Deretsahan

ni Horacio Paredes

            “Mr. Ducky, sana magkaroon din po ng batas para sa qualification para sa mga kakandidato sa Senado at Kongreso katulad din ng paghahanap ng trabaho na kailangan qualified ka para matangap ka sa position. Ibig sabihin dapat may background tungkol sa batas.” — Malck04@yahoo.com

            * * *

Meron pagkamarapat na katangian bago maaaring maging isang senador o kongresista. Ayon sa Artikulo 2, Seksyon 3 ng ating Saligang Batas, “Hindi dapat maging Senador ang sino mang tao matangi kung siya ay katutubong ipinanganak na mamamayan ng Pilipinas at, sa araw ng halalan, dalawamput limang taong gulang man lamang, nakababasa at nakasusulat, rehistradong botante, at naninirahan sa Pilipinas sa loob ng panahong hindi kukulangin sa dalawang taon kagyat bago sumapit ang araw ng halalan.”

Oo nga’t maaaring mas madali sana para sa ating bumoboto sa mga ating hinahalal kung naging mas partikular ang mga katangian na ating  maaaring mahalal gaya ng “college graduate, preferably with a professional license to practice his profession, five years experience, etc.” ngunit naniniwala ang mga sumulat ng ating saligang batas na hindi namang mga ulol tayong mga botante na maghahalal ng mga  taong walang kakayananag maging maaayos na mambabatas kung kaya hindi na nila ginawan na napakapartikular ang ating hahanapin sa ating mga mambabatas.

Naniniwala rin sila (ngunit kung minsan ay para na ngang nagkamali sila sa pagtitiwala sa dunong nating mga botante) na hindi tayo pipili ng mga walang kakayanang maging maaayos na mga mambabatas,

Para ngang nagkamali sila dahil meron na tayong mga mambabatas  (senador at kongressman) na wala namang maipapakitang kanilang nagawa noong sila’y nasa ating kongreso o senado. Marami rin sa kanila ay wala naman talagang layunin kung baket nagpapili kundi ang magpayaman sa pagbubulsa ng PDAF o “pork barrel.”

Sa totoo rin, hindi naman ito tungkulin ng ating Saligang Batas o ng ating mga mambabatas.

Dapat kasi na, sa isang demokrasya, ang lahat ay may karapatang magpapili sa ating mg halalan sa kung anumang pwesto na kaniyang mapusuan. Ang kinakailangan lamang ay mapili siya ng mga botante, Ganyan kahalaga ang boto nating mga botante. Tayo lamang ang maaaring pumili sa mga maglilingkod sa bayan bilang mga mababatas o maglilingkod bilang mga alkalde, gubernador at kahit na pangulo ng ating bansa.

Sayang lang na marami sa atin ay ang pinipili ay hindi kung sino ang mas magaling na maglingkod sa bayan kundi kung sino ang maganda o gwapo o kilala kahit mga walang laman ang utak kundi ang pagpapayaman ng sarili at mga anak ng mga sikat kahit na nalalaman namang wala itong hilig at kakayananag maging mamababatas.

Tayong mga botante ang  may pasiya kung sino ang mamumuno sa atin. Sayang at marami sa atin ay hindi nalalaman ang kahalagahan ng halalan at ang ating kapangyarihan sa pagpili ng ating mga bibigyan ng kapangyarihan sa ating bansa.

Sa susunod na halalan, iwasan natin ang mga miyembro ng pampulitika dynastia. Huwag paramihin ang mga politcal dynasty. Wala silang layunin kundi lamang payamanin ang kanilang mga pamilya!

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hvp (05.24.13)

“(T)here have actually been no incidents about our OFWs being hurt and that what Miriam has been reading came only from the Facebook entries of two deviant Formosans.“

by Ducky Paredes

It is certainly good news from Taiwan that Pinoy OFWs are not being harshly treated in Taiwan over the death of a 69-year old fisherman (65, according to later reports). It is also not true, after all, that Filipinos are not allowed to enter restaurants, and in the event that they succeed in entering, are refused service.

Where these came from are two Facebook entries by a Mr. Cheng  and a Ms. Tung.

Cheng, a reporter with the Lin Piao newspaper, wrote in his Facebook page that he “witnessed” a diner owner refusing to sell boxed lunches to two men after discovering that they were Filipinos. Although this was just in Facebook and not in the newspaper, Mr, Cheng’s editor still asked to meet the owner of the diner. Cheng sent in a friend who said that he was the owner. Further probing. however,  made Cheng admit that he only made up the story.

Cheng was then fired by the newspaper, which apologized to its readers for a story that was never used by the Lin Piao: “We apologize to the public. Even though we tried to verify the story, we regrettably could not avoid such a deliberate deceit happening,. “

Taiwan rejects the Philippine clam that the shooting took place in Philippine waters and that the killing was “unintended”. Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou says that what happened was   “cold-blooded murder.”

Considering what their President was saying, no wonder that Ms. Tung also came up with a similar story to reporter Chang’s.

She wrote in Facebook that she bought food for a Filipino worker in a restaurant in Taipei on May 15 because the owner refused to serve the Filipino. She was found out out after giving conflicting details of the alleged incident when questioned by those who responded to her post. She now says: “I know I made a very big mistake. I don’t know how to face society now.”

President Ma has also calmed down a bit and now promises to protect the 87,000 Philippine nationals living and working on the island.

* * *

Our own Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago warns that injuries sustained by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Taiwanese attackers could be considered “an act of aggression” that could justify our closing down the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei.

Says Miriam: “The 87,000 overseas Filipinos in Taiwan had no hand in the death of the Taiwanese fisherman allegedly shot by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). If the victim were a Filipino, I don’t think the Taiwanese also want this sort of retaliation.”

Adds the senator: “Their president has become unpopular but he should not use this incident as a distraction just so the hostility meant for him is deflected to us, as he seems not to know how to run his country.”

The senator laments how Taiwan officials seemed not to make an effort to protect the OFWs. Of course, this could well be because there have actually been no incidents about our OFWs being hurt and that what Miriam has been reading came only from the Facebook entries of two deviant Formosans.

* * *

DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II explains that police only followed standard operating procedure (SOP) when they chased a group of armed men who sought refuge in the residential compound of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on Election Day in Bacoor City, Cavite.

“Kung may tumakas na suspek, susundan nila [pulis] ang suspek. Ayon sa batas, kailangang pumayag ang may-ari ng gusali na pumasok [ang mga pulis],” says the DILG Secretary.

Of course, Senator Revilla would not let the police in. As he explained in a television interview, the Senator felt that the police were harassing him and showing no respect for his stature as a member of the Senate.

Roxas asks Revilla: “Bakit kaya sila hahanap ng pagsaklolo sa inyo? Tauhan niyo ba itong mga civilian na may dalang high-powered rifles?”

A group of around 30 armed men sought refuge in the mansion of the Revillas after police spotted them with such high-powered rifles as AK47, M16, and M4 on the day of elections.

Since Revilla stopped the police from searching for the fugitives, Roxas says: .  “Habang naga-apply ka ng search warrant, babantayan mo ang isi-search mo para ‘di lumabas ang suspek. Kahit kaninong bahay po ‘yun…itong mga armadong lalaki, araw ng election mahahabang baril ang hawak, high-powered, walang uniporme . . . ‘di ba trabaho ng pulis na sundan sila?

For now, the Senator is laughing at the police who have applied to at least three judges for a search warrant. All of the judges denied the application.

Wait till you need the police, Bong!

* * *

Now for news on Chinese, completely unrelated to Taiwan.

Estafa was recommended to be filed against the Chinese owner of the popular  “Henny Penny Cafe.”  Jerry Tan Lao is accused of  defrauding his partner by using corporate funds to benefit another company where he is also a stockholder.

Assistant City Prosecutor Myrna Binalay of Pasig City Prosecutor’s  Office sitting in  San Juan recommended that Tan Lao be charged with one count of estafa for misappropriation.

Binalay says that Tan Lao, as manager of Subarashii, violated the trust and confidence of his partner, Nelson Ong,   and the corporation when he used the funds of Subarashii to pay the obligations of another corporation — Aomori — of which he is a stockholder.

Surabeshii, where both Ong and Lao are stockholders, is doing business under the name and style of “Yumemiya,” and is engaged in establishing and maintaining restaurants and  coffee shops.

In an earlier commercial action, Ong also accused Lao of disloyalty, conflict of interest and bad faith in directing the affairs of the corporation  by controlling companies  in direct competition with Surabeshii such as  Aomori, one of Subarashii’s coffee suppliers, and Shinwa Food Co. Ltd,  more popularly known as “Henny Penny Cafe.”

In the criminal complaint, Tan Lao is accused of issuing Surabashii checks as payment for Aomori’s expenses for uniforms of Aomori employees amounting to P22,795.60; electric bills amounting to P24,161.60;  and, plumbing and sanitary works amounting to P98,120.78.

According to the resolution issued by Binalay, there is well-founded ground  that estafa was committed and that Tan Lao was probably guilty thereof and should be held for trial.                     

In an earlier separate action filed with the commercial courts, Ong prayed for accounting, receivership and the creation of a management committee on behalf of the corporation after Tan Lao refused to render an accounting and in order to preserve the assets of Surabashii.

Subarasshii has closed down due to high food cost which cost  225% over what the resto made even as  that the only items served were coffee and pasta.

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hvp 05.23.13

“If we don’t get serous about taking down the dyNASTIES, forget about a future for our children in this NASTY country.”

by Ducky Paredes

            The real problem with the new SM Mall right beside The Fort (at the boundary of the Fort on the Taguig side) is what is wrong with Political Dynasties, emphasis on the “nasties.”

            The family of the mayor of Taguig is also the family of her husband, which has two sitting senators, and I don’t know how many more dyNASTY members in various offices in government.

            Thus, when they (one guesses) asked for some land that the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) had taken from Fort Bonifacio, (which would have been part of Taguig if it were not part of Fort Bonfacio) where Taguig could build a civic center cum City Hall, what could the national government agency (under the Office of the President) do but give in.

            Where the BCDA failed was where the government could learn a few tricks from private landowners. Remember years ago when Rizal province was still intact (before the towns of San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Muntinglupa, Paranaque, etc. were separated from the province) the Capitol of Rizal was Pasig.  Where the capitol building was built was on land donated by the Ortigas family with the proviso that in the event that the province no longer needed the land for that purpose, it would be returned to the Ortigases.

            This is what the BCDA could have added as an annotation to the donation.

            The BCDA was an innocent victim of the political dynasty that now controls Taguig. It should have made the donation of part of the military camp tied up to the use of the land for the purpose for which it was donated by the BCDA. Of course, the BCDA (unlike the Ortigas family) did not own the land that it gave away. Thus, although there was a clear understanding as to the use to which Taguig would put the land, the title given to Taguig did not have any annotation. Thus, it was bided out with a “clean title.”

            The trouble with having a City controlled by a Political DyNASTY is that the mayor feels that she can do what she wants and the Senators in their Taguig dyNASTY will agree with her. The judges who issue temporary restraining orders (TRO) will not get in the way of senators who can help them move up in the judiciary; and even the BCDA (unless Malacanang tells them otherwise) will not get n the way of the courts and the dyNASTY.

            Thus did Henry Sy become the innocent villain in this fairy tale. He now finds himself the most hated man for the greed of the dyNASTY that has ruled Taguig for at least two decades.

            If we could somehow get rid of these nasties, what a wonderful country we would have. If Taguig had a mayor unrelated to powerful others, she would not have dared pull a fast one on a government agency under the Office of the President. Of course having Nasties as relatives, she and those working in her city hall feel that they are untouchables who can pull off anything they want, for the good of their dyNASTY.

            Why not? After all, others have gotten away with much more. Have the Marcoses ben punished for what their father did? In other countries, the children of dictators are hanged from the nearest available tree. Here, they are revered. If we don’t get serous about taking down the dyNASTIES, forget about a future for our children in this NASTY country.

* * *

House Deputy Majority Leader and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo is again coming to the rescue of poor college students. Roman calls “somewhat excessive” the 10 to 15 percent annual increase in tuition fees of many private institutions of higher learning.

 “Based on the 10 to 15 percent yearly upward adjustment in tuition fees, the cost of a college education has been rising three to five times faster than the prices of most goods and services. We find this rather exorbitant,” Romulo says.

 “If we look at the annual inflation rate, it has averaged only 4.82 percent over the last five years. In 2012 alone, the (inflation) rate stood at just 3.2 percent, and in the first four months of 2013, at an even lower 3.0 percent,” he points out.

The inflation rate refers to the (rate of) increase in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.

 “If colleges must jack up tuition fees every year in order to stay financially viable, they should at least try to keep the rate of increase within, if not closer to the inflation rate, which might be more acceptable,” says Romulo.

The 10 to 15 percent annual tuition fee increment at many tertiary schools means that the cost of college schooling doubles every five to seven years.

Romulo is author of a House-approved bill seeking to enable the country to churn out more college graduates via a bold new student loan program.

Under the program, a student obtains a low-cost bank loan to pay for the tuition fee of the college where the student has been accepted.

The loan would have an effective interest rate pegged to the 91-day Treasury bill rate, which last stood at 0.217 percent, or around one-fifth of one percent.

The bank may apply an add-on 3.0 to 5.0 percent annual interest rate. However, instead of the borrower paying for the extra interest expense, the bank may claim the corresponding amount as tax credit. The lender may then use the credit to pay for or offset its tax obligations.

 “We have to produce more college graduates at a quicker rate if we want our human resources to become even more competitive in the labor markets here and abroad,” Romulo said.

A previous Commission on Higher Education study showed that the country’s college graduates, estimated at 480,000 annually, stayed that level for some years now. The number of college graduates has not kept up to our population growth rate.

This means that our population is getting dumber by the minute!

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hvp 05.22.13

Deretsahan

ni Horacio Paredes

“Salamat po sa kolum nyo na naglalathala ng mga sallobin naming mga taong-bayan.

“Hindi ko po maisip na pati ang mga taong nagsasabi na sila ay tumatahak sa ‘daang matuwid’ ay pikit-mata at taas-noo na ikinakampanya ang kamag-anak sa mataas na posisyon sa bansa.  Kaya naman ang ating lipunan ay hindi na malaman kung kanino lalapit dahil mag-ama, magkakapatid at kung di mag-asawa ay mag-ina ang nasa mga posisyon  sa pamahalaan.

“Ginagawa na nang marami sa ating mamamayan na showbiz ang paglilingkod sa bayan. Gawin ba naman popularity contest ang maglingkod sa pamahalaan. May congressman at senador  na pinsan ang anak ni  George Estregan at Gary Estrada na kandidato rin yata sa San Antonio, Quezon.

“May balita pa na kaya lubog sa utang ang isang bayan sa Nueva Eciha ay dahil ang mayor at vice mayor ay mag-ama. Ano bang nangyayari sa bayan natin.

“Ang akala ko  matindi ang pagnanais natin noon na mawala ang ganitong situasyon na mag-aama, at magkakamag-anak ang may hawak ng buong probinsya kahalintulad sa mga Ampatuans.  Lubhang mapanganib noon hindi pa nahuhuli ang mga yan. Dahil paano ka lalabas upang iligtas ang pamilya mo na hinahabol ng mga Ampatuan kung ang buong probinsya ay kontrolado nila. Napaka-hirap ng kalagayan natin sa ngayon.

“Sa Cavite naman may senador na ama, congresistang ina, kapatid na mayor at may batang anak na pinagtulakan din yata ng magulang na  tumakbong bise-gobernador.

“Anupa’t laganap na ang political dynasty at nepotismo sa pamahalaan. Nawala na sa atin ang delicadesa na yun lamang talagang may kakayanan maglingkod at di para diktahan ni ama o ni ina o ng lolo na dating nasa posisyon.

“Nawala na rin ang ating hiya na masabihan na ang mag-aama, mag-iina at magkakapatid sa gobyerno ay bawal. Kaya naman mula sa barangay chairman at kabataang barangay, maging barangay secretary ay hawak ng iisang pisa dahil alam nila ang pondo para sa barangay ay malaki-laki rin para kabigin ng  buong pamilyang nakaupo at nasa manuhan. Alam nila na lahat sila ay mauulingan kapag humawak sa suklob.

“Ganyan yata ang kalakaran ngayon ang gawing ‘masaganang kabuhayan’ ang maglingkod sa bayan.

“Wala na po ang mga kagaya nila, senador Jovy Salonga, Antonino, pero mayroon pa rin naman yatang natatanaw na pag-asa kina   Miriam Santiago, Lacson at Trillanes.

“Kulang po sa 12 senador ang inyong mapipili kapag political dynasty at nepotismo ang pagbabatayan sa paghahalal ng mga ito.

“Maging sa pagpili ng kinatawan ng mga mamamayan sa kongreso ay wala ka na rin pagpipilian dahil mas kinakatawan nila ang sarili at ang pangunahing pangangailangan niya na maka-puesto at makalapit sa mga taong nasa kapangyarihan para tumaas ng tumaas pa ang knyang puesto.

“Hindi ko na alam pa kung ano ang kulang sa ating mga Pinoy. Sagana tayo noon sa mga magagaling na senador pinaka matunog na sina Gerry Roxas at Jovito Salonga. Walang sumunod sa yapak ni Salonga, pero may  sumunod  kay Gerry, itong asawa ni Korina Sanchez. Noon matunog na matunog ang Pilipinas sa buong Asya, anong panama ng dinamita. Ngayon tayo’y parang lusis na lamang na aandap-andap, binu-bully ng mga singkit.

“Sa mga sumusunod na henerasyon sana’y magising na ang mga uma-ambisyon na maglingkod sa bayan na isa na lang sa bawat pamilya at isaisip natin lagi ang panglingkuran ang bayan. Kunin natin ang kahalintulad ni Lee Kuan Yew ng Singapore at ng Thailand, na ginawang dalubhasaan ang Pilipinas para sa kanilang mamamayan at nagbunga ng hitik-na hitik dahil numero uno nilang export ang bigas.

“More power to you at Mabuhay ka G. Ducky Paredes.” — Rey Arcilla, OFW sa Tabuk

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hvp (05.22.13)

“(I)t’s just too bad that all those foreign investors with their large trove of dollars, attracted to Asia by Asia’s “rising star” take just one look at the Philippines before deciding to put  their dollars elsewhere in Asia, where it’s s much easier to start up businesses.“

by Ducky Paredes

Henry Sy’s latest shopping mall, the SM Aura Premier at the Bonifacio Global City, formally opened its door to the public May 17, 2013. Not all is well, however. There is still  the land issue between the property owner Taguig City government and the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) that, until now, has yet to be solved.

SM Aura Premier, the country’s upscale shopping complex that houses a mall, recreational facilities, convention center and a tower building for both private and government offices, is caught in the middle of the dispute between the local government of Taguig and BCDA for the Taguig’s decision to lease its property to SM.

It’s just unfortunate that SM is caught in the middle of an  issue where SM is the proverbial innocent bystander — a mere lessee of 3.3 hectare or about 33,975 square-meter of the Taguig City property which was donated to Taguig by BCDA “without any restrictions” for the local city government’s future use.

When BCDA officially turned over the property to Taguig City in 2008 through a Deed of Conveyance, the city government decided to lease the area through a public bidding which SM won, after which the construction of the shopping complex began.

The BCDA, however, had been opposing the construction of the structure, citing various reasons on how the property should be used by Taguig City. this was strange since the donated titles to the Taguig City are “clean titles” bearing no restrictions at all.

But more than the land use issue, SM and its contractors are also experiencing harassment from BCDA that won’t allow the mall developer to construct a portion of the McKinley Parkway, the road that leads to Forbes and would provide access to SM Aura Premier. So,  for the public to get to the mall, they need to go around instead of going straight because of the unfinished road that has also been barricaded with concrete barriers.

The big question here is: Why BCDA (and also Taguig City) allow SM to finish the construction of the P3.5 billion investment before BCDA made a big fuss over the land use issue?

It seems to me as if BCDA wanted the mall to be done and ready for business before pulling the plug. That would make SM  a willing victim because it needs the BCDA’s cooperation before it can operate. Is this all SM’s fault, as BCDA would have us believe?

If there is something wrong (illegal or amoral) about Taguig City’s decision to lease out the property, why di not BCDA seek a legal remedy by seeking, for instance, a court order to stop the project. They could have done that even before SM started to build the shopping complex. Of course, however, the property had been turned over to Taguig  “without any restrictions.”

Thus, the “clean title” that Taguig was given meant that the city could do the property anything it wanted .

Too bad that this situation definitely sends bad signals to investors. Why  does PNoy allow things like these that derail the country’s progress into cementing its new image as the “Rising Star of Asia”?

Among the major complaints of both local and foreign investors about investments in the Philippines is not only our circuitous process that results in unnecessary red tape but also the constantly changing rules and policies. If this ingrained system continues under this administration despite its so-called “Daang Matuwid” campaign, one doubts how that brighter future can be  anywhere in the future of our Philippines.

One suspects that there is actually no legal issue regarding the area that SM leased. Clearly,  the rightful owner is no longer the BCDA but the Taguig City government.

I suspect that the real issue here is that SM Aura’s location is right beside and is competition to the Ayalas’ prime BCDA attractions — “Market Market” and “Serendra”. Could BCDA simply be playing interference for BCDA’s prime lessees?

There are also speculations that BCDA’s harassment of  SM may have something to do with the TRO that the largest mall developer sought and got  from the Supreme Court against BCDA on some 30-hectare land within BCDA. The contract for the development of the property was originally awarded to SM through a negotiated contract but was later cancelled by the BCDA, prompting SM to seek for a TRO.

While we can wait and see what will happen next and enjoy the battle between big business and big government, it’s just too bad that all those foreign investors with their large trove of dollars, attracted to Asia by Asia’s “rising star” take just  one look at the Philippines before deciding to put  their dollars elsewhere in Asia, where it’s s much easier to start up businesses.

* * *

Wow, the DoE is actually looking at renewables. Three wind power plants have ben approved: Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corp. will set up 54 megawatts in Guimaras; Energy Development Corp., 87 MW in Ilocos Sur; Altenergy Wind One Corp., 67.5 MW in Pilillia, Rizal.

That’s a start. Still, this country ought to be moving faster in embracing recyclables. Our power rates are among the highest in the world and this at a tine when solar and wind are getting cheaper and more efficient. To attract investors, one way is to make cheaper power available.

The cost of electricity is one factor in deciding where to put up manufacturing plants.

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hvp 05.20.13

“(T)he PV plant supplies the equivalent requirement of no less than 900 CEPALCO residential customers.“

by Ducky Paredes

I read this in the magazine, Scientific American: “Large consumer electronic brands are likely to enter the solar energy market and fuel a worldwide boom in panel installations that will surpass most expectations as the rooftop technology becomes cheaper than gas, a report by Citigroup says.

“Although worldwide solar installations grew by an average of 59 percent per year from 2007 to 2012, much of that advance was due to subsidies and legislation mandating solar spending. That’s about to change, according to the report.

“Solar has reached residential parity in many regions, and utility-scale parity will follow over the next few years. Some U.S. utilities are already choosing to build solar farms instead of gas plants to deliver peak loads based on pure economics.

“‘In Germany, Spain, Portugal, Australia and the South-West of the U.S., residential-scale solar has already reached grid-parity with average residential electricity prices,’ Citigroup analysts Shar Pourreza, Jason Channell and Timothy Lam wrote in their report. ‘In other countries grid parity is not far away. We forecast that grid parity will be attained by Japan in 2014-2016, South Korea in 2016-2020 and by the U.K. in 2018-2021.’

“On the other hand, China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia will not attain grid parity until after 2020, despite good solar conditions in some regions, due to their low residential electricity prices, which are subsidized by the state, the report says.

“As far as utilities are concerned, giant solar farms must be able to compete against wholesale power prices from combined-cycle gas turbine plants. That’s currently impossible with U.S. shale gas selling at $3 per million British thermal units. But Citigroup says $3 per MMBtu doesn’t reflect the true cost of production of shale gas. In addition, gas costs more in Europe and Asia (in some cases much more: $16 per MMBtu in Japan), so solar can be highly competitive there even at utility scale.

“One issue will be that solar growth will lead to lower utilization rates at conventional generation plants, which will nevertheless need to remain online to cover power demand on less sunny days, at night and during the winter.

“‘Ultimately we believe that the system will move to a capacity payment mechanism to remunerate utilities for low utilization rates on plants that must remain open as backup generation,’ the analysts said. ‘Ultimately, while solar can reduce costs directly, the consumer will end up paying for these capacity payments.’”

* * *

What I find striking is where the report says, “the consumer will end up paying for these capacity payments.” In our case, haven’t we been paying  for these capacities all these years?

During the Ramos presidency, a lot of generating plants were set up for which we have been paying for capacity installed, even when these plants have not been operational. This is one reason why investors are loath to come in to this country. They can get cheaper electricity elsewhere.

As for our power costs today, what we pay for in electricity is one of the highest in the world (even more than what the Japanese pay?). Thus, clearly, solar power should be of interest for us. Yet, our energy people cannot think of solar, wind or other sources. They seem stuck on oil and coal. Whenever solar or wind as a source of power is brought up, we hear the  four-year old’s query: “What happens when it’s night and the sun has disappeared?”

One would think that we would have smarter energy people.

* * *

Did you know that R.A. 7638, the Department of Energy Act of 1992, has this provision: “No officer, external auditor, accountant, or legal counsel of any private company or enterprises primarily engaged in the energy industry shall be eligible for appointment as Secretary within two (2) years from his retirement, resignation, or separation therefrom.”

If the purpose of this was to put distance between the Energy Secretary and his particular employment with an energy player prior his government service, it certainly did not work since the former Energy Secretary of PNoy was still accused of being partial to his more-than-two-year-prior former employer Aboitiz Power. Besides, the Department of Energy is also stuffed with former employees of energy-related companies, who still give their ears to former employers.

Thus, any secretary, even one coming from the papacy will be in the company of energy people with their biases for oil,. gas, coal and other energy sources where they had actual experience. The advice that they will give the pristine mind of the innocent new energy administrator will of course be colored by their professional biases, brought on by years of experience in their chosen energy fields.

That provision is more of a bummer than one of any real use.

* * *

Sayang that we are not exploiting  wind and solar more. I know of just one solar farm that was the developing world’s first and largest (at the time of its inauguration in 2004) on-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant, the 1MWp polycrystalline silicon-based PV plant and connected with the distribution network of Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co., Inc. (CEPALCO) in Cagayan de Oro City.

From the start of commercial operations on September 26, 2004, the PV plant has exported to CEPALCO a total of 4,169,100 kWh or an average of 1,389,700 annually, which is 10% higher than the expected annual energy generation of 1,261,400 kWh. At its current generating capacity, the PV plant supplies the equivalent requirement of no less than 900 CEPALCO residential customers.

There are already local producers of solar panels. What are probably needed are installers who can put enough panels in a house to take care of refrigerators, the television sets and a few lights 24/7. According to solar panel pushers, what you spend for the installation will be paid back in the energy you save and are not charged by Meralco halfway through the life of the solar panels (that will, of course, eventually have to be replaced).

By the way, when the sun is out, the energy that is automatically stored in batteries powers the lights and appliances connected to the solar grid.

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hvp 05.20.13

“From 2010 to 2012, the Philippines received FDIs totaling only $5.9 billion, a measly amount compared to Indonesia’s $52.5 billion and Vietnam’s $23.5 billion.“

by Ducky Paredes

Considering the successive credit rating upgrades from various international agencies, long-term, capital-intensive investments ought to be coming in droves. In March, Fitch Ratings upgraded the country’s credit rating to BBB minus — investment status.

The primary beneficiaries of these upgrades are our special economic zones (SEZs), particularly the Clark SEZ (CSEZ) in Pampanga and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) in Zambales.

Enrique Razon, the president and chairman of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) says that ICTSI is “pushing hard” and “building the market” to transform Subic into a major port.

Subic is currently upgrading its port facilities through the Subic Bay Port Development Project, and plans to tie up with Clark to form the Subic-Clark Corridor via the 45-kilometer segment of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

This is clearly not wishful thinking on the part of ICTSI as Subic has taken giant strides towards becoming a world-class port during the watch of Chairman Roberto Garcia of the SBMA.

Just recently, the SBMA secured a quality standard certification—ISO 9001:2008—that means Subic has  reached the global standard for quality management systems.

The Bureau of Customs also notes that Subic Port collection posted a strong performance in April, reaching P1.09 billion or double that month’s target of roughly P529.65 million.

 Two foreign shipbuilding companies—one Japanese and the other European plan to  put up facilities beside Hanjin Heavy Industries. Says Garcia. “The SBMA already made talks with both companies and both are interested. If that happens, Hanjin will have a shipbuilding neighbor.”

* * *

But, assessments coming from University of the Philippines (UP) economists Raul Fabella and Ben Diokno see the government as part of the problem.

Fabella says that the problems encountered by big-time investors like Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) sends this clear message: “regulatory fragility and hold-up are still rife in the Philippines!” This explains why the “FDI flow was a puny $1.5 billion in 2012.” 

  “Investment grade or not, FDIs would rather be elsewhere,” says Fabella, who notes that despite passing all national requirements, SMI was still unable to start its $6-billion Tampakan gold-and-copper mine but was, instead, stopped a provincial ordinance proscribing open-pit mining.

  “I disagree with the assessment that the credit upgrade would result in a surge of FDIs into the Philippines. FDI inflows depend on a different set of variables such as cost of doing business, state of public infrastructure including existence of sufficient, affordable and reliable power supply, policy consistency and credibility,” says Diokno, a former budget secretary.

Diokno notes that although both Vietnam and Indonesia have speculative ratings of below investment grade, they received more foreign direct investments. From 2010 to 2012, the Philippines received FDIs totaling only $5.9 billion, a measly amount compared to Indonesia’s $52.5 billion and Vietnam’s $23.5 billion.

 Pending energy projects like the Subic power project have to proceed at a much faster pace to ensure stable and adequate power by 2016, when the President steps down and when the Department of Energy (DOE) projects a supply shortfall of 600 MW arising from greater demand.

 The Philippine Independent Power Producers Association (PIPPA) highlights the dire consequence of such a scenario as its president cites official data showing that the current consumption spike of 4.5 percent will require another 600 MW of power two years from now.

PIPPA is composed of 27 power-generation companies that account for a combined 12,323 MW or 75& of the grid’s installed capacity.

* * *

SMI’s Tampakan project—the Philippines’ biggest single investment at $6 billion—is the best example why investors are on wait-and-see mode, even with the all  those credit upgrades.

The Tampakan project suffered innumerable delays and snags in obtaining an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) even as the Mining Act allows open-pit mining, and the project’s proponents have assured all stakeholders of the various safeguards it will put in place to protect the environment. 

 The delays continue even after Justice Secretary Leila De Lima herself  already pointed out that national laws transcend local laws, even when it pertains to the mining sector.

An even worse case than the Tampakan mining project is the status of the Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc., RP Energy’s coal-fired thermal power plant project in Subic. 

Two months ago, a Court of Appeals (CA) division threw out a petition seeking a Writ of Kalikasan and a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) against RP Energy’s Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant in Barangay Cawag in Subic, Zambales.

At the same time, the appellate court invalidated the ECCs issued by the DENR for the project, as well as the Lease and Development Agreement entered into by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and RP Energy.   

The CA division was correct in dismissing the ecological doomsday scenarios pictured by the petitioners. On top of raising fears over a project that is still in the implementation stage, the oppositors provided documentation plucked from the Internet to support their claims without any validation from experts, thus making their claims mere hearsay in the eyes of the court.

In contrast,  the CA noted that the project proponents—RP Energy—presented documentation and expert testimonies proving that the project would use state-of-the art technology to ensure  a safe and steady and affordable supply of power to the Luzon grid.  

This January ruling by a CA division is a precedent because it stems from the first Writ of Kalikasan case against a power project.

 The impact of the decision penned by  CA Associate Justice Celia Librea Leagogo goes beyond RP Energy and the power industry.

The decision poses an unnecessary risk to investors and investments, especially for those that require ECCs and those in freeports and special economic zones across the country. 

 Why? Because the decision places a cloud of doubt over all ECCs issued by the DENR in the past. All issued ECCs may now be deemed invalid because of alleged wrong procedures as declared by the Court of Appeals.

 This ruling on RP Energy’s Subic power plant project will scare away investors despite the rosy news about the Fitch upgrade because it reinforces the business community’s concerns over the Philippines’ unstable and inconsistent policies that hamper growth.

Moreover, if RP Energy is compelled to give up and pack its bags, it would mean scrapping an environment-friendly project that would have provided an additional 600 MW of  power  to the Luzon grid at a time when Mindanao-style blackouts are on the horizon.

In its Philippine Energy Plan  for 2012-2030, the DOE reveals that the Luzon grid will need an additional capacity of 10,500 MW onwards to 2030.

The CA ruling opens the floodgates to a wholesale challenge to all ECCS issued to private companies, and all LDAs entered into by locators inside Subic and other special economic zones across the country.

 The ruling essentially takes away  SBMA’s  power to approve projects within its sphere and effectively removes its autonomy to govern the zones SBMA governs. 

 More importantly, as with the case of the ECCs, the CA ruling effectively invalidates all the Lease Agreements between SBMA and its locators.

Yet, the LGUs ceded control over the territories covered by the SBFZ when they issued Sanggunian resolutions acknowledging the SBMA’s sole authority to manage the development of the SBFZ Zone.

 Moreover, the powers of the SBMA are exercised by its Board of Directors comprising of, among others, representatives of the LGUs that agreed to join the SBFZ.  Three representatives from the LGUs of Olongapo, Morong and Hermosa were members of the SBMA Board when the LDA was forged with RP Energy in 2010.

 But, does not R.A 7227 prevail over the Local Government Code as provided under Sections 14 (b) and 23 of the bases conversion law? The approval of the LGU Sanggunians is not necessary.

Ruling otherwise defeats the very purpose of RA  7227, as well as the autonomy of special zones like Clark in Pampanga and Camp John Hay in Baguio.

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hvp 05.19.13

Deretsahan

ni Horacio Paredes

            Salamat kay Jojo Binay. baka matutunan na rin natin ang ating matagal nang pagkakamali hindi lamang sa Makati na madalas na sinasabing napakalaki ang pasasalamat kay Jojo at sa kaniyang angkan sa mga pakinabang na natatanggap ng mga taga-Makati na hindi nabibigay ng ibang mga lungsod at munisipyo kahit saan sa Pinas.

            Ano ang pagkakamali natin? Marami ang naniniwala (dahil na rin ito ang kasinunglingang kinakalat ng mga maka-Binay) na salamat sa mga Binay na  maunlad ang Makati. Sa totoo lamang kahit sino pa ang alkalde ng Makati, maunlad pa rin ito (at baka pa nga mas maunlad pa) kung wala ang mga Binay.

            Kapag kasi merong angkan na hawak ang lahat na pwesto kahit na saan sa Pinas, lalong hirap ang pamumuhay ng mamamayan. Lalong dumarami ang mga walang trabaho at ang mga bagay na nagpapaunlad sa bayan. Hindi ko gawa-gawa ito. Natuklasan ito ng mga tagapagpananaliksik ng gobiyerno sa kanilang pagsusuri sa iba’t ibang lalwigan, rehiyon at lipunan sa ating bansa.

            Ang mga political dynasty ay hindi nagdadala ng kaunlaran, sila ang mga hadlang sa kaunlaran. Hindi sila nagdadala ng mabuting kapalaran sa mga lugar kung saan sila naghahari-hari, sa kataunayan sila’y hadlang sa pagpapaunlad ng isang lalawigan, munisipyo, lungsod o sitio.

            Salamat naman at para na ring nabuhayan ang demokrasya sa ilang lugar sa ating bansa kung saan ang mga nanalo ay hindi na ang mga dating pamilya ng mga pulitiko na naghahari-hari sa kanilang lugar. Merong iilang mga dinastiya na natalo ang kandidato; ngunit, malakas pa rin ang mga dinstiya sa Makati, Taguig, Pasay, San Juan, Navotas, Ilocos Sur at iba pang mga parte ng bansa kung saan ang mga namumuno ay galing lamang sa iisang angkan.

            Napansin ko rin na kahit na sa mga Pilipinong nasa labas ng bansa ay marami pa rin na ang pinili pa rin ay ang mga  anak at kapatid o kamag-anak ng mga political dynasty. Kinakailangan na yata kalabanin na ang pag-iisip na dahil kadugo ang kandidato ng isang kilalang pulitiko ay ito na ang dapat nating iboto.

            Hindi ko sinasabi na walang karapatan na ang anak ng pulitiko ay walang karapatang sumunod sa yapak ng ama o ina. Ang masama ay kung ang isang pamilya at pati na rin ang buong angkan ang may hawak ng lahat na puwesto sa pamahalaan kung pang national man o lokal.

            Alalahanin rin na sa ating pagboto ng mga opisyal, na atin silang pinipili na maging ating “public servant.” Bilang pampublikong lingkod, ang dapat na paglingkod nila sa atin (at eto rin ang binabayaran natin) ay ang kanilang panahon 24/7. Ibig sabihin nito na ang bawat minuto ng kanilang buhay sa kabuohan ng kanilang termno na tatlo o anim na taon. Bawat minuto! Dapat na wala silang ibng pinagkikitaaan o ginagawa kundi lamang ang paglilingkod sa bayan! Walang negosyo, teleserye, pag-aartista, singer at iba pa. Public servant ka at bawa’t oras mo’y binili na namn!

            Ang pinakamasama na yatang political dynasty ay ang Ampatuan family; ngunit, kahit na ang pinaka mabait na dinastiya ang kasing sama rin ng mga Ampatuan sa kanilang pagiging hadlang sa pagunlad ng ating mahal na Pilipinas.

            Matuto na tayo! Tapusin na ang mga dinastiya na wala namang silbi kundi lamang ang pagpapaunlad ng sariling pamilya!

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hvp (05.17.13)

Malaya (05.16.13)

“‘On a personal level, the President and Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada are in good terms,’ said Lacierda.”

by Ducky Paredes

Joseph Estrada is the next Mayor of Manila. He beat incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim by more than 35,000 votes, a very slim margin, considering that Manila has been very badly run. It has been downhill all the way for the “Pearl of the Orient, since Lim decided to dismantle Mayor Lito Atienza’s Baywalk, purely out of spite.

Let us hope that Erap finds a way to make the once “Distinguished and Ever Loyal City” again a to-go place for business and consumers, who now prefer doing their things in Makati, Pasig, QC and Mandaluyong rather than go to the old city by the bay.

“I thank the great people of Manila for putting a true son of Manila at the helm of the Philippine capital city. Today, you have all shown that you want to see the rebirth of Manila as the Queen City of the Pacific, the Pearl of the Orient. Dear Manileños, I will not fail you. I was born in Manila, and I will die working to bring back the glory and pride to Manila,” said Estrada on being informed of his victory.

“This is both a challenge and a full weight of responsibility hanging over all our shoulders, mine especially, and of the set of officials you have elected into office. I am dedicating the last few years of my life to uplifting the lives of poor.”

Mayor Estrada’s first order of business: Peace and Order: “Ano mang bayan o lungsod, lalawigan o bansa, hindi uunlad kung walang kapayapaan.”

Erap extended a conciliatory gesture to Lim, 86, who once served under his administration as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government but left Malacanang during the time that Estrada was about to be ousted, showing up at Edsa to join the forces that would hand over Erap’s presidency to the now-jailed Gloria Arroyo.

Eventually, Lim asked Erap for the former President’s political endorsement in Lim’s run for the Senate. Lim still got it!

Estrada, after establishing himself as a movie actor, began his political career as mayor in his hometown of San Juan in 1967. He was mayor of San Juan for 17 years before becoming Senator after the 1986 People Power Revolution, then Vice President in 1992 and President of the Philippines in 1998.

Estrada’s running-mate and incumbent Vice Mayor Isko Moreno was proclaimed as vice mayor beating Councilor Lou Veloso by more than 160,000 votes.

Actually, Estrada and Moreno went to the canvassing center at about 1:30 a.m. to await their proclamation which was deferred due to the objection of Lim’s legal counsel, Alicia Risos-Vidal who claimed that there were still too many votes uncounted.

Malacanang, which backed Lim, seemed to take its loss in stride. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda points out that President Aquino and Estrada are good friends even if they belong to different political parties.

 “On a personal level, the President and Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada are in good terms,” said Lacierda.

* * *

The biggest surprise in the election was the newbie who topped the list of winning senators, Mary Grace Sonora Poe Llamanzares or Grace Poe, served as the chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) from 2010 to 2012.

Her life is a fairy tale, the stuff of movies. Born in Iloilo and abandoned by her biological mother, Grace was adopted by Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ), the King of Philippine Movies, and his wife Susan Roces, who raised her in Manila as their only daughter.

Educated in the Philippines and the United States, where she was a graduate of Boston College, Poe spent much her adult life in the United States before returning to the Philippines in 2004, when her father died months after a controversial presidential election against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Following her return to the Philippines, Grace received national attention as she campaigned against electoral fraud, both in the election where her father ran, as well as in subsequent elections. She was appointed in 2010 by President Benigno Aquino III to serve as chair of the MTRCB.

Two years later, in 2012, Poe resigned from the MTRCB after deciding to run in the 2013 senatorial election as an independent candidate under the administration Team PNoy coalition.

Grace attended Assumption College San Lorenzo for her high school. She took Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies in University of the Philippines Manila (UPM). While in UPM, she was elected Chairperson of the College Freshman Assembly (1986–1987) and Sophomore Batch Representative to the Student Council (1987–1988).

She also has a political science degree from Boston College. In the US, she co-founded the Filipino Cultural Club of Boston College.

Following the death of Fernando Poe Jr in 2004 and the accusations of election fraud against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, she became active in numerous protest rallies in various parts of the Philippines. Later, Grace led various groups to organize Kontra Daya, a coalition of civil society groups and movements to oppose electoral fraud in the 2010 presidential election.

In 2010, President Benigno Aquino III appointed Grace Poe as Chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Grace admits that her biggest positive in the campaign was her surname. She says that her surname Poe is insufficient for her to be elected simply on that alone.

Grace Poe pushed for an eleven-point platform focused on poverty alleviation, youth opportunity and electoral reform, promising to continue the legacy of her father.  Specific policies she has advocated in the course of her campaign include the reintroduction of the national elementary school lunch program, the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in government offices, and stricter penalties against child pornography.

Clearly, in Grace Poe, our number one senator, we are getting more than just an adopted daughter of the man who would have been president were it not for the work of that infamous pair of Garci & Gloria.

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hvp 05.15.13

Deretsahan

ni Horacio Paredes

   Maaari kaya na sa sunod nating hlalan sa 2016, kung kailan pipiliin natin ang sunod na Pangulo, na huwag na nating pag-aksayahan ng panahong pakinggan na naman ang mga magsasabing hindi uubra ang mga PCOS, na peke ang source code at nagsasalita tungkol sa mga bagay na hindi naman pala nila naiintindihan o nalalaman.

   Di ba’t maliwanag na ang mga nagpahayag ng kanilang mga duda tungkol sa mga PCOS ay hindi pala nalalaman ang kanilng sinasabi. Wala naman silang sinabi na nangyari. Oo nga’t merong ilang mga PCOS na nagka-aberiya, ngunit mas marami pa pala ang mga nagka-aberiya noong 2010 kesa ngayong 2013.

   Sa pangkalahatan ay na­ging mapayapa ang elek­syon.

   ‘Ika nga ni Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. ng Comelec: “Mayroong konting glitches sa PCOS; konti, in general mukhang okay ang takbo ng eleksyon, merong glitches, pero maliliit ang problema when the PCOS rejected ballot, bumabalik, hindi necessary mali ‘yun. Io-orient lang uli ng paiba-iba until tanggapin.”

   Sa akin ngang pananaw, ang katatapos na halalan  ang patunay na hindi na dapat bumalk pa tayo ulit sa dating paraang pagboto at pagbilang. Magaling itong ating nabili na PCOS — mabilis, at accurate at lalong lalo ay walang dagdag-bawas. Baket naman babalik pa tayo sa dating sistema kung saan matagal na ang bilangan, nakakaduda pa ang nagiging resulta?

* * *

   At, sa atin namang nangungunang Senadora na anak ni FPJ, maliwanag ang pagtanggap sa kaniya ng mamayan. Siya mismo ay nagulat na napakarami nang mga bumoto sa kaniya. Sa mga survey na inilabas ng ilang mga kumpaniyang kumuha ng pulsong bayan, wala ni isang nakahalata sa luboslubusang pagtanggap ng mamamayan sa anak ng kaniyang ama na namatay tapos na dinaya nina Garcy at Gloria noong 2004.

   Papaanong nakuha ni Grace Poe ang ating mga boto at ang ating suporta sa isang ngayon lamang pumasok sa pulitika? Siya’y naging tapat sa atin at nakita nating lahat na isa siyang tunay na tao na gustong maglingkod sa bayan. Sa kaniyang sagot sa mga katanungan lumitaw siyang taong mapapagkatiwalaan na tapat at tunay ang kagustohang makapaglingkod. Sana’y huwag siyang magbago ngayong  pinili natin siyang maging numero unong senador ng bayan.

* * *

   Ang aking classmate sa Ateneo ay nanalo sa pagka-Alkalde ng Maynila. Buo ang aking tiwala na kanyang aayusin ang Maynila. Ayon kay Erap, ang kaniya lamang layunin sa kanyang pagtakbo ay ang ituwid ang Maynila:

   “Ito po ay isang araw ng tagumpay hindi lamang para kay Erap kundi para sa masang Pilipino, lalo na para sa mahihirap na Manileño.

“Ako po ay taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa Panginoon, sa lahat ng mga sumuporta sa akin sa Lungsod ng Maynila lalo na kay Vice Mayor Isko Moreno at sa aming mga Konsehal, sa aking pamilya at mga kaibigan, sa UNA at sa PMP, at sa lahat ng tumulong sa kampaniyang ito.  Lubusang nagpapasalamat din po ako sa Simbahang Katoliko, sa El Shaddai, sa Jesus is Lord, at higit sa lahat sa mga Kapatid ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa pamumuno ni Executive Minister Ka Eduardo, sa kanilang pag-endorso sa akin.

“Susuklian ko po ang inyong suporta ng tapat na paglilingkod. 

“Ako po ay nagagalak na magsilbing muli bilang isang mayor ng ating bansa, ngayon naman sa Lungsod ng Maynila, kung saan ako ipinanganak at kung saan ang aking ama ay nagsilbi bilang City Engineer sa ilalim ng apat na mayor.

“Sisikapin ko po na matupad sa lalong madaling panahon ang urban renewal para sa Maynila. Ang unang hakbang ko upang makamit ito ay ang pagkakaroon ng Peace and Order sa Maynila dahil ano mang bayan o lungsod, lalawigan o bansa, hindi uunlad kung walang kaapayapaan. 

“Sisiguruhin ko po na maibabalik natin ang sigla ng Maynila at maitataas ang antas ng kabuhayan ng masang Pilipino sa lalong madaling panahon.

“Mabuhay ang Maynila at mga Manileño!”

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hvp (05.15.13)