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No new COVID-19 strain similar to UK — DoH

By Vann Marlo M. Villegas, Reporter

PHILIPPINE Health authorities on Monday said they have not detected a new coronavirus strain similar to a rapidly spreading variant that has caused cases to soar in the United Kingdom.

Europe has closed its doors to British travelers after the UK tightened its COVID-19 restrictions for London and nearby areas, and reversed plans to relax restrictions during the Christmas holiday.

The Department of Health (DoH) did not see the need to impose a similar ban on British diplomats and investors who are allowed to come here, but the government would boost monitoring to prevent the virus from entering, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online news briefing.

“I  don’t think that that would be required at this point,” she said, adding that Philippine ports were being monitored through virus tests and quarantines.

Ms. Vergeire noted that only diplomats and foreign investors are allowed to enter the country now.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday said the new strain had led to spiraling infection numbers.

France said it would bar all people coming from the UK for 48 hours from Sunday night, including freight carriers, whether by road, air, sea or rail, according to a Reuters report.

Germany, Italy and the Netherlands suspended flights from Britain, while Ireland said it would restrict  flights and ferries from its neighbor, it said.

Belgium said it would close its borders to flights and trains  — including the popular Eurostar service — coming from the UK.

A Philippine inter-agency task force (IATF) allowed the entry of foreign investors starting Nov. 1 as long as they get quarantined.

9,000 DEATHS
DoH reported 1,721 coronavirus infections on Monday, bringing the total to 461,505.

The death toll rose by 10 to 8,957, while recoveries increased by 82 to 429,207, it said in a bulletin.

There were 23,341 active cases, 82.2% of which were mild, 8.5% did not show symptoms, 5.9% were critical, 3% were severe and 0.34% were moderate.

Davao City reported the highest number of new cases at 151, followed by Quezon City at 142, Rizal at 85, Laguna at 81 and Manila at 77.

Five duplicates had been removed from the tally, while four recovered cases were reclassified as deaths, DoH said. Five laboratories failed to submit their data on Dec. 20.

The Philippine government and Serum Institute of India Ptv. Ltd. are in talks for the supply of 30 million doses of coronavirus vaccine Covovax, the Indian drugmaker said in a statement on Sunday.

The vaccine could become available in the third quarter of next year, once a supply agreement is reached, it said.

The private sector, the government, and UK-based drug maker AstraZeneca Plc have signed a deal for the purchase of 2.6 million doses of vaccines, expected to arrive as early as May.

Vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. last week said the government was expecting to finalize a procurement deal for vaccines with Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech Ltd., targeted to be delivered in March.

Europe last week became the first region in the world to exceed 500,000 deaths from the coronavirus since the pandemic started a year ago.

Scientists first discovered the new strain, which they said is 70% more infections, in a patient in September.

The coronavirus has sickened about 77.2 million and killed 1.7 million people worldwide since the outbreak emerged in China in December last year, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

About 54.1 million people have recovered, it said.

The number of coronavirus cases in Britain surged by 35,928 on Sunday, the highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic. It posted 326 deaths, taking the total tally to more than 67,000.

Eight people killed by latest typhoon; one still missing

TYPHOON Krovanh, locally called Vicky, killed at least eight and hurt two people in the Philippines, according to the state disaster agency.

At least one person was still missing, it said in a report on Monday.

The storm displaced almost 9,000 families or 36,000 people in the Visayas and Mindanao, more than half of which were staying at 124 evacuation centers, it said.

The storm made landfall in Davao Oriental on Friday, passing through Agusan del Sur and Misamis Oriental before moving toward the Bohol Sea, according to the state weather bureau.

It headed toward Palawan province before leaving the Philippines on Sunday.

The Social Welfare department has readied P775.4 million worth of standby funds, including P140.08 million for quick response and stockpiles, according to the report.

The agency provided more than 229,000 food packs worth P106.72 million, P167.4 million for other food items and P321.63 million in nonfood items, it said.

The storm caused P110.4 million worth of infastructure damage, the Public Works department said.

Twelve road sections and five bridges were affected by flooding, landslides, soil collapse and toppled electric posts. Seven roads and four bridges remained impassable, it said.

A series of typhoons hit the country between October and November, causing more than P27 billion in infrastructure damage and almost P15 billion worth of crop damage. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Crop damage from latest typhoon hit P5.4 million — DA

AGRI dep’t crop damage estimates from Typhoon “Vicky” reach P5.37 million in Southern Mindanao.

Crop damage from Typhoon Krovanh, locally named Vicky, has reached P5.37 million, according to the  Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a bulletin, the agency said 143 metric tons (MT) of farm products covering 663 hectares were damaged. More than 1,400 farmers were affected.

Losses were reported in Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental.

Rice, high value crops and fisheries were among those that got damaged.

Rice accounted for 75 % of total damage, followed by high-value crops at 22 % and fisheries at 3 %. Damage to rice was valued at P3.98 million. About 534 hectares of the crop were affected.

High-value crop losses reached P1.19 million, with about 143 metric tons (MT) lost across 129 hectares. Damage to fisheries reached P102,000.

The agency said affected farmers and fishermen had been assured of government help in the form of rice, corn and assorted vegetable seed reserves from the Agriculture department’s regional field offices.

Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; access to loans and an indemnification fund from the Philippine Corp Insurance Corp. would also be provided, it said.

The agency said it was closely coordinating with other agencies and local governments to evaluate the impact of the typhoon and identify available resources for assistance

Vicky was the Philippines’ first typhoon this month and the 22nd this year, exceeding the yearly average of 20. It made landfall in the Philippines twice.

Moderate to heavy rains were experienced over the Bicol region, Isabela, Aurora, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque and Palawan, including Calamian, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, according to the weather bureau.

Light to moderate rains were experienced in Metro Manila, the Visayas, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and the rest of mainland Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the Cordillera Administrative Region. — Angelica Y. Yang

Nationwide round-up (12/21/20)

No bail set for cop indicted with double murder

THE TARLAC provincial prosecutor indicted police officer Jonel M. Nuezca on Monday with two counts of murder over the shooting of his neighbors, a mother and son, on Sunday. “Upon inquest, the office of the provincial prosecutor of Tarlac has found probable cause to indict respondent Jonel Nuezca for two counts of murder,” Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra told reporters via Viber. The probable cause was based on affidavits and supporting documents, according to the prosecutors’ resolution. The information was filed before Regional Trial Court Branch 67 in Paniqui, Tarlac. The prosecutors did not recommend bail for Mr. Nuezca, who is now under the custody of the Tarlac Provincial Police Office. The policeman, who is assigned at the Parañaque City Police Station and was visiting his home in Paniqui, Tarlac, shot the two following an altercation over a native holiday noisemaker and their history of dispute over land right-of-way. A video of the incident circulated online, sparking public outrage. Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año, in a statement Monday, assured that administrative and criminal cases will be filed against the cop. Mr. Año called the incident an “unfortunate but isolated incident.”

IMPUNITY
Lawmakers and rights organizations condemned the incident as they called for the swift delivery of justice and review of police policies. “The police force is expected to be disciplined, discerning, and professional. The PNP (Philippine National Police) ought to live by their motto of ‘To Serve and Protect’. Each and every police is expected to protect our rights,” Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann C. de Guia said in a statement on Monday. The CHR also called on the government to conduct a widespread investigation on allegations of arbitrary killing so as not to worsen the climate of impunity in the country. International organization Human Rights Watch said the incident just made it clearer that many members of the police force are “simply out of control.” “As with many incidents of recent police violence, the killing by Nuezca of Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank was brazen and underscores the impunity that prevails in the Philippines,” it said. Several senators, meanwhile, filed a resolution seeking an inquiry on the recent series of unlawful killings, including doctors, lawyers and journalists. At the House of Representatives, Speaker Lord Alan Q. Velasco said the incident highlights the need for the PNP leadership to remind its ranks on the proper and responsible use of their weapons. Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence H. Fortun, for his part, said the case is not an isolated incident but “among multitudes of police brutality.” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas, Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, and Charmaine A. Tadalan

Rice supply stable despite typhoons, says Agri chief

RICE supply in the country remains stable despite consecutive typhoons in the last quarter this year, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a news briefing on Monday. Mr. Dar said government data shows rice production will increase by 4.6% in the fourth quarter and that the country has enough rice stock for the next three months. He also said core production in the fourth quarter is also growing by 1.4%, with gross value of agriculture estimated at P404.6 billion. The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to distribute seedlings, loan assistance, and indemnify affected farmers to sustain food security in the country, he added. Based on DA data, losses incurred by farmers and fishermen in the wake of the devastation caused by typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses — known internationally as Molave, Goni, and Vamco, respectively — were at around ₱12.3 billion. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Duterte approves service incentive pay for government workers

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has authorized the release of service recognition incentives (SRI) of up to P10,000 to government employees, Malacañang said on Monday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said Mr. Duterte has issued administrative order No. 37, signed on Dec. 18, which will distribute SRI at a uniform rate. The incentive may be availed by civilian personnel occupying regular, contractual or casual positions and were still in service as of Nov. 30, 2020. The worker should also have rendered four months of satisfactory service as of Nov. 30 to be entitled to the P10,000 grant. Those who have rendered at least three months may get 40% of the incentive, 30% for at least two months, 20% for at least one month, and 10% if less than a month. This will apply to civilian personnel in national government agencies, state universities and colleges, and government-owned and controlled corporations. Uniformed personnel of the military, police, Bureau of Corrections and the Philippine Coast Guard, among others, are also covered. Consultants and experts engaged for a limited period for a specific activity, those under job contracts, job orders, and contracts of service, and student workers are not entitled to the benefit. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Regional Updates (12/21/20)

Makati to proceed with columbarium project next year

THE MAKATI City government renewed its call for relatives to claim the remains of their loved ones buried at the municipal cemetery as it prepares to proceed with the construction of the planned columbarium at the site.

In an announcement published Monday, the city government said it will “dispose of all unclaimed remains” at the cemetery starting January 9.

The project was first announced in 2019 and construction was planned to start in October this year. The public columbarium will provide free cremation and inurnment services to city residents.

The facility will initially have a chapel, viewing area, crematorium, and over 14,000 urn vaults.

The Makati Health Department, with contact numbers 8870-1609 or 8870-1610, is in charge of coordinating the transfer of remains.

Luzon dams release water after heavy rainfall

IPO DAM

THREE dams in Luzon released water on Monday after continuous rains brought elevations to critical levels. State weather agency PAGASA announced on Monday afternoon that Angat Dam in Bulacan has opened three of its gates at two meters to bring down its elevation to normal levels and preserve the stability of the dam. Based on the PAGASA advisory, the water level of Angat Dam reached 216.13 meters as of 1 p.m. Monday, beyond its normal operating level of 212 meters. Ipo Dam, located downstream of Angat, opened four gates at two meters, or around 320.10 cubic meters per second (cms), after its elevation reached 100.38 meters as of 12 noon, near its spilling level of 101 meters. Magat Dam in Isabela in northern Luzon also opened four of its gates at seven meters, with an outflow of 1,775 cms. after its water level reached 190.87 meters on Monday morning, only 2.13 meters below its normal operating level of 193 meters.

NIA
Meanwhile, farmer group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) called for the resignation of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya due to the recent massive floods that hit Cagayan and Isabela. In a statement on Monday, SINAG Chairman Rosendo O. So said farmers suffered losses because NIA failed to release water from Magat Dam in an “apt and judicious manner.” “NIA should have already adjusted the normal high water level (NHWL) of Magat Dam at 183 meters since the 193 meters NHWL just a few weeks back caused massive flooding. Once the water level reached 183 meters, the inflow must be the same as the outflow,” Mr. So said. “It is not enough that NIA will issue a warning prior to the release of water. Floods will still be the end result of that decision,” he added. Mr. Visaya has been sought for comment but has not responded as of press time. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

The cold, hard barriers to getting vaccinated

DOCTORS, NURSES and other essential workers are getting vaccinated against COVID-19 in the US and UK. Yet in Asia, where several countries led the way in reining in the viral outbreak, there are few signs that detailed distribution plans are ready to be implemented. Supplies are limited and unknowns plentiful. Governments need to jump-start the process to get shots into arms. In most cases, however, their capacity to distribute the vaccine is a constraint or simply doesn’t exist.

Some nations have signed on to procurement and advanced purchasing plans from vaccine manufacturers. Others are working on collaborations and homegrown options. But everywhere, the need to maintain optimal temperatures for certain vaccines raises hard issues, such as cold-storage warehouses and adequate last-mile delivery.

McKinsey & Co. has said that just 1% of existing vaccine distribution networks is set up for cold-chain requirements that keep the new COVID-19 serums viable — temperatures at the frozen or deep frozen* levels. Most low- and middle-income countries can’t afford the infrastructure investment in a short period. Many may have to borrow from multilateral organizations like the World Bank. That means limited funding and one shot at getting it right.

So how do governments in their second, third, or even fourth waves prepare? Most are using immunization plans from previous vaccine rollouts. These were typically targeted at pregnant women and children, which are not the populations at the top of the list in this pandemic. India’s universal immunization program covers 26 million infants and 29 million mothers annually and is the largest of its kind in the world. Yet experts say it won’t be sufficient.

Andrea Taylor of Duke University’s Global Health Institute says distribution plans will be based on four scenarios, rooted in refrigeration temperatures. Most mid-income and poorer countries have ruled out vaccines that need deep freezing, she says, and are preparing for the standard refrigeration scenario. Eventually, heat-stable vaccines and nasal spray formats could be the way. 

None of this is easy, but vaccine rollouts have always been more problematic in non-wealthy countries. Almost two decades after the hepatitis B vaccine came out, the population covered was estimated at around 90% in the Americas and just 28% in Southeast Asia, where the disease is a far larger problem.

South Korea’s concurrent experience with a campaign to inoculate 30 million people against influenza shows that there’s always room for error, even in countries with well-established plans. The government recalled more than 1 million doses, to be on the safe side, after photos circulated online of boxes of vaccines stacked in parking lots. Health authorities said that they found no direct causal links between the flu vaccine and the deaths of more than 100 people who died after getting it. But the panic means that only 19 million people have so far taken the shots. Singapore suspended its use.

South Korea was an early global model for tracking, tracing, and testing the rapid spread of COVID-19, but it’s facing another surge in cases. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun says authorities will come up with a plan allowing pre-purchased vaccines to be acquired in the first quarter of 2021; the country has said it’s in the process of securing doses from companies including AstraZeneca Plc, Moderna, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. But the health minister has said there’s no hurry “when the risks have not been verified yet.”

That’s a fair concern. However, COVID-19 doesn’t allow the luxury of time of the typical manufacturing supply chain. “We cannot afford a sequential process,” David Simchi-Levi, director of the MIT Data Science Lab, told Supply Chain Dive. “We need to start the manufacturing capacity today, and the problem is it requires significant investment.”

Then there’s the more mundane but crucial matter of trade facilitation: how to get vaccines across national borders. Think of this as the software of trade – approvals, customs, tariffs, rules and regulations on inspection services, certification, permissions, how packages are handled, and the intellectual property rules. An Asian Development Bank study in 2017 found that getting it right increases immunization rates, especially in low-income countries.

A look at the trade of medicines, totaling almost $50 billion globally, shows why the process isn’t so straightforward. Some regulations seem absurd in a time of global pandemic. For instance, the average applied tariff for hand soap is 17%, while some World Trade Organization members put it as high as 65%. The average tariff on protective supplies is 11.5%.

In May, Canada invested more than $40 million to upgrade a vaccine production facility in Montreal “to ensure readiness for Canadian bioprocessing of potential vaccine candidates as they become available.” It was supposed to produce 250,000 doses by November. Then a partnership with China’s CanSino Biologics, Inc. fell apart because Chinese customs authorities held up the first shipment of trial doses to Canada.

Without a timely and straightforward way to get a vaccine, COVID-19 won’t be eradicated. And the economic recovery that we see signs of won’t really take off.

*Frozen: -15to -25 degrees celsius. Deep frozen: -60 to -80 degrees celsius.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

Your network is your net worth

What’s in it for me? This — more often than not — is a question we frequently ask before we get involved in any project or even join an organization. This is not a judgment. In fact, I think it is understandable for people to sometimes make decisions based on what we may or may not gain from any undertaking.

Many individuals view networking as such. Truth be told, many people do not like it, while others enjoy it and even thrive on it. But wherever you stand on the concept of networking, I think we can all agree that networking has evolved to be a fundamental individual and business strategy.

While reflecting on MAP’s 2020 battlecry of “LEAD for a Competitive Tomorrow,” this brought me to the realization that now more than ever, it is important to strengthen networks to create support systems for those affected most by the pandemic — and I believe it to be women in this case. As business leaders, we have the responsibility to ensure that our businesses — and these include MSMEs — will be able to not just survive, but thrive in our new “competitive tomorrow.”

On Nov. 9, I had the privilege of speaking at the ASEAN Women CEOs Summit. I joined other women business leaders from Southeast Asian countries who shared important insights about the benefits of networks in the ASEAN.

As a person who meticulously ensures that nothing falls through the cracks (and those I work with can attest to this), I shared my own list — a list of “Cs” — of how networks can support women entrepreneurs in the region. In the same vein, I also took the opportunity to emphasize that networks should be supported, not just by the private sector, but governments, institutions, and other stakeholders. Allow me to share you this list:

1. Clarity of goals and objectives. Setting what the network hopes to achieve should be clear at the outset to the potential members. In the case of women entrepreneurship networks in particular, this is the point where we ask: What is the goal? Is it just networking to meet contemporaries in the same field? Will the network be about partnerships and collaborations? Will the network seek to provide access to markets, to finance? Will it be about skills and capacity building? These have to be clear from the start.

2. Comprehensive and Inclusive. Time and again, we must ensure that no one must be left behind. And when applying this to women entrepreneurship networks, these are the things to consider as well: Should it include women in the workplace and in the marketplace? How about those in Micro, Small, and Medium enterprises? How about the more vulnerable sectors such as marginalized women, women in the rural areas, and women in the informal economy? Leaders of these networks should always bear in mind that not everyone has the same situation, access, and resources at hand.

3. Common interest. The vision for the network as well as the decisions made should always be based on what is beneficial to, and in the best interest of, the members. All actions and results should transcend both collective and individual interests.

4. Communication and Interaction. As in any organization or situation, there should always be open and constant communication within the network so that all concerned will be informed. Given the technologically advanced and creative platforms we have available, there are many effective ways to communicate and stay connected: virtual meetings, social media, and live broadcasts, as well as the traditional route of regular newsletters or bulletins. Networks should find inclusive ways to communicate and interact with members.

5. Commitment. A true mark of success is very much anchored on the long term view. It is vital that members or participants of our networks are here for good and for the long run. Having their commitment to grow in and with the organization will be the bloodline of the network.

In the course of the discussion with the remarkable women from my panel, one panelist contributed another “C” and a very important one at that:

6. Connect. This goes to the very heart of networks and their ability to provide members the access and privilege to be connected to people, opportunities, mentorship, and knowledge. Networks must be able to connect people to one another, especially during this “age of social distancing.” It is the way networks connect us to one another that also keep all of us tethered to the real world.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of being part of a network, especially during these difficult times when working together is of much importance. When we say “Your network is your net worth,” this speaks volumes of what one can gain by being part of a network. This includes the unique advantage of access to the wealth of mentors, advisors, and lessons from experienced and knowledgeable professionals, as well as access to growth and business opportunities. Furthermore, from networks you can achieve growth in many areas and gain new perspectives and expand perceptions, especially in business.

The lessons, benefits, and possibilities are limitless. One day, we will look back at this time and realize that networks paved the way for the business sector’s continued growth and ultimately kept the world running.

This article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines or the MAP.

 

Ma. Aurora “Boots” Geotina-Garcia is President of Mageo Consulting, Inc., which provides corporate finance advisory services. She is a member of the MAP Shared Prosperity Committee and MAP Corporate Governance Committee. She is the Chair of the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN) and Co-Chair of the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE).

map@map.org.ph

magg@mageo.net

http://map.org.ph

Electricity supply-demand and climate

MACROVECTOR / FREEPIK

The indefinite, no timetable lockdown policy of the government continues to pummel many businesses, and restrictions in economic activities are reflected in the continued decline in the country’s electricity demand.

Data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) shows that average demand in the Luzon-Visayas grids this year grew moderately at 4.3% in the first quarter (Q1) compared to the same quarter in 2019, then contracted -14.6% in Q2, -2.6% in Q3, and -6.8% in Q4. In comparison, the Philippines’ GDP contracted -0.7% in Q1, -16.9% in Q2, and -11.5% in Q3.

With a decrease in demand while the supply remains high, prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) also decreased. The effective spot settlement price (ESSP) this year contracted from -21% to -71% while the load weighted average price (LWAP) contracted from -13% to -64% (see Table 1).

The decline in prices though cannot be fully reflected in the generation charge in our monthly electricity bills because spot quantity is only about 10% of all WESM electricity trading this year and 90% via bilateral contract where prices have been set for many years between gencos and distribution utilities (DUs) and electric cooperatives (ECs) as the distributors want insurance that they will get the power when they need it.

There are four stories and Opinion pieces in BusinessWorld that I want to comment on:

1. “PHL coal-fired power capacity seen increasing by 135% despite moratorium on new projects” (Dec. 2).

2. “Worst case for continuing with PHL coal projects seen at P372B in long-term costs” (Dec. 12).

3. “Forging collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future,” Part 1 (Dec. 1) and Part 2 (Dec. 8) by Federico “Piki” R. Lopez, Chair and CEO of First Philippine Holdings Corp.

4. “ERC to enforce new rules on allowable outages of power plants” (Dec. 19).

Reports 1 and 2 cite the studies by Clean Air Asia (CAA) and Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), respectively. Both studies complain about more coal power, CREA even goes wild and irrational in projecting 26,000 premature deaths in the Philippines because of those coal plants.

The rise in coal share to total power generation in the country especially in 2018 and 2019 (see Table 2) coincided with high GDP growth of 6.2% and 6% respectively. It also coincided with the rising life expectancy of Filipinos to 71.1 years in 2018 from 69.8 years in 2010.

When there is a rising supply of cheap, stable, reliable electricity, there is also rising potential for the economy and people live wealthier, healthier, and longer, not shorter. The anti-coal NGOs are peddling the usual energy disinformation and fake news.

On #3, Mr. Lopez wrote in his Acceptance Speech as “MAP Management Man of the Year” award on Nov. 23:

“Today our way of life has set us on a trajectory of 3 to 4 degrees C of warming by 2100… this year travel and transport reductions and the economic slowdown from COVID-19 is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 7-8%. In other words, we need a COVID-scale crisis every year till 2050 just to keep the planet livable!”

With this kind of alarmist projections and statements, it may help to remind people that all gloom-doom projections in the past of climate catastrophe did not happen, all were false. See these four reports for instance:

1. “UN Predicts Disaster (by 2000) if Global Warming Not Checked,” June 30, 1989, https://apnews.com/article/bd45c372caf118ec99964ea547880cd0.

2. “Last chance to save the planet?” May 30, 1992, https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg13418235-100-last-chance-to-save-the-planet/.

3. “Arctic summers ice-free by 2013,” Dec. 12, 2007, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7139797.stm.

4. “Gore: Polar ice cap may disappear by summer 2014,” Dec. 14, 2009, https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2009/12/gore-new-study-sees-nearly-ice-free-arctic-summer-ice-cap-as-early-as-2014/1/.

On report number 4, this is problematic for three reasons: One, the generation sector continues to be very competitive with 135 gencos in Luzon-Visayas alone as of September 2020 from only 114 in 2018, so why harass these players? Two, ERC could be making arbitrary values on what is allowable and not allowable and hence to be penalized. Three, gencos would lose money, not gain, if they have frequent or prolonged shutdowns, scheduled or unscheduled: they cannot sell at WESM, they must buy replacement power normally at higher price to fulfil their supply contracts with DUs and ECs.

The ERC should stay away from additional regulations that can discourage more gencos coming in, and existing ones to further expand. The environmental NGOs should be more truthful, be more factual and not emotional.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Minimal Government Thinkers

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

Hail Mary

“It’s a Hail Mary attempt, with due respect to the Virgin Mary,” said University of Texas School of Law Professor Steve Vladeck when asked by CNN’s Erin Burnett what he thought of the Donald Trump-backed lawsuit filed by the state of Texas to invalidate the ballots mailed in Pennsylvania. The term “Hail Mary” is generally used to describe a desperate effort to reverse an imminent but unwanted consequence.

The term is a common expression in American football and basketball, two sports which are played within a certain period of time. The losing team can attempt in the last seconds a desperation play with very little chance of success in the hope it will snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. A 65-yard field goal attempt in American football and a long shot from the backcourt in basketball are examples of Hail Mary plays.

The term traces its origin to the 1922 football team of the University of Notre Dame, a Catholic school run by the priests of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. A member of that team, Jim Crowley, told the story of a game between Notre Dame and Georgia Tech in which the Fighting Irish, as Notre Dame players are known, said Hail Mary prayers together before each touchdown attempt.

They must have been taught by the Holy Cross Fathers that Holy Mary is a powerful intercessor for God’s blessings. After all, the school is named after the Mother of Jesus. As they scored their first touchdown after saying the Hail Mary, they decided to pray before every crucial play. Thus, they beat Georgia Tech.

After the game, teammate Noble Kizer, who suggested the idea of praying, told Crowley, “Say, that Hail Mary is the best play we’ve got.” Crowley told the story repeatedly in public speeches beginning in the 1930s.

The term gained widespread usage in 1975. In a crucial game televised nationwide by NBC, the Dallas Cowboys, down by four points with just 24 seconds left in the game and 85 yards away from the goal line, beat the Minnesota Vikings on a desperation touchdown pass by Dallas Quarterback Roger Staubach to his teammate Drew Pearson at the goal line. Asked about the game-winning pass during the post-game interview, Staubach said, “I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary.”

Roger Staubach, as a member of the football team of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, won the Heisman Trophy, the award given to the best football player in the nation for the collegiate football season of 1965. After graduating from the Academy and serving a tour of duty in Vietnam, he joined the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He led the team to five Super Bowls, the Cowboys winning two of them. He is in Football’s Hall of Fame. He is considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time. In 2010, Staubach was named the No. 1 Dallas Cowboy of all time by the Dallas Morning News.

One would think that Roger Staubach saying the Hail Mary is just another luck-invoking but empty ritual by a super athlete. Basketball superstar LeBron James tosses chalk into the air before a game. Tennis Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal drinks his water and energy drinks in the same order and puts back the bottles in the same position and on the same exact spot every time.

But we can assume Staubach says Hail Mary not as a mechanical ritual but with fervor as he is a devout Catholic. He attended St. John the Evangelist Catholic School and graduated from Purcell High School in Cincinnati. He must have heard the Gospel read at Mass last Sunday many times.

“Hail Mary, the Lord is with you,” said the Archangel Gabriel to the virgin girl named Mary.” “How can this be since I am a virgin?” asked Mary. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” the angel answered. “Be it done unto me according to thy word,” declared Mary in submission to God’s will.

Mary consented out of love to accept God’s will. Staubach must have been taught by the priests and nuns in school that acceptance made Mother Mary a powerful intercessor. That is why Staubach asks her to intercede for him when challenged.

The gospel yesterday was about the time when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me that the mother of my Lord comes to me?”

Both Mary and Elizabeth were going through difficult times, Mary bearing a child when she was not married and Elizabeth bearing a child at an advanced age. But they used their faith in God and the joy of being together as a source of energy for carrying out their missions. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we, too, can turn our troubles into blessings and joys.

Today’s gospel is Mary’s song of praise to God, the “Magnificat.” It calls us to be like Mary, a willing and humble handmaid of the Lord. We are called to be God’s servants, serving Him and others for His glory.

Because of the pandemic and its impact on the economy, many of our country men and women are starving, some are very sick, and still others are tormented by the thought of a very dark future. Let us who have more in life share with them whatever blessings we have. Let us also say the “Hail Mary” on their behalf, so that the Lord will snatch them from the jaws of despair.

Hail Mary!

 

Oscar P. Lagman, Jr. is a retired corporate executive, business consultant, and management professor. He has been a politicized citizen since his college days in the late 1950s.

No foreign interest yet in geothermal projects

THE Energy department has yet to receive applications from foreign investors interested in geothermal and biomass projects, officials said Monday, two months after geothermal was opened up to 100% full foreign ownership.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi had liberalized investment in the geothermal industry for the third open and competitive selection process (OCSP3).

In a briefing Monday, Mr. Cusi said “Wala pa (none yet)” in reference to foreign interest in geothermal.

Biomass projects have also drawn no foreign inquiries, according to the director of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, Mylene C. Capongcol.

“(Ang) pagkakaalam ko wala pa rin na pumasok na foreign (No foreign investments have come in)… but there are a lot (local) of biomass projects that were applied for,” she said.

Last year, the DoE (Department of Energy) opened the biomass sector to foreign firms, according to its omnibus guidelines for the award and administration of renewable energy contract services.

AREAS IDENTIFIED FOR FOREIGN PARTICIPATION
Ms. Capongcol said three out of five predetermined geothermal areas are open to full foreign ownership. These are the Mt. Labo, Daklan, and Puting Lupa Geothermal Projects, which had a total potential capacity of 74 megawatts.

Mount Labo is in Camarines Norte, Daklan in Benguet and Puting Lupa in Laguna.

Ms. Capongcol said that two Filipino companies have submitted letters of intent to the department.

“We expect na by April, ma-identify na kung sino ‘yung ‘tong mga willing bidders and… by May, mapirmahan po din ni Secretary. (We expect that, by April, we would be able to identify the willing bidders. I hope that by May, the list will be signed by the Secretary),” she said.

She added that the updated OCSP3 guidelines are expected by Dec. 30.

Asked about whether the agency is seeking to modify the project terms to attract more foreign interest, Ms. Capongcol said she believed the current incentive scheme is “quite good.”

“We keep promoting and facilitating (the) entry (of the) private sector or RE developers in all aspects of renewable energy technologies,” she added.

At the briefing, Mr. Cusi also gave updates on the status of the nuclear policy recommendation submitted last week to President Rodrigo R. Duterte last week.

“We submitted that last Friday (Dec. 18)… We have (a) positive expectation. We hope that it will be included… in our energy mix,” he said. Five months earlier, Mr. Duterte created an interagency body to conduct a study on a national policy regarding the use of nuclear energy. — Angelica Y. Yang

Philippines, France in talks to cooperate in nuclear energy, disaster management

THE Trade department said it is in talks with France for potential partnerships in nuclear energy and disaster management.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo met virtually with French Ministry of Economy and Finance Head of Bilateral Trade Relations Denis Le Fers on Dec. 17 to discuss areas of cooperation, which also included infrastructure, transportation, electronics, aerospace, renewable energy and agriculture, the Trade department said in a statement Monday.

No details of the talks were provided. France has a significant nuclear power industry, generating about 75% of its electricity from nuclear power plants, according to the World Nuclear Association, though the goal is to reduce this to 50% by 2035. The Philippines is close to making a decision on whether to include nuclear power into its energy mix.

The two economies have public and private sector partnerships for manufacturing in the electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding sectors.

“We have existing cooperation in key sectors in manufacturing and this enhances the trade relationship of Philippine suppliers with major French companies in the electronics and aerospace industries,” Mr. Rodolfo said.

“Equally important is that we also have cooperation that has led to the entry of French investment. The economic reforms we have put in place will further foster these synergies between our governments and businesses.”

The meeting, the department said, serves as a follow-up to the 8th Philippines-France Joint Economic Commission held last year. Both sides agreed to hold the 9th meeting next year.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez also held talks with French business association Mouvement des Entreprises de France in September.

France is one of 17 target markets for the government’s recently launched investment promotion campaign, which will focus on the automotive, aerospace, electronics, outsourcing, and copper/nickel sectors.

France is the second-largest source of approved foreign investment from the European Union this year, the Trade department said. Projects include the HyStar hydrogen optimization facility partnership between Air Liquide Philippines and Pilipinas Shell Corp.

France was the Philippines’ 18th largest source of imports last year, with goods valued at $1.3 billion, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. France was also the 14th biggest destination of Philippine products last year, with exports valued at $798 million. —  Jenina P. Ibañez

ARTA says validity of electronic signatures cleared by CoA

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has confirmed that electronic signatures may be used for government permits and licenses.

In a statement Monday, ARTA said it arrived at this determination after consulting with the Commission on Audit (CoA).

ARTA said it is seeking to address reluctance expressed by government agencies after the authority rolled out its guidelines on the use of digital signatures through the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure.

CoA told ARTA that the digital signatures may be used as long as they comply with government rules and regulations, including requirements under Republic Act 8792 or the Electronic Commerce Act.

CoA has said that agencies planning to use digital signatures must hold users accountable and penalize improper use.

“At a minimum, the controls should ensure authentication of documents, non-repudiation of the signatures, and integrity of documents,” ARTA said.

The commission added that state auditors have been instructed to allow the use of such signatures in procurement-related documents.

ARTA said that although government agencies must provide digital payment options, no one should be banned from paying in cash or through check.

“Digital payments and digital signatures are two of the critical aspects that government offices should learn to embrace and adopt to enable the complete online performance of government services in their agencies,” ARTA Director General Jeremiah B. Belgica said.

“CoA’s affirmation on the validity and acceptability of these digital solutions for government services would allow agencies to decisively proceed with their automation programs.”

The Electronic Commerce Act requires electronic signatures users to have a reliable procedure in which the signing party is identified and shown to have access to the document.

“Electronic signatures shall be authenticated by demonstrating, substantiating and validating a claimed identity of a user, device, or another entity in an information or communication system, among other ways,” according to the law. — Jenina P. Ibañez

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