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Tamaraw protectors receive mobility and equipment aid from Toyota PH

In photo (from left) are TMP President Masando Hashimoto and DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga during the turnover of Toyota Tamaraw UV and Bantay Tamaraw Kits

Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation (TMPF), the social and humanitarian arm of the country’s leading automotive company, turns over a brand-new locally produced Tamaraw vehicle and “Bantay Tamaraw Kits” as support to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP). 

The ceremonial turnover, held at the DENR Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City, was led by DENR secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) president Masando Hashimoto, and TMPF president Jose Maria Aligada.

The donations are part of a collaboration with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the DENR and TMPF, signed synchronously with the release of the Next Generation Toyota Tamaraw in Dec. 2024.

In photo (from left) are TCP Deputy Coordinator Neil Anthony del Mundo, TMP First Vice President Josephine Villanueva, TMPF President Jose Maria Aligada, TMP President Masando Hashimoto, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna, DENR Undersecretary for Legal and Administration Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo Jr., Assistant Director for Biodiversity Management Bureau Mariglo Rosaida I. Laririt, DENR MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Felix S. Mirasol Jr., and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro City Environment and Natural Resources Office and Concurrent TCP Coordinator Efren L. Delos Reyes.

As the first tranche of support, TMPF handed over a Tamaraw Utility Van (UV) long wheelbase variant to aid in the patrolling and monitoring by “Bantay Tamaraw Rangers” as well as in the mobility operations of the TCP Office on the island of Mindoro. In addition, DENR-MIMAROPA regional officials and TCP Office representatives received Php500,000-worth of Bantay Tamaraw Kits, consisting of mountaineering gears, equipment, and tools on behalf of the Bantay Tamaraw Rangers.

The Bantay Tamaraw Rangers are volunteer Indigenous People (IP) and barangay residents dedicated in protecting the critically endangered Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) and their known habitats in Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park, which spans across Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. To date, the TCP Office has eighteen (18) registered rangers who will soon receive a complete set of equipment each.

In his message, TMP president Masando Hashimoto paid tribute to Tamaraw protectors, saying “we salute you for risking yourself on the ground to protect our Tamaraws.”

“Now, it is your turn to be protected too – from the harsh mountain conditions and various dangers of trekking and camping for weeks in the wilds.”

Hashimoto also mentioned that the initiative is part of the global Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, particularly in “Establishing a Society in Harmony with Nature.” Under this challenge, TMP collaborates with the DENR on various environmental initiatives, including reforestation, afforestation, marine life conservation, and recently, biodiversity conservation.

On top of in-kind donations, TMPF is also committed to provide a Php3-million conservation fund to support key program initiatives, including Tamaraw habitat monitoring and research, support programs for Barangay and Indigenous People (IP) volunteers, equipping the Tamaraw Research and Conservation Center, and various Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) activities.

Founded 35 years ago, TMPF is the corporate foundation of TMP with a focus on four (4) core pillars of Health, Education, Environment, and Community Service.

 


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Meralco sees spike in April electricity rates

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

CUSTOMERS of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) may expect higher electricity rates this month as the power distributor anticipates increases in generation and transmission charges.

“We are still waiting for some billings, but indications point to possible increase in the generation and transmission charges,” Joe R. Zaldarriaga, vice-president and head of corporate communications at Meralco, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The projected higher generation charge was attributed to the increase in prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), the trading platform for electricity.

Power plants that went on outage accumulated an average lost capacity of almost 1,000 megawatts (MW), failing to meet the average demand, which jumped by over 1,000 MW, Mr. Zaldarriaga said, citing initial information.

Data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines showed that the average price of electricity at the WESM surged by 95.5% to P5.34 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) as demand rose while supply declined due to forced outages.

Available supply decreased by 4.4% to 19,611 MW, while demand grew by 5.9% to 13,670 MW.

For Luzon alone, the WESM rate climbed by 102.7% to P5.50 per kWh.

The Luzon grid was placed under yellow alert on March 5 due to thin power reserves.

Transmission charges are also expected to increase due to higher ancillary service charges driven by elevated prices at the reserve market.

Generation charges, which cover the cost of power purchased from suppliers, usually account for more than 50% of the monthly electricity bill. Transmission charges, meanwhile, refer to the cost of delivering power from suppliers to the distribution system and constitute around 3% of the bill.

A slight relief, however, is expected to cushion the possible increase, as Meralco will begin implementing the P19.95-billion refund to its customers, as approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The refund, which must be implemented within three years, translates to an average rate of P0.1189 per kWh.

“We hope that the start of the implementation of the refund approved by ERC will help mitigate these possible increases in these bill components. This is equivalent to around 20 centavos per kWh downward adjustment for residential customers starting this month,” said Mr. Zaldarriaga.

In March, the power distributor raised electricity rates by P0.2639 per kWh to P12.2901 per kWh due to higher transmission charges.

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

PHL rolls out fully online registration for companies

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has transitioned to a fully online and paperless system for company registrations, with the goal of improving the ease of doing business.

The commission issued Memorandum Circular No. 3 on April 4, mandating the use of the SEC Zuper Easy Registration Online (ZERO) system for company registration through the Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for Registration of Company or eSPARC and the One-Day Submission and E-registration of Companies (OneSEC) portals, the SEC said in an e-mailed statement on Tuesday.

SEC ZERO is a module under eSPARC that eliminates the need for physical signatures, notarization, and the submission of hard copies of registration documents.

“SEC ZERO exemplifies our commitment to digitalization and sustainability, making the process of setting up a business easier and faster than ever. By allowing companies to authenticate their registration documents online, company registration can now be completed anytime and anywhere,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said.

SEC ZERO is integrated with the electronic SEC user registration environment (eSECURE), which verifies users before they can access the SEC’s online services, as well as the Electronic Submission Authentication Portal (eSAP), which uses one-time passwords to electronically authenticate SEC-required documents in place of conventional paper-based signatures.

“The credentialing process through eSECURE, plus authentication via eSAP, further enables us to filter out fraudulent individuals seeking to misuse the corporate vehicle to defraud the public. With this, those registering corporations are properly identified and can be held accountable, if necessary,” Mr. Aquino said.

Since its launch in July of the previous year, SEC ZERO has facilitated the registration of 1,874 companies. The application is part of the SEC’s third phase of digital transformation initiatives.

Effective April 7, all domestic stock corporations — excluding lending and financing companies — are required to be processed through SEC ZERO. This includes corporations wholly owned by Filipinos as well as those with foreign equity.

Filipino-owned domestic stock corporations may still register via OneSEC.

Lending companies, financing companies, and foreign corporations will continue using the traditional process under eSPARC for three months following the effectivity of Memorandum Circular No. 3. After this transition period, SEC ZERO will be mandatory for all types of corporations.

The SEC recorded a 6% increase in new company registrations, reaching 52,304 in 2024, compared with 49,506 in 2023, largely attributed to streamlined digital application processes.

In October of the previous year, the World Bank’s Business Ready (B-READY) report ranked the Philippines 16th out of 50 economies in terms of regulatory framework, with a score of 70.68. This positions the country among the top 40% of economies globally for regulatory quality.

However, the report also ranked the Philippines 24th in public services and 36th in operational efficiency.

The B-READY report evaluates the business and investment climate across three pillars: regulatory framework, public services, and operational efficiency.

“I certainly appreciate the convenience that this new rule brings. I anticipate more enterprises will consider incorporating, given how easy it is now,” Ateneo de Manila Policy Center Fellow Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco said in a Facebook message.

“But it is incumbent upon the SEC to educate the public on how this works and how it benefits our economy. This will likely require a massive nationwide education campaign,” he added.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message that the SEC’s recent move is part of the government’s broader digitization efforts to improve efficiency and productivity.

“However, it is essential that this process is digitally secured and validated to mitigate risks such as misrepresentation, hacking, and other cybersecurity threats,” he said.

CREC profit up 10.8% in 2024, driven by electricity sales

CREC.COM.PH

CITICORE Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC) reported a 10.8% increase in attributable net income for 2024, reaching P618.3 million, driven primarily by a 42% rise in electricity sales.

Revenues surged by 40%, rising to P5.1 billion from P3.7 billion in the previous year, primarily due to increased electricity sales, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Electricity sales grew by 42%, reaching P4.2 billion, largely as a result of a higher customer base and improved generation output from its portfolio of off-takers.

“The robust growth in our electricity sales significantly contributed to the revenue increase. We thank our customer base for the trust they place in our pure renewable energy portfolio,” said CREC President and Chief Executive Officer Oliver Tan.

“We are optimistic that we will continue to gain momentum as we energize our first gigawatt, which will benefit from our off-take contract with the government through the Green Energy Auction program,” he added.

Earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation (EBITDA) rose by 16%, increasing to P1.8 billion from P1.5 billion in the prior year, the company said.

CREC’s goal of energizing 5 gigawatts of renewable energy over the next five years is “in full speed,” according to Mr. Tan.

The company said that 13 of its projects have been certified by the Department of Energy as energy projects of national significance, allowing for the expedited implementation of these projects.

CREC, directly and through its subsidiaries and joint ventures, manages a diversified portfolio of renewable energy generation projects, power project development operations, and retail electricity supply services.

Currently, the company holds a combined gross installed capacity of 285 megawatts from its solar facilities across the Philippines.

At the local bourse on Tuesday, shares of the company increased by 1.87%, closing at P3.82 per share. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Digital transformation in Philippine agribusiness: A look at Australia

WIRESTOCK-FREEPIK

(Part 2)

Digital transformation is part of what is known as the Industrial Revolution (IR) 4.0, which includes, among others, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, digitalization and data analytics. It must be pointed out, however, that the Philippines has failed to complete IR 1.0 (the Age of Mechanization), IR 2.0 (the Age of Electrification), and IR 3.0 (the Electronic Age).

Because of serious errors in economic policy making of the Government over the last 50 years, the first industrial revolution (which first happened in England in 1790-1830) was never completed in the Philippine economy because in the first place, we never had an authentic green or agricultural revolution, which, in a large economy like ours, is a pre-requisite to the first industrial revolution. In fact, we are still struggling to attain food security. Our agricultural sector is far from having benefited from the Machine Age, still using to a great extent the labor-intensive farming techniques that have been with us for centuries. The whole country is still suffering from serious shortages of energy, with large areas, especially in hundreds of small islands, still suffering from lack of electricity or high energy costs.

We can claim, though, that we have advanced quite a bit in the electronics revolution, with our consumers having the reputation of being among the biggest consumers per capita of smart phones and e-mail services. We are also among the larger exporters of electronic and semi-conductor components, although at the lower end of the manufacturing value chain.

The question that can be posed about the topic of digital transformation is to what extent can our backward agricultural sector (the Achilles heel of the Philippine economy) absorb the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. More specifically, to what extent can there be a digital transformation of the Philippine agricultural sector.

Here, we must turn to the distinction that we have made between the sector of agriculture that is composed of millions of small farmers growing such traditional crops as rice, corn, vegetables, and fruits as well as livestock (especially hogs and poultry) and aquaculture products (fish, seaweed, prawns, etc.). It is easy to conceive of the other sector — the commercial farms consisting of thousands of hectares of farms growing bananas, pineapples, coconut, coffee, cacao, mangoes, avocado, bamboo, durian, palm oil, etc.) — adopting the technologies of IR 4.0. These questions were answered by the speakers in the Forum on the Digital Transformation of Philippine Agribusiness that was recently sponsored by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).

Obviously, it is that sector of Philippine agribusiness consisting of large commercial plantations as already exist in the banana and pineapple industries where there are many opportunities to apply some of the more advanced technologies in digitalization (as well as mechanization).

Already, we are witnessing the banana and pineapple plantations in Mindanao using drones, robots, data analytics, and Artificial Intelligence in the growing, harvesting, and transporting of their respective crops. In this context, let me refer to the great surprise of a Philippine delegation to Spain when they were invited to visit a vineyard in Toledo owned by Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group through Emperador Distillers (a sister company of Megaworld), which bought the company that produces and markets the famous international liquor brand Fundador. When someone from the Philippine delegation asked the farm manager of the 700-hectare vineyard how many workers worked under him, he replied “12.” That vineyard is a prototype of farm operations in labor-scarce countries like Spain that has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world. Obviously, that vineyard in Spain should not be replicated in the Philippines where there are still abundant human resources as can be inferred from our rates of unemployment and especially underemployment.

Here let me refer to the agribusiness country par excellence in the world. I am referring to Australia, that despite being a First World country still has a high percentage of their GDP and labor force accounted for by agribusiness.

In a recent article that appeared in the Financial Times (Jan. 24, 2025) entitled “A test bed for the future of farming,” we can already envision the future of large-scale agribusiness ventures in the Philippines. Let me quote relevant passages from the FT article.

“Justin Dickens is driving his truck along the edges of his farm outside the town of Orange in New South Wales when he gestures to a group of calves in a field. They are going to make ‘good eating,’ he says, checking their weight gain in an app on his phone… Dickens and his wife Amy rear Speckle Park cattle — a breed that produces fewer carbon emission and less methane than rival breeds in Australia, they say. Now they have the data to prove it. Their farm is all about the numbers, Dickens says: they have installed Australia-made sensors that monitor how much how each cow is eating, which pastures are more productive, whether a specific animal is struggling…

“Agricultural technology — often called ‘agritech’ — has been dubbed the new green revolution. Robotics and AI have made their presence felt in commercial greenhouses, potato fields and fruit farms; synthesized products such as dairy-free cheese and plant-based proteins are now in supermarkets. Over $200 billion of investment has been poured into the sector globally in the past decade, according to AgFunder, a venture fund that compiles data on the food technology sector, funding attempts to grow crops, rear animals and create food more efficiently and sustainably — not to mention strengthen food security in volatile geopolitical environment.”

Despite our having failed to complete IR 1.0, IR 2.0, and IR 3.0, it is possible for our agribusiness sector to make significant advances in IR 4.0 as long as we can accelerate the reconsolidation of some of the millions of hectares of farms that were unwisely fragmented by a poorly implemented agrarian reform program.

In the forum on the Digital Transformation of the Agribusiness co-sponsored by UA&P and SEARCA, one of the resource speakers was Christian Moehler, CEO and Founder of Lionheart Farms, a pioneer in reconsolidating small coconut farms into as much as 3,000 hectares in Rizal town, Palawan, south of Puerto Princesa.

I am familiar with the way data analytics was applied productively to his operations. One of our graduating students from the UA&P’s Master in Business Analytics course, Jericho Bonostro, applied data science to the planning of where to plant new coconut seedlings in Lionheart’s reconsolidated coconut farm. He analyzed thousands of data points on the climate experienced by the region to which the farm belongs over a number of years. Through data analytics, the study was able to identify portions of the farm where it would not be advisable to plant the new seedlings because the data revealed that there was a very high probability that the specific area would be devastated by a future natural calamity. Such information saved the company significant capital that would have otherwise been invested in seedlings and planting expenses.

(To be continued.)

 

Bernardo M. Villegas has a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard, is professor emeritus at the University of Asia and the Pacific, and a visiting professor at the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. He was a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission.

bernardo.villegas@uap.asia

The ephemeral and the solid

CREATURES 1 - 4 by Perry Martin Mamaril, 2025, bamboo, rattan, handmade paper, and LED lights. — — ALICIA A. HERRERA

An exploration of Baguio art now in Metro Manila

THE SOUND of gongs and the smell of smoke herald the beginning of ritual sacrifices in the Cordillera region. When the chicken is killed, its blood spills onto the ground, the culmination of paying tribute to the spirits and a joyous celebration of the earth.

This very scene is where the latest exhibition at the Ateneo Art Gallery, Gongs. Smoke. Blood. Earth., takes its name. It is a show that serves as an exploration or survey of Baguio art.

Aside from presenting works by the current zeitgeist of Baguio-based artists, it delves into their history and cultural context, dating back to the founding of the Baguio Arts Guild in 1986.

The exhibit is an extension of the book Tiw-tiwong: an Uncyclopedia to Life, Living, and Art, in Baguio, the Cordilleras and Beyond, published by Baguio Kunst Publishing in 2023.

For one of its main proponents, artist Kawayan de Guia, the book’s aim is to chart the relationship between indigenous communities and the artists, whether schooled or unschooled. The exhibition brings these connections to life at the Ateneo Art Gallery.

“There has never actually been a Baguio show in Manila, in a museum, ever. There have been a lot of exhibits of certain individuals in galleries, but there hasn’t been anything that sort of encapsulates a holistic view of Baguio,” he told the press at a preview on April 5.

“I don’t know if it’s a Manila-centric thing. Well, everyone wants to go to Baguio, so why bring the works down? There was no reason to do that because everyone just comes up,” he said.

A highlight in this exhibition of Baguio art is a recreation of Santiago Bose’s installation Bamboo Radar, which greets visitors at the lawn of Ateneo’s Arete building, which houses the gallery.

Mr. De Guia’s father, National Artist Kidlat Tahimik, also contributed an “unconscious curation” of wood carvings, bulul figures, and sculptures that he had picked up over the years.

“Back in ’86, with the guild, our appreciation for precolonial art had begun to seep in among the younger artists. I think now, we have people who are grounded in Cordilleran art. There was really a transition back then. It used to be exotic for some of us to play with our ancestral art, but I think it’s become full-blooded and grounded, coming out naturally with our expression,” he said.

Ateneo Art Gallery director Victoria “Boots” Herrera added that the exhibit tries to understand “the essentials of what Baguio art is, its history, the works, and where it’s heading.” The exhibit includes works of founding members of the guild: National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, photographer Tommy Hafalla, Rene Aquitania, Willy Magtibay, and Perry Mamaril.

“We have a lot of work from artists that have passed, but have really defined the ‘Baguio art style.’ [The show is] trying to understand the aesthetics of it,” Ms. Herrera said.

The exhibit also branches out to include contemporary Baguio-based artists like Katrin de Guia, Carlo Villafuerte, John Frank Sabado, Rocky Cajigan, Nona Garcia, Leonard Aguinaldo, Dehon Taguyungon, Gail Vicente, Randy Gawwi, Abbie SJ Lara, Bong Sanchez, Irene Bawer Bimuyag, and Rogelio Guinannoy.

For Baguio Arts Guild founding member Mr. Magtibay, the show presents a wellspring of “art reflecting the soul of the region.” His installation of the native dalikan (stove) is one that he considers both cultural and personal.

“The hearth is where life happens. It’s where you cook your food. Several times I’ve witnessed indigenous people perform rituals in front of the dalikan. It’s a sacred place where you seek comfort on stormy nights when it’s raining. For me, it’s my place of refuge,” he said.

Relative newcomer Ms. Vicente, an outsider who moved to Baguio to pursue art, hopes to tap into this wellspring. She leads the recreation of the late Roberto Villanueva’s Earth Song installation, made from handkerchiefs, scarves, towels, and fabrics representing motherhood.

Mr. De Guia, who co-curated the exhibit along with Nona Garcia, explained that Ms. Vicente’s initiative was welcome given the “ephemeral nature” of the installation, first put up in the 1990s. “Robert believed that art is of the moment, and that the involvement of the community is all-encompassing. That was the trademark and a big element in the equation of Baguio art. But we couldn’t figure out how to represent him here, since his work is long gone.”

The revival of the project can be seen within the halls of the gallery, among other Baguio art. Guests who visit the show throughout its run are encouraged to contribute fabrics to the piece.

As part of the exhibit, there will be screenings of Baguio-centered films by Kidlat Tahimik, Egay Navarro, Rica Concepcion, Kidlat de Guia, Abbie SJ Lara, Mervine Aquino, Ruben Domingo, and Angel Velasco Shaw. A mosaic workshop by Kabunyan de Guia, Olie Olivete, and Guiler Lagac of The Mighty Bhutens will be held at a later date, still to be announced.

“I can’t say where Baguio art is going, but I think there’s a very healthy momentum now,” Kidlat Tahimik said. “The young people are naturally thirsty for what was once considered shameful, primitive, uncivilized art. We’ve at least been able to pull the brakes on that kind of thinking.”

Gongs. Smoke. Blood. Earth. is on view until July 20 at the Ateneo Art Gallery at the Arete building in Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Century Pacific Food ‘cautiously optimistic’ for 2025, sets P3-B capex

CENTURY PACIFIC Agricultural Ventures, Inc., a subsidiary of Century Pacific Food, Inc. — CPAVI.COM.PH

FOOD and beverage manufacturer Century Pacific Food, Inc. (CNPF) said it is “cautiously optimistic” about its growth for 2025, citing improving consumer spending despite ongoing global uncertainties.

“We are already seeing signs of a better consumer environment as we enter 2025. So far, our Q1 (first quarter) has gone as planned. While this provides grounds for optimism, we remain mindful of lingering cost pressures and ongoing shifts in the global trading environment,” CNPF Chief Finance Officer Richard Kristoffer S. Manapat said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We plan to approach 2025 with caution — remaining agile and responsive to change. We believe our diverse and resilient portfolio positions us well to navigate these headwinds while continuing to pursue our goal of double-digit growth, all while staying true to our mission of delivering affordable nutrition to the market,” he added.

For 2025, CNPF has earmarked approximately P3 billion in capital expenditure (capex) to expand its production capacity in the tuna, coconut, and pet food segments. The company is also targeting mid-teen growth in both profit and revenue for the year.

This statement comes as CNPF reported a 14% increase in net profit for 2024, reaching P6.3 billion, up from P5.6 billion in 2023, primarily driven by its export businesses.

Consolidated revenue increased by 12% to P75.5 billion, largely due to the strong performance of its diversified portfolio.

Original equipment manufacturing (OEM) exports saw a 36% revenue growth, driven by a low base, favorable input costs, and robust global demand.

The branded segment, which accounts for the majority of CNPF’s sales, grew 7% in revenue, led by higher volume across its brand portfolio. This segment includes marine, meat, milk, and other emerging verticals.

Operating cash flows reached P8.1 billion, enabling the company to fund capacity expansion, increase dividends, and meet debt repayments.

“Our results in 2024 underscore the resilience and balance of our synergistic portfolio. Diversification enabled us to navigate economic challenges more effectively, with exports benefiting from favorable commodity cycles and global demand, providing support amidst a subdued domestic environment,” Mr. Manapat said.

“We are particularly grateful for the sustained growth we’ve experienced, despite ongoing inflationary pressures on Filipino households. Throughout, we remained focused on delivering affordable nutrition — ensuring our products remain accessible. Additionally, we reinvested margin gains into brand-building, innovation, and promotional activities to support consumers and stimulate demand,” he added.

CNPF shares rose by 9.06%, or P2.90, to close at P34.90 per share on Tuesday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Still ironclad: US reaffirms its commitment to alliance with the Philippines

PHILIPPINESTAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines last week underscored the two countries’ deep ties amid — or despite — an increasingly uncertain environment.

The uncertainty comes from many factors. There were initial misgivings regarding the commitment of the new administration of US President Donald Trump, who has been making unconventional executive decisions not only domestically but also on foreign policy.

He announced that he would impose sweeping tariffs on American imports from the rest of the world. These will take effect today, April 9.

And then, here at home, the Philippines continues to grapple with China’s provocative maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea. Furthermore, reported spying activities here have given rise to deep concerns regarding its next moves.

The fact that Mr. Hegseth chose to make the Philippines his initial stop in his Indo-Pacific tour — his first official overseas visit as defense chief — is a strong indication of Manila’s strategic importance to Washington.

That the alliance of the US and the Philippines is “ironclad” has been a characterization often invoked at the height of China’s provocative acts in recent years. Changes notwithstanding, Mr. Hegseth’s visit showed that this remains so.

He met with his counterpart, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. In their conversation, the former underscored America’s enduring commitment to the Philippines and pledged continuity in US security assistance, including the continuation of $500 million in military financing. This sends a strong signal that programs initiated under the previous administration will not only be maintained but strengthened under the new US administration.

Mr. Hegseth’s visit, then, did not just reaffirm existing ties — it elevated them. Just days after his engagements in Manila, the US State Department approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Philippines involving 20 F-16 fighter jets. This move reflects Washington’s view of the Philippines’ strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in Southeast Asia,” the announcement stated.

During their meeting, the two defense chiefs outlined a bold and forward-looking defense agenda, agreeing on several initiatives that will significantly enhance interoperability, readiness, and joint capability between the US and Philippine armed forces.

There are several initiatives: the deployment of advanced capabilities, for instance, includes the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), a cutting-edge mobile anti-ship missile platform, along with highly capable unmanned surface vessels. These assets are designed to provide strategic coverage of vital sea lanes from Philippine coastal positions to reinforce deterrence. This will form part of the 40th iteration of the Balikatan exercises scheduled from April 21 to May 9 this year.

This year’s Balikatan will serve as a clear demonstration of this deepened partnership. With new technologies, joint exercise, and high-level strategic alignment, the exercise will not only boost interoperability but also send a clear signal to the region — that the US and the Philippines are ready to respond to any challenge, together.

Filipinos themselves are well aware of the strategic importance of such an exercise. In a Stratbase commissioned survey conducted last month by SWS, the findings showed that 77% of Filipinos agree that the Philippine government must further strengthen its alliance with other countries. This will be accomplished through joint patrols, joint sails, and joint military exercises to assert and defend the Philippines’ territorial and economic rights in the West Philippine Sea.

Indeed, as Balikatan 2025 draws near, Filipinos can take confidence in the strengthening of the Philippines’ defensive posture, backed by the world’s most powerful military.

Other initiatives that were discussed include the special operations forces training to be held in Batanes, the crafting of a defense industrial cooperation vision statement, and a bilateral cybersecurity campaign.

The new Defense Industrial Cooperation Vision Statement was released a few days before Mr. Hegseth’s visit, and it outlines plans for co-production of unmanned systems, enhanced logistics cooperation, and the reduction of barriers to defense technology transfer — promoting not only maritime security but also economic security.

“The United States and the Philippines are committed to a strong and enduring alliance that is anchored in a shared, ironclad commitment to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Built on the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement, and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the United States and the Philippines have developed close and continuing bilateral defense cooperation. Defense and security cooperation has been a vital pillar of engagement in the ever-deepening partnership between the United States and the Philippines,” the first paragraph of the statement read.

Finally, because both countries recognize the importance of digital resilience, they have launched a campaign to strengthen cyber defenses. This includes the development of secure defense networks, a capable cybersecurity workforce, and operational cooperation.

These initiatives go beyond building military capability. They position the US-Philippines alliance as a credible force for deterrence in the face of mounting threats in the region. As coercive actions in the West Philippine Sea continue to challenge Philippine sovereignty, we take comfort in the message: the Philippines does not stand alone.

 

Victor Andres “Dindo” C. Manhit is the president of the Stratbase ADR Institute.

The climate crisis in focus

By Brontë H. Lacsamana, Reporter

Theater Review
Mga Anak ng Unos
Presented by Dulaang UP

THE LATEST twin-bill production by Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (Dulaang UP), Mga Anak ng Unos, can be best described as a horrific funhouse mirror reflecting the worsening realities of the climate crisis.

The first piece assumes the intriguing lens of folklore, where otherworldly creatures fight against humanity’s self-destructive tendencies. The second presents scenes that are frenetic, fragmented reimaginings of our current and possible future states of distress. Campus theater group Dulaang UP brings both to life with a stark sense of urgency.

GODS AND CREATURES
Sa Gitna ng Digmaan ng mga Mahiwagang Nilalang Laban sa Sangkatauhan is written by Joshua Lim So, a playwright in the Carlos Palanca Award for Literature Hall of Fame. Under the direction of José Estrella, the war that bathalas (gods) and mythological creatures wage against the sangkatauhan (humanity) unfolds on stage.

Immediately striking is the diversity of languages spoken by the deities, based on the regions from which their folk tales originate. The stage design is clever, with frayed ropes coiled into a gigantic mass on one side representing a mountain being destroyed by miners.

The costumes are also beautiful to look at, the bathalas, diwatas, aswangs, and the like each standing out as their own character. It begins with Dadanhayan Ha Sugay (played by Jasper John), a supreme being with 10 heads originating from Bukidnon folklore. Nicknamed Dan by his fellow mythological creatures, he is an intimidating figure who punishes mankind with thunder and torrential rainfall, much to the chagrin of Tausug-based trickster deity Abunnawas (Tristan Bite), who advocates for a tamaraw stuck in the ensuing landslide.

From then on out, the piece keeps adding on its innovative worldbuilding, the various creatures that Filipinos read about converging in an uncanny military alliance in the war on mankind. Based on Edgar Samar’s book Mga Nilalang na Kagila-gilalas, a compendium of mythological creatures drawing from folklore all over the country, the play puts the divine creatures in a tight spot where they are pushed to the brink. The entire exercise successfully leaves the audience with the sobering message that perhaps the destruction has gone too far.

Of course, the downside to having diverse dialogue using various Philippine languages is the audience’s inability to follow the whole thing completely, for lack of subtitles to the languages we don’t know. But the actors fill in this gap very easily, their expressions, tone of voice, and body language providing the context for what they’re probably saying in the moment.

There are humorous scenes as well, such as when one aswang declares that she has gone vegan and refuses to feast on the blood of a human. There are popularity dynamics at play, with the overbearing nuno sa punso reveling in being the most recognizable creature, and the humble anito being almost unknown. When not overwhelming in parts, the play at least manages to be amusing.

From the moment the tamaraw is stuck in the muddy ditch and seemingly doomed, the audience is immersed in an intriguing aspect of Philippine folklore that other tales haven’t really tackled — how humans’ effect on the environment ripples throughout the archipelago in ways unimagined.

HUMAN RESPONSES
The next play, Climate Crazies, is a feverish reckoning of what’s to come. From the local, it expands to the global experience of the climate crisis. The play is directed by Issa Manalo Lopez and Tess Jamias.

Based on Australian playwright David Finnigan’s Scenes from the Climate Era, it transposes the original text into the Filipino perspective of the crisis, tackled with a healthy mix of dread and playfulness. Vignettes take us through a plethora of realistic issues: plastic pollution, rising sea levels, the overconsumption of goods, and deadly super-typhoons.

Here, the audience is compelled to nod or shake their heads out of relatability, often in frustration over segregating or processing the trauma of individual actions being basically useless. Many voices are heard here — brought to life by the four extremely versatile main actors: Delphine Buencamino, Bong Cabrera, Herbie Go, and Ethan King — characters ranging from educated citizens and everyday people to climate scientists and uncaring celebrities. Their ability to take on all these perspectives throughout the barrage of vignettes is mind-blowing, to say the least.

One character says that the term “climate anxiety,” denoting an exaggerated worry over something, must instead be named “climate distress,” because it is unfair to claim that the dire situation is exaggerated at all. Later on, in a scene mimicking a TV program, a scientist bemoans how false hope chains people to the system. This is all grounded in harrowing scenes of the earth’s future, like a mother shielding her child from the deadly heat to a young man scrambling to get his elderly wheelchair-bound grandmother evacuated from the flood.

Tying the second play with the first is a Bagobo mythological character, Mebuyan (played by MJ Briones), a goddess with multiple breasts used to feed infants who have died. Here, adorned in trash bags, she flits in and out of the various vignettes, the only consistent character all throughout, embodying the decay that has befallen the earth. She is depicted as drawing unlucky numbers for humans who will perish from climate crises and feeding on her breasts are both human babies and turtles who have died consuming plastics in the ocean. 

Befitting the craziness promised by the title, the play is full of energy, from hilarious slapstick moments to more solemn and thought-provoking speeches. There are earth summits where world leaders struggle to enact policy, and average people eat a never-ending slew of takeout, or order products upon products online. In short, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions, and ultimately a rousing call to action.

Mga Anak ng Unos has shows on Fridays to Sundays until April 13 at the IBG-KAL Theater in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Regular tickets cost P1,000 while persons with disabilities and senior citizens can buy tickets for P800, all available via Ticket2Me. For more details, visit Dulaang UP’s social media pages.

PHL banks to see ‘low’ credit risk from US tariffs

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THE PHILIPPINE banking system is unlikely to face significant credit risk from the United States’ tariff policies due to its lower tariff rate compared with its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, Moody’s Ratings said.

“In Asia-Pacific, the impact on banks is credit-negative albeit to different levels, leading to heightened uncertainty for investors and consumers… Within APAC, the lowest additional US tariffs are now in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mongolia and the Philippines, with these economies’ banks experiencing the least damage from direct tariffs,” it said in its latest credit outlook, saying in a chart that the impact from the levies will be “low.”

Meanwhile, it expects banks in Vietnam, Thailand and Bangladesh to be the worst hit in the region by the US tariffs, with the impact expected to be “high,” while those in China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India and Malaysia are expected to see a “moderate” impact.

“The higher tariffs are more negative, on a relative basis, for banks in Vietnam, Thailand and Bangladesh because of their economies’ higher reliance on exports to the US compared with other economies in the region,” Moody’s Ratings said. “In these three countries, a moderation in exports to the US will hurt economic growth, straining loan growth for banks and hurting loan quality.”

“Elsewhere in APAC, despite significant increases in US import tariffs, the related impact on banks in China, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan, China, will be more manageable because of either economic diversification, low exports to the US, or both.”

US President Donald J. Trump last week announced a slew of tariffs on the country’s trading partners that are set to take effect on April 9.

In the region, the Philippines has the second-lowest tariff rate at 17%, just after Singapore, which received the 10% baseline tariff.

Countries that were slapped “moderate” tariffs (24% to 27%) were Japan, South Korea and India.

Meanwhile, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and China saw the rates (32% to 49%).

Moody’s Ratings said the reciprocal tariffs are likely to affect economic growth and corporate creditworthiness in Asia-Pacific, which in turn could hurt banks’ loan expansion asset quality.

“In terms of large corporate exposures, we do not expect significant deterioration in loan quality for APAC banks. Listed APAC nonfinancial firms, on average, typically generate around 10% of revenue from the US market, and the drop in sales because of US tariffs should not significantly reduce their debt-servicing capacity,” it added.

“Still, some industries in APAC are more heavily dependent on US sales, which could lead to mildly higher asset quality risk for creditors, particularly in automobiles and parts, steel, chemicals, textiles and shipyards.”

Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed bank lending growth slowed to 12.2% year on year in February from the 12.8% expansion in January, which was the fastest in two years.

Separate data showed Philippine banks’ asset quality worsened as the industry’s gross nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio rose to 3.38% in January from 3.27% in December. This was the highest in two months or since the 3.54% in November.

Potential actions by monetary authorities to support economic growth amid the risk of a global recession could also affect APAC banks’ margins, Moody’s Ratings added.

“To counter the strain from higher US tariffs, it is likely that some central banks in APAC will begin reducing interest rates sooner than when the markets expect, or moderate the pace of their rate hikes, as in the case of Japan. These measures, if implemented, will lead to lower bank margins,” it said.

“We also expect higher government support and other measures from the central banks, including interest rate reductions and loan restructurings for borrowers in the most affected industries.”

The BSP is widely expected to resume its easing cycle on Thursday amid low inflation, with the potential economic impact of the US’ tariff policies bolstering the possibility of further rate cuts.

A BusinessWorld poll of 17 analysts conducted last week all expect the Monetary Board to reduce the target reverse repurchase rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.5% from the current 5.75%.

The central bank kept interest rates steady in February as it waited to see how global trade uncertainties would unfold. It slashed borrowing costs by a total of 75 bps in 2024. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Philippine Labor Force Situation

THE JOBLESS RATE slipped to a two-month low in February, as more Filipinos joined the labor force ahead of the summer season and midterm elections, the statistics agency said on Tuesday. Read the full story.

Philippine Labor Force Situation

BPI taps ACEN RES for renewable energy supply

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THE BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has tapped ACEN RES, the retail electricity supply arm of the Ayala group, for its power supply under the government’s expanded retail aggregation program (RAP).

BPI aggregated the power demand across its 70 branches, making it the first customer in the banking sector under the government program, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said in a statement on Monday.

“BPI’s participation in RAP sends a clear message to other banks and the entire financial sector: the retail electricity market is viable and offers real opportunities to enhance the bankability of energy projects,” ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta said.

“My hope is that banks across the country will recognize the enormous potential in retail competition — that they are not just financiers of power projects, but also active contributors to the country’s energy security,” she added.

The enhanced RAP allows facilities owned by the same consumer within the same franchise area of a distribution utility to aggregate their demand to meet the 500-kilowatt threshold and select their power supplier.

BPI also moved its corporate office in Manila to renewable energy through the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), a voluntary mechanism that allows electricity end-users to choose renewable energy as their power source.

BPI Chief Finance Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer Eric M. Luchangco emphasized that switching 70 branches to RAP is “just the beginning of the bank’s broader efforts to promote energy sustainability within its operations.” — Sheldeen Joy Talavera