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Meralco activates switching station for data center in Quezon City

POWER DISTRIBUTOR Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said on Thursday that it has energized a new 115-kilovolt (kV) switching station worth P220 million for ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Philippines’ (STT GDC) hyperscale facility in Fairview, Quezon City.

“Meralco works closely with data center operators such as STT GDC to cater to their unique requirements. We are fully committed to providing reliable power and energizing critical infrastructure that will support the growth and development of the hyperscale industry in the country,” Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho said in a statement.

Hyperscale data centers are massive, business-critical facilities for companies with major data processing and storage needs.

Meralco and STT GDC partnered for the construction of the switching station, which is housed within the latter’s Polaris Data Center—the first of its kind in the power distributor’s franchise area. The in-building, dual-feed switching station will ensure a stable power supply and enhance the data center’s operational efficiency.

STT GDC Philippines, a joint venture of Globe Telecom, Ayala Corp., and Singapore-based STT GDC, operates data centers in Metro Manila, Cavite, and Davao.

Harmonic System Inc. and Meralco subsidiary MIESCOR jointly constructed the new 115-kV sub-transmission lines, providing reliable and redundant electric service to the data center. The company’s energy services unit, MSERV, supplied and installed key data center electrical equipment, including high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear, oil-immersed transformers, and medium-voltage dry-type transformers.

“Meralco’s support for data centers in the country aligns well with the current administration’s priorities under its socioeconomic agenda, particularly on energy security and infrastructure development,” the company said.

In 2023, Meralco energized hyperscale-ready data centers with an initial capacity of 22 megawatts (MW), which can ramp up to 180 MW.

Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc.

Hastings Holdings Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Philippine budget deficit reaches P1.506 trillion in 2024

THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT’S (NG) budget deficit narrowed year on year in 2024, but overshot the target by 1.48%, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said. Read the full story.

Philippine budget deficit reaches P1.506 trillion in 2024

Bawal plastic dito! Elections shouldn’t pollute

PHILIPPINE STAR/JOHN RYAN BALDEMOR

WITH the election season in full swing, the streets, walls, and public spaces are flooded with plastic tarpaulins — typically made of polyethylene, a durable and flexible thermoplastic — bearing the faces and promises of political candidates. Everywhere you look, you’ll see these aspiring politicians, hoping for your vote and support. But once the votes are counted, these campaign materials are abandoned, contributing to the country’s growing plastic waste crisis.

This unchecked waste significantly worsens the Philippines’ reputation as one of the world’s top ocean polluters. While regulations like the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 hold corporations accountable for their plastic waste, political campaigns remain largely exempt from such oversight.

But should we really wait for a law to force politicians to take responsibility?

If we can’t hold them accountable for this simple matter, how can we trust them with more significant issues, such as the taxes we pay and their actions or inactions that have lasting negative impacts on the future of our nation and generations to come?

If these aspiring leaders genuinely care about the environment and the people who are greatly impacted by pollution, they should voluntarily commit to recovering, recycling, or repurposing their campaign materials. More than that, they should set an example by publicly reporting how they manage their plastic waste after the election.

A candidate’s commitment to sustainability should not begin only after they are elected, it should be evident in how they run their campaign. Voters must demand accountability, and politicians must prove they are responsible leaders before they take office.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL TOLL
Election-related waste, especially plastic tarpaulins, poses a significant environmental threat. These materials are designed for durability, but once the elections are over, they become useless and are often dumped in landfills, burned, or left to litter public spaces.

Elections are often linked with massive amounts of campaign waste polluting communities. Plastic tarpaulins and posters clog drainage systems, worsen flooding, and release toxic emissions when incinerated. Despite these clear environmental consequences, no formal system ensures politicians take responsibility for cleaning up after their campaigns.

The EPR Act of 2022 requires large enterprises to manage the full life cycle of their plastic waste, ensuring proper collection, recycling, and disposal. This law disrupts the traditional approach, where consumers were primarily responsible for collecting and recycling plastic waste.

However, campaign materials are not currently covered under this law, allowing politicians to generate massive amounts of plastic waste without consequences. Just as businesses are held accountable for their environmental impact, political candidates should be responsible for recovering and diverting 100% of their plastic campaign materials.

If they can afford to print thousands of tarpaulins, they should also bear the cost of collecting and repurposing them. This is their moment to prove to Filipinos that they genuinely care — not just about winning, but about the people and the environment.

I believe this is the right and responsible thing to do. Regardless of the law, they should hold themselves accountable for the waste generated by their campaign. After all, they are running for office to serve the public, and this entails ensuring our protection from the environmental consequences of plastic waste.

SOLUTIONS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE ELECTION
To minimize the environmental impact of political campaigns, candidates should commit to the following:

1. Use Eco-Friendly Alternatives

• Replace plastic tarpaulins with biodegradable or recyclable materials

• Require political parties to disclose the materials used in their campaign paraphernalia.

2. Implement a Take-Back Program for Used Campaign Materials

• Politicians — not voters — should be responsible for collecting and properly disposing of their campaign materials.

• Campaign teams must set up collection points and retrieval systems to ensure proper recycling and disposal.

3. Partner with Recycling Organizations

• Work with recycling companies and organizations to repurpose used tarpaulins into useful products like school bags, wallets, roofing materials, or eco-bricks.

• Incentivize local governments to facilitate sustainable waste management for campaign materials.

4. Introduce Plastic Footprint Accounting

• Candidates must track and publicly disclose their campaign’s plastic footprint.

• A third-party organization should validate waste management efforts.

• Implement penalties for those who fail to recover and properly dispose of their plastic waste.

VOLUNTARY AND TRANSPARENT ACCOUNTABILITY
While legislative changes are necessary, politicians do not need to wait for new laws to act responsibly. A true leader leads by example, and one way to demonstrate genuine concern for the environment is by voluntarily committing to sustainable campaign practices. Political candidates should:

• Make a public commitment to recover and recycle 100% of their campaign materials.

• Submit a transparent post-election report detailing how they managed their plastic waste.

• Pledge to use eco-friendly campaign materials in future elections.

Voters, in turn, should hold candidates accountable and support those who prioritize environmental responsibility.

DEMAND SUSTAINABLE ELECTIONS NOW
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) must strengthen regulations by integrating sustainability requirements for campaign materials. The absence of strict guidelines on eco-friendly election materials allows politicians to pollute without consequence. Countries like Taiwan and Germany have successfully enforced stricter regulations on election campaign materials, reducing their environmental impact. The Philippines should follow suit by extending the EPR Act to include political tarpaulins and making sustainable election campaigns the standard. We must demand action before the May 2025 elections.

The battle for political office should not come at the cost of environmental destruction. By holding politicians accountable for the full life cycle of their campaign materials, we can significantly reduce election-related plastic waste and set a precedent for sustainability in governance.

A sustainable future starts with responsible choices — both from those who seek to lead, and those who choose their leaders. Let’s demand more from our candidates and ensure that every election contributes to progress, not pollution.

This May, let’s cast a vote not just for leaders — but for our environment, for our future, and for our planet.

P.S. — The bottomline is “bawal plastic” sa May 2025 election! (“Plastic is forbidden” in the May 2025 election!)

The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s and do not reflect those of his firm or any organization he is affiliated with.

 

Lucky Cimatu is the senior managing consultant for the Advisory Services Practice Area at P&A Grant Thornton, one of the leading audit, tax, advisory, and outsourcing firms in the Philippines.

business.development@ph.gt.com

www.grantthornton.com.ph

To an upper middle-income country and beyond

Our economic managers, including Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, have set a goal for the Philippines to become an upper middle-income country this year, even though we have been classified as a lower middle-income country since 1987. The World Bank established this classification based on a country’s gross national Income (GNI) per capita reaching $4,516. While it is an excellent sign that the Philippine economy is growing, the downside to attaining upper middle-income status is the loss of perks such as access to preferential interest rates on official development assistance loans from multilateral banks and donor nations. These loans accounted for 14.5% of our national debt in 2023. While interest rates on national debt might go up, in the long run, this should be offset by improved foreign investment due to our upper middle-income status and recent developments such as the Philippines’ removal from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the implementation of the CREATE MORE Act.

We tend to hear of economic growth in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. However, there are slight differences in how GDP and GNI are calculated. In the Philippines, our GNI is slightly higher than GDP as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) adds net primary income from the rest of the world. For purposes of our economic managers, GDP growth is more within their control, and the question, therefore, is how can Philippine GDP grow sufficiently for us to achieve our upper middle-income country aspirations, especially as we have fallen short of government targets over the last two years?

One reason investors are optimistic about the Philippines’ economic fundamentals is the so-called “demographic dividend,” thanks to our young, growing population, which is anticipated to boost consumption spending in the coming decades. This contrasts with other nations that face the fiscal burden of supporting aging populations. As I have noted in previous columns, this young population must be equipped for the workforce through proper education and training to fully benefit from the demographic dividend. Consumption spending last year was also hindered by high inflation that raised the cost of essential goods, although food inflation in 2024 was 4.5% compared with 8% in 2023. To promote further consumption this year, the government should focus on controlling inflation, especially food inflation, so our fellow countrymen can afford to eat.

Businesses are investing in growth projects amid a more favorable macroeconomic outlook. However, this is tempered by volatile global risks, including the potential impact of trade wars stemming from US threats to sanction trading partners to boost its competitiveness. Foreign companies are increasingly eyeing the Philippines, with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) approving almost P53 billion worth of investment pledges in the first two months of the year, more than quadruple the amount from a year earlier. These investments are expected to create more than 11,000 jobs, leading to increased consumption. We must ensure these pledges materialize. Additionally, the recent cut on the reserve ratio requirement (RRR) by the BSP is anticipated to add P330 billion in liquidity and hopefully contribute to lower interest rates, further encouraging investment.

In 2024, the state expenditure-to-GDP ratio was 24.32%, highlighting the impact of government spending on economic growth. Beyond the actual spending, the funds have to be allocated to areas that will strengthen our economy in the long run, such as President Marcos’ priority projects. This emphasizes the importance of agencies such as the Department of Budget and Management in developing a national budget that will suit the needs of our nation, including investing in social services and infrastructure development. Consequently, funds that are diverted from allocated government spending to individual pockets hinder our economic growth, as does increased debt service costs resulting from borrowing to fund projects.

The challenge before us is vast, but the business community stands with the government in our efforts to achieve high middle-income country status and beyond.

The views expressed herein are his own and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX.

 

EJ Qua Hiansen is the CFO of PHINMA Corp. and president of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines.

Low-cost approaches to motivating staff

We are a small business that can’t afford high salaries and benefits. How do we motivate people to do what they can to help management? What indicators should we be tracking? — Water Lily.

​It’s not rocket science. It’s easy to motivate people if your line leaders, supervisors, and managers are first and foremost highly motivated and highly engaged with top management. If they’re not motivated, how can they motivate their workers? They can’t give what they don’t have. That’s your top agenda. Start with your line executives.

​There are many ways to discover their motivational level. One is conducting a morale survey. The most important question is how line executives are empowered to independently solve problems and make decisions.

Two is monitoring the absenteeism, tardiness, and turnover rate of their workers. The higher the rates, the bigger the problem.

Three is noting the number of disputes line executives have prevented or resolved. The objective is to manage workplace conflict to the bare minimum without the matter being brought to a labor court.

Four is the number of ideas, suggestions, and even complaints that they’re submitting to management. When employees connect, they know they are free to speak up. When they speak up, they show the extra energy to do more for the organization.

​And five, measuring their leadership competence. This can be done easily through an online test but more accurately if the workers show their loyalty to their bosses and the commitment to achieve department objectives.

​In general, everything can be shown by workers who perform at the highest level with discretionary effort. “Discretionary effort” means doing what’s not expected and working beyond the job description.

MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
​There’s no need to come up with a sophisticated measurement system. My rule of thumb is to have a 60% in-person attendance at town hall meetings. That’s not to say that we don’t need to measure performance.

What I’m saying is — we don’t have to come up with a complex system.

The simpler, the better. However, management must have one metric to be used as a monitoring device to capture the monthly picture and analyze developments. You can be guided by the following simple approaches:

One, communicate management views with honesty. If the organization is losing money, but its executives refuse to share important financial records and continue receiving perks, the workers will feel that management is not serious.

Two, give employees a role in creating performance goals. That’s the essence of co-ownership. If management allows that, people will be happy to make things happen knowing they can’t afford to lose face in the process.

Three, ensure that everyone has the resources they need. This may include training, which may not be limited to classroom learning experience. Less theoretical approaches are better so workers can learn it by themselves through cross-posting in other jobs.

Four, allow management accessibility and visibility. This applies to all levels from line leaders to top management. For Western managers, it’s called Management by Walking Around. For the Japanese, it’s called the Gemba Walk. The important thing is regularity and not a once-in-blue-moon occurrence.

Five, listen carefully to all concerns and issues. It’s easy for management to go on autopilot. However, this can always be corrected by asking clarificatory questions and limiting them to practical issues, while avoiding encouraging any  false hopes.

Six, reward and recognize regularly. Ensure that you have an objective process in choosing the deserving. That alone can play an important role in energizing employees and improving their morale with special emphasis on meritocracy rather than seniority.

CULTURE AND HISTORY
The above list is not exhaustive. You can do more than that. There are many things that management can do depending on the company’s culture and history. Management must avoid being lulled into complacency and mechanically mouthing that “people are the company’s most valuable asset.”

​Instead of mouthing that cliché, prepare to make things happen with impressive results. Don’t be afraid to experiment with many tools and techniques that you’ve not done before. Learn from the experience of other dynamic organizations known to have staff who enjoy coming to work. 

​These organizations are easy to identify. For one, they have a low turnover rate, normally pegged at less than 5%. In these companies, morale is always strong and productivity is even stronger. Their employees are often seen discussing their best ideas and thinking in the workplace on a daily basis and without much prodding by management.

​Don’t be ashamed of copying their best practices and adjust them accordingly.

 

Consult your workplace issues with Rey Elbo on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or e-mail elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.com. Anonymity is guaranteed.

A Minute With: Mickey 17 director and cast on blending film genres

LONDON — South Korean director Bong Joon Ho, whose film Parasite made history at the 2020 Oscars with four wins, says blending genres is the only way he knows how to make movies and he was once even described as being a genre unto himself.

In his latest film Mickey 17, his first since Parasite, he weaves science fiction with comedy to tell the story of Mickey Barnes, a former pastry chef who finds himself in the unusual predicament of having to die for a living.

Based on the novel by Edward Ashton, it stars Robert Pattinson as a so-called “expendable” on a mission to colonize a planet for which he is required to die and come back to life, each time as a new version of himself.

Reuters spoke to Mr. Bong as well as cast members Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Steven Yeun about the movie.

Below are excerpts edited for length and clarity. Mr. Bong spoke via translator.

Q: Why do you choose to mix genres within films?

Bong: Throughout my career, from the very beginning, I never thought I was blending different genres… I haven’t known any other way to make movies. Actually, in 2019, at the Cannes Film Festival when Parasite was first shown there, one journalist… said: “We don’t need to define the genre of Parasite. This is just Bong Joon Ho’s genre.” I was very happy when I heard that.

Q: What do you think blending genres brings to Mickey 17?

Collette: It’s just like life, life is not one genre, life is everything, so why aren’t our stories everything?

Ackie: It grounds the sci-fi. You know there’s a thing, if I’m watching a horror then I’m like, okay here come the scaries, or if it’s a romance I’m like, when are they going to kiss? This mixes it up in a way where it adds onto that thing of not knowing what’s coming next.

Q: What makes this story pertinent today?

Bong: I think Mickey’s character will resonate with a lot of young people. Everyone wants to feel they’re important, irreplaceable, and find their own identity and presence, but real society doesn’t treat them that way… If you quit your job, you can easily be replaced by someone else. If you die, you can also be replaced by another worker, which makes you feel quite terrified and sad and depressed, and through the extreme job Mickey has, I think we get to explore that.

Q: What do you enjoy most about the film?

Yeun: What I really love about the film is that it falls forward in a way that isn’t premeditated. It feels like it’s just spilling forward in this way that keeps driving you.

Mickey 17 opens in Philippine cinemas on March 5. — Reuters

How PSEi member stocks performed — February 27, 2025

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

Makilala sustainability plans key to winning Maharlika loan

Rafael D. Consing, Jr. — COURTESY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

MAHARLIKA Investment Corp. (MIC) President and Chief Executive Officer Rafael D. Consing, Jr. said Makilala Mining Co.’s sustainability plan was instrumental in winning approval for its $76.4-million loan from the sovereign wealth fund.

“Makilala’s plans are much more sustainable than how other mining companies have operated historically,” Mr. Consing said in the Money Talks with Cathy Yang program on One News on Thursday.

“It aims to operate only on a very small footprint, implement stable mining practices, such as no tailing dam, and strong social license support of Balatoc indigenous community,” he added.

MIC announced it has agreed to provide a $76.4-million bridge loan to Makilala to fund the early-stage development of the Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog (MCB) Copper-Gold Project in Kalinga province.

Mr. Consing said the MIC is committed to responsible mining practices that prioritize environmental and social sustainability.

“The MCB Project includes provisions for community skills training and collaboration with the Balatoc Indigenous Cultural Community, ensuring inclusive growth,” he said.

Jose Enrique A.Africa, executive director at think tank IBON Foundation said in a statement that this project sends a signal that the MIC is “out to get financial returns even from helping foreign firms exploit domestic resources and at the expense of indigenous communities and the environment.”

Aliansa Dagiti Pesante iti Kordiliera (APIT TAKO) in a statement on Feb. 25, said Kalinga has become a “punching bag” for mining and energy projects.

“It is despicable how the government of (President Ferdinand R.) Marcos Jr. tries to further punch Kalinga in the gut by investing an enormous amount of people’s money in a mining company whose projects in the uplands of Kalinga will likely pollute the rivers that irrigate the fields of lowland Kalinga, a major supplier of the Isabela and Bulacan rice markets,” it said.

The group also said the government and private companies are eyeing Kalinga for two wind farms, a geothermal plant, and 19 hydro projects on the Pasil, Chico, Tanudan, and Saltan river systems.

Danilo Ramos, chairman of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and a Makabayan Senate candidate, called the investment “destructive.”

“The Maharlika Fund is being used to bankroll destructive mining instead of uplifting farmers and indigenous communities. Marcos Jr. is repeating his father’s legacy — prioritizing foreign corporations over Filipinos while unleashing militarization to silence resistance,” he said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Flagship transport projects to be overseen by new DoTr office

JICA

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it created a dedicated office to oversee and ensure the implementation of big-ticket transportation projects.

In a statement on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon said he issued a department order creating a Flagship Project Management Office (FPMO) to supervise the implementation of key transportation projects.

Under the Department Order 2025-002, the FPMO will set policy and monitor the status of infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs).

The priority IFPs of the government include the Metro Manila Subway project, the North-South Commuter Railway, the EDSA Busway project, the EDSA Greenways project, the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit andthe Davao Public Transport Modernization.

Mr. Dizon will chair the FPMO, the DoTr said.

“Sec. Dizon will likewise identify other projects as priority IFPs as may be deemed necessary in the future. Further, he will closely monitor developments of each identified IFP, where timelines of partial operability and completion will be imposed,” the DoTr said.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has issued a legal opinion that compensation rules set by development partners for persons displaced by foreign-funded projects apply only if the loan agreement was signed prior to the effectivity of the Right-of-Way Act (Republic Act No. 10752).

The opinion was issued to clarify the compensation rules governing projects entered into by the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and entities like the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Separately on Thursday, the DoTr announced the appointment of new Transportation officials.

Mr. Dizon, who assumed the role of Transportation Secretary on Feb. 21 from former Secretary Jaime J. Bautista, issued a memorandum on Feb. 24 ordering all undersecretaries to submit their unqualified courtesy resignations.

On Thursday, DoTr announced the appointment of Giovanni Z. Lopez as Undersecretary for Administration, Finance, and Procurement; Mark Steven C. Pastor as Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure; Jim C. Sydiongco as Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports; Ramon G. Reyes as Undersecretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure; and Dioscoro T. Reyes as Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

PAGCOR warns BSP regulation could hold back e-gaming growth

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) draft rules to prohibit association of digital marketplaces with online casinos could dampen the growth of the booming electronic gaming sector, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) said.

“I was surprised by the proposed draft. PAGCOR was not consulted, and the BSP did not seek our opinion,” PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said at a briefing on Feb. 26.

“If you’re asking me, will online gaming be affected? Yes, it will be affected,” he added.

PAGCOR reported in January that the e-games and e-bingo segments accounted for 50.03% of gaming revenue, equivalent to P48.79 billion.

The BSP released proposed guidelines prohibiting digital marketplaces from offering and presenting any products and services associated with gambling.

“Products and services that are associated with gambling activities (e.g., online casinos, online betting, electronic gaming, or other forms of gambling/gaming), or any activities that could undermine the reputation of the marketplace participants and the financial system, are prohibited to be offered or presented in the marketplace,” the BSP said.

Some of the digital marketplaces do not host online casinos or betting programs but link games that will open outside the applications.

In response to this, Mr. Tengco said: “I am going to ask the legal department to look into the matter so that without us getting any letter from the BSP, we can maybe react and give our side.” — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

BoI awards green lane certificates to Vena for P75-B solar, wind projects

THE Board of Investments (BoI) said it has endorsed for expedited permit processing Vena Energy’s P75-billion wind and solar projects.

“With a combined investment of approximately P75 billion, these projects will be developed across Luzon and the Visayas, creating up to 8,000 direct job opportunities during their construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance,” the BoI said in a statement on Thursday.

The green-lane certificates were awarded to Vena Energy’s special purpose vehicles: Opus Solar Energy Corp., Gemini Wind Energy Corp., and Ixus Solar Energy Corp.

The endorsement covers the 416.025-megawatt peak (MWp) Opus Solar Power Project, the 200-MWp Gemini Wind Power Project, the 301.392-MWp Aguilar Solar Power Project, and the 473.616-MWp Ixus Bugallon Solar Power Project.

“As a leading renewable energy provider in the Asia-Pacific, Vena Energy is committed to accelerating the transition to sustainable and affordable green energy while delivering long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits to host communities and stakeholders,” the BoI said.

Singapore-headquartered Vena Energy’s portfolio includes 43 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind, solar, and offshore wind projects. It has over 1,000 employees across 87 corporate and site offices globally.

It also has a green infrastructure pipeline consisting of 24 GWh (GW hour) of battery energy storage systems, 620 MW of data centers, and 840 million tons per annum of green hydrogen and ammonia production.

The projects are among the 184 strategic investments endorsed by the One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSACSI) for green-lane treatment worth P4.61 trillion as of Feb. 19.

Renewable energy projects accounted for 149 of these, valued at P4.21 trillion.

Investments in RE projects increased after the government allowed full foreign ownership in the industry, which had previously been capped at 40%.

In February, the OSACSI endorsed the 187.2-MW Tayabas South Wind Energy Project and the 144-MW Tayabas North Wind Energy Project of Cleantech Global Renewables, Inc. in Quezon Province.

Established through Executive Order No. 18 in Feb. 2023, green lanes aim to streamline the permitting and licensing process for strategic investments. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Alsons Group applies to register GenSan ecozone

@LGU-GENSAN

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it is evaluating an application to register a General Santos City economic zone filed by Alsons Group.

In a Facebook post, PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said the economic zone is a 100-hectare site next to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)-managed General Santos International Airport.

Meanwhile, he said via Viber that PEZA is also trying to obtain additional land from CAAP-GenSan International Airport for an aerotropolis ecozone.

“Our target for CAAP GenSan International Airport is 200 hectares,” Mr. Panga said.

PEZA and CAAP signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2022 for the establishment of aerotropolis or aerotropolis-linked ecozones.

Under the MoU, PEZA and CAAP committed to jointly promote the establishment of the ecozones and attract investment in aviation-related manufacturing industries, logistics services and maintenance, repair and operations, renewable energy, and food terminal hubs.

“There is already a prospective Japanese investor wanting to locate there for food processing,” Mr. Panga said.

“But in that aerotropolis park, we also want to host aviation-related activities such as maintenance, repair, and operations; processing of special aviation fuel; and flight simulation training facilities, among others,” he said.

Mr. Panga added that China’s Panhua Integrated Steel, Inc. is applying for an expansion project at its Kamanga Agro-Industrial Economic Zone site in Sarangani.

Separately, PEZA formalized the registration of Daikyo International Philippine, Inc. as a new domestic market enterprise on Feb. 20.

“Daikyo, a Japanese manufacturing company, is set to specialize in the production and processing of adhesive sheets and sticky traps at Carmelray Industrial Park I-Special Economic Zone (CIP I-SEZ) in Laguna,” it said, noting that the Laguna investment is still in the pre-operating stage.

“Its innovative products will help farmers reduce pesticide use, increase profitability, and contribute to the overall growth and sustainability of the agribusiness sector,” it added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

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