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ADB to assist Bangsamoro region in fiscal management

@BANGSAMOROGOVT

THE ASIAN Development Bank (ADB) will provide technical assistance to local government units and agencies within the Bangsamoro region to strengthen management of public funds.  

This support program is part of ADB’s Strengthening Public Financial Management in Selected Countries of Southeast Asia project, which has a $2-million budget from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific.   

The project aims to help selected areas in improving public financial management (PFM) through capacity-building in government institutions.  

ADB said in its project report that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which is under a transition phase for greater autonomy following the passage of the 2018 Bangsamoro Organic Law, has “a particular need to strengthen the PFM systems.”   

The multilateral financial institution cited weak cooperation between national and local governments, a lack of local government capacity to manage funds, and poor functioning of accounting and reporting systems.  

“With the implementation of the Mandanas ruling underway, there is an acute need to develop transition plans and boost PFM capacities of BARMM agencies and local government units, so that they are able to deliver devolved public services.”  

Under the Mandanas ruling, which takes effect this year, local governments will receive higher tax allocations from the national government. 

ADB’s planned activities within the BARMM include policy advisory services, improving annual budget planning, streamlining administrative responsibilities, accounting systems, establish an internal audit body, and introduce digital tools for better fiscal reporting.  

Project implementation will begin in April and the last of the key projects will be concluded by Sept. 2023.  

ADB has other ongoing PFM projects in the Philippines, including the Local Governance Reform Program and the Local Governance Reform Project. — Tobias Jared Tomas

4 electric cooperatives penalized for failure to submit required report

BW FILE PHOTO

THE ENERGY Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered four electric cooperatives to pay a combined P2.5 million in administrative penalties for failing to submit required monthly reports that serve as basis for regulating charges that are passed on to consumers.   

Those facing fines, based on Nov. 2021 ERC decisions, are Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. which has been renamed as Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco), Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BISELCO), Lubang Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LUBELCO), and Samar II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SAMELCO II).  

ERC ordered the payment of penalties after finding the four distribution utilities guilty of violating Resolution No. 24 Series of 2011, which mandates the submission of documents like electronic and scanned copies of power supplier’s invoice, transmission invoice, consumer bills, and debit/credit memorandum monthly. 

ERC said that it has been considerate to the utilities by allowing them to consolidate their monthly reports into an annual submission by the end of every year.  

However, the regulatory body said, such leniency cannot be extended to those “that have incomplete submissions or those that did not submit consolidated annual report for each year.”  

Nordeco, BISECO and SAMELCO II were ordered to pay P700,000 each for seven counts of the violation from Jan. 2012 to 2018. LUBELCO was directed to pay P400,000 for four counts of violations. 

“Continued failure to comply with the URR (uniform reportorial requirements) will merit the imposition of harsher penalties as provided under the commission’s rules,” the ERC said in its decisions. — Marielle C. Lucenio 

House open to concur with Senate version of freelance workers bill

THE HOUSE of Representatives is willing to adopt the Senate’s final version of a bill seeking to promote the welfare of freelance workers when Congress resumes sessions on May 23, a lawmaker said on the weekend.  

“To move the Freelance Workers bill faster through Congress in the final stretch, I am open to House concurrence with the version the Senate will approve when Congress resumes session just weeks from now,” Pangasinan Rep. Christopher V.P. De Venecia said in a statement.    

“This approach will shave off a few crucial days.”  

Mr. De Venecia said he supports combining House Bill (HB) 8817 and Senate Bill 1810, or the Freelance Workers Protection Act, since most of their provisions are similar but urged the Senate to include key House provisions.   

“Nonetheless, I will ask our colleagues in the Senate, through their majority leader Senator (Juan Miguel F.) Zubiri to incorporate the HB 8817 provisions on Night Shift Differential, Hazard Pay, the Agency Enforcement and Administrative Process, Civil Enforcement, and Report.   

Mr. De Venecia also urged the Senate to include the House provision that directs the Department of Labor and Employment to submit a report to Congress so that legislators can review the measure’s impact after it becomes law.    

The House provision that imposes fines up to P500,000 for violations against the freelancer-contract party should also be added to the Senate version, he said.  

“We will also recommend the inclusion of the provisions from the House version on both civil and administrative remedies for the freelancers’ legal recourse, as well as the interest rate penalty for violation of the order of payment,” he added.  

Both the House and Senate versions require a written contract between employer and freelance workers. Both versions also require freelance workers to pay taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.  

House Bill 8818 was approved on third reading on March 25, 2021 and was transmitted to the Senate on April 12 that year. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan

DTI renews partnership with ad council vs false advertisements

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) has renewed its partnership with non-profit organization Ad Standards Council (ASC) to protect consumers against false and misleading advertisements.    

In a recent statement, the DTI said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the ASC in December last year, giving the council authority to pre-and post-screen advertising material content in accordance with Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act and the ASC Code of Standards and Ethics.    

“ASC shall also provide information on any advertising content that is false, deceptive, misleading, and unfair, poses a danger to consumer welfare or safety, or violates advertising standards,” the DTI said.    

Under the partnership, ASC will also constantly check all advertisements to ensure that these follow related laws. ASC members can also appear as witnesses, upon DTI’s request, in cases relating to false, deceptive, and misleading advertisements.    

“Under Article 110 of the Consumer Act, it shall be unlawful for any person to disseminate or to cause the dissemination of any false, deceptive, or misleading advertisement by Philippine mail or in commerce by print, radio, television, outdoor advertisement, or other medium for the purpose of inducing or which is likely to induce directly or indirectly the purchase of consumer products or services,” the DTI said.    

Violators will face a fine between P500 to P5,000 or imprisonment ranging from one month to six months, or both.    

“The DTI fully supports ASC and encourages all players in the advertising industry to take advantage of this collaboration,” Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

NUP chief backs Robredo; Domagoso plans to replicate Divisoria sale strategy

THE CHIEF of the National Unity Party (NUP) has backed the presidential run of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo, just days after the group founded by ex-President Gloria M. Arroyo’s former allies endorsed the candidacy of the opposition leader’s main rival. 

NUP president Elpidio F. Barzaga, Jr., who is representing the fourth district of Cavite in the House of Representatives, defied his party’s decision saying Ms. Robredo’s victory would mean an “honest government.”   

“If she becomes President, we will have an honest government,” he said at a local campaign rally in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.  

Ms. Robredo was also endorsed by Mr. Barzaga’s wife, Dasmariñas Mayor Jenny Austria Barzaga, who is seeking reelection.   

NUP, which was founded in 2010 by politicians who left Ms. Arroyo’s Lakas-CMD after internal issues broke the party, last week announced its support for the candidacy of Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.  

The Lakas-CMD is now chaired by Mr. Marcos’ running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.  

The late dictator’s son has already secured the support of some of the largest political clans in vote-rich Cavite, including the clan of Governor Juanito Victor “Johnvic” C. Remulla.  

Mr. Remulla, who is seeking reelection, handed out P1,000 bills to participants of an event that had been announced as a political sortie of the Marcos-Duterte tandem.  

Cavite is the second province with the highest number of registered voters. Of its 2.3 million registered voters, 400,000 come from Dasmariñas.  

Domagoso
Presidential bet Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso, meanwhile, said on the weekend that if he wins, he will sell underperforming and unused government assets and use the revenue to help address hunger and poverty.   

“If I become president, I will sell all the land of the state that is not being used and I will also sell the assets that are underperforming,” he said in Filipino in a live-streamed interview.  

He cited that as mayor of the capital city, he used the money earned from selling Divisoria Public Market to Festina Holdings, Inc. to build more houses and for buying equipment and medicines needed amid the coronavirus pandemic.  

The standard-bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko on Sunday led the turnover ceremony for housing projects in Manila. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan

3 party-lists promise real sectoral representation in House 

SEVERAL party-list groups have vowed real sectoral representation in Congress by pushing for laws that are consequential to their respective movements.   

Newcomer Pasahero, a group that aims to represent public transport riders, will press for the restoration of the Oil Price Stabilization Fund (OPSF) to cushion the impact of rising oil prices on commuters.  

Pasahero party-list founder Robert Nazal, speaking in Filipino in a radio interview, said the fund will be a tool wherein government “will set aside money which will be demanded while the price of oil is low, then this will go to (public) funds… Now, in the event that the cost of oil rises, we will draw from those funds and we will subsidize the burden of our people.”   

Under the OPSF, which was abolished in mid-1996, the government ended up owing up to P5 billion to oil companies.   

The Downstream Oil Deregulation Law or Republic Act No. 8479 was passed two years later, removing government control over pricing, exportation, and importation of petroleum products, and allowed market forces to dictate oil prices.  

Pasahero party-list will also push for a review of the Downstream Oil Deregulation Law, citing that certain oil companies have the tendency to implement new oil prices on old stock. The group will also support calls for the suspension of fuel excise tax.  

Mr. Nazal added that the country should have a strategic oil reserve. “In my opinion, we really should have a strategic oil reserve, and the government itself should make its own infrastructure for the strategic oil reserve so that we can have our own inventory.”   

Meanwhile, Anakpawis party-list, which currently has no seat in Congress, will push for the refiling and passage of bills that seek to benefit agricultural and labor sectors.  

“We have numerous legislative agenda per sector under Anakpawis,” former Anakpawis Rep. Ariel B. Casilao said in a Viber message last week.  

“For the farmers, Genuine Agrarian Reform bill is the priority. For the fisherfolks, Genuine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Reform bill. For the workers, Regularization bill (and) National Minimum Wage bill. For the urban poor, repeal(ing) of the UDHA Law and proposing a Public Mass Housing Bill.”  

The Marino party-list, a group that represents seafarers and won three seats in the 2019 elections, said that they will refile bills that were intended to benefit maritime and overseas Filipino workers if reelected.   

“Marino party-list plans (the) refiling of these bills: Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers of 2019, Unhampered Crew Change Act, Maritime Safety, Security and Prevention of Ship-sourced Pollution Act of the Philippines; (and) Mandatory OFW (overseas Filipino workers) Health Immunization Act,” Marino said in a text message through their media handler.  

The group said the bills were not passed because of opposition from some stakeholders.  

“Delay is due to opposition from stakeholders. And the fact that we have a bicameral legislature,” Marino Party-list said. “We can only endorse, which we did, to a co-equal branch of the government.” — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan 

Chicago Bulls beat Cavaliers to gain step up in playoff race

CHICAGO Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lauri Markkanen (24) during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. — REUTERS

THE visiting Chicago Bulls used 25 points by Zach LaVine and 20 from DeMar DeRozan to hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-94 on Saturday.

The Cavs (41-33) had a chance to move into a tie with Chicago (43-31) for fifth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but instead dropped to seventh, the first position in the play-in tournament. No. 6 Toronto (42-32) moved past Cleveland after its dominating win over Indiana.

The Cavs trailed by 19 points before making a furious comeback in the second half. Darius Garland paced Cleveland with a game-high 28 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Caris LeVert, making his second start of the season since coming to the Cavs at the trade deadline, added 17 points and Lauri Markkanen had 14 points and nine rebounds before fouling out.

Chicago led 95-83 with 1:12 to play before Garland and Evan Mobley made a late push, combining to score 11 points before coming up short.

Cleveland has now lost three in a row and six of its last nine.

The Bulls came into the contest having lost five of their last six.

Chicago held onto a 12-point advantage after three quarters, 75-63.

The Bulls left the Cavs in the dust in the first half, 53-35, as LaVine had 15 points.

Cleveland recorded its lowest point total in the first half all season. It shot just 31% from the field and 1 of 18 (5.6%) from the 3-point line. Garland was the only player in double figures in scoring with 14 points.

DeRozan was forced to the bench with about 8 minutes left in first half with three personal fouls. It didn’t make a bit of difference.

Javonte Green’s layup handed the Bulls a 12-point lead, 24-12, with 2:56 left in the first quarter.

Nikola Vučević had 10 points to lead Chicago to a 28-16 advantage after the opening quarter. He finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. — Reuters

Defending Miami Open champion Hurkacz advances; Medvedev stops Murray; Osaka gets walkover

HUBERT Hurkacz unleashed 17 aces to topple France’s Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(5), 6-2 and keep his title defense going at the Miami Open on Saturday as world number two Daniil Medvedev sent twice winner Andy Murray packing and Naomi Osaka advanced on a walkover.

Rinderknech was unable to convert his sole break point in the first set and lost the momentum altogether after the tie-break, as the 10th-ranked Pole won the first four games of the second set of their second-round clash.

Reigning US Open champion Medvedev never faced a break and proved too nimble for three-times Grand Slam winner Murray, dropping just two of his first-serve points in the second set as he won 6-4, 6-2.

“Playing against Andy is never easy,” said Medvedev, who is on a quest to regain his number-one ranking. “Managed to serve well, and I think that was one of the keys today.”

Japan’s Osaka advanced to the fourth round on a walkover after Czech Karolina Muchova withdrew following an injury she sustained during warm-ups.

The four-times Grand Slam champion will face the winner of an all-American clash between Ann Li and Alison Riske in the Grandstand later on Saturday.

Muchova’s was the latest injury to mar the women’s field in Miami after Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep pulled out on Thursday.

Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut moved past Pole Kamil Majchrzak 6-3, 6-3 and Olympic champion Belinda Bencic eased past Britain’s Heather Watson 6-4, 6-1.

Swiss Bencic, who suffered early exits from Indian Wells earlier this month and Doha in February, launched five aces across the net as Watson struggled on the return and was only able to convert one of eight break points.

She next faces Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, who triumphed in their only previous meeting in the first round of the 2018 US Open. — Reuters

Cold Miami

The start of the week looked promising for the Heat. They were about to face the vaunted Sixers, arguably their biggest rivals in the East, but about to trek to the Wells Fargo Center without All-Stars Joel Embiid and James Harden. Meanwhile, they brought with them momentum off 15 victories in their last 19 games. They were at the top of the conference standings for a reason, and they figured they would continue their winning ways to fortify their pace-setting position heading into the playoffs.

As things turned out, the Heat figured wrong. Not that they didn’t compete; the match was close from the get-go, and at no time did they look out of it — not even with a little over a minute to go in the fourth quarter and the Sixers up by 11 after having reeled in nine straight points. That said, their execution — particularly in the crunch — left a lot to be desired, leading to a setback. And, as far as their brain trust was concerned, the argument that talking heads put forth about their not having planned for the absence of the hosts’ top two scorers did not wash. After all, if there was one thing they could boast of that set them apart from other contenders, it was that they always came prepared.

Yesterday, the Heat lost anew, and while there was theoretically no shame in bowing to the vaunted Nets at full strength, the reality looked far different. It was the third consecutive match they failed to win at the FTX Arena, where, prior to their swoon, they stood a heady 26 and nine. Moreover, it wasn’t simply that they lost; it was that they lost big. The only quarter they produced more points than the visitor was the fourth, which they started down by 28, and during which time the set-to was already effectively decided.

Even from casual observers, the Heat appeared to have a problem. They often looked disjointed against the Nets, who didn’t even need otherworldly efforts from all-world Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The two combined for just 34 points, but had three teammates net double figures in a balanced attack. Put simply, they were given a taste of their own medicine. Little wonder, then, that head coach Erik Spoelstra was not pleased. Pride was absent, just as it was when they succumbed to the severely undermanned Warriors — hence the very public spat between him and top player Jimmy Butler. Neither was there any silver lining to being on the wrong end of the stick against the also-undermanned Knicks.

To be sure, Spoelstra knows there’s still a lot of hoops to be played. And, perhaps, the Heat needed to be reminded of the difficulties of winning in the National Basketball Association. For a while there, they looked too confident — cocky, even. Now that they’ve been overtaken by the Sixers in the standings, they know they have nothing to brag about anymore. Needless to say, he’s hoping that, in the midst of adversity, the chip on their shoulders will mean something once more. For him, there’s still time. For those on the outside looking in, the question is what they will do with it.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Builders see project cost projections in disarray

PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter

BUILDING costs that were based on estimates from before the current rise in fuel prices are in danger of spiralling, according to construction companies, which said end-users will eventually need to help them recover the costs.

“Previous projects won were based on old fuel prices… We are now buying at higher prices to feed our trucks, excavators, graders, etc. Moving forward, construction cost will increase,” according to Levi B. Agoncillo, Aboitiz Construction’s vice-president for business generation and technical services.

“The increasing fuel cost will definitely affect Aboitiz Construction particularly in equipment-intensive projects like site development,” Mr. Agoncillo said in an e-mail responding to a BusinessWorld query.

He said that the cost of about 50% Aboitiz Construction’s operations is directly linked to fuel prices.

Last week, prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene products fell by P5.45, P11.45, and P8.55 per liter, respectively, after a decline in the crude oil benchmark for Asia, which is set in Dubai, putting an end to a run of 11 weeks of steadily-increasing pump prices.

But fuel costs are expected to climb again this week, according to Energy Undersecretary Gerardo D. Erguiza, citing the increase in the Dubai crude benchmark. An oil company has estimated that diesel prices will rise by P7.95-P8.15 per liter this week while gasoline prices will increase by P2.95-P3.15 per liter.

“Fuel and electricity costs represent a significant part of our production costs,” Holcim Philippines, Inc., a supplier of cement and aggregates, said in an e-mail last week.

“Surging commodity prices are definitely affecting cement production costs,” it added.

Megawide Construction Corp. said increasing fuel prices are affecting everything across its supply chain.

“For Megawide, this directly comes in (the form of) delivery costs for construction inputs as well as raw materials ordered from suppliers needed by the different sites,” the company said in a statement to BusinessWorld.

“Also, this could be reflected in higher electricity costs if power plants supplying electricity are oil-fired, which makes renewable energy the perfect alternative at this time.”

It added that some of the higher costs will be mitigated by its practice of operating “mobile and on-site batching plants located in major projects.” With such facilities, “the impact is less pronounced compared with other players which do not operate mobile plants.”

Holcim said that it “cannot fully absorb” the cost increases and will have to pass these on to customers.

“For the past years, our company has stepped up operational efficiency measures and alternative fuel and raw material consumption to help manage volatility of energy commodity prices and as part of our overall sustainability direction. However, these are not enough to offset the unprecedented price surges we are experiencing,” the company added.

Aboitiz Construction’s Mr. Agoncillo said the cost of building factories to produce goods and infrastructure to deliver the goods will be higher, and cost increases will be “indirectly passed on” to consumers.

REAL ESTATE PRICES
Claro dG. Cordero, Jr., director and head of research at Cushman & Wakefield, said one key component of construction costs — real estate prices — “will likely increase as fuel or energy prices remain on an upward trajectory.”

“Currently, the recovery of demand for construction materials (as economies further open up) and the persistent global supply chain disruption resulting in port blockages are factors that aggravate the increasing cost of fuel/energy — likely increasing the cost of construction materials in the short- to medium-term,” he said in an e-mail replying to a query from BusinessWorld.

Joey Roi H. Bondoc, associate director for research at Colliers Philippines, said in an e-mail that rising fuel prices “could lead to increase in interest rates and result in higher mortgage rates.”

“Property investors should be wary of rise in mortgage rates and changes to payment terms and (promotional offers) implemented by developers at the height of the pandemic in 2020,” he noted.

“Tweaks to promos and discounts are likely to be implemented especially once the appetite for residential units starts to rebound,” he also said.

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT ACTION
The government can mitigate higher fuel prices by lowering the tax on fuel temporarily in order to soften the disruptive effect on business, Aboitiz Construction’s Mr. Agoncillo said.

“It’s difficult to bid for projects now because we cannot guarantee our prices for a longer period of time,” he noted.

Megawide said a shift to renewable energy could be a solution to reduce dependence on imported energy sources.

“Localization of supply chain among contractors can also help manage the impact of higher transportation costs,” it added.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Mr. Cordero said one effective way to achieve stability in real estate prices is to employ data-driven forecasting on the movement of prices of construction inputs, adding that hedging against price movements may be needed.

“Moving forward, industry players should engage in commodity futures as a hedge against the future increases in construction material prices. The government, on the other hand, should provide timely and updated producer price indices to assist industry players in making reasonable forecasts/estimates of construction prices,” he added.

He also proposed strategic agreements with contractors and suppliers to share in the risk and upside related to movements in construction costs.

“Developers and the government should also explore alternative sources of construction materials by developing locally-developed materials and technologies to minimize risks due to global supply chain disruptions and unstable fuel/energy prices.”

Gov’t requested to approve price hikes for 33 grocery items

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

SOME 33 grocery items are currently the subject of requests for price increases, with manufacturers mainly citing the surge in fuel prices, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). 

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said the DTI is currently reviewing applications, which cover a range of products that include canned food and milk.

“Actually, we have received requests for (price) adjustments and we are reviewing them. I think around 33 products. These include (canned) sardines, milk, and… canned meat loaf,” Mr. Lopez said in a radio interview on Sunday.

Mr. Lopez said the latest suggested retail price (SRP) list is still in force for basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC).

He added that the manufacturers of BNPC goods need to obtain the DTI’s approval before increasing their prices.

“They need to prove that the cost of these products has increased. Aside from oil, we are also computing the price of raw materials used for production,” Mr. Lopez said.

On Jan. 27, the DTI released the latest SRP list which maintained prices for 66% of the 216 stock keeping units tracked under the scheme. Prices were raised for the remainder due to higher production costs.

Last week, the prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene products fell P5.45, P11.45, and P8.55 per liter, respectively. The price reduction ended a run of 11 weeks of steadily increasing pump prices. Since the start of 2022, prices of products have risen by P14.9 per liter for gasoline, P19.2 for diesel and P16.3 for kerosene. 

Separately Mr. Lopez said he saw no need to declare Alert Level 0, noting that the economy is effectively open.

He added that the wearing of face masks should remain to avoid a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

“We do not need Alert Level 0 since the economy is totally open. In fact, we are already pushing face-to-face arrangements. We are encouraging employees to be physically present in their offices so that the establishments nearby will also benefit,” Mr. Lopez said.

“I think Alert Level 1 will be implemented until the end of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s term,” he added, referring to the quarantine setting currently in force which permits 100% capacity at most businesses, provided safety measures are observed. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Luzon grid placed on yellow alert after seven-plant outage

THE Luzon power grid was briefly placed on yellow alert on Saturday night, after seven facilities with a combined capacity of 2,011 megawatts (MW) suffered forced outages.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said in a Viber message that the yellow alert was in force between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

It said that the operating requirement for Saturday was 9,998 MW, while available capacity on the grid was 10,487 MW.

Yellow alerts signify thinning power reserves and can worsen to red alerts if the supply-demand balance goes to the extent of requiring rotating brownouts.

The NGCP said the plants that experienced unplanned outages were Unit 1 of the GN Power Dinginin plant, Unit 2 of South Luzon Thermal Energy, Units 2, 3, 4 of Southwest Luzon Power, Unit 2 of Calaca power plant, and Kalayaan power plant.

On top of that, four plants were operating under reduced capacity, removing a combined 823 MW from the grid, bringing the total unplanned unavailable energy to 2,834 MW.

The yellow alert was eventually lifted “due to receding demand.”

The dry season officially started last week, the period when power demand tends to rise due to the increased need for cooling.

According to the NGCP, the 2022 forecast peak for demand of 12,387 MW for Luzon will take place in the last week of May, higher by 747 MW than the actual 2021 peak of 11,640 MW, which occurred on May 28, 2021.

The yellow alert was in force during the observance of Earth Hour. The Energy department had called on the public to switch off non-essential lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Energy Secretary Alfonso. G. Cusi said participation in Earth Hour was “a significant contribution to our country’s energy efficiency and conservation efforts.”

Last week, the Department of Energy called on all government agencies to fully implement energy efficiency and conservation projects to help ensure adequate energy supply in the run-up to the May elections. — Marielle C. Lucenio

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