NAIA to get 100 new immigration inspectors before end of 2021

May 28, 2021 | 6:53 pm

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra has appointed 100 new primary immigration inspectors who will be deployed to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) before the end of the year. This as the bureau expects an increase in the number of international travelers in the coming months with the gradual reopening of the country’s borders.

With the new appointments, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said “we will be more prepared and are assured that sufficient manpower will be available in our ports to address the influx of passengers.

“We are hoping that our international flight operations will gradually return to normal before the year ends, following the government’s aggressive vaccine campaign,” Mr. Morente said. “As the country begins to reopen its economy, perhaps so, too, will our borders reopen slowly,” he added.

According to BI Personnel Chief Grifton S.P. Medina, the new appointees will be deployed after they submit the required documents and upon completion of their training on immigration laws, rules, and procedures.

However, due to the current pandemic, the new employees will be trained through virtual learning sessions “instead of the usual face-to-face, stay-in classes at the BI’s training academy in Clark, Pampanga,” Mr. Medina said. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

DOST funds new R&D centers which focus on countryside development

May 28, 2021 | 6:49 pm

https://www.dost.gov.ph/

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has approved over P540 million in funds to support seven new research centers that will focus on development in the countryside.

In a statement released on Friday, the DOST said that it “approved seven new research and development (R&D) centers in the countryside through the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D (NICER) Program.” NICER is a sub-program under the agency’s Science for Change Program (S4CP) which aims to increase investment in R&D to boost the country’s innovation in the science and technology sector.

The recipients will receive a total of P540,497,681.20.

The R&D center recipients and their respective funding allocations are the following:

The Center for Vector of Diseases established by the De La Salle University-Laguna, P26.5 million
The Center for Advanced Batteries created by the Technological Institute of the Philippines in collaboration with the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP Diliman), P142.9 million
The Center for Sustainable Polymers led by the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, P107.8 million
The Smart Water Infrastructure and Management R&D Center created by the Isabela State University in collaboration with Cagayan State University and Quirino State University, P77.2 million
The Coastal Engineering R&D (CoastER) Center led by Mariano Marcos State University with UP Diliman and Don Mariano Marcos State University, P79.9 million
The Center for Lakes Sustainable Development will be established under the leadership of the Laguna State Polytechnic University in collaboration with UP Diliman, P53.2 million
The Center for Environmental Technologies and Compliance will be established under the leadership of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in collaboration with UP Diliman and Adamson University, P53.3 million.

Science and technology Secretary Fortunato T. dela Peña said in a statement on Friday, “DOST-S4CP in funding R&D Centers, capacitates the regions to become innovation hubs… By supporting R&D, we serve the academe, the local industry, and, in turn, the country due to the entrepreneurial advancement provided to the local community.”

Science and technology Undersecretary for R&D Rowena Cristina L. Guevara also said in a statement that the S4CP “is a means to proportionately spread funding across all regions for capacity-building initiatives and securing partnerships across academia and industry members.”

There are 35 R&D centers in all 17 regions of the country under the NICER program, with total funding of P1.7 billion. — Gillian M. Cortez

IBP Board calls on gov’t agencies to act on PH arbitral award on West Philippine Sea

May 28, 2021 | 6:42 pm

Board members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) have called on Philippine government agencies to uphold the country’s arbitral award on the West Philippine Sea, to clarify that the Chinese cannot fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone, and that China’s physical possession of the zone is unlawful.

“The Board of Governors of the (IBP) hereby calls on all instrumentalities of the Philippine State, including the Executive Department, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Congress, the Judiciary, the constitutional commissions, and the local government units, to uphold the rule of law and the Philippine national interest,” regarding the country’s arbitral award on the West Philippine Sea.

The IBP statement, signed by its 10 board members, dated May 24 and made public on Friday, explained that under Presidential Decree No. 1599 (1) established in 1978, the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone extends “200 nautical miles from the Philippine baselines” where the Philippines has the “exclusive sovereign right to exploit the natural resources, establish artificial islands, preserve the marine environment, and conduct scientific research.”

Moreover, it was explained in the statement that Congress enacted the Fisheries Code in 1998 “to limit access to the fishery and aquatic resources of the Philippines for the exclusive use and enjoyment of Filipino citizens” which is to be enforced in the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine Constitution also mandates the Philippine State’s legal obligation to “protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and [to] reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens,” it added. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Rights group slams PNP’s drug war investigation

May 28, 2021 | 6:39 pm

Human rights group Karapatan on Friday said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) was committed to holding itself accountable, then the deaths in the government’s war against drugs should have been investigated long ago.

The group made the statement after the PNP granted the Justice department access to the records of 61 investigations against policemen in anti-drug operations, which it said represents less than one percent of the over 7,800 deaths reported by authorities since the bloody war began in 2016.

“Opening 61 cases out of thousands is too little. The investigations are already too late,” Karapatan Secretary General Christina Palabay said in an e-mailed statement.

“The PNP should’ve not even allowed the death toll in the brutal drug war to reach thousands just to launch an investigation [now],” he added. “Any investigation now won’t bring back the lives claimed by the government’s murderous campaign.”

Fatou Bensouda, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, earlier said there is reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity had been committed under the administration’s drug war.

Her office said those crimes, including murder, torture, infliction of serious physical injury and mental harm, happened between July 1, 2016 and March 16, 2019.

“Genuine accountability seems dim when the [President’s] allies and specifically one of the drug war’s chief architects, former PNP chief Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, are pushing for amendments to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act that would only give a legal cover to the killings, arbitrary arrests, and other human rights violations in the drug war,” Ms. Palabay said.

In March, Congress approved House Bill No. 7814, which proposes an amendment to Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002, stating that “unless proven otherwise, a person found or is present in the immediate vicinity of the area of sale, trading, marketing, dispensation, delivery or distribution, is presumed to have been involved in the sale, trade, or distribution of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors or essential chemicals.”

The bill imposes death as the maximum penalty for drug criminals “but capital punishment has not been reimposed in the country,” Ms. Palabay pointed out. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Maynilad to go public as part of new concession deal

May 28, 2021 | 6:33 pm

Maynilad Water Services Inc., the water supplier for Metro Manila’s west zone, has agreed to go public, as part of its revised concession deal with the government

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Ma. K. Lim said Maynilad’s agreement contained three provisions that differed from the deal signed by listed Manila Water Company.

“First, we are not listed. So we have to become a listed company. Secondly, we have concession loan from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) which has very favorable terms, and we have about P4 billion of that credit line,” he said during the MPIC stockholder’s meeting on Friday.

“Finally, we will have the ability to tailor the business plan that was agreed upon in 2018,” Mr. Lim added.

Maynilad signed the agreement with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) on May 18. The deal removed what President Rodrigo R. Duterte called “onerous provisions,” such as the non-interference clause and its ability to charge corporate income tax to consumers.

Under the deal, Maynilad’s concession period would continue for 15 years, or from 2022 to 2037. Maynilad agreed to freeze tariffs until Dec. 31, 2022, and to remove corporate income tax from among its recoverable expenditures as well as the foreign currency differential adjustment.

Maynilad also agreed to cap the annual inflation factor to two-thirds of the consumer price index, and impose rate caps for water and sewerage services to 1.3x and 1.5x, respectively, of the previous standard rate.

Like Manila Water, Maynilad agreed to the “removal from the Republic of the Philippines’ (RoP) Letter of Undertaking of the non-interference of the Government in the rate-setting process, and the limitation of the RoP’s financial guarantees to cover only those loans and contracts that are existing as of the signing of the RCA.”

Maynilad will also forego the collection P3.4 billion in compensation from the government. In 2017, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore ordered the Philippine government to pay for the losses incurred by the company due to its failure to approve water rate adjustments.

The company also agreed to retain the rate rebasing mechanism where “the rates for the provision of water and wastewater services will be set at a level that will allow Maynilad to recover, over the term of the concession, expenditures efficiently and prudently incurred and to earn a reasonable rate of return.”

MPIC has a 52.80% stake in Maynilad, which also has DMCI Holdings, Inc. (25.24%) and Marubeni Corporation (20.00%) as major stakeholders.

MPIC is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — J.P.Ibañez

MPIC eyes other global vaccine partners

May 28, 2021 | 6:29 pm

The Metro Pacific group may consider other global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 vaccine partners as it looks to invest in local manufacturing.

“As a matter of principle, the Metro Pacific group is interested in the local manufacture of vaccines, also the boosters that would follow the vaccine application,” Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said at its annual stockholders’ meeting on Friday.

He said the COVID-19 vaccine introduced during the group’s first meeting with Glovax Biotech Corp. was “one we are not familiar with,” adding that he is not sure it has government approval.

“We are open to other vaccine producers globally.”

Glovax last month said that Mr. Pangilinan is interested in investing in its proposed P7.5 billion vaccine manufacturing facility in the country. Glovax officials said they were applying for an emergency use authorization for EuCorVac-19, a COVID-19 vaccine that is being developed by South Korean firm EuBiologics.

Mr. Pangilinan noted that Filipinos are interested in particular brands of COVID-19 vaccines.

Six out of 10 Filipinos prefer coronavirus vaccines made in the US, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll. The Chinese Sinovac Biotech Ltd. topped the list of brands preferred by Filipinos at 39%, followed by the Pfizer, Inc. vaccine at 32%.

MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of First Pacific, the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — J.P.Ibañez

SM mall unveils solar rooftop facility

May 28, 2021 | 6:25 pm

SM-Bacoor-rooftop-panels — Over 3,100 solar panels are seen on the rooftop of SM City Bacoor in Cavite. Company handout

SM City Bacoor unveiled on Friday a 1.3-megawatt (MW) rooftop solar-powered facility which it hopes will help save P10.3 million in annual power bills and reduce its dependence on the grid.

Designed by local solar firm Green Heat Corp., the facility is made up of over 3,100 solar panels covering 6,230 square meters. It can produce an average of 128,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy per month.

SM City Bacoor expects to reduce its carbon footprint by over 8,400 metric tons by the first year of the facility’s operations, SM Supermalls Assistant Vice President for Operations for South 1 Region Lorenzo Leon A. Calingasan IV said during the virtual launch.

“SM recognizes its impact on the environment and continuously takes measures to prioritize the efficient management of its resources, which in this case is our mall’s vast rooftop space that, aside from its use as shelter, is now a reliable source of power,” he was quoted as saying.

Green Heat Director Glenn Tong said that they were excited to move forward with the partnership, supporting the mall’s initiative to complete its green business model.

“Our group guarantees providing top quality systems that will perform for many years for our partners, who in turn can expect to make significant savings while making a lasting impact on the environment,” Mr. Tong said.

During the rainy season, the installed solar rooftop facility can generate up to 15% of energy. The panels currently have a lifespan of 25 years.

Mr. Calingasan said that the Cavite mall’s foray into harnessing power from the sun is part of SM Supermalls‘ many environmental projects.

Seven years ago, SM City Bacoor started using light-emitting diode lights to become conserve energy. The management also started recycling treated wastewater in its toilets to manage water consumption and began a “Trash-to-Cash” campaign that promoted the trade of recyclables, among others.

SM Supermalls is owned by SM Prime Holdings, Inc., a listed company. Shares of SM Prime in the stock exchange inched up by 1.79% or 65 centavos to finish at P36.90 apiece on Friday.

AirAsia says PHL operations to remain below pre-pandemic levels

May 28, 2021 | 6:21 pm

Budget carrier AirAsia expects domestic operations in the Philippines to be below 25% of pre-pandemic levels until at least September while the population awaits widespread vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The airline company posted an 87% revenue decline to RM298 million (P3.4 billion) in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, AirAsia Group Berhad said in a press release on Thursday.

Month-on-month operations in the Philippines has improved with a 57% increase in passengers in March, although this was lower than the 85% increase seen by AirAsia Malaysia.

AirAsia said that it is aiming to raise RM 1 billion (P11.57 billion) under a Danajamin financing scheme in Malaysia, and to raise new capital in both Indonesia and the Philippines.

The airline added that it expects COVID-19 vaccine rollout in most of the markets it operates in.

“This is expected to deliver a huge boost for air travel demand for our key ASEAN markets, on top of strong pent-up demand. We are also keenly exploring opportunities to gain market share, particularly in Indonesia and the Philippines,” the company said.

“Once borders are lifted, our robust business model provides confidence for a fast and strong recovery in our overall performance given our low-cost model and dominant positioning in ASEAN.”

Philippines AirAsia, Inc. recently said that it is eyeing travel incentives for fully vaccinated individuals to help stir up demand. — Jenina P. Ibañez

SPC Power eyes renewable energy projects

May 28, 2021 | 6:19 pm

solar-panels-112618 — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

Listed SPC Power Corp. said it is looking at developing solar and battery energy storage facilities, as it plans to keep renewable energy (RE) projects “on its radar” on Friday.

“Renewables are very much on our radar. In fact, we’ve evaluated three projects – renewable – this year. One in solar and two in battery (energy storage). The one in battery is progressing and hopefully we’ll have a favorable conclusion to that investment this year,” SPC Chairman Alfredo L. Henares said during the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting held virtually on Friday.

He said the planned solar project is “still behind,” but they are also looking at other solar ventures.

Meanwhile, SPC’s Senior Vice President for Business Development and Commercial Operations Cesar O. Villegas said they are also looking into partnering with a hydro power generation company, but declined to provide details.

Although the firm did not disclose the amount allocated for these RE investments, Mr. Henares said that SPC had the funds to embark on these projects.

“We have a very high level of cash which are available for these projects and we have no banked debt on our balance sheet. So we are well-positioned in terms of financial resources to support these projects in the future,” Mr. Henares said.

Meanwhile, SPC Treasurer Jaime M. Baliscan said that the listed company is planning to allot P42 million for its capital expenditures (capex) this year.

“We are projecting to have a capex of only P42 million just to keep the existing capital assets to be in top conditions. However, we’re also in the process of getting an additional approval of around P220 million more capex for possible new projects within the year,” he said.

Based on its annual report, SPC Power owns a 40% share in KEPCO SPC Power Corp., which maintains a 200-megawatt circulation fluidized combustion coal-fired power plant in Naga, Cebu.

SPC earlier reported that its first-quarter attributable net income to equity holders dipped 3% to P462.49 million, as revenues dropped.

Shares of SPC in the local bourse inched up by 0.19% or two centavos to close at P10.52 apiece on Friday. — Angelica Y. Yang

Holcim Philippines to fast-track product, digital platform development

May 28, 2021 | 6:16 pm

Holcim_Depot_Port_Of_Onehunga — EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Listed Holcim Philippines, Inc. said the company will expedite the rollout of its new building products and its e-commerce platforms as the construction industry is seen to play a key role in economic recovery.

The company aims to beef up its product line, which includes infrastructure cement Holcim Solido, masonry product Holcim Wallright, and water repellent cement Holcim Aqua X.

“We have also accelerated our commercial digitalization with Easybuild, E-Konekta, and Lead Retail, improving our services and relationships with our customers despite the challenges of the pandemic,” Horia Ciprian Adrian said.

“I am excited to continue driving these innovations and confident that we have what it takes to succeeds,” Mr. Adrian added.

Holcim Philippines closed the first quarter with P908.92 million in net attributable profit, 81% higher than the P501.31 million generated in the same period last year.

The company will also strengthen its cost disciplinary measures and operational efficiencies, as well as maintain its focus on health and safety.

It added that it is committed to using natural resources more efficiently and reducing its carbon emissions as the cement industry “has a key role in meeting the global climate targets.”

Holcim Philippines said it will also work on creating a sustainable waste management solution.

On Friday, shares of Holcim Philippines at the stock market improved by 5.94% to close at P6.24 each. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

PSEi climbs on rating action, improved economic outlook

May 28, 2021 | 6:01 pm

PSE-3-011021 — COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE, INC.

PHILIPPINE SHARES closed the week in the green as sentiment was boosted by S&P Global Ratings’ affirmation of the country’s credit rating on strong recovery prospects.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went up by 9.37 points or 0.14% to close at 6,674.51 on Friday, while the broader all shares index climbed by 12.56 points or 0.31% to 4,047.48.

“The market inched up a few points on the last trading day of the week as participants took positively the S&P’s credit rating for the country, as well as its outlook for the Philippine economy,” Timson Securities, Inc. Trader Darren Blaine T. Pangan said in a Viber message on Friday.

S&P on Thursday kept its “BBB+” rating on the Philippines and assigned a “stable” outlook on expectations of a “healthy” economic recovery, which will help improve the country’s fiscal standing that has weakened because of the coronavirus crisis.

The current “BBB+” sovereign rating is a notch away from the “A”-level grade targeted by the government, while a “stable” outlook means the rating is likely to be maintained in the next six months to two years.

S&P also maintained its A-2 short-term credit rating for the Philippines, while the outlook on long-term rating is still stable.

The debt watcher last affirmed its credit rating for the country in May 2020 with the same “stable” outlook.

“Investors may have also welcomed the DTI’s (Department of Trade and Industry) statement that they see the manufacturing sector recovering this year,” Mr. Pangan added. “It may have helped that foreigners have once again turned net buyers after 10 days of being net sellers in the local market.”

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said essential businesses such as food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer firms are expected to boost the manufacturing sector this year.

Foreigners logged net purchases worth P917.26 million on Friday, a turnaround from the P889.04 million in net outflows seen on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Associate Claire T. Alviar said the index went up on anticipation of eased quarantine restrictions and bargain hunting of “battered stocks in the index…due to the effect of MSCI rebalancing.”

“We see conviction in the market,” Ms. Alviar adds, saying the market’s value turnover on Friday was stronger than the month-to-date average.

Value turnover declined to P12.41 billion with 1.67 billion shares switching hands on Friday from the P23.81 billion with 2.29 billion issues traded on the previous trading day.

Majority of sectoral indices posted gains except for holding firms, which lost 101.4 points or 1.48% to end at 6,728.41.

Meanwhile, services improved by 28.66 points or 1.93% to close at 1,510.84; property went up by 34.48 points or 1.06% to 3,273.72; financials gained 12.15 points or 0.86% to 1,417.63; industrials climbed 65.75 points or 0.73% to finish at 8,989.64; and mining and oil gained 21.75 points or 0.23% to finish at 9,416.64.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 119 against 69, while 66 names closed unchanged. — K.C.G. Valmonte

ERC sets modified feed in tariff rates for ROR hydro and biomass

May 28, 2021 | 5:48 pm

THE ENERGY Regulatory Commission (ERC) has set the modified feed-in-tariff (FiT 2) rates of run-of-river (ROR) hydro and biomass projects at P5.8705 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and P6.19/kWh, respectively, according to a decision posted on its website.

The revised rates will cover the period of Jan. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2019.

The ruling dated Nov. 23 detailed the regulator’s computations of the FiT 2, taking into consideration technical, operating, economic and tax assumptions, among others.

The FiT is a fixed subsidy paid by the government to RE developers to partially offset the risks in taking on new technology. The tariff comes from the FiT-Allowance, a uniform charge billed to on-grid customers. The collections are remitted to the National Transmissions Company, which will then distribute it to developers participating in the FiT system.

The decision, which was signed by ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Agnes VST Devanadera and four commissioners, comes as a response to the National Renewable Energy Board’s (NREB) proposal for a modified FiT rate for ROR hydro at P5.8705/kWh. The NREB also asked to retain the digressed FiT for biomass projects at P6.596/kWh.

“As of Oct. 15, 2020, the subscription for biomass has reached 257.045 MW, which represents an oversubscription of 7.045 MW of (the) installation target. This is in contrast to the situation of ROR Hydro, the installation target of which remains to be fully subscribed,” the ERC said.

Last month, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi described the FiT scheme as unaffordable for the Philippines.

“With regard to the FiT, tinigil na po natin iyan dahil talaga pong mali iyan (we stopped it because it is wrong). That is robbing the consumers. As a developing country, we cannot afford to be giving FiT or subsidies para po dun sa mga bagong (for the new) technologies that are being introduced,” Mr. Cusi earlier said at a Joint Congressional Energy Commission hearing held on April 27. — A.Y. Yang