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Arts & Culture (10/13/21)

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The National Planetarium closing temporarily

THE NATIONAL Museum of the Philippines has announced that the National Planetarium will be temporarily closed, and its 46-year-old building will be decommissioned. In a  Facebook post uploaded on Oct. 11, the National Museum said the closure was meant “to give way to the development plans of the National Parks Development Committee in the central and western sections of Rizal Park.” The post added that National Museum of the Philippines has taken over the eastern section of Rizal Park, with development plans in the area for the National Museum Complex. A new National Planetarium building is currently in the development stage.

Sustainable designs in tech and beyond in online dialogue

A FREE public webinar entitled “Sustainable Designs through Digital Tech” explores the different principles, various aspects and major drivers to achieve sustainable designs through various technologies and evaluate it through specific metrics. It will be conducted online via Zoom today from 4 to 6 p.m. Filipino Sign Language (FSL) interpreters will also be present during the session. It will be facilitated by Industrial Designer Gideon Catalan, who will demonstrate his expertise and fascination in utilizing both traditional and digital methods in transforming imaginative ideas into actual products. As a solutions architect for Accelerating Makers, a team that bridges the gap between the academe and the industry through collaborations and innovations, he believes that digital fabrication technologies make it possible for anyone to build. Organized by the Hub of Innovation for Inclusion at the Peter D. Garrucho, Jr. Innovations Institute of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, “Sustainable Designs through Digital Tech” is the latest installment of Social Innovation Talks, a series of lectures that initiate dialogues on innovation for social good. Interested participants may register through https://www.eventbrite.com/e/social-innovation-talks-sustainable-designs-through-digital-tech-tickets-171017516997.

Contemporary Print Fair online

IN CELEBRATION of local fine art printmaking, running for a week from Oct. 18 to 25 at cartellino.com is “Limbag Kamay: Contemporary Print Fair.” A collaborative effort between Fundacion Sansó, Cartellino, and the Association of Pinoyprintmakers (AP), this fair is the first of its kind for the Philippines, as it shall exclusively feature hand-pulled fine art prints. Intaglio etchings, drypoint, relief, collagraph, serigraphs — hundreds of such works by some of Philippine printmaking’s best practitioners will be on show. Fairgoers can expect original works by master artists and printmakers Virgilio “Pandy” Aviado, Elmer “Emong” Borlongan, Noëll El Farol, Jess Flores, Lenore RS Lim, Manuel Rodriguez, Sr., Juvenal Sansó, and Wesley Valenzuela, alongside those by over 60 printmakers the likes of Mars Bugaoan, Joey Cobcobo, Hershey Malinis, and Diokno Pasilan. As “Limbag Kamay” is artist-initiated, its co-organizers —  Angela Silva, Anton Villaruel, and Jun-Jun Sta. Ana —  shall also be exhibiting works. Thirty (30%) of all profits will go towards building a prototype batch of small-size etching presses. These desktop etching presses are to be made available to printmakers across the Philippines. This is a future project to be handled by AP. The fair will also have online talks, demonstrations, and discussions on relevant topics about Philippine printmaking. All talks and demonstrations shall be streamed in the organizers’ respective channels.

Altro Mondo presents ‘Island’

ALTRO Mondo Arte Contemporanea presents “Island,” a solo exhibition featuring works by Raul Deodato Arellano at the Altro Mondo Creative Space gallery. The exhibit is ongoing until Oct. 24. “Island” is a result of the artist’s time spent in his sanctuary, producing figure and landscape paintings. The gallery is at 1159 Chino Roces Ave., San Antonio Village, Makati City. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Viewings are strictly by appointments only . For inquiries, contact the gallery on Facebook (@altromondoart) or Instagram (@altromondoart), or send a message via Viber or WhatsApp at 0917-888-7872.

Art auction supports International Care Ministries

THIRTY-FOUR artists have donated their works to the International Care Ministries’ (ICM) fundraising banquet this year. ICM is a non-profit organization working to transform the lives of the ultra-poor. Its annual fundraising banquet, which attracts hundreds of Hong Kong’s top executives, has raised tens of millions of US dollars over the past 16 years towards the alleviation of ultra-poverty in the Philippines. Every year, the works of Filipino artists have been a highlight of the banquet’s auction. Among the artists who have donated their works for the auction are painter Addie Cukingnan, sculptors Ram Mallari and Seb Chua, and painters Migs Villanueva, Louie Aguinaldo, Kristine Lim, Ombok Villamor, Carlo Magno, Marius Black, Sam Penaso, Benjie Cabangis, Marcy Dans, and Mary Rose Gisbert. Entitled “Inspiring Hope, Empowering Change,” the banquet will be held on Oct. 28, with the main event starting live at 8:30 p.m., Hong Kong/Manila time. The Countdown Show, with a more-detailed look at auction items starts at 7:30 p.m. Interested parties, or even just art lovers looking for new art in the auction, may learn more and sign up at caremin.com/banquet-2021.

CCP program helps dancers

WITH the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation continuing to affect the live events and performance arts in the country, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has initiated a special program to support the professional dance in the Philippines. The CCP Professional Dance Support Program aims to arrest the deterioration of skills, techniques, and performance excellence of the Filipino dancers, while providing them with continued artistic employment and discouraging their shift to other occupations due to absence or reduced opportunities in dance. As a culminating event of the program, artists of the CCP Professional Dance Support Program will perform new and classical works choreographed and restaged by Filipino choreographers and regisseurs, mentored by National Artist for Dance, Alice Reyes, Alden Lugnasin, and Nonoy Froilan. The CCP Professional Dance Support Program artists come from the CCP Dance Workshop, Ballet Manila and Philippine Ballet Theater as well as regional dance artists. Collectively known as Dance On!, the culminating performances can now be viewed via the CCP Facebook page and YouTube channel. The program is shot specifically for the enjoyment of digital viewing.  For more information, check out the CCP website (www.cultural center.gov.ph) and follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

3 shows at Silverlens

SILVERLENS presents three shows this month. Maria Taniguchi’s “room of phases” studies seriality through a suite of square canvases painted in checkered pattern, with portions stripped of paint or a section wherein color does not take. Each canvas is created using silkscreen, using a thin layer of paint. The sequence of checkered canvases and the ambient purples of the unembellished paintings structure the main gallery space of Silverlens. Then there is a new show by Eric Zamuco called “Working on the Mountain,” taken from the title of a book of essays by N.V.M. Gonzales. In this series of work, the mixed media artist ponders on the metaphor of geologic accretion and formation found in ancient temples and applies it to objects in the thick of instability and ruin. Each assemblage, called Templo, is a self-contained compound of metal rods inserted through overlapping glass panels and wood like acupuncture points marking a body. “Working on the Mountain” and “room of phases” run from Oct. 14 to Nov. 13. Finally, there is Therese Regalado’s first solo exhibition, “Material Research,” featuring her assemblages, which runs from Oct. 21 to Nov. 11. Silverlens is at 2263 Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati City. For details on visits call 8816-0044, 0917-587-4011, or e-mail info@silverlensgalleries.com.

Kristine Lim’s ‘SOAR’

THIRTY-THREE framed mixed media works, several of them triptychs, make up the second solo exhibition of artist Kristine Lim titled “SOAR” at the Manila Hotel. She uses a technique which combines a special textured ground with layers of transparent metallic bronze and gold glazes over graphite drawings. With ‘SOAR,’ Ms. Lim proposes a potential way to salvation, based on the guiding principles of her Christian faith.  Found at the lobby lounge of the Manila Hotel, SOAR is presented by Art Lounge Manila. The exhibit is ongoing Oct. 30. Proceeds from the exhibit’s closing auction will go to Malasakit Para Sa Bayan Foundation, Inc. For inquiries, call at 0977-839-8971, 0998-993-7963, or e-mail info@artloungemanila.com, or visit https://artloungemanila.com.

Virgin Labfest writing fellowship accepting applications

THE CULTURAL Center of the Philippines (CCP) is now accepting applications for the Virgin Labfest 16 Writing Fellowship Program which will be held on Nov. 16 to Dec. 5. The Virgin Labfest, an annual festival of unpublished, unstaged, untried, and untested works of playwrights, directors, and actors produced by the CCP, Tanghalang Pilipino, and the Writer’s Bloc has gained a reputation of producing provocative and outstanding “virgin” plays. The Virgin Labfest 16 Writing Fellowship Program is a three-week mentorship program on the study and practice of dramatic writing for the stage. The fellows will take part in lectures, discussions, and workshops on playwriting and script critiquing. They will also be given access to watch recordings of selected past festival plays, as well as the opportunity to participate in the talkback and interaction with known playwrights and directors. The Fellowship Program will culminate in a staged/script reading of the fellows’ works on which will be streamed online via the CCP Facebook Page on Dec. 4 and 5. Requirements must be received by 11:59 p.m., Oct. 22, the announcement of accepted applicants will be made on Nov. 5. A registration fee of P1,850 will be required of all accepted fellows. For inquiries and details on the application process for on the Virgin Labfest 16 Writing Fellowship Program, e-mail vlf16wfp@gmail.com.

MCAD offers subscription-based streaming exhibit

THE MUSEUM of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) Manila will hold “Watch and Chill: Streaming Art to Your Homes,” a subscription-based art streaming platform and traveling moving image exhibition curated in collaboration with the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul, Korea; the M+ West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong, and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Responding to and examining the changing behavioral patterns of the digital era, the exhibition shares video works by major artists active in Asia through its online platform (https://watchandchill.kr) and through on-site presentations specific to each city. For Manila, MCAD will be holding free drive-in theater screenings of selected video works from the collections of the four art institutions in the region. Screenings will be held five times a week, from Oct. 29 to Dec. 5. Artists featured include Shireen Seno, Mark Salvatus and Cocoy Lumbao from the Philippines as well as Oh Min, Yuan Goang-ming, Wang Gongxin, Kawita Vatanajyankur, Cao Fei, Cha Jeamin, Kim Heecheon, Wantanee Siripattananuntakul, CAMP, Chai Siris, Tada Hengsapkul, Cha Jiryang, Kim Heecheon, Saroot Supasuthivech, Koo Donghee, Jiang Zhi, and Cici Wu. Meanwhile, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 14, MCAD will present MCAD Commons: Artists’ Film International Program 2021. MCAD Commons is an exhibition program conceptualized as a programmed space removed from the museum’s main gallery space. For 2021, the MCAD Commons program presents Artists’ Film International (AFI), a collaborative project featuring film, video, and animation from around the world. A selection of films from the AFI project for 2021 will be presented in two offsite venues: Sine Pop in Cubao, Metro Manila and Project Space Pilipinas in Lucban, Quezon. Films will be presented through on-site video installations as well as scheduled screenings. Artists include Kiri Dalena, Mihály Stefanovicz, Rehana Zaman, Agnė Jokšė, Kenneth Tam, Julia Sbriller and Joaquin Wall, Victoria Verseau, Thania Petersen, Clare Langan, Patty Chang, Giulio Squillacciotti, and Kerstin Honeit.

Canva helps online learning with Canva Eskwela

CANVA introduces Canva Eskwela, a page featuring free and visually engaging content especially tailored for educators and learners in the Philippines: from desktop organizers and lesson plan templates, to presentations and ice breakers to make virtual classes more interactive and fun. Canva is known for being user-friendly and accessible even to those with no design background and it is even more convenient for educators to create content from scratch with Canva Eskwela so they can save time and focus on other tasks. With Canva for Education, students and teachers can also access easy-to-learn resources such as videos and audio recordings that contain tips and guides on designing their materials. Teachers can also find a community where they can share stories and best practices and support one another on the Canva for Filipino Teachers Facebook group. To sign up for Canva Eskwela for free, go to www.canva.com/education/canva-eskwela/.

BSP approves higher 3rd quarter foreign borrowings

BW FILE PHOTO

THE MONETARY BOARD approved foreign borrowings worth $4.66 billion in the third quarter for reform programs and assistance to sectors affected by the pandemic, among others.

The amount is higher by 18.9% compared with the $3.92 billion worth of foreign financing the Monetary Board okayed in the third quarter last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in a statement on Tuesday.

It was also bigger by 66% than the $2.8 billion approved in the previous quarter.

Broken down, the BSP okayed a $3-billion bond issuance, three project loans amounting to $855.94 million, and two program loans worth $800 million.

The bulk or $3 billion of these borrowings were meant for the government’s general financing requirements.

Meanwhile, the rest of the amount will finance reform programs for youth employment and the financial sector ($800 million), disaster resilience ($300 million), assistance to the agriculture sector ($280 million), and emergency response ($275.94 million).

The 1987 Constitution requires the Monetary Board to approve any foreign loan agreement entered into by the National Government.

Latest data from the central bank showed the country’s outstanding external debt stood at $101.2 billion as of end-June, which was the highest since at least the end of 2011, based on available BSP data. This was amid higher pandemic expenses and a weaker peso.

This is equivalent to 26.5% of the country’s gross domestic product, easing from the 26.6% ratio as of end-March. — L.W.T. Noble

Holcim fined for late filing of chemicals data

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered Holcim Philippines, Inc. to pay a fine of P74,000 for submitting late its monthly consumption reports (MCRs) on two controlled chemicals which the firm has previously used in its operations.

Holcim earlier disclosed that it had received the order in the form of a letter from the PNP-Civil Security Group Firearms and Explosives Office.

On Tuesday, the listed building solutions provider said that the two regulated chemicals which required consumption reports include nitric acid and ammonium nitrate.

Both were used to analyze materials in its operations, but their usage was discontinued in 2017.

“[Our] recent disclosure on PNP’s order to pay a fine of P74,000 is for the late renewal of license and submission of monthly consumption reports regardless if any of these controlled chemicals were used in operations,” Holcim Philippines told BusinessWorld over e-mail through a public relations firm.

The company said that it was unable to file some MCRs with the PNP due to the public health emergency which resulted in lockdowns and the closures of government agencies. It added it was able to submit notarized MCRs from March 2020 onwards.

“With its commitment to compliance, Holcim will regularly submit notarized MCRs even if nothing has been consumed,” it said.

Based on a list released by the PNP in 2016, nitric acid and ammonium nitrate are classified as “high-risk controlled chemicals.”

Holcim operates cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental and Davao.

Holcim shares at the local bourse inched down 1.9% or 12 centavos to finish at P6.19 apiece on Tuesday. — Angelica Y. Yang

Banks told to tailor relief measures to their capacity

BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS GOVERNOR BENJAMIN E. DIOKNO — PHILIPPINE STAR/ GEREMY PINTOLO

LENDERS should tweak their relief measures for clients as some of those extended by the regulator amid the crisis have lapsed, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said.

“We encourage banks to grant financial relief that considers the payment capacity of their borrowers and their risk-bearing capacity. This approach recognizes that banks are not similarly [affected] and differ in terms of target market, risk profile, and financial conditions,” Mr. Diokno said at the virtual convention of the Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) on Tuesday.

The central bank chief noted that the BSP’s recognition of allowances for loan losses on a staggered basis for all types of credit for retail and business borrowers affected by the pandemic, one of these relief measures, ended on March 8.

Mr. Diokno said they believe their supervised financial institutions have been given enough time to assess their loan portfolio.

“The BSP is constrained from extending regulatory relief measures provided as it will affect the viability of banks, which will in turn limit their capacity to continue lending,” he said.

Other relief measures extended by the BSP will lapse by the end of this year including the reduction of the credit risk weight of loans to micro-, small-, and medium-sized enteprises (MSMEs) to 50% and the lower minimum liquidity ratio (MLR) of 16% (from 20%) for thrift banks, Mr. Diokno said.

“As of end-May, the average of MLR of standalone thrift banks stood at 36.4%. So the BSP will continue to monitor compliance with MLR to check if there is a need to adjust or calibrate the requirement,” he said.

The BSP has also allowed banks to count their lending to MSMEs as alternate compliance to reserve requirement. Mr. Diokno said the measure is expected to help thrift banks expand their lending activities and support the recovery of local communities.

Last year, the BSP has also reduced the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for thrift banks to 3% from 2% to provide a liquidity boost amid the pandemic.

“[A decision to further tweak lender’] RRR will be based on the assessment of domestic liquidity, with the end-view of supporting banks’ credit activity. It will also consider impact on financial stability and trend of inflation,” Mr. Diokno said.

The central bank chief noted that the country’s thrift banking industry has remained stable amid the prolonged crisis.

BSP data showed thrift banks’ cumulative net income rose 15.3% year on year to P6.6 billion in the first half of 2021. The industry’s capital adequacy ratio of the industry stood at 18.8% as of end-June, higher than the regulatory minimum. — L.W.T. Noble

Philippine trade year-on-year performance (Aug. 2021)

THE COUNTRY’S exports and imports of goods continued to post double-digit growth in August amid a recovery in global markets, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday. Read the full story.

Philippine trade year-on-year performance (Aug. 2021)

How PSEi member stocks performed — October 12, 2021

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.

Fare hike, cash aid for transport readied amid rising fuel prices

PHILSTAR

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES are considering implementing a fare hike and providing cash assistance to the transport industry to offset the impact of higher oil price.

The Energy department’s Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) Director Rino E. Abad said the department has met with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to discuss a possible fare hike.

“Hinihintay nalang po natin sa kanila ay ‘yung kanilang eventual decision on how much or if there is a fare hike (We are waiting on the LTFRB’s eventual decision on whether there will be a fare hike and how much it will be),” Mr. Abad said during a Laging Handa briefing Tuesday.

The possible fare hike for public transportation will likely not be higher than P1.26 on the base fare, according to LTFRB estimates provided by Technical Division Head Joel de Jesus Bolano during the briefing.

“Kung walang fare hike or (kung) insufficient ang magiging fare hike, then kailangan suportahan natin with cash assistance (If there is no fare hike or if it is insufficient, then cash assistance is needed),” the OIMB’s Mr. Abad said.

Once finalized, the Department of Energy and LTFRB will bring the proposed fare hike and cash subsidy to the Finance and Budget departments, which will determine whether there are available funds.

“’Pag nagkaroon po iyan ng available fund, idederetso na po natin sa Kongreso para magawan ito ng batas (If funding is available, we will go straight to Congress to put it into a law),” Mr. Abad said during the briefing.

He cited a “fundamental insufficiency of crude oil supply in the international market” which led oil prices to rise.

“Meron po tayong projection from [S&P Global] Platts na ang kulang po ngayon ay umaabot po ng two to three million barrels of crude oil per day so iyan po ang sitwasyon kaya po ang ating price ay agarang nag-react ay ang reaction po niya ay pataas (The shortage is projected at 2-3 million barrels of crude per day by Platts, which is why prices are rising),” he said.

Domestic oil firms increased gasoline prices by P1.30 per liter (/L) this week. Meanwhile, diesel and kerosene prices were raised P1.50/L and P1.45/L, respectively.

Retail fuel prices have been increasing for seven consecutive weeks.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in a recent meeting with Russia agreed to stick to a plan to gradually increase oil output despite rising demand. — Angelica Y. Yang

Firms offering promos to the vaccinated told to obtain consent on data 

THE National Privacy Commission said companies must obtain the consent of vaccinated persons before gathering personal data specified in their vaccination cards for raffles, promotions, or discounts.  

Privacy Commissioner Raymund E. Liboro said in a statement Tuesday that the vaccinated persons should “explicitly agree” to the collection and processing of their vaccine cards.

Mr. Liboro said consent will be valid if freely given, specific, informed, and an indication of will.

The commission recently issued a bulletin following reports on the collection of copies of COVID-19 vaccination cards by certain companies as a reward to vaccinated individuals. The cards contain information such as the person’s age, birthdate, and health information.

“While we laud these gestures as part of the ongoing initiative to encourage all eligible individuals to be vaccinated against COVID-19, we must also remind all personal information controllers (PICs) of the need to establish a lawful basis in the conduct of their respective personal data processing activities,” Mr. Liboro said.

“Consent must also be evidenced by written, electronic, or recorded means,” he added.

Mr. Liboro said a privacy notice must be provided to inform the vaccinated persons of the processing of their personal data and their rights as data subjects.

He also reminded PICs that the use of the vaccine card should only be for its intended purpose, which is to facilitate the distribution of rewards.

“It shall not be used for further processing, such as profiling, automated decision making, or for other purposes incompatible with the declared and specified purpose,” Mr. Liboro said.  

The commission added that the health information of individuals should be secured, while PICs should implement measures to protect the copies of vaccine cards and should be held responsible for their custody if they are processed.  

It added that the PICs must never post the vaccine cards on public platforms.  

“Copies of the vaccine cards must be retained only for as long as necessary for the fulfillment of the purpose. These must be disposed of in a secure manner — hard copies must be shredded properly while soft copies must be deleted or overwritten in a manner that ensures that the stored copy of the vaccine cards are permanently and irreversibly destroyed and beyond recovery,” the commission said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

SB Corp. zero-interest loan program to help small companies with 13th month payroll 

THE Small Business Corp. (SB Corp.) will develop a loan program to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) afford the payment of 13th month salaries, its parent department, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said in a statement Tuesday that SB Corp. will offer zero-interest loans to companies in need of funding for 13th month pay.

Mr. Lopez said the DTI is also in talks with the Department of Labor and Employment on plans to offer such loans.

“We see no reason to defer the 13th month pay for this year as the government stands ready to support businesses,” Mr. Lopez said.

“The real sustainable solution is the reopening of the economy, which the government has started to implement by allowing more sectors to safely operate at increased capacities,” he added.

Asked for further details, Mr. Lopez told reporters via Viber that SB Corp. is still working out the specifics of the lending facility.

Mr. Lopez said around P200 million was initially set aside for the loan facility, while available loans will range from P50,000 to P200,000, with priority given to micro and small enterprises.

In 2020, SB Corp. supported the COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises program to assist MSMEs in paying out 13th month salaries. The funding for the program was sourced from an P8-billion allocation under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II).

Mr. Lopez called for the continued reopening of more business activity even in areas under Alert Levels 3 and 4.

“The idea here is that we allow more business continuity and simply adjust operating capacities at different Alert Levels to safely increase mobility,” Mr. Lopez said.

“This is more possible now due to higher vaccination rates, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR), which now has about a 80% vaccination rate and, thus, can allow safely the vaccinated customers in closed, crowded, and close-contact establishments at high alert levels,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Cable trip caused W. Visayas power price hike

THE Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (Philreca) said Tuesday that the tripping of a transmission cable in the Visayas drove up electricity rates in Panay and Negros.

“There has been a series of spikes in electricity rates in the Panay and Negros areas, not just those that are serviced by electric cooperatives (ECs) but even those areas under a private distribution utility,” Philreca said in a statement.

“All areas experienced rate hikes because the root cause of this problem is not from the distribution sector, but because there was an unfortunate incident in the transmission sector — the Cebu-Negros 138 kV (kiloVolt) Line 1 tripped on June 15,” it added.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has blamed damage to the 138-kV submarine cable on dredging works conducted by Department of Public Works and Highways in Negros Oriental.

Philreca said the line damage halted the transmission of power supply from Cebu to nine ECs in Negros and Panay, and caused “imbalances” in the requirements of power providers in Region 6.

During this period, ECs spent more to procure power from the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) as generators on Luzon went on preventive maintenance, according to the group.

It also noted that ECs incurred high line rental charges due to congestion issues arising from the cable outage.

The increases in generation and transmission charges were reflected in the electric bills of consumers from 10 ECs.

“What contributed to the spikes in electricity rates are all beyond the control of ECs; they are all pass-through charges that ECs are obligated to collect from consumers then remit to appropriate parties,” Philreca said.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), the governance body of the WESM, to halt the collection of congestion fees and other related charges from customers until the damaged cable is fixed.

The regulator also directed PEMC to refund the charges which have been billed.

Last month, the PEMC said it is working out the details of the refund with the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP).

On Tuesday, Philreca asked the House Committee on Energy to compel generation companies and the IEMOP through the PEMC to implement the ERC order. — Angelica Y. Yang

Well-milled rice prices rise in five regional centers

THE AVERAGE retail price of well-milled rice increased in five trading centers around mid-September, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

The PSA said in a report that the Sept. 15-17 period, which it calls the second phase of September, saw higher prices compared with the first phase of September, which ran from Sept. 1 to 5.

In the second phase, the average retail price of well-milled rice rose in Calapan City of 50 centavos to P43.77 per kilogram (/kg). In Butuan City, prices rose 36 centavos to P42.60, in Kidapawan City 23 centavos to P39.99, in the National Capital Region (NCR) 10 centavos to P43.10, and in Iloilo City eight centavos to P38.65.

Prices fell in Legazpi City by P1.86 to P38.56 and in Tacloban City by 33 centavos to P42.60.

The PSA said the average retail price of bone-in pork during the period fell in six trading centers.

NCR prices fell P21.55 to P288.34.kg. In Cebu City they fell by P10.83 to P19, in Cabanatuan City by P10 to P320, in Tacloban City by P9.42 to P237.77, in Iloilo City by P5 to P240, and in Legazpi City by P2.25 to P340.36.

Price rose in San Fernando City by P65 to P295 and in Butuan City by P10.24 to P245.

The average retail price for a kilogram of round scad (galunggong) during the period rose in five trading centers.

In Baguio City prices rose P34 to P204/kg. In San Fernando City they rose by P10 to P190, in Butuan City by P9.35 to P168.26, in Digos City by P5 to P115, and in the NCR by 67 centavos to P232.34.  

Iloilo City prices fell P4.16 to P157.92.

The average retail price of red onion for the period rose in four trading centers: Cabanatuan City by P15 to P135/kg, in Legazpi City by P5.58 to P156.28, in the NCR at P3.70 to P115.48, and in Butuan City by P3.50 to P145.

Prices fell in Cagayan de Oro City by P12.50 to P120, in Tuguegarao City by P5 to P100, and in Tacloban City by 81 centavos to P125.29. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Rice inventory down by 26.9% as of Sept. 1

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE rice inventory as of Sept. 1 fell 26.9% year on year to 1.33 million metric tons (MT), according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA said in its rice and corn stock report that the rice inventory as of Sept. 1 fell 15.6% from the level reported on Aug. 1.

Rice held by households fell 24.8% year on year to 638,160 MT, while rice in commercial warehouses fell 30.6% to 543,020 MT.

Holdings maintained by the National Food Authority (NFA) fell 21.5% year on year to 151,170 MT.

Month on month, rice stocks held by households, commercial warehouses, and the NFA fell 15%, 16.3%, and 15.5%, respectively.

“Of this month’s total rice stocks, 47.9% came from households, 40.8% were from commercial warehouses/wholesalers/retailers, and 11.3% were from NFA depositories,” the PSA said.

Meanwhile, PSA said the corn inventory fell 29.7% year on year to 560,610 MT.

Month on month, the total was 20.8% lower.

Household corn stocks fell 38.6% year on year to 187,360 MT while inventories of commercial warehouses fell 24.2% to 373,250 MT.

Compared to the previous month, corn inventories in households rose 73.3% while stocks in commercial warehouses dropped 37.7%.

“The total corn inventory during the month was composed of 33.4% from households and 66.6% from commercial warehouses/wholesalers/retailers,” the PSA said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

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