (“You wanna know what I did to the last person that tried to kill me?”).This is not your standard-issue scream queen virgin but a ballsy badass bitch with swagger to match — just ask private investigator John Labat (Kevin Bacon, channeling M Emmett Walsh at his most gloriously unwashed) who got a taste of Maxine’s temper, car keys clenched firmly in her fist.
The climax (skip the next three paragraphs if you plan to see the film) does call back to Pearl’s central relationship with her mother. The guiding force in our lives for good or for bad often turn out to be our parents, and Maxine for all her bravado isn’t all that different; maybe what gives her that extra bit of English is in recognizing this uncomfortable fact, and explicitly thanking her father for exactly the kind of influence he’s been in her life — compelling Maxine to flee as far as rural Texas, then Hollywood, only to have her demons (her demon) follow her there, less for a final confrontation than for therapeutic resolution.
And what of Maxine’s father, Ernest Miller, eliminating her friends — her remaining source of humanity — along the way? Our heroine is horrified, but at some level isn’t she actually grateful to him for doing what she always needed to do but had neither the ruthlessness nor inclination to? And when she stands above him and does what finally needed to be done, hasn’t she demonstrated in full the lesson he has insisted on teaching her all her life?
West has been criticized for his lack of characterization through the films; I submit that he has been indulging in characterization, through Pearl (whose life is a metaphoric commentary on Maxine’s) and through our heroine’s own choices — if, as F Scott Fitzgerald once scribbled in the notes of his final unfinished novel, that “action is character” you can catch glimpses of her character through the actions she has taken. West is being oblique, not negligent, using incident, atmosphere, and the various films’ visual styles to tease out her developing personality.
And that’s it, that’s most of what I have to say — MaXXXine may not be the goriest or most frightening or even the most intense horror of the year (though it has its moments), but I’d call it one of the more interesting, with enough freshly carved meat to chew over while walking out the theater.
THE PHILIPPINES will have to build up a pool of workers skilled in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to overcome challenges in the broader adoption of the technology, according to information technology and business process management service provider Pointwest.
“Developing a local, GenAI-skilled talent pool here in the Philippines is what’s most critical for Filipino organizations to overcome these challenges,” the company told BusinessWorld via e-mail.
It said GenAI remains an early-stage technology, though adoption is picking up with greater accessibility.
“Most organizations in the Philippines are still in the experimental phase and have yet to truly scale and operationalize this technology,” Pointwest said.
“Quality of data, concerns over data security and privacy, and talent availability are all critical challenges that organizations must overcome as they look to scale and operationalize GenAI,” it added.
Pointwest said that to address such challenges, organizations should play their part by encouraging students to pursue a career that will leverage their skills in GenAI.
The company recently collaborated with Amazon Web Services on the “GenAI Spark Hackathon,” which allowed students from 11 universities to develop prototypes using GenAI with real-life applications.
“By inspiring interest in GenAI, offering training and practical experience, and facilitating professional networking events like the GenAI Spark Hackathon, we play a key role in helping to scale GenAI across the country,” it added.
However, Pointwest said that it recognizes that despite the benefits of using GenAI, the technology is just a “tool” that requires human oversight.
“GenAI is truly a transformative technology with the potential to boost creativity and productivity, enable personalization, advance scientific discovery, and impact just about every aspect of the way we live,” it said.
“It’s important to understand, however, that AI is just a tool. Human oversight and judgment will both remain critical to ensure that it is used responsibly, safely, and ethically,” it added.
Pointwest said the Philippines has just begun to scratch the surface of GenAI’s potential.
“As this emerging technology becomes more user-friendly and accessible and as its adoption further widens, improvements will come faster and benefits will become more significant and widespread,” it said.
“With its increasing power, regulation can help to ensure responsible development and use of this technology, helping to mitigate the risk of misuse, bias, and potential negative societal impacts,” he added.
THE INSURANCE Commission (IC) has placed health maintenance organization (HMO) CareHealth Plus Systems International, Inc. under receivership due to its inability to pay its obligations amid liquidity issues.
CareHealth Plus has been placed under receivership effective June 27, the IC said in a notice posted on its website.
“Based on the evaluation of the company’s liquidity and solvency by Atty. Erwin C. Onglengco, CareHealth Plus is suffering from liquidity problems, which resulted to continuous delay and difficulty of paying all its obligations,” the insurance regulator said in the latest notice.
The IC also issued a stay order against CareHealth Plus effective June 27 “in order to consolidate, preserve, and protect the assets of the company for the benefit of its members and other stakeholders,” based on a notice dated June 21.
“Hence, payment of claims is suspended until Carehealth is restored to a state wherein it is liquid and has sufficient assets, properties and/or means to satisfy the claims of its members and other stakeholders; or until it goes into liquidation, as the case may be,” the regulator said.
This comes about three months after the HMO was placed under conservatorship on April 5 due to complaints that it was unable to provide the benefits stipulated in its products. The IC found a total of 66 pending complaints against CareHealth Plus, with some involving corporate accounts and government agencies.
The IC issued a cease-and-desist order on the company on Oct. 10, 2023, preventing it from selling new policies. However, it was allowed to continue servicing the claims of existing policyholders.
In a resolution dated April 3, the IC denied CareHealth Plus’ motion to lift the cease-and-desist order. It also denied the HMO’s application for license renewal.
CareHealth Plus is an HMO based in Manila with several branches in the country.
The firm booked a net profit of P1.23 million as of September 2023, data from the IC showed. Its assets stood at P1.47 billion in the period, while liabilities totaled P1.4 billion.
The HMO industry posted a net income of P6.8 million in the first quarter, a turnaround from the P319-million net loss incurred in the same period last year, on the back of higher revenues. — AMCS
Ateneo de Manila University may have a reputation as an elite school for the higher classes. Not many know that the university has been aggressive in providing scholarships to deserving students. In 2021-2022 alone, 204 students from the bottom 50% of household income were given full scholarships. There are other scholarships of different variety — academic, merit, athletic, gender, etc. — and reportedly, one of four Ateneans have some form of scholarship and financial aid.
It was in 1975 when the university deliberately increased the number of scholars to admit from public and private high schools throughout the country. With the diversity anticipated, then Dean Fr. Ben Nebres, S.J. saw the need to monitor the progress of the intakes. A key guidance counselor then, Ms. Chit Concepcion, was tasked the responsibility to assist the scholars in the academic, social and psychological adjustment in their new environment. Concepcion saw the need to organize the scholars and recruited a committed group of upper-class students for the scholars to bond themselves into a self-help support community.
Thus was born GABAY, which developed big brother/sister-small brother/sister support schemes to smoothen the adjustment process. GABAY provided tutorials, workshops, counseling, bonding sessions and even caroling activities to raise funds for ancillary needs of the members.
That was almost 50 years ago, and it is interesting to share where the GABAY pioneers are today. This first set of scholars have bloomed to be key contributors to the country and to society. This piece is being written to hopefully inspire those who might still be grinding in their studies.
The first GABAY President Filomeno Aguilar, Jr. graduated in the elite Management Engineering class of 1977, earned a Master’s degree from the University of Wales and acquired his PhD from Cornell University. He is a well published educator and scholar who became Dean of the Social Sciences in Ateneo. His vice-president was Mario Jose “Jong” Sereno, who is a corporate executive in a diversified trading company, TransWorld Trading Co., Inc. But his friends identify him more as the supportive husband of another member, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Maria Lourdes Sereno. Jong says he continues to work to support Atty. Sereno’s “Bawat Isa Mahalaga” movement.
Grace Camacho-De Jesus, the first GABAY secretary, had a storied (39 years) banking career specializing in corporate credit, and she stayed longest in Bank of the Philippine Islands. The GABAY pioneer group produced other bankers who rose to top positions. Ed Soriano became executive vice-president (EVP) in charge of the Corporate Banking Group at BDO Unibank, Inc., as well as EVP and Deputy Group Head of Institutional Banking Group for Financial Institutions. He likewise became president of FINEX in 2014 and chairman of FINEX Foundation in 2015. He married Chil Soriano, the first lady valedictorian of the Ateneo de Manila and former undersecretary at the Department of Finance.
Other bankers include Ogeng Panlasigui with 40 years of experience in all aspects of banking at major commercial banks. Today, he heads a subsidiary of Philippine Veterans Bank following his retirement from the bank proper. Noel Dela Paz rose in the commercial and investment banking field to be deputy country head of Bankers Trust Co. and is now M&A Director for Metro Pacific Health.
In other fields, Allan Cueva was in manufacturing and handled a company among the Ramcar group and was in charge of capital acquisition. Rudy Estioko had a colorful career, starting at the Presidential Management Staff, worked overseas, was into general management of a few enterprises, and handled strategic planning and assessment in a large savings bank. Sunny David got into construction and is an entrepreneur with his own contractor company.
Joey Quimbo took his MBA at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Illinois. He worked for 36 years handling sales and marketing positions in Nestlé Philippines. Pit Laquian worked for 23 years in government and in the last 13 years as Agricultural Attaché of the Department of Agriculture, with his final posting in Japan. He started his career as a Manila-based worker at the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forest. Elmar Gomez served in the board of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and was CEO of one of its subsidiaries.
GABAY also had some of the first female students at the school, including Atty. Lina de Guzman-Ferrer, who was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1983. She was an officer of the student council in college and became the infamous when, during the Martial Law years, her name was broadcast by the former President on national television. Today, she has an active private law practice and splits her time between Manila and Seattle.
Among the female cohorts, several psychology graduates stand out for their altruistic endeavors. Ruby Garcia was HR director for multinational companies and then became an HR consultant for SMEs. Alma Villegas was a Jesuit volunteer after graduation and now works in a US hospital as a neurodevelopmental psychologist working with children and mothers living with HIV/AIDS, and helping Filipino human trafficking survivors in a consortium with Fordham University.
Francesca Oyet Bustamante works with the Emmaus Center for Psycho-Spiritual Formation and Accompaniment, a ministry of the Society of Jesus. It serves the human and spiritual formation needs of candidates for priesthood and religion life.
This pioneer group has set the stage. Today, GABAY remains an active benefit and support organization, which aims to facilitate the scholars’ academic and social adjustment in the Loyola Schools. Its services include lending books, mock exams, tutorials and formation services. Deserving students have the right to top notch education. And inevitably, these scholars pay forward to society in their own ways.
The views expressed herein are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX.
Benel Dela Paz Lagua was previously EVP and chief development officer at the Development Bank of the Philippines.He is an active FINEX member and an advocate of risk-based lending for SMEs. Today, he is independent director in progressive banks and in some NGOs.
STARTUP Packworks said it received P3.5 million in research funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) to develop its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered inventory management tools for sari-sari stores.
In a media release on Thursday, Packworks said the funding from DoST- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) will support its machine learning-powered marketing model.
The AI-powered capability will be launched as an in-app service on Packworks’ Sari.PH Pro app and is expected to benefit over 270,000 sari-sari stores nationwide.
Its app allows store owners to access pricing tools, inventory management, sales and revenue tracking, and working capital loans.
“Through this AI-powered model we will develop in partnership with DOST, we aim to equip small entrepreneurs with data-driven insights and targeted strategies for enhanced business success and expansion,” Packworks Chief Data Officer and project lead Andoy Montiel said.
Packworks said that sari-sari stores often struggle with financial management, a lack of actionable customer insights, and promotional campaigns, despite being the primary source of daily essentials for 94% of Filipinos.
“The current absence of a streamlined approach for receiving high-quality promotions, such as discounts or personalized item packages from FMCG manufacturers, restricts store owners from enticing and retaining customers effectively,” it said.
DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit said the collaboration shows the government’s commitment to fostering technological advancement and economic growth through strategic public-private partnerships, as outlined in the Innovative Startup Act.
The collaboration will run for 18 months and aims to reach more micro-retail stores across the country to boost their digital capabilities, entrepreneurial growth, and success.
In 2022, Sari IQ was a business intelligence tool providing real-time and historical consumer expenditure data to help retailers and brands gain visibility into sari-sari stores and expand their reach to more customers.
The analysis helps stores make data-driven decisions by understanding and predicting consumer demand within their area.
Sari-sari stores are part of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in the Philippines, accounting for 99.5% of all business establishments, of which 500,000 are in the wholesale and retail industry.
Packworks, launched in 2018, is an app that brings technology-based solutions to sari-sari stores. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives have long surpassed as a trend and now has become an essential component for businesses, as they are seen to carry the potential of delivering positive impact to communities.
An exemplary in such efforts, the MVP Group of Companies keeps breaking new ground in social impact. MVP Group’s dedication to social impact is essential to the group’s role not only as a leader in the business scene, but also in building a better future for its people and the planet.
For years, the MVP Group, and Manuel V. Pangilinan himself, has been well-known as a big supporter of positive and social change. The group emphasized the importance of conducting businesses for good through stewardship programs and CSR initiatives that reap national growth and development.
The MVP Group’s CSR footprint can be seen through organizations such as Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, Inc. (MPIF), Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), and the CSR arms of the companies under the MVP Group, where Mr. Pangilinan takes the lead in delivering the group’s contributions to sustainable development.
Conserving the environment
Photo from pbsp.org.ph
The group has been actively responding to the call for conserving the environment and mitigating the effects of climate change, as seen in its notable initiatives.
Leading the charge is MPIF, through its flagship program, Shore It Up!, which covers initiatives such as planting trees and mangroves and installing artificial reefs, among others.
More importantly, the foundation worked on marine projects, including sustaining the Tubbatha Reefs Natural Park, hosting multisectoral forums that tackles environmental issues, forming partnerships with the government for marine conservation programs, and rehabilitating the Mangrove Center in Del Carmen.
Recognizing the sustainable impact the project brought, Shore It Up! was then recognized at the 2024 CSR Guild Awards by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) as the Most Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Project in Environment.
Geared towards reforestation and protecting coastlines, the PBSP is in partnership with many conservation and protection programs that focus on tree-planting activities. Last year, a total of 5,000 mangrove trees were planted in Batangas aimed to fight climate crisis and reduce flooding and erosion.
In the area of solid waste management, PBSP, with its commitment to lead the business sector to environmental stewardship, has partnered with the Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corp. (OMMC) in a flagship program called the Balik Baterya Program. This program is designed to provide a platform for the private sector to responsibly dispose of used-lead acid batteries.
Sustainable power in remote areas
The Philippines is shifting towards renewable energy sources to reduce its reliance on coal power generation and move towards cleaner and eco-friendly options that lessens environmental impact.
In line with this transition, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has developed an electrification program through One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Meralco. The program allows the company power and electrify thousands of Filipino households and businesses by adopting solar power technologies, providing them with more efficient and reliable electricity. According to the company’s annual report, Meralco has brought power to 75,000 low-income households and 300 remote public schools across the country.
Furthermore, as part of its commitment to bringing electricity to isolated communities, Meralco has also introduced solar rooftops and microgrid solutions. Because solar power produces lower fuel consumption, it is becoming the more eco-friendly and affordable option for both consumers and industries alike.
According to Meralco, these solar rooftops have been instrumental in powering up numerous establishments, including public, private, and educational institutions. In particular, Meralco focused on installing PV cells in 245 public schools located in remote areas of the country. These schools were then connected to the internet, equipping them with learning tools, including laptops and other multimedia learning tools. Recently, the program has powered 15 schools in Masbate and Samar, benefiting 175 teachers and 4,489 students.
Bringing greater value in educational programs
Moreover, Meralco believes that powering schools, alongside providing better educational tools and empowering students to grow and expand their skills and learning, is a crucial step towards achieving an energy-secured future.
With its commitment to create venues for learning in the electric power industry, Meralco’s Energy Education Program, developed in 2015, has continued equipping teachers with educational tools on energy conservation awareness and responsible energy consumption.
In the water sector, meanwhile, Maynilad, the largest water provider in the Philippines, is also doing its part to promote environmental practices, such as proper water management within schools.
Last year, Maynilad’s educational program and campaign has successfully taught 2,500 high school students and visited 36 high schools across different cities teaching students on proper wastewater management and sanitation practices. Since its development in 2016, Maynilad had produced modules on wastewater education for 166 schools. With this initiative, Maynilad is taking proactive steps in educating young people on the importance of environmental responsibility for a more sustainable future.
Also ensuring better quality of education, MPIF, in partnership with Mano Amiga, grants 30 student scholarships, covering school expenses, miscellaneous fees, and other activities. Established in 2011, this program, the Annual Excellence Fund, is designed to make a more significant impact on children and ensure they receive the quality education that they deserve.
With the goal of providing more educational opportunities to learners, the foundation has also worked to provide schools with inclusive and disaster-resilient classrooms. The Classroom Construction Support Program increased access to education by providing more classrooms for students. This program is a continuous collaborative effort between the government of Australia, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Department of Education (DepEd). Through this partnership, a total of 302 classrooms were built in disaster-prone locations, enhancing their capacity to accommodate more students.
Uplifting healthcare services
Photo from pbsp.org.ph
Providing better access to healthcare services among Filipinos is another key area where MVP takes initiative.
For instance, in many years, PBSP has been a key player in tuberculosis (TB) control management in the Philippines. Focusing on reducing TB cases, the ACCESS TB project, funded by the Global Fund, is offering comprehensive quality TB care to Filipinos. This project expands access to healthcare centers, providers, and treatment services.
Adding to the continued medical assistance for Filipinos, Alagang Kapatid Foundation, the CSR arm of MediaQuest-led TV5, seeks to provides more access to medical and social services to Filipinos. Among its initiatives includes blood donation drives across different cities, distribution of medicine supplies, and free doctor consultations, among others.
Disaster response and resilience
Photo from mpifoundation
Another notable effort by the MVP Group is their response to climate disasters, especially given the heavy toll of natural disasters in the Philippines. Particularly, the group’s telecom companies are stepping up to help individuals to stay connected.
PLDT is actively helping communities through its Disaster Resilience Advocacy, equipping communities with disaster preparedness and emergency skills, providing communication aid, and facilitating access to information for agencies and government units.
As of March 2024, in efforts to further prepare communities from disasters, the group distributed 56 Ligtas Kits to local government units (LGUs) that are prone to disasters and trained 52 LGUs on emergency communications. They have also put up 88 emergency calling stations, distributed 21, 615 relief aid to affected communities, and has partnered with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation to improve the early warning system for tsunamis in the Philippines.
PLDT, alongside its mobile service subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), has journeyed to different typhoon-affected communities distributing emergency kits, hygiene and sleeping kits, food, relief packages, water, medical services, and communication tools.
Recognizing the importance of communication during disasters and emergencies, under its advocacy of #SafeandSmart Philippines, Smart has been leveraging network and technology to ensure continuous network resilience, availability of communication services, mobile solutions, and activities. In times of disasters, Smart provides emergency alerts, emergency services, including free calls, load, and charging services, and even satellite phones to help people stay safe and connected. This initiative is designed to help local communities and government units in providing swift response and relief assistance to help communities mitigate disaster risk.
Further strengthening disaster resiliency in the country, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) is leading the private sector’s initiatives for disaster risk reduction and management in the country. It designs and implements programs related to community resilience and recovery, as well as promote education and progress in disaster management.
Some of the foundation’s recent accomplishments include receiving over US$2 million in grants and donations from various local and international partners in 2022. These funds were used to carry out disaster response initiatives, implement development programs, and provide assistance to more than 3.5 million people through emergency preparedness projects.
In addition to climate-resilient initiatives, MPIF is extending a helping hand to Filipinos affected by the calamities. MPIF’s recovery projects are focused on improving livelihoods, ensuring food security and climate resilience, and promoting environmental sustainability and disaster resilience.
Following the disastrous aftermath of Super-Typhoon Odette in 2021, the group, along with MVP and his other companies, has raised a total of P30 million, which was used for relief efforts to affected communities.
This year, the foundation is continuing its efforts to support post-Odette recovery programs, with the goal of complete recovery and rebuilding these affected communities. — Angela Kiara S. Brillantes
“Thank heaven for a man who makes up his mind,” says M to James Bond in Moonraker. Which isn’t prosaic at all. A lot hinges on knowing what one wants and in the realm of international policy, this could ultimately mean success or failure.
The same is true in what lies before us in the West Philippine Sea. The Marcos Administration, taking a firmer stand against China’s attempted encroachment of our territories, initiated “assertive transparency” towards the regional bully. It did attain some success, particularly in shedding light over the arrogant international law violations of the latter. But transparency is not a strategy but a tactic. And clearly, it’s not a goal. Of this Lucio Blanco Pitlo III made a cogent observation:
“Reaction to China’s behavior in the South China Sea defies Beijing’s desire to keep the hotspot under wraps. But between weathering reputational costs abroad and placating growing domestic nationalist expectations at home, Beijing [has] made clear who its primary audience is. Besides, China may calculate that international pressure will wax and wane and may peter out. For the Philippines, drawing attention to the flashpoint to gather international support comes at the expense of straining ties with its largest trade partner and the risk of engendering reliance on external support for its security.” (“Deep hazards for China as dispute goes global,” South China Morning Post, July 2, 2024).
This was echoed by RAND senior defense analyst Derek Grossman: “Manila recently adopted a strategy of ‘assertive transparency’ toward Chinese encroachments into its EEZ (exclusive economic zone). Philippine ship crews are now recording each incident of Chinese coercion and publicizing it for the world to see. The idea is that Beijing will no longer be able to deny its actions as it has done in the past — and perhaps be shamed into adhering to international law.” However, “none of these measures have been successful against gray-zone tactics so far, and any future success is likely to take more time as Beijing continues to eat away at Manila’s EEZ.” (“How to respond to China’s tactics in the South China Sea,” June 3, 2024).
Which leads us to asking what is the end we are seeking? What is our purpose in keeping up this struggle against China? For China, the answer has been made quite clear and that is to assert dominance over the entire South China Sea, including that of the West Philippine Sea. But for the Philippines?
Various answers have been proffered, many revolving around variations of reverting to Filipino fishing rights as of 2016 or 2013. But that is neither here nor there. And a bit shortsighted. For the Philippines, in a game that is normally played out in centuries rather than merely a handful of years, complete and utter sovereign control by our country over every island, rock, and waters that it has claimed or claims should be the objective.
Hence, some initial recommendations:
1. Categorically declare China’s action as an “aggression” involving an “armed attack” in violation of international law.
2. In coordination with our security allies, raise the issue of China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea before the UN General Assembly, as provided for under the “Uniting for Peace General Assembly resolution 377 (V).”
We should ask for a binding security resolution a.) demanding China stop its aggression in the West Philippine Sea, b.) that China abide by the Arbitral ruling, and, c.) demand that, in case China violates a.) and b.), that UN members take all necessary measures to compel China to comply with said resolutions.
3. File cases under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS for violation of environment provisions. Cases can be also filed under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements for trade related cases, including trade related cases involving damage to the environment.
4. Shun any public announcement regarding upcoming Rotation and Resupply missions. The point is to publicly assert Philippine prerogative over our territory, without need of foreign permit.
5. Any event similar to what happened in Ayungin Shoal on June 17 should be met with proportionate countermeasures, including the summoning and severe reprimand of China’s ambassador, as well as the expulsion of core Chinese diplomatic officials, starting with their defense attache.
6. Legislate an effective government succession plan (see my column, “Presidential succession and the war cabinet,” May 24)
7. “Revise the US-Philippines treaty to reflect modern gray-zone threats. Rather than vaguely highlighting an ‘armed attack’ as the prompt for US military intervention, Manila and Washington could broadly note that gray-zone activities could or would count as armed attacks.” (See Grossman)
8.Order the Department of Justice to be more aggressive in the prosecution of illegal Chinese visitors or legal Chinese visitors engaged in unlawful activities, including activating the national security clauses in the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, the WTO and ASEAN agreements, bilateral investment agreements, as well as the anti-money laundering law to confiscate, regulate, monitor, or stop investments, financing, or trade from foreign countries that are compromising our national security.
9. Prosecute Filipinos engaged in disseminating foreign propaganda compromising our national security or mitigates national resolve to defend our country, particularly those paid to do so by said foreign countries. This is with emphasis on propogandists in social or traditional media, universities, business associations, including government offices and especially the military. Presently there is Commonwealth Act No. 616, PD 79, and the Revised Penal Code on sedition. There is a need to legislate criminalizing treason during peacetime, as well as updating the said CA 616, to revive the anti-subversion law, and revive, expand, and enforce a national security act.
10. Institute massive investment and tax incentives for industries or businesses that will bolster our self-reliant defense posture, including tax write-offs for donations (in money or in kind) to the military, including donations from local industries of security allies.
11. Revive the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or ROTC for all college age individuals and institute mandatory military service for all Filipinos aged between 23 and 35 years of age.
12. Legislate de-risking from China of our energy and water industries, including diversification thereof. A national security act should be legislated allowing for the immediate takeover and control of private businesses essential to uphold national security, including energy and fuel, water, media, essential food and other household commodities, and transportation.
We need to be confident that our constitutional system allows us the flexibility to protect ourselves. We should not be shackled by mistaken understandings of the freedoms of speech, liberty, and property so that such freedoms are not used against us by countries that do not respect those rights.
Ultimately, the right to defend ourselves is inherent. We should not constrain ourselves by tentativeness or insecurity in doing whatever needs to be done to protect our people, territory, and sovereignty.
The views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the institutions to which he belongs.
Jemy Gatdula is the dean of the Institute of Law of the University of Asia and the Pacific and is a Philippine Judicial Academy lecturer for constitutional philosophy and jurisprudence. He read international law at the University of Cambridge.
THE dramatic conclusion to a serialized story about a father who murders his daughter’s abusive partner is set to debut this month on Disney+. After captivating audiences with the series adaptation of the hit manga series, My Home Hero the Movie concludes the acclaimed crime thriller. It briefly topped box offices in Japan. Set seven years after the series, the movie follows businessman Tetsuo Tosu, who evades imprisonment after killing his daughter’s abusive boyfriend by throwing the police off his scent and dealing with gang leader Kyoichi Majima. It stars Kuranosuke Sasaki, Asuka Saito, Tae Kimura, and Kyohei Takahashi. The movie is on Disney+ starting July 12.
Ice Seguerra, Joey G, Noel Cabangon reunite
EARLY this year, Newport World Resorts gathered OPM stars Ice Seguerra, Joey G, and Noel Cabangon for their first collaborative concert. The talented acoustic trio will be back for Strings and Voices: The Repeat on July 20 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. This time, their solo turns and collaborations will include new surprises. Strings and Voices: The Repeat tickets, ranging in price from P1,500 to P8,500, are now available at all TicketWorld outlets.
Royal Caribbean to be showcased at travel expos
TO cater to a growing demand for cruises, Royal Caribbean will be participating as a key exhibitor at two travel expos in the Philippines this July. From July 12 to 14, it will set up shop at the Travel Madness Expo at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. From July 19 to 21, it will have a booth at the Travel Tour Expo VisMin, at the Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. Visitors can explore Royal Caribbean’s stalls at the expos to learn about their cruise offerings across the globe.
Felip releases album ahead of July concert
THE newest album of Filipino musician Felip, 7sins, has been released. While not religion-centric, the album is a journey of acknowledging human shortcomings. It is composed of nine songs, with “envy” as the title/focus track and “ache” as the final track. Despite being busy with SB19 engagements, shoots, and projects, Felip spent seven months writing, recording, and mixing the album, with late night sessions with Luke April of PLAYERTWO and Isagani Palabyab. It also features collaborations with artists like Belgian-Filipino Cyra Gwynth on the tracks “greed” and “lust.” Meanwhile, PLAYERTWO collaborated on the song “gluttony.” The album has been released ahead of Felip’s 7sins the Album Concert on July 27, to be held at the Space at One Ayala, Makati City. Tickets are available via felip.helixpay.ph.
Century Tuna awards Superbods 2024 winners
TUNA brand Century Tuna has named Jether Palomo and Justine Felizarta as the Grand Winners for Century Tuna Superbods 2024 #BestYouEver competition. Besting 36 finalists, fitness influencer and Mister Tourism World Philippines Mr. Palomo and the beauty and fitness enthusiast and Miss Tourism World 2022 1st runner-up Ms. Felizarta will each take home P500,000 tax-free.
Drag Race Philippines 3rd season set for August
THE third season of drag queen competition series Drag Race Philippines will be coming to HBO GO on Aug. 7. Paolo Ballesteros, multi-awarded Filipino actor, model, and drag artist, is returning as the series host. Following the success of seasons one and two, the showcase of Pinoy drag excellence returns with 11 more Filipino drag artists: Angel, John Fedellaga, JQuinn, Khianna, Maxie, Myx Channel, Popstar Bench, Tita Baby, Versex, Yudipota, and Zymba Ding.
Five of our newly hired workers resigned within three months after deployment. What’s wrong with our hiring practices? And what’s the cure? — Change Agent.
Let’s understand the context of your situation. How many new hires are similarly situated? My rule of thumb is — if the five resignees represent only 3% or less of the total number of new hires in the same period, then it’s not yet an alarming situation. At least not yet, unless it becomes repetitive over the long term.
If you’re asking me what’s wrong with your hiring process, I can only speculate since I’m not privy to your situation. On top of my mind is the compatibility of the new hires with your culture and management style. This can only be determined when you ask the right interview questions to applicants.
During the process, did you test the applicants for their comfort level working in your culture? Are the applicants likely to be accepted by the group and invited to participate in activities outside of work like socials, sports, and volunteer initiative?
Did you check whether the applicants are participating meaningfully and are not made to feel like outsiders struggling to fit in?
These aspects are often neglected because you are focused on testing the applicants’ competence, rather than their compatibility with the organization over the long term. This often results in the applicants’ estrangement after receiving little support from their colleagues.
PROBABLE CURE Before deciding on a cure, the probable root cause of the applicants’ estrangement must be determined. As I said, it often boils down to the absence of a compatibility assessment in the hiring process. This involves the human resources (HR) department and the requesting department joining hands in predicting whether the applicant is a good fit for the organization.
To do this, the two departments must do double validation to arrive at a reasonably accurate conclusion using various sets of interview questions, to be addressed only to the top two candidates in the short list. A number of topics need to be explained to the shortlisted candidates. These are:
One, corporate mission, vision, and value statements. This is imperative. Unfortunately, many incumbent managers don’t know them by heart. That’s why they are not usually covered during the interview and onboarding process. In extreme cases, they don’t know how to provide examples.
Even if they do, they struggle for words and come off as lousy managers. The interview questions to be asked is: How well do you accept our mission, vision, and value statements? How would you do your share in implementing them?
Two, measurement of individual and group success. This is about evaluating and recognizing workers’ performance. The interview questions to be asked include: How do you expect an individual contribution to be appreciated compared to group achievements?
How would you manage “groupthink?” How would you handle a workplace bully or a senior worker forcing you to do things his way? How would you describe an objective evaluation process?
Three, leadership skills and style. Managers vary in style.Some allow people to be empowered in problem-solving and decision-making. On the other hand, prefer to do the opposite, treating their direct reports like robots. The interview questions to ask are: How does an applicant manage a toxic and micromanaging boss? If a toxic boss doesn’t want to change their style, then what would be your course of action?
Four, nature of the operating environment. This covers ideal situations where people can be made to work effectively. The questions to be asked include: What factors would determine your success in our organization?
Conversely, what factors would make you fail in such environment? How would you do in managing the issues?
Five, change management philosophy. Even if the vacancy is for non-management workers, it would be best to determine their management aptitude as you’re preparing them for the long-term. The applicable questions are: What are the first things you plan to focus on in the first month of your employment?
If there are systems and procedures that are not to your liking, how do you intend to manage them?
As an interviewee, these basic questions will arm you with considerable understanding of the shortlisted applicants’ profile. Using them will help you predict the reactions of the new hires when they start working for your organization.
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The Philippines is shifting towards renewable energy sources to reduce its reliance on coal power generation and move towards cleaner and eco-friendly options that lessens environmental impact.
Moreover, Meralco believes that powering schools, alongside providing better educational tools and empowering students to grow and expand their skills and learning, is a crucial step towards achieving an energy-secured future.
