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Nickel Asia reports better ESG rating

LISTED mining firm Nickel Asia Corp. said on Tuesday that it has scored a performance rating of 33.6 for its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, which is an improvement over its previous 43.7 rating.

In a statement, the company said the score was based on the latest assessment conducted by its external ESG rating partner Sustainalytics for the period December 2022 to February 2023.

“The improvement in our score confirms that our sustainability strategies, practices, and policies as a company have put us on the right track on our journey to achieving our ambitious goal of becoming the premier ESG investment in the Philippines and among the top 25 in market capitalization of the listed companies in the Philippine Stock Exchange,” said Jose Bayani Baylon, senior vice-president for sustainability, risk, corporate affairs, and communications.

“Along the way, we will encounter incidents and controversies, but our vision and our strategy, values, and policies will serve to keep us focused on what we have to do because it is the right thing to do,” he added.

The report covered more than 70 management ESG performance indicators, the company said, adding that the previous rating in July last year covered 30 indicators that were assessed through “publicly available disclosures and followed Sustainalytics’ core framework.”

The 10.1-point improvement in its score placed Nickel Asia under the “high risk” category or those with risk scores between 30 and 40. Its previous rating classified it among “severe risk” firms.

“This means that the firm’s overall management of material ESG issues is strong,” the company said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Arts&Culture (02/15/23)

PETA’s Walang Aray premieres this weekend

THE PHILIPPINE Educational Theater Association (PETA) is to full live performances in the theater with a new original Filipino musical, Rody Vera’s Walang Aray. Presented by PETA with Indie.Go Media, Walang Aray is a genre-defying adaptation of the screenplay Walang Aray, based on Severino Reyes’ classic zarsuela, Walang Sugat. The musical mashes the timeless classic with contemporary language, funk and pop tunes, and tongue-in-cheek humor. This old-meets-new production is directed by Ian Segarra, with original music by Vince Lim, and caps PETA’s emerald year. Walang Aray runs at the PETA-Phinma Theater, PETA Theater Center, New Manila, Quezon City, from Feb. 17 to May 14. For partnerships and show-buying inquiries, contact Mitch Go at 0917-539-1112 or e-mail PETA at petatheater@gmail.com.

Ang Huling El Bimbo tickets go on sale

FULL House Theater Company is bringing back Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in April. The award winning musical features music of one of the most iconic Pinoy rock bands and tells the tale of the friendship of Joy, Hector, Anthony, and Emman as they navigate life. Directed and choreographed by Dexter M. Santos, with a book by Dingdong Novenario, and musical arrangements by Myke Salomon, the new production will include additional scenes and dialogue by Floy Quintos. Original cast members returning for this production include Gian Magdangal, Gab Pangilinan, Topper Fabregas, Jamie Wilson, and Sheila Francisco. Joining them are new cast members Nino Alejandro, Bullet Dumas, Anthony Rosaldo, Paw Castillo, and Katrine Sunga. Tickets are now available at TicketWorld (https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx?sh=AHEB23) and SM Tickets outlets, with prices ranging from P1,079 to P3,776. For inquiries and early bird offers and bulk ticket purchases, contact 0917-872-8309, 0917-872-8734, and 0917-872-8765. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/fullhousetheater. 

Ateneo Blue Rep restages Zsazsa Zaturnnah

Ateneo Blue Repertory restages the musical adaptation of the superhero graphic novel, Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah, in March. Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical…‘Yun Lang! is the first onsite show of Ateneo Blue Repertory’s 31st season. Kim Molina plays the titular character. The first stage adaptation of Carlo Vergara’s 2002 graphic novel, Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal, was created by Chris Martinez for Cultural Center of the Philippines’ resident theater company Tanghalang Pilipino in 2006. The music, lyrics, and musical direction are by Vincent de Jesus, and it starred Eula Valdez as the super hero Zsazsa Zaturnnah, Tuxqs Rutaquio played her alter ego Ada, and Agot Isidro was the evil Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux. The play was staged multiple times until 2011. Inspired by the Darna story, Zsazsa Zaturnnah follows the beautician Ada who finds a large rock that fell from the sky. Their friend Didi convinces them to swallow it. Upon swallowing the rock, Ada transforms into bombshell superheroine Zsazsa Zaturnnah who battles threats to the town, such as a huge frog and a villainous band of alien women led by Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux. Shows are on March 17-19, 24-26, 30 and 31, and April 1 and 2 at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box Theater, Areté of Ateneo De Manila University, Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ateneobluerepertory.

  

TP’s Ang Pag-uusig premieres this weekend

TANGHALANG Pilipino (TP) presents Ang Pag-uusig on Feb. 17 to March 12 at the Black Box Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Ang Pag-uusig is a Filipino translation of the Tony Award-winning play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The show features TP’s senior actors Marco Viaña, Lhorvie Nuevo, Toni Go, and Jonathan Tadioan. The Crucible used the setting of the Salem witch trials in the 1690s to comment on the United States government’s persecution in the 1950s of people accused of being communist. Ang Pag-uusig in turn, uses The Crucible to comment on the Philippine situation. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/tanghalangpilipino. 

JEFRË holds first museum show in PHL

AFTER a decade creating art worldwide, USA-based Filipino-American artist JEFRË (a.k.a. Jeffrey Manuel) turns to his ancestors’ homeland, the Philippines, with Points of Origin, his first solo museum show in the country, at BGC’s Metropolitan Museum of Manila — or The M — on Feb. 15. The exhibition is a celebration of the monumentality of the artist’s work, and a way of connecting his two homes. Selected pieces from the artist’s portfolio have been scaled down for the show, and his site-specific, monumental sculptures and installations may now be experienced within the walls of the museum. To book a visit, go to https://metmuseum.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=64f1d8c007caed195bea931b5&id=54ee75307c&e=2ed03baaa0.

Filipino and Indian artists hold joint exhibit

The Angono Ateliers Association Philippines (AAAP) and the Arth Art International India, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, present the “Philippines-India Art Exchange 2023” on Feb. 15 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City. With the theme “Art Diversity,” the art exhibit will showcase 68 art pieces by 17 Filipino artists and 17 Indian artists. Philippines-India Art Exchange 2023 will be open for public viewing from Feb. 16 to 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Two shows at Mo_Space

Two shows are opening at Mo_Space gallery on Feb. 18. At the Main Gallery will be Jill Paz’s “Echo of a Site,” presenting the artist’s new series of paintings using Palm Tree imagery. At Gallery 2, Pinky Ibarra Urmaza’s “ARCADIA” will be on show. The artist turns to book covers — a ritual object in itself — to take viewers on a journey of internal wanderings. The exhibits run until March 19.

Art at the National Science Complex

FOR the entire month of February, the Institute of Biology at the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) is showcasing art works by its students, faculty, and family at the IB Auditorium. Works on display range from detailed anatomical drawings to whimsical slices of life. Also on show are intricate sketches of the Philippines’ many kinds of Rafflesia flowers. The exhibit is open to the public until Feb. 28. Admission is free.

2 shows at Xavier School Nuvali

Xavier School Nuvali, the youngest Jesuit school in the Philippines, is the latest breeding ground for the future of Philippine theater. This year, Xavier School Nuvali’s theater clubs are slated to usher in the return of in-person performances starting with Dulaang X performing Christine Bellen-Ang’s musical Si Pilandok at ang Bayan ng Bulawan. Pilandok uses the kwentong-bayan (hometown tales) to challenge both young and old to take part in creating a nation immersed in solidarity, trust, and integrity. Directed by Kim Nathanyel Sejera, and starring the Junior High School students of Dulaang X, Pilandok has performances on Feb. 14, 16, and 17 (contact kimnathanyelasejera@xsn.edu.ph for showtimes and more details). Capping off Xavier School Nuvali’s theater season is the 44th Anniversary Production of Onofre and Joel Pagsanghan’s Sa Kaharian ng Araw. Directed by PHILSTAGE Gawad Buhay 2009’s Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Marvin Ong, featuring the Senior High School students of the Xavier Actors Society (xACTs), Kaharian tells the story of two friends on a journey to find the mythical answer to all their problems while discovering the true meaning of friendship, love, and most importantly, self-giving along the way. Kaharian will have performances on Feb. 25, 28, March 3 and 4 (contact marvintong@xsn.edu.ph for showtimes and more details). Both Pilandok and Kaharian will be staged at the John Tiu Ka Cho Multi Purpose Center, Primary Building, in the Xavier School Nuvali Campus.

Columnist shares Siargao move in new book

What started as a story of desperation turned into a beautiful transformation. Mindanao Gold Star Daily columnist David Haldane shares his adventures as he uproots  himself and his wife, Ivy, to the Island of Siargao in a new book entitled A Tooth in My Popsicle. The story recalls Mr. Haldane’s journey leaving his life in Los Angeles, California, to move to his wife’s hometown on the famous but oh-so-foreign island paradise. This book is a compilation of essays about his experience, from first inviting his now-wife to America for a new life to the beauty of hope with two young children. Mr. Haldane is a former Los Angeles Times staff writer with over 20 years of experience at that publication. His two previous books are the award-winning memoir, Nazis & Nudists, and a short-story collection called Jenny on the Street.

How PSEi member stocks performed — February 14, 2023

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

Peso drops ahead of US CPI report

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO weakened against the dollar on Tuesday as the market was cautious ahead of the release of the January US consumer price index (CPI) report overnight.

The local currency closed at P54.83 versus the greenback on Tuesday, declining by seven centavos from Monday’s P54.76 finish, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

The peso opened Tuesday’s trading session at P54.67 per dollar. Its intraday best was at P54.64, while its weakest showing was at P54.96 against the greenback.

Dollars traded went down to $848.27 million on Tuesday from $955.85 billion on Monday.

“The peso depreciated on market caution ahead of the US consumer inflation report for January 2023 due for release tonight,” a trader said in a Viber message on Tuesday.

A strong CPI reading could drive expectations of tighter monetary policy from the US Federal Reserve.

The US central bank hiked its fed funds rate by 25 basis points (bps) to a range between 4.5% and 4.75% at its Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 meeting. This brought cumulative increases since March 2022 to 450 bps.

The Fed’s next policy review is on March 21-22.

Meanwhile, the local stock market gauge’s decline also dragged the local currency down, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index dropped by 47.52 points or 0.69% to close at 6,791.24 on Tuesday.

For Wednesday, the peso is likely to move depending on the US CPI report, the trader said.

The trader sees the peso moving from P54.65 to P54.90, while Mr. Ricafort expects it to trade between P54.75 and P54.95 per dollar. — A.M.C. Sy

Stocks drop on selling pressure ahead of US CPI

BW FILE PHOTO

PHILIPPINE SHARES declined further on Tuesday on selling pressure amid expectations of faster US consumer inflation in January.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) declined by 47.52 points or 0.69% to 6,791.24 on Tuesday, while the broader all shares index went down by 11.31 points or 0.31% to end at 3,631.65.

“Selling pressure steadily weighed on prices through most part of the day as investors likely kept to the sidelines ahead of the US inflation report due out later. Investors may be bracing for a negative surprise,” China Bank Securities Corp. Research Director Rastine Mackie D. Mercado said in an e-mail.

“This may also factor into investor expectations of higher terminal rates for the US Federal Reserve and the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), and curb the appetite for equities in the near term. Note that the BSP’s policy decision is also due out this week,” Mr. Mercado added.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics was set to release January’s consumer price index (CPI) data overnight, which was expected to show how effective Federal Reserve policy tightening has been in taming inflation.

Analysts expect the headline CPI to rise 0.5% in January, with the core number seen advancing 0.4%, compared with 0.3% in the previous month, according to a Reuters poll. On an annual basis, consumer price inflation likely eased to 6.2%, from 6.5% in December.

The US central bank raised the fed funds rate by 25 basis points (bps) to a range between 4.5% and 4.75% at its Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 meeting. Its next policy review is on March 21-22.

Meanwhile, the BSP will hold its first policy meeting for the year on Thursday, where analysts expect a 25-bp or 50-bp rate hike.

“The PSEi sank after the market succumbed to profit taking ahead of US CPI and BSP’s meeting,” AP Securities, Inc. Equity Research Analyst Carlos Angelo O. Temporal said in a Viber message.

All sectoral indices closed lower on Tuesday. Property went down by 27.80 points or 0.93% to 2,956.02; holding firms lost 45.96 points or 0.7% to end at 6,517.91; financials declined by 9.46 points or 0.51% to 1,822.53; services dropped 5.60 points or 0.32% to 1,711.25; mining and oil slid by 31.62 points or 0.27% to 11,435.4; and industrials inched down by 15.26 points or 0.15% to 9,855.70.

Value turnover went up to P7.37 billion on Tuesday with 969.20 million shares changing hands from the P6.60 billion with 1.01 billion issues traded on Monday.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 103 versus 84, while 43 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling rose to P461.38 million on Tuesday from P373 million on Monday.

China Bank Securities’ Mr. Mercado placed the PSEi’s support at 6,780-6,800 and resistance at 7,000, while AP Securities’ Mr. Temporal put support at 6,700 and resistance at 7,000. — Ashley Erika O. Jose with Reuters

Lack of awareness, energy costs continue to burden PHL recycling sector

High energy costs and low waste collection rates continue to burden the recycling sector in the Philippines, according to Bulacan’s Rural Industrial Corp.

“The cost of electricity has increased by over 30%, while fuel costs have almost doubled since the pandemic and the ongoing war abroad,” said Max L. Sy, general manager of the paper recycling company in Santa Maria, Bulacan. 

Another challenge is sourcing recycling-ready wastes.

“It’s still challenging due to the lack of awareness about the recyclability of UBCs (used beverage cartons),” he told BusinessWorld on Feb. 14. “Improvements also need to be done at our local MRFs (materials recovery facilities).”

An MRF receives, separates, and prepares recyclables to be sold to an end buyer. 

The company, Mr. Sy said, is able to sustain its operations and cover for rising costs through an increase in its mill’s efficiency by reducing rejects and improving production processes. 

“We were also able to increase our revenue stream by around 8% through our board production line made from UBCs,” he added. 

When asked about demand, he said: “There’s definitely still a stigma that recycled products are generally less durable and should be cheap; however, that’s not entirely true and, of course, with the right technology and innovation, recycled products can be a proper alternative to existing products, and actually provide economic value.”

“For our Poly Al Pro boards (eco boards) and recycled packaging paper, there’s definitely a demand and market in the construction and packaging industry, respectively,” he added.

FROM CARTONS TO BOARDS
The company uses UBCs from companies like Tetra Pak Philippines, a food packaging solutions provider, and recycles these into either paper that can be used for paper bags and news prints, or boards that can be used for tiles, furniture, and roofing. 

Tetra Pak’s UBCs are 75% carton, 20% polyethylene (the most commonly used plastic), and 5% aluminum.  

The widespread adoption of recycling requires a mindset change, according to Terrynz Tan, Tetra Pak’s sustainability director for Southeast Asia.  

“Creating the behavior so it becomes automatic… that needs time – even generations – to switch that behavior,” she said. 

Tetra Pak, Ms. Tan added, has organized awareness campaigns at around 200 public and private schools in the greater Manila area. 

“We teach them that recyclables should be treated with respect. Send recyclables to proper recycling centers,” she said. “There’re still so many areas we can cover. It’s a journey. We take one step at a time.”  

Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled worldwide, according to a 2022 report of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development or OECD.

“Another 19% is incinerated, 50% ends up in landfill and 22% evades waste management systems and goes into uncontrolled dumpsites, is burned in open pits or ends up in terrestrial or aquatic environments, especially in poorer countries,” it said. — Patricia B. Mirasol

Sugar import volumes set at 440,000 MT await approval

BOC - PUBLIC INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE DIVISION (BOC-PIAD)

THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said on Tuesday that it is waiting a “go signal” from President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to formally release a sugar order authorizing the imports of 440,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar.

“In all the SRA Sugar Board meetings, the President, if he is not available, is represented by (Senior Undersecretary Domingo F.) Panganiban. In yesterday’s meeting, we all signed the Sugar Order (which was) sent to Malacañang for the go-signal from the President, in his capacity as Secretary of Agriculture,” SRA Board Member and Planter’s Representative Pablo Luis S. Azcona told reporters in a virtual briefing.

According to Mr. Azcona, the sugar imports will come in three tranches — 100,000 MT and 100,000 MT, with the remaining 240,000 MT to be held back as buffer stock.

The first tranche is cleared for arrival “as soon as possible” while the second shipment will be admitted into the country starting April 1.

The remaining 240,000 MT, per order of Mr. Marcos, will be classified as “reserve” sugar. The SRA will re-classify the reserve for release to the domestic market as needed.

According to Mr. Azcona, the imports will address strong demand and contain prices.

He projected domestic sugar production at around 1.83 million MT. He noted that demand “is a lot more” and called the imports a mechanism for ensuring that “consumers get a good retail price.”

“We have more Filipinos every year so the demand should be going up,” he said.

“However, the data for actual consumption of big sugar users is not very accurate because they don’t really share with us their actual usage. We can monitor this through their taxes… so I think the import volume of 200,000 plus 240,000 buffer is very safe,” he added.

Mr. Azcona said that the import volume was arrived at after “careful calibration,” to ensure farmers can obtain reasonable prices even in the presence of imports.

He said the buffer stock is a mechanism to keep some control over supply with the SRA.

“We cannot 100% control the traders; however, the SRA Board controls when the (reserve) sugar will be made available to the market,” he said.

Separately, the MAV Management Council has approved the entry of 64,050 MT of sugar through the minimum access volume (MAV) mechanism.

The MAV allows trading partners guaranteed access to the Philippine market, up to a certain volume, as part of the Philippines’ World Trade Organization commitments.

According to Mr. Azcona, the details of the MAV shipments are still being studied, with the SRA having little involvement in the process.

The arrival of MAV sugar is between mid-April and the end of August, for consumption before the start of the next crop year. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

IEMOP backs review of secondary price cap amid high fuel prices

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) needs to review the secondary price cap as market participants grapple with high fuel and power generation costs.

“As the market operator we see the merit of the call to review the price cap especially now that fuel prices and the production cost of power plants continue to increase, yet the price cap is low,” Robinson P. Descanzo, chief operating officer of IEMOP said in a virtual briefing on Feb. 10.

Power plant generators are entitled to additional compensation once the secondary price cap is triggered, according to an ERC resolution.

The secondary price cap limits the price that can be charged for power after certain price levels are breached within a short period. It is used by regulators to dampen volatility. The ERC set the secondary price cap at P6.245 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) after the breach of a P9 per kWh rolling average of the generator-weighted average price over a three-day period.

“What is happening here is the power plants recover their expenses through additional compensation, which is also provided by a mechanism of the secondary price cap,” he added.

ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta said that Philippine Independent Power Producers Association (PIPPA) has filed a position paper seeking a review of the secondary price cap.

“We are studying how to balance it because the cap is helpful. It provides consumers with some protection but it also distorts (market) signals. The WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) is there to send us signals but if we have the cap, the signals are distorted,” she told reporters on the sidelines of an energy forum last week.

Anne Estorco Montelibano, president of PIPPA, said that the secondary price cap should be examined as it discourages investment in the power sector.

“We have been shouldering the cost; the government need to examine policies that would encourage investment,” Ms. Montelibano said.

“Since the ERC allows additional compensation claims, I think it is right to increase the price cap set; at the same time the additional compensation claims would be reduced significantly,” Mr. Descanzo said.

Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla has also said that the Energy department would have to raise the secondary price cap to encourage more investment in the energy sector. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Palace reviewing application to extend Malampaya service contract

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said on Tuesday that the Malampaya gas field concession, known as Service Contract 38, is currently under review by the Office of the President in the wake of an application to extend the concession.

In a statement, the DoE declined to elaborate on the extension application while the Palace is evaluating it, other than to say: “the Philippine government retains at all times its full control over all aspects of gas and oil exploration and development. The service contractor is exactly that: Contractor.”

Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (Prime Infra) is seeking a 15-year extension for the concession, which is set to expire next year.

Prime Infra, through its subsidiary Prime Energy Resources Development BV (Prime Energy) is a member of the Malampaya consortium operating SC 38.

Prime Energy holds a 45% stake in the Malampaya project. The other members of the consortium, UC38 LLC and PNOC Exploration Corp., own 45% and 10% stakes, respectively.

The DoE described the Malampaya project as a successful public-private partnership.

“PD (Presidential Decree) 87 embodies an early example of public-private partnerships (where the private sector bears all the risk) and, in the case of the Malampaya deepwater Gas-to-Power Project, a successful one,” the DoE said.

PD 87 governs the development of the petroleum industry, and introduced the service contracting system, through which blocks of Philippine territory are allocated to private parties for exploration.

Last week, Prime Infra President and Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Lucci said the company is optimistic about the Malampaya gas field and expects to extract gas from a new well by 2026.

The Malampaya project supplies power plants on Luzon which account for 20% of the Philippines’ power requirement. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Onion farmers say millions worth of produce lost in cold storage

BOC PHOTO

A FARMING cooperative from Bongabon, Nueva Ecija said it lost 128,000 bags of onions which were improperly stored, rendering the crop unsellable and possibly contributing to the onion shortage.

Israel Reyugal, president of the Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Bongabon, told the House committee on agriculture and food that the onions, which he valued at P168 million, were rendered unmarketable after being exposed to temperatures that were too low at a cold storage facility in Bulacan.

He named the cold storage company in his remarks to the committee. BusinessWorld is withholding identification of the company while seeking comment from its representatives.

Mr. Reyugal said the cooperative is currently pursuing legal action against the privately-owned cold storage facility.

“Onions are sensitive,” he said, adding that “in May or June, we saw that the temperature (at the facility) was between minus 3 and minus 5 Celsius,” he told the panel, by which time the produce could not be saved.

According to the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, onions must be stored at between 0.5 degrees Celsius and minus 0.5 degrees. 

He said that the loss of the crop may have contributed to the high onion prices that happened late last year. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

ECCP backs water council to ease path for PPP investment

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HANDOUT

THE European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said it supports the establishment of an advisory panel to the Water Resource Management Office (WRMO), which it hopes will result in seamless cooperation with the private sector in developing water projects.

“This interim structural reform will hopefully provide more synergy with public-private partnerships (PPPs) as it leads and encourages the establishment of investments, technology, benchmarking, and sharing of best practices resulting to the improvement of the water sector and for the benefit of our people,” the ECCP said in a statement on Tuesday.  

“We highly encourage that a multistakeholder advisory panel be established under the WRMO with representation from the private sector, academics, and civil society to serve as an additional sounding board for the said office in the crafting and implementation of policies, programs and projects for the water sector in line with the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) principle of participatory governance,” the ECCP said.

The ECCP said that the government should also consider using the IWRM principles for water resource planning.

“The IWRM is an internationally recognized framework that is used to guide countries on their journey to water security. It is based on the idea that water issues should not be approached in isolation, but rather in a more holistic manner due to the interdependence of the uses of finite water resources,” the ECCP said.  

Earlier this month, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. approved the creation of the WRMO as an arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.  

The PCO said that the WRMO will serve as a transitory body pending the creation of a Water Resources department. The main functions of the WRMO include creating and ensuring the implementation of the Integrated Water Management Plan that will harmonize the plans of various agencies.

“The creation of the WRMO is a welcome first step in fully realizing this as it aims to strengthen collaboration among various agencies in implementing water management programs in accordance with the Integrated Water Management Plan, to be crafted by the said agency,” the ECCP said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Philippines still not free of H5N1 bird flu

THE Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said the Philippines is still subject to outbreaks of type H5N1 avian influenza, first detected in February 2022.

The BAI said it has detected six cases overall since the first outbreak. The cases were reported in Candaba and Masantol, Pampanga; Sta. Maria, Bulacan; the Cagayan Valley; Sultan Kudarat, and Sampaloc, Manila.

“We had our first case… in February 2022. Since then, hindi naman po tayo nag-declare na naging AI-free na uli tayo (we have not declared ourselves AI-free). We haven’t recovered our AI-free status,” BAI Assistant Secretary Arlene Asteria V. Vytiaco said.

Previous outbreaks, according to Ms. Vytiaco, were recorded in 2017 and 2020.

She said the outbreak at a commercial farm in Sta. Maria, Bulacan resulted in the cull of 17,425 chickens.

Culling is resorted to when the BAI wishes to contain the spread of avian influenza to a certain area.

She said the impact of the cull on the egg supply is not significant.

“Not all of these were in the active laying stage as they ranged from 16 to 22 weeks old,” she said.

The BAI said the Bulacan farm got its stock from Pangasinan but it is still testing birds from the source farm.

The outbreaks involve quail in Pampanga, backyard gamecocks in the Cagayan Valley and Manila, ducks in Sultan Kudarat, and chickens in Bulacan.

All of the farms involved have been depopulated to prevent further spread, Ms. Vytiaco said.

One of the likely sources of bird flu is migratory birds mingling with farmed birds.

Ms. Vytiaco said the BAI grants cash assistance of up to P300,000 per poultry farm. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

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