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DoST trying to find disease-resistant mango varieties

THE Department of Science and Technology (DoST) said it launched a three-year project to find mango strains resistant to scab and stem-end rot diseases.

The DoST’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) announced a search for mango varieties and strains resistant to such diseases.

The project’s lead implementer will be the University of Southern Mindanao. It will also be in charge of the development of molecular markers and the creation of a sequence database that will contain the genotypes associated with resistance to stem-end rot and scab diseases.

According to PCAARRD, stem-end rot disease is caused by fungi such as Cytosphaera mangiferae, Dothiorella dominicana, Botryodiplodia theobromae and Lasiodiplodia theobromae. The fungi shorten the shelf life and storage of mangoes.

“Dark, circular lesions develop slowly from the stem end as fruit ripens after harvest,” PCAARRD said.

Meanwhile, mango-scab disease is caused by the fungal pathogen Elsinoë mangiferae. The disease begins as small gray or dark brown spots on the underside of the leaves or fruit, which eventually grow and darken over time.

“It affects young and mature fruits, twigs, leaves, and blossom spikes. Severely affected fruits fall off while new shoots may defoliate,” PCAARRD said.

“These issues prompted the project team to identify sources of resistance in mango germplasm that can be used in ‘Carabao’ mango improvement,” it added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Araneta City holds online Christmas tree lighting

AS a concession to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Araneta City’s lighting ceremony for its giant Christmas Tree on Nov. 14 was held virtually. The online ceremony included virtual performances by Tawag ng Tanghalan champion Janine Berdin, The Voice Teens alum Jeremy Glinoga, box-office star Vice Ganda, and, in partnership with Coke Studios, indie band December Avenue. The event was live streamed on YouTube and Facebook. It was hosted by singer Anna Ramsey and TV host Robi Domingo. “We understand how the pandemic has affected everything, including the way we’ll welcome and celebrate Christmas. We want to offer a holiday comfort to the public in the safety of either our stores or their homes. And through this virtual Christmas tree lighting, we are looking forward to giving joy and hope this season,” said Marjorie Go, AVP for Marketing of Araneta City in a statement. This is the 39th year that Araneta has held a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Although the ceremony was held online, the public can visit the giant Christmas Tree at the Times Square Food Park along General Roxas Avenue throughout the holiday season.

How PSEi member stocks performed — November 13, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Friday, November 13, 2020.

DA distributes assistance worth over P250M to typhoon-affected farmers in Bulacan, Rizal

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it distributed P250.25 million worth of assistance to farmers in Bulacan and Rizal who were affected by Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco).

During his visit to Bulacan, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar disbursed P176 million worth of rice seed and fertilizer to the province’s farmers.

Mr. Dar said growers of corn, vegetables, sugarcane, coconut, as well as those in fishing communities, will receive P5,000 in cash and food assistance from the P4.5 billion authorized for distribution by the DA under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II).

The DA said that based on initial reports from the provincial agriculture office, some 10,000 to 20,000 hectares of rice in the area have been submerged.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dar told farmers to start planting early for the dry cropping season to avoid the effects of typhoons.

“Start planting by the second week of December, so you can harvest earlier next year,” Mr. Dar said.

In a visit to Rizal, Mr. Dar distributed P74.25 million worth of aid to typhoon affected farmers.

Farmers’ cooperatives and associations in Teresa, Cardona, Pililla, Rodriguez, San Mateo, Binangonan, Jala-jala, Cainta, Tanay, Taytay, Baras, Morong, and Antipolo City received assistance such as rice seed, corn seed, assorted vegetable seed, fertilizer, and other farm inputs.

Other assistance received by farmers include farm equipment such as tractors, hand tractors and rice transplanters.

According to DA Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa, the Calabarzon provinces (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) have been hit by eight typhoons so far during October and November. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Profit taking seen to pull down stocks this week

By Denise A. Valdez, Senior Reporter

LOCAL SHARES are expected to tread lower this week due to anticipated selling pressure after two weeks of rally.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended Friday’s session at 6,969.88, down 54.38 points or 0.77% from the last trading day. On a weekly basis, the index was up 284.19 points or 4.25%.

The market was closed on Thursday amid strong winds and flooding due to Typhoon Ulysses, which continue to hit parts of Luzon through the weekend.

“Positive headlines on the coronavirus vaccine front pushed a buying tide; the PSEi breached the 7,000 level mid-week before taking a breather…,” online brokerage 2TradeAsia.com said.

Value turnover for the week soared 75% to an average of P14.91 billion. Overseas investors also became net buyers, recording average net inflows of P799.12 million, against the average net selling worth P123.77 million seen the prior week.

However, the market’s uptrend may hit a roadblock this week, Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said.

“We may see profit taking moving forward given that the local market has already rallied for two straight weeks which brought it up by 10.21%. The local bourse may also test its initial support, its 10-day exponential moving average, which is currently at 6,718.55,” he said in a text message.

Aside from the rally driven by news of a possible COVID-19 vaccine, investors were also drawing optimism from the earnings reports of companies in the past weeks, which saw marked improvements on a quarterly basis.

As the season ends on Monday, Mr. Tantiangco said investors will be digesting these numbers, and will look for clues on the economy’s condition and direction moving forward.

“This would include the September 2020 remittances data and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy decision this week. Further developments on vaccine candidates, if there will be any this week, are expected to sustain market optimism,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Natural calamities may also affect market sentiment as the past two storms — Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses — have proven destructive for many sectors of the economy, 2TradeAsia.com said.

It noted investors will not only look at how these typhoons will affect inflation, but also the capital expenditures of companies that have to repair any damage brought by the storm.

“The windows draw close [this] week as far as earnings reporting is concerned, and sights will be set on the imagination of 2021, and in our view, the more important 2022. Approaching 7,000 will be crucial in cementing a never-look-back story heading into the new year,” 2TradeAsia.com said.

The brokerage set immediate support at 6,800 and resistance at 7,000. Philstocks’ Mr. Tantiangco put support within 6,718.55 to 6,600 and resistance at 7,150.

Peso to climb further vs dollar ahead of remittances, BoP data

THE PESO may strengthen versus the dollar this week as coronavirus cases in the country continue to decline and ahead of the release of latest data on overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) remittances and the country’s balance of payments (BoP) position.

The local unit closed at P48.21 against the greenback on Friday, rising from its P48.27 finish on Wednesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed. Trading was suspended on Thursday due to Typhoon Ulysses.

Week on week, the peso strengthened by one centavo from its P48.22-per-dollar finish on Nov. 6.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the peso strengthened last week on news of progress in potential vaccines versus the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Meanwhile, a trader said the peso rose after the US posted a lower-than-expected inflation in October at 1.2% from 1.4% in September.

For this week, Mr. Ricafort said in a text message the local currency may strengthen further against the greenback as the daily tally of coronavirus cases in the Philippines continues to drop below 2,000.

The Health department reported 1,650 new cases on Saturday, bringing the total case tally to 406,337.

Meanwhile, a trader said the downtrend in the case tally will increase demand for peso as more people gain confidence to do business amid the pandemic.

Mr. Ricafort added that other key catalysts for peso-dollar trading this week will include data on remittances to be released Monday and the latest BoP report due to come out on Thursday.

“Going forward, the fourth quarter will usher in the seasonal increase in OFW remittances and conversion to pesos, with the culmination during the Christmas spending season, or a little over a month to go,” Mr. Ricafort said.

For this week, Mr. Ricafort sees the peso moving from P48.05 to P48.35 versus the dollar, while the trader expects it to range from P48.15 to P48.30. — KKTJ

Gov’t urged to seek foreign aid after typhoons

A SENATOR on Sunday urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to seek help from the international community for victims of Typhoon Vamco, which killed at least 67 people and submerged many parts of Luzon island last week.

The Senate would ask the agency on Monday to activate the Philippine International Assistance Cluster and explore the option of seeking foreign aid, Senator Ma. Lourdes Nancy S. Binay told DWIZ radio.

“We still have some fellow men on top of their houses in Isabela so there should be a sense of urgency,” she said in Filipino.

The government cluster coordinates incoming and outgoing international humanitarian assistance. It may call for foreign help if the local disaster agency recommends it to President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Typhoon Vamco, locally named Ulysses pummeled Luzon last week, killing at least 67, hurting 21 others and leaving millions without electricity. At least a dozen people were still missing, according to the local disaster agency.

The typhoon made landfall in Quezon province and crossed Central Luzon, affecting Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, is hit by about 20 typhoons yearly. It’s located on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire — a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

Ms. Binay appealed to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. to seek foreign aid for rescue equipment, personnel and air assets for disaster response and rescue missions.

Vamco caused P70.79 million worth of damage on power equipment, according to the National Electrification Administration (NEA). About 88 areas in Luzon still did not have electricity, it added.

Meanwhile, Senators Juan Edgardo M. Angara ang Sherwin T. Gatchalian in separate statements said they have given aid to the Bicol region.

Mr. Angara’s office conducted relief operations in Bato and Virac in Catanduanes as well as in several towns in Albay and Camariñes Sur. Mr. Gatchalian gave P6 million of financial aid to the three provinces.

The Bicol region was still recovering from the onslaught of Super Typhoon Goni, locally named Rolly, which hit the country on Nov. 1. Typhoon Goni made landfall twice in the region, first in Catanduanes and then in Albay, killing at least 19 people.

Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has provided P10 billion more to the pooled calamity funds of government agencies to help them with rescue and relief operations after flooding in Cagayan Valley, Marikina City and Rizal.

“We just augmented the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Fund by another P10 billion in view of the continuing needs and for as long as it is imperative and necessary,” Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado said in a mobile phone message on Saturday.

The disaster agency has a P16-billion budget this year.

Mr. Avisado said the fund is meant for all kinds of disasters and natural calamities, including relief operations in flooded areas of Luzon.

Parts of Cagayan and Isabela have been submerged in floodwater since Friday due to the rising water level of Cagayan River caused by the heavy rainfall from Typhoon Vamco and the continued release of water from Magat Dam.

Rising flood waters forced some families to sleep on the roofs of their houses while waiting for rescue.

This followed massive flooding in Metro Manila, especially in Marikina City and Rizal province last week where muddy flood waters reached the roofs of single-story houses.

Vamco was the third typhoon and fifth tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in less than three weeks. The typhoon drew comparisons to Typhoon Ketsana, locally named Ondoy, which submerged eastern parts of the capital region in 2009.

Four previous typhoons that entered the country this quarter have caused P38 billion in damage, based on official estimates as of Nov. 10.

The government’s calamity fund is a lump sum amount under its annual budget to cover response, relief and rehabilitation operations of state agencies in areas struck by calamities.

Meanwhile, the Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will lend to victims of the three typhoons.

SSS will offer calamity loans from Nov. 27 to Feb 26, it said in a statement on Sunday. It will also offer loans for housing repairs and tap its three-month advance pensions. The state agency said it had not released the rules for the program.

GSIS will also allow members to borrow P20,000 at a yearly interest rate of 6%, to be paid for three years.

Borrowers must be in active service and are not facing administrative or criminal charges.

Old-age and disability pensioners with a net monthly take-home pension after loan availment of at least 25% of their basic monthly pension can also apply for the emergency loan.

Meanwhile, members with due loans or those with arrears of more than six months can renew their emergency loan from a different calamity, except the one under the COVID-19 emergency loan program.

Members with only three months of paid premiums may also apply. — Charmaine A. Tadalan, Beatrice M. Laforga and Kathryn Kristina T. Jose

DoH: 1,500 COVID-19 infections added to tally; deaths at 7,832

THE DEPARTMENT of Health reported 1,530 coronavirus infections on Sunday, bringing the total to 407,838.

The death toll rose by 41 to 7,832, while recoveries increased by 11,290 to 374,329, it said in a bulletin.

There were 25,677 active cases, 82.5% of which were mild, 8.4% did not show symptoms, 5.6% were critical, 3.2% were severe and 0.2% were moderate.

Cavite reported the highest number of new cases at 90, followed by Rizal at 84, Manila at 79, Davao City at 78 and Taguig City at 73.

The Philippine government earlier said it was considering orders for 24 million units of coronavirus vaccines and may start inoculating Filipinos by May..

The vaccines might be ordered in the first quarter, said Carlito Galvez Jr., who is in charge of the state’s vaccine import and distribution program.

The inoculation program might start as late as the end of next year if vaccine development and manufacturing are delayed, he said.

The coronavirus has sickened about 54.4 million and killed 1.3 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

About 37.9 million people have recovered, it said.

It added that active cases stood at 15.1 million, 1% or 98,193 of which were either serious or critical.

The United States had the most infections at 11.2 million, followed by India with 8.8 million and Brazil with 5.8 million. The US also had the most deaths at 251,256, Brazil had 165,673 and India had 129,674.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte last month said the government had funds to buy coronavirus vaccines, but it needs more so the entire population of more than 100 million could be inoculated.

He said he would look for more funds so all Filipinos could be vaccinated. The President said he was okay with vaccines developed either by Russia or China.

Mr. Duterte said he had spoken with outgoing Russian Ambassador Igor A. Khovaev and was told that Russia intends to set up a pharmaceutical company in the Philippines that will make the vaccines available here.

He said soldiers and the police will be among the first ones to be vaccinated, along with poor Filipinos. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Davao congressman leaves President Duterte’s ruling party

A FORMER House leader has left  President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s ruling party before the 2022 elections.

Davao del Norte Rep. and former House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez quit the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to “commit and pursue voter’s education campaign” and revive a non-mainstream political party, he said in a statement on Sunday.

“Serving as a ranking officer and member of PDP-Laban while simultaneously handling this advocacy may be misconstrued by critics as politicking by the party presently in power,” he added.

Mr. Alvarez, who served as the party’s secretary-general for five years, has accepted the offer to lead and reconvene Reporma, a political party “not affiliated with any personality reportedly seeking the presidency.”

“This way, the voter’s education campaign can proceed, and rightly be perceived, as politically neutral without risking possible backlash against PDP-Laban,” he added.

The resignation of Mr. Alvares, who once defended the administration’s controversial war on drugs and push to revive death penalty, came after he criticized the Duterte government’s response to the  coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Alvarez was ousted as House Speaker in July 2018, only to be replaced by another administration ally.

He won a fresh term as representative of Davao Del Norte in the May 2019 elections.

A Speaker from 2016 to 2018, he also served as the Transportation secretary of ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2001 to 2002. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Regional Updates (11/15/20)

By air and water

PHILIPPINE security forces have had their hands full on emergency preparations and response operations in the past weeks as several strong typhoons have affected various regions in the northern part of the country. On Nov. 15, in the aftermath of Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) that swept through Luzon last week, members of the Philippine Air Force’s  505th Search and Rescue Group carried out medical evacuation for patients from the town of Alcala to the provincial capitol of Cagayan. The three patients were injured due to the massive flooding in their areas. Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard officers load drinking water and other relief goods on the BRP Malapascua vessel bound for Catanduanes, the island province that was one of the hardest hit by the series of recent typhoons.

Environmental management gets attention as top officials visit flooded Cagayan

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte, along with several members of his Cabinet, visited flood-stricken Cagayan on Sunday and called for better environmental management efforts to avoid another devastation. Local officials pointed at illegal logging and mining activities as the main culprit of the disaster. Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba said the flooding was “the worst flood we had in 45 years” and it could get worse if no action is undertaken. Mr. Mamba has been pushing for the creation of the Cagayan River Basin Development Authority for a more integrated and comprehensive management of the entire ecosystem relating to the river. Office of Civil Defense Region 2 Director  Harold Cabreros reported during the meeting with the President that “almost 100,000 (households were) affected with 343,000 persons and there were roads and bridges that were considered not passable.” Mr. Cabreros also reported 24 casualties in the region while losses in agriculture and infrastructure were initially estimated at P73.7 million and P39.8 million, respectively. Mr. Duterte acknowledged that more needs to be done to avoid a repeat of such disasters. “We always talk about illegal logging and mining but nothing has been done about it,” he said. Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, who belongs to the opposition party, also visited Cagayan on Sunday and brought relief goods to communities still submerged in flood. “We arrived in Cagayan this morning. Our team arrived a few hours earlier with supplies. Situation is so much better. Many areas still flooded but water receded already,” Ms. Robredo said in a Twitter post. — Gillian M. Cortez and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Case on police chief’s lockdown violation not yet dropped — Guevarra

THE prosecution will continue with its probe on the quarantine violation of police chief Debold M. Sinas despite President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s pronouncement that he would grant pardon if he was found liable, according to Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra. “Whatever it was that the President said about his intent to pardon General Sinas, the DOJ (Department of Justice) will do what it is duty-bound to do, and the president may also do what he is constitutionally authorized to do,” Mr. Guevarra told reporters via Viber on Sunday. Mr. Duterte on Saturday said that he would pardon the head of the Philippine National Police, who was appointed to the post last week, if he is found liable for violating quarantine protocols when he held a birthday celebration in May. At that time and prior to his promotion to his current position, Mr. Sinas was head of the Metro Manila police. Mr. Guevarra said the prosecution has “to complete the process of preliminary investigation” against Mr. Sinas along with 18 others. The Justice chief also noted that executive clemency may only be given after an accused is found guilty of a crime. “‘If he has fault’ indicates that  the President will wait for a finding of fault or guilt after a proper proceeding, whether administrative or criminal,” the secretary said. “The President is very much aware that a case is still pending and he is merely indicating his intent to act with liberality, in consideration of General Sinas’ overall performance as a career police officer,” he added. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Tuguegarao mayor could face charges for neglect of duty amid flooding

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson P. Soriano could face charges for not being on the ground when the city, the capital of Cagayan province, was flooded due to the release of water from Magat Dam. In an interview with DZBB on Sunday, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said the mayor will be given due process before administrative charges are filed. “It’s possible the Tuguegarao mayor will be charged if he is found to be neglectful here,” he said in Filipino. On Saturday, the DILG said it will issue a show cause order to the mayor to explain why he left his area of responsibility to spend his birthday in Batangas while his constituents were already suffering from Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco), which struck Luzon last week. Batangas is more than 590 kilometers from Tuguegarao.

WARNING
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), through its Magat River Integrated Irrigation System office, said it issued an advisory on the possible water release from the reservoir as early as November 9, two days before Typhoon Ulysses made its first landfall. “Prior to Typhoon Ulysses, five typhoons had affected Isabela and Cagayan Valley and almost the entire Luzon, causing continuous rain for almost two months. During this period, two gates opened or an equivalent of four meters were opened to reduce water containment at the Magat Reservoir,” NIA said in a statement on Sunday. “The continuous rains upstream of Magat Dam contributed to high inflows, while rivers along the Cagayan River had also reached its maximum capacity, causing river overflows, not only to the Cagayan River but its adjacent areas,” the agency explained. — Gillian M. Cortez 

Cebu, Davao cities revert to strict lockdown rules this week

THE CITY governments of Cebu and Davao, two of the main urban centers outside Metro Manila, are bringing back strict lockdown rules this week to either avoid or mitigate another coronavirus outbreak. Cebu City Mayor Edgardo C. Labella, in a post on his Facebook page late Saturday night, said border restrictions will be reimplemented starting Monday, Nov. 16. This means that non-essential travel to and from the city will again be prohibited. Those who will be allowed to either enter or leave the city will be limited to those listed under the national government’s list of so-called Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR). The quarantine pass issued per household, which limits movement on specified days and only for food and medicine purchases, will also be reactivated. Cebu City was placed under the strictest quarantine level in July after it recorded the highest number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases outside the capital, putting its entire healthcare system far beyond capacity. Mr. Labella, in his post in Cebuano, said he is issuing an executive order to lay out the reactivated rules, which is intended to avoid putting the city again under such a situation. As of Nov. 14, Cebu had 262 active cases out of the total 10,438 recorded, based on data from the Health department’s regional office. Of the active cases, 59 were new, one of the highest in recent weeks. Mr. Labella wrote in Cebuano, “I would like to inform the Cebuanos starting 5:01 a.m. on Monday, November 16, 2020, we will tighten border control across the city so that we can prevent the recurrence of the COVID-19 cases here in the city.”

DAVAO CITY
In Davao, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued an executive order Friday designating the city as a “restricted local government unit,” and laying out similar strict rules as in Cebu. The order comes after the recent reimposition of curfew hours from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. and the liquor ban. Starting Nov. 18, entry to and from the city will be restricted to APORs, while those bound for the airport or will access medical facilities and services will have to present corresponding documentary requirements. The city’s active COVID-19 cases increased 83% to 987 patients as of October 31 from 539 on Oct. 15. The surge has continued in the first two weeks of Nov., with active cases at 1,762 as of the 14th. The city has so far recorded 5,114 cases, with 3,142 recoveries and 216 deaths. — MSJ

MICT int’l cargo throughput falls, South Harbor tonnage up

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter

INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER throughput and tonnage at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) declined during the third quarter due to the disruptions to trade arising from the pandemic, according to data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) obtained by BusinessWorld.

International container throughput in terms of number of boxes at the Manila South Harbor also decreased, but tonnage rose year on year.

According to data provided to BusinessWorld by the PPA’s Port Management Office,  National Capital Region-South, international tonnage at the MICT fell 7.03% year on year to 6,116,788 metric tons. Import volume was 4,896,377 metric tons, down 6.39% from a year earlier, while exports tallied 1,220,411 metric tons, down 9.52%.

In terms of international container boxes, MICT throughput for the third quarter totaled 560,260 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), down 10.85% year on year. Containers for import fell 8.88% to 314,641 TEUs while containers for export amounted to 245,619 TEUs, down 13.26%.

International container tonnage processed by the Manila South Harbor rose 3.60% year on year to 1,682,930 metric tons during the third quarter. Import volume was 1,464,782 metric tons, up 3.82%, while export volume totaled 218,148 metric tons, up 2.11%.

In terms of container box numbers, Manila South Harbor’s international throughput during the quarter fell 8.13% to 291,173 TEUs. Containers for import and export declined 8.15% and 8.11% to 126,669 TEUs and 164,504 TEUs, respectively.

The Manila South Harbor has an annual capacity of 1.2 million TEUs, according to its operator, the Asian Terminals, Inc.

Meanwhile, the MICT can handle 3 million TEUs per year, according to its operator, the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Nuclear touted as baseload solution, but risks flagged

By Angelica Y. Yang

NUCLEAR POWER holds the potential to address the country’s need for reliable, always-on baseload power, but the risks posed by the energy source could be a key sticking point towards its adoption, experts said.

Philippine Nuclear Research Institute Executive Director Carlo A. Arcilla said nuclear can effectively substitute for the output from gas-fired plants soon to be lost when the Malampaya field is depleted.

“Malampaya will run out in five years, so what will you (do to) replace that Malampaya share? Do you want to replace it with more coal? Or will you import natural gas?…My argument then is, why can’t you put nuclear?” he said in an interview with BusinessWorld on Wednesday.

He added that nuclear energy can also “back up solar and wind, even more stably than coal.”

Mr. Arcilla described solar and wind as good alternative energy sources, but they “cannot supply baseload demand” because they only operate for around 70% of the day, he said.

Power plants are classified as either “baseload” — which are always on and typically fueled by the most cost-effective energy sources, to meet the so called “base demand” below which power demand never falls — or “peaking” plants, which are more expensive to run or less reliable, which are engaged only when baseload capacity is about to be exceeded.

He said nuclear energy was a fraction of the cost of most fossil fuels, adding that imports of coal for a year’s usage require fifty Panamax vessel loads.

“The fuel for the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) will cost about $20 million, give or take a few million. That fuel will last for 18 months,” he said. The coal required to generate the equivalent amount of power for the same 18 months would amount to “something like $600 million,” Mr. Arcilla said.

He made these comments a week after the Department of Energy announced it will submit the results of a public perception study on nuclear power to President Rodrigo R. Duterte by the end of the year.

In July, the President organized an Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee to study and make recommendations on the inclusion of nuclear into the energy mix. The committee’s report will be submitted to the President by the end of the year.

MANAGING RISKS
In a text interview with BusinessWorld, Gerry Arances, Executive Director for the environmental think tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, said he was “appalled that taxpayers’ money was being used to study a form of energy that will endanger people’s lives and livelihoods.”

“We ask our energy authorities to stop being advocates of myth, claiming that nuclear energy is beneficial when in reality its fuel would still have to be imported…when the external costs and risks it possess are immeasurable,” he said.

He added that the presence of a nuclear facility in a country vulnerable to climate change would expose communities to “extreme” risk.

“Nuclear accidents triggered or worsened by the climate crisis are bound to happen,” Mr. Arances said. He maintained that tapping the country’s renewable energy potential was the “way forward.”

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy, described nuclear as a complex and risky fuel source.

“There is merit to studying nuclear energy or the possibility of the use of nuclear energy. The technology is evolving, and innovation is catching up with nuclear power. So we cannot also (rule out) that possibility, but then again, it’s a very complex and risky fuel source,” he told BusinessWorld in a phone interview Thursday.

Asked about the BNPP, he said that it should not be revived. “In my opinion, it should not be jump-started because we will be spending so much time on addressing the pushback rather than (building) a strong nuclear power industry,” he said.

He said it was very important to have a proper nuclear waste disposal facility. At present, he said, that the country does not have contingency measures in place to prevent a possible nuclear mishap.

“For nuclear, we have zero. And if you compare to typhoons, we barely can barely survive typhoons. And nuclear is a different case kasi (because) you have (issues like) contamination, radiation, which are very complex,” Mr. Gatchalian said.

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