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Lima Water moves on to phase 2 of supply network digitalization 

LIMA WATER Corp., which serves the 700-hectare Lima Estate in Batangas, is entering the second phase of its digitalization project that aims to manage its water supply network more efficiently.

The water provider said in a statement on Wednesday that it is now in the next stage of its project, which includes network integration for real-time leakage detection and consumption monitoring.   

“Once fully integrated, the smart water network is projected to lead to even better operational efficiency and savings in terms of deep well operation, auto adjustment of transfer pumps and non-revenue water management, aligned with its sustainability objectives,” the company said.   

Lima Water started the digitalization project last year and it said the pilot program resulted in 30% savings in its operational budget for repairs, reduced fuel consumption for daily monitoring operations, and “significantly improved” response time during equipment failure.

Lima Water also announced that it will work on data science and artificial intelligence initiatives with Aboitiz Data Innovation, a business unit of the Aboitiz Group, to achieve improved efficiency and processes for its operations.   

“The synergies that can be created through the application of data science and artificial intelligence will create smarter, more reliable and more predictable systems that in turn will benefit our customers,” Aboitiz Data Innovation Managing Director David R. Hardoon said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave   

Police medical reserve teams tapped for vaccination

PNP

MEMBERS of the police’s Medical Reserve Force were deployed Wednesday to help in administering COVID-19 vaccines in three Quezon City vaccination sites to prevent long lines and crowding.

“They will help in the vaccination to speed up the process and avoid having too many people in the vaccination sites,” Police chief Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said in a statement in Filipino.

He cited an incident earlier this week in Parañaque, another city within the capital region, where residents lined up at a vaccination site within a shopping mall even if they were not scheduled to receive a dose.   

“We will continue to coordinate and assess the situation with the Department of Health and our LGUs (local government units) on which vaccination centers need augmentation,” he said.

The Philippine National Police-Medical Reserve Force, composed of officers with undergraduate courses related to health services and medicine, was formed in April 2020 to assist in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response program.

They have since been serving in quarantine and swabbing facilities.

The police said their medical and dental unit in the capital region will also undergo orientation to help in the inoculation.

Peso weakens as gov’t cuts growth targets

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO declined against the dollar on Wednesday as the government cut its growth target for this year and next, as the fresh spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and the reimposition of strict restrictions cloud recovery prospects.

The local unit closed at P47.875 versus the dollar on Wednesday, dropping by seven centavos from Tuesday’s finish of P47.805, data from the Banker’s Association of the Philippines’ website showed.

The peso opened the session at P47.81 against the dollar. It dropped to as low as P47.894, while its intraday best was logged at P47.77 versus the greenback.

Dollars traded went up to $947.25 million on Wednesday from $925.20 million the day before.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) decision to slash the country’s growth outlook caused the peso to weaken versus the dollar on Wednesday.

In its 179th meeting on Tuesday, the DBCC downgraded its gross domestic product (GDP) growth target to 6-7% from the 6.5-7.5% outlook in December 2020. However, this would still be an improvement from the record 9.6% contraction logged in 2020.

“The emerging GDP growth projection is slightly adjusted to 6-7% from 6.5-7.5% in view of the emergence of new COVID-19 variants and the reimposition of enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region Plus area during the second quarter of the year,” the DBCC said in a joint statement.

Economic managers expect the economy to return to its pre-crisis level next year, with GDP seen to grow by 7-9%, lower than the previous target of 8-10%. The economy’s expansion is seen to slow to 6-7% in 2023 and 2024.

Mr. Ricafort added that the peso was also affected by the recent weakness in the local stock market, as well as global inflation concerns.

For Thursday, a trader said the market will watch out for the release of the minutes of the US central bank’s latest policy review.

“The local currency might move based on policy cues from the US Federal Reserve policy meeting minutes due to be released overnight as global investors will be looking for the US central bank’s assessment about the recent elevated US inflation reports,” the trader said.

Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P47.82 to P 47.92 per dollar, while the trader expects the peso to move between P47.80 and P48.

PSE index inches higher on last-minute buying

BW FILE PHOTO

THE benchmark index inched up after a volatile session on Wednesday due to last-minute bargain hunting as trading volume was muted due to the lack of fresh catalysts.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) inched up by 0.97 point or 0.01% to close at 6,245.71 on Wednesday, while the all shares index gained 5.51 points or 0.14% to end at 3,852.90.

“The market fluctuated between gains and losses for the session and ended less than a point higher amid lack of catalysts,” AB Capital Securities, Inc. Junior Equity Analyst Lance U. Soledad said in a Viber message.

Meanwhile, Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Associate Claire T. Alviar said the market eked out a small gain due to bargain hunting.

“The local bourse was again saved by the last-minute bargain hunting… The improving COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic situation in Greater Manila provides optimism in the market,” Ms. Alviar said in a separate Viber message.

Timson Securities, Inc. Trader Darren Blaine T. Pangan said trading volume remained lower than average yesterday “due to the lack of catalysts in the local scene.”

Value turnover decreased to P4.83 billion on Wednesday with 1.56 billion issues traded, from the P6.19 billion with 2.63 billion shares that switched hands on Tuesday.

Coronavirus infections rose by 4,700 on Wednesday to bring the total to 1.159 million, based on data from the Department of Health.

This was lower than the average daily count seen in previous weeks and was also a stark improvement from the 10,000 cases seen almost every day in March, which had prompted the government to put parts of the country back under tighter restrictions.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the recommendation of an interagency task force to place National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under a general community quarantine with heightened restrictions from May 15 to 31.

Meanwhile, active cases stood at 49,951 as of Wednesday from 52,291 on the previous day, while deaths were at 19,507. Recovered patients totaled 1.09 million.

Most sectoral indices declined on Wednesday except for industrials, which improved by 103.84 points or 1.22% to end at 8,583.82, and financials, which went up by 0.6 point or 0.04% to 1,380.18.

Meanwhile, property dropped by 17.18 points or 0.57% to 2,996.59; mining and oil declined by 42.15 points or 0.45% to end at 9,141.66; services went down by 2.88 points or 0.19% to finish at 1,461.27; and holding firms lost 5.54 points or 0.08% to 6,219.23.

Advancers trumped decliners, 115 versus 82, while 47 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling went down to P457.83 million on Wednesday from the P549.72 million in net outflows logged the previous trading day.

“We expect the index to range trade for now with immediate support at 6,200 and resistance at 6,400,” AB Capital Securities’ Mr. Soledad said. — K.C.G. Valmonte

Lifting of open-pit mining freeze being readied in draft IRR

THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said the draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Executive Order (EO) No. 130 includes a repealing clause that would lift the open-pit mining ban implemented in 2017.

MGB Director Wilfredo G. Moncano said during the first session of the two-day consultative meetings for the EO’s IRR Wednesday that the repealing clause will lift the four-year ban on open pit mining.

The first session of the MGB’s two-day consultative meetings involved mining companies.

“One of the administrative orders mentioned in the repealing clause of the draft IRR includes Department of Environment and Natural Resources Order (DAO) 2017-10 that was issued by the late former Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez,” Mr. Moncano said.   

“That DAO is covered by the repealing clause meaning that… the open pit mining ban will be lifted through this IRR,” he added.

Ms. Lopez implemented the open pit mining ban in 2017, citing the adverse effects of the mining method on the environment.

The mining industry has continued to press for the restoration of open-pit mining, noting its efficiency and its acceptance as a mining practice worldwide.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines has said that the ban needs to go to allow the industry to achieve its full potential.

Anti-mining groups such as Alyansa Tigil Mina said the open-pit mining method creates permanent changes in the land and disturbs waterways and livelihoods.

On April 14, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed EO 130, which lifted the nine-year moratorium on new mineral agreements and authorized a review of current mining deals for potential renegotiation.

The MGB has said that some P21 billion in revenue can be generated by the 100 mining projects in the pipeline, adding that the potential funds will aid the economic recovery following the downturn caused by the pandemic.   

Josephine V. Sescon, MGB Policy and Technical Working Group head, said during the meeting that the repealing clause of EO 130’s draft IRR also covers Section 23-A of DAO 2010-21 that provides for the conversion of exploration permits to mineral agreements and other existing orders that are inconsistent with the EO.

Other features of the draft IRR include recommendations to declare as mineral reservations areas covered by mineral agreements, except for holders of mineral agreements (metallic) with mineral processing plants; the strict implementation of mine and environment safety rules including the use of technology; and research on acid mine drainage.

The MGB is set to hold the second session Thursday (May 20). It will involve representatives from the academe and non-government organizations.

In 2020, the MGB reported that the value of metallic mining output improved 1.13% to P132.21 billion, of which nickel ore and its by-products accounted for 51.8% or P68.48 billion; gold 36% or P47.60 billion; copper 11.25% or P14.88 billion; and silver, chromite, and iron P1.26 billion.  — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Electronic registrations for national ID top 1M

ABOUT 1.053 million registrants have completed the first phase of electronic registration for the national ID, formally known as the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), after two weeks, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Wednesday.

The PSA said the online registrants signed up between April 30, the digital portal’s launch, and May 17.

Meanwhile, 103,935 Philippine Identification (PhilID) cards have been distributed to those who completed the three-step registration as of May 15, it said. The cards were delivered by the Philippine Postal Corp.

“We remain optimistic that we can register 50 to 70 million Filipinos to the PhilSys this year,” PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa said in the statement.

“We are grateful for the patience and trust of Filipinos who registered, even though we encountered technical difficulties when we started the pilot,” Mr. Mapa added.

The agency said those who already got their IDs should keep the letter that came with the PhilID somewhere safe since it contains confidential information such as a unique identification number permanently assigned to a registrant, known as the PhilSys Number or PSN.

“To protect the permanent PSN when transacting, registrants are highly encouraged to use the PhilSys Card Number (PCN), the public version of the PSN which is printed in front of the PhilID,” it said.

Mr. Mapa said the agency will team up with various other entities to streamline transactions between the government and the private sector.

“We are looking into ramping up our card production and delivery services in the coming weeks so that more Filipinos will be able to enjoy the benefits of registering with the PhilSys,” he said.

By 2022, the PSA expects to register the bulk of the population.

Republic Act 11055, signed in 2018, created PhilSys to serve as a single identification system for all citizens, doing away with the need to present multiple government-issued IDs. — Beatrice M. Laforga

House panel approves bill calling for 30-year infrastructure plan

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE HOUSE Committee on Public Works and Highways approved a bill that will require infrastructure programs to be planned for 30 years in advance to minimize disruptions caused by changes in government.

In a hearing Wednesday, the panel approved House Bill 8151, a proposed law to adopt a 30-year National Infrastructure Program.

“There is a motion to approve, subject to amendments,” the committee’s chairman, Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona, said during the hearing.

The bill was sponsored by its author, CWS Party-list Rep. Romeo S. Momo, who said if passed, it will ensure the continuity of big-ticket projects when governments change.

“This 30-year infrastructure program will rationalize and interconnect in a seamless manner our six-year medium term and yearly infrastructure programs… the 30-year program will ensure continuity in the development and implementation of infrastructure projects across administrations regardless of changes in national leadership,” he said.

The bill is intended to provide a blueprint for the construction sector, investors, and other stakeholders, providing guidance on the direction of public construction over the next 30 years. — Gillian M. Cortez

Collections from marked fuel nearing P230 billion

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

DUTIES AND TAXES collected from marked fuel totaled P229.5 billion as of mid-May, the Department of Finance (DoF) said Wednesday.

Around 23.6 billion liters of fuel products were marked between September 2019 and May 15, according to a document released by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III via Viber.

Some P201.58 billion was generated by the duties and taxes collected by the Bureau of Customs. The Bureau of Internal Revenue generated P27.92 billion.

Luzon accounted for 73.54% or 17.35 billion liters, Mindanao 21.13% or 4.99 billion liters and the Visayas 5% or over 1.26 billion liters.

Diesel made up 61% or 14.34 billion liters of the total, followed by gasoline with 38% or 7.6 billion liters. Kerosene accounted for 127.92 million liters.

The fuel marking program aims to deter smuggling by injecting the products with a special dye to signify tax compliance. The absence of the dye is deemed prima facie evidence that the fuel was smuggled.

The implementing agencies began collecting in September 2020 the fuel marking fee of P0.06884 per liter, inclusive of value-added tax, charged on all manufactured, refined or imported petroleum products.

The DoF has estimated that revenue foregone due to oil smuggling was between P20 billion and P40 billion a year. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Malampaya depletion expected by 1st quarter of 2027

THE remaining reserves in the Malampaya gas field will be completely depleted by the first quarter of 2027, a senator said Tuesday, citing estimates from the Department of Energy (DoE).

“The Malampaya service contract is set to expire in 2024. Even if the service contract is extended, the DoE projects that the estimated 858,834 million standard cubic feet remaining in the Malampaya field as of Sept. 30, 2020 would be completely exhausted by the first quarter of 2027,” Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a speech sponsoring a bill regulating the development of the midstream natural gas industry on Tuesday.

Mr. Gatchalian chairs the senate committee on energy.

The Philippines “could be facing a major energy crisis in less than six years” unless it can find alternative sources for natural gas, and will have little choice but to import, Mr. Gatchalian added.

Located off the coast of Palawan, Malampaya is the country’s sole natural gas field.

In his speech Tuesday in support of the proposed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2203 or the proposed Midstream Natural Gas Industry Development Act, Mr. Gatchalian said energy security “largely depends” on the available supply of natural gas, noting that more than a quarter of Luzon is powered by the fuel.

“Natural gas plants generated 56% of the 2.5-billion-kilowatt-hours purchased by Meralco (Manila Electric Co.) in April 2021, making natural gas the single most impactful electric power source for Metro Manila,” he said.

He said natural gas should complement variable renewable energy sources, as outlined in the National Renewable Energy Plan’s (NREP) latest draft covering 2021 to 2040.

In February, former Chairperson of the National Renewable Energy Board Monalisa C. Dimalanta said that the draft NREP is looking at increasing the share of renewable energy (RE) in the power mix “with higher flexibility in the system coming from natural gas plants all the way to 2030, with a slight decline by 2040.”

The draft NREP has an RE targets of 37.3% by 2030, and 55.8% by 2040.

On Tuesday, Mr. Gatchalian raised SB 2203 to the plenary. — Angelica Y. Yang

Hungary interested in expanding agriculture, technology exports

REUTERS

HUNGARY is looking to expand its exports of agricultural products and technology to the Philippines, the head of its export promotion group said.

“Hungarian exports in your direction are less than your exports in our direction so I think our role is… balance to near (parity),” Hungarian Export Promotion Agency Chief Executive Officer Kristóf Szabó said in an online forum Tuesday.

The agency is a non-profit company that assists Hungarian firms in entering foreign markets.

The agency’s goal, Mr. Szabó said, is to return Hungarian exports to levels prior to the decline seen in the past few years — or to match Philippine exports to Hungary, which outweigh its imports by about six to one.

“Agriculture, technology, metal industry, and electronics could be a robust base for further export activities,” he said.

Mr. Szabó added that food and aircraft firms are negotiations for export facilities.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo at the same event said most Philippine exports to Hungary consist of electronics and eyeglass lenses.

The Philippines and Hungary have identified water management and food as areas for potential cooperation, the trade department said last year after an economic meeting between the two economies.

Philippine exports to the European Union last year declined 17.5% to $6.8 billion, representing 10% of total Philippine exports for 2020. Imports from the region plummeted 33.5% to $6.2 billion, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Senate resolution seeks withdrawal of EO lowering rice tariffs

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

FIVE SENATORS filed a draft resolution seeking the withdrawal of an executive order lowering the tariff rates on imported rice for one year.

Senators Francis N. Pangilinan, Franklin M. Drilon, Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay, Leila M. de Lima, and Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel filed Senate Resolution No. 726 urging President Rodrigo R. Duterte to withdraw Executive Order (EO) No. 135.

“There is no reasonable and sufficient basis to reduce the tariff rates on rice and it will only (pose an additional) burden (on) our rice farmers, further increase our import dependency, and cost the government millions in foregone revenue,” according to the resolution.

The President’s spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said in a statement on Saturday that President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed EO No. 135, cutting the most-favored nation (MFN) tariff to 35% for one year, at par with grain imported from ASEAN. The previous rate for imports from non-ASEAN trading partners was 40% for shipments within the minimum access volume (MAV) quota and 50% beyond the quota.

Mr. Roque said the reduction is “to diversify the country’s market sources, augment rice supply, (keep) prices affordable, and reduce pressure on inflation.”

The government stands to lose at least P60 million in revenue per year if MFN tariffs are reduced to 35%, the senators said in the resolution, citing the Tariff Commission.

They also noted the estimate of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) that the tariff reduction could cost the government around P548 million in foregone revenue.

They also noted that the FFF questions the basis for lowering rice tariffs, after the Agriculture Secretary called the rice supply “ample” following a record harvest in 2020. 

The farmers’ group also said that aside from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations, the country has been consistently importing from nine other countries, including MFNs like India, Pakistan, and more recently China.

The reduction in tariff will reduce the funding for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which assists farmers in modernizing their farms and improving their planting know-how. RCEF receives P10 billion a year from rice import tariffs. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas 

Bangsamoro trust fund seen accelerating peace process

OPAPP/MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

THE Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) launched on Wednesday, is expected to fast-track peace processes in the region and boost the local economy with the help of pooled resources from various development partners.

At its launch on Wednesday, Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines, said the BNTF will play a key role in supporting normalization in the Bangsamoro region.

The World Bank will serve as the administrator of the trust fund, as agreed by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), he said.

“We are committed to play this role professionally and with a strong sense of purpose, within a strong spirit of collaboration,” Mr. Diop said in a speech.

At the same time, he said the fund will also strengthen coordination among international institutions supporting normalization in the region.

The World Bank also assisted a similar initiative, supporting the peace process in Mindanao through the Mindanao Trust Fund launched in 2006, which it also administered. The bank donated $1.5 million out of the $28.88 million of that fund’s total resources. Other partners were the European Union ($17.66 million), Sweden ($4.29 million), Australia ($2.89 million), Canada ($1.6 million), the United States ($750,000) and New Zealand ($200,000).

Mr. Diop said the government of Australia and the EU have pledged their support for the BNTF.

He said among the key objectives of the BNTF is to fund, coordinate and oversee the delivery of assistance from donors for projects that aim to rebuild, rehabilitate and develop Bangsamoro communities, especially those hosting demobilized MILF combatants and poor households.

Proceeds from the fund will also help former MILF combatants and their communities return to peacetime life, and turn six former MILF camps into productive communities.

Other international partners that expressed support for the fund on Wednesday were the United Nations, Japan, New Zealand and Switzerland.  — Beatrice M. Laforga

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