Full Electric Vehicle by Japanese Automobile Company

TAGUIG CITY- Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi leads the test drive of the Nissan LEAF, a 100% full electric vehicle (EV), which the Japanese automobile company will be introducing to the Philippine market in 2021.

The test drive is being held at the Energy Center at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, where the DOE main office is located.

Joining Secretary Cusi are Nissan Philippines Inc. President Atsushi Najima, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) Chairman Rommel Juan, Energy Assistant Secretary Leonido J. Pulido III, DOE Energy Utilization and Management Bureau (EUMB) Director Patrick Aquino, and Nissan LEAF Specialist Cyrus Macasera.

Nissan has been one of the active proponents globally in the push towards the electrification of transportation, and for the realization of a zero-emission society. 

Earlier, Nissan executives relayed to Secretary Cusi that the company is bringing the LEAF's EV technology to the country in support of the Duterte administration's vision of a safer, smarter and more sustainable future.

The DOE has been promoting EVs to reduce the country's reliance on petroleum as the transportation energy source. More than 30% of the country's energy requirement comes from the transport sector. With the advent of EVs, consumers are given more energy-efficient alternative to petroleum-fueled vehicles, allowing them to benefit from lower fuel and maintenance costs.

Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat Building Turnover

The Provincial Governor of Sultan Kudarat Hon. Suharto T. Mangudadatu, PhD joined the turn-over ceremony of usufruct building between the Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat and Philippine Red Cross- Sultan Kudarat Province Chapter.

The said turn-over ceremony was attended by various officials of Philippine Red Cross- Sultan Kudarat Province Chapter and Provincial Vice Governor Hon. Jose Remus Segura. 

The new- building will serve as a home of the Philippine Red Cross- Sultan Kudarat Chapter for 50 years. The said new office is located at Brgy. EJC Montilla, Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. 

The Philippine Red Cross is one of the important partner of the Provincial Government in delivering public services by reaching out it's clienteles particularly humanitarian services. 

Also present in the program is the Provincial Administrator of Sultan Kudarat Jimmy Andang and members of the Board of Directors of Philippine Red Cross- Sultan Kudarat Province Chapter.

SEC Warns Another Online Scam

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued another set of advisories against several entities soliciting investments from the public without the necessary licenses.

 

We are reminding the public to exercise caution when dealing with individuals or groups soliciting investments for and on their behalf:  

 

1. JUAN SAVINGS

2. 1 HEAL 1 WORLD TRADING

3. KAIZEN MARKETING ENTERPRISE

4. BITFINANCEINVESTMENT.LTD 

5. CHIYUTO CREATIVE WEALTH DOCUMENT FACILITATION SERVICES ("CCWDFS")

JUAN SAVINGS, which is claiming to be engaged in a legitimate forex trading business and has its own professional traders, has NOT been issued a license by the SEC. Moreover, the Commission does not allow the registration of Foreign Exchange (FOREX) in the nature of Commodity/Financial Futures Contract, Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and other similar derivatives nor their merchants/brokers as the pertinent rules governing these securities remain suspended pursuant to Rule 11 of the 2015 Implementing Rules and Regulation of the SRC.

1 HEAL 1 WORLD TRADING and CHIYUTO CREATIVE WEALTH DOCUMENT FACILITATION SERVICES ("CCWDFS") are not registered with the Commission either as a corporation or as a partnership and is not authorized to solicit investments from the public.

Meanwhile, the scheme of KAIZEN MARKETING ENTERPRISE through its CEO program, with its focus on recruitment, is undoubtedly a PYRAMIDING SCHEME masquerading as a Multi-Level Marketing program and therefore, involves the offer and sale of securities in the nature of investment contract to the public.

BITFINANCEINVESTMENT.LTD, which offers guaranteed, risk-free investments plans purportedly to be invested in cryptocurrency trading, is NOT REGISTERED with the Commission and OPERATES WITHOUT THE NECESSARY LICENSE AND/OR AUTHORITY to solicit, accept or take investments/placements from the public nor to issue investment contracts and other forms of securities. It is also NOT REGISTERED either as a crowdfunding intermediary or a funding portal under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 14, Series of 2019 or the Rules and Regulations Governing Crowdfunding. Likewise, its name DOES NOT APPEAR among the registered banks, exchanges or companies engaged in digital assets with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

For the complete list of advisories, you may visit https://www.sec.gov.ph/investors-education-and-information/advisories/

We hope you can help us warn the investing public. Thank you!

Retail Electricity Market Gains Ground Despite COVID-19

Retail Electricity Market Gains Ground Despite COVID-19

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), in its 2nd Quarter 2020 Monitoring Report of the Retail Electricity Market, stated that it has granted a total of forty-two (42) Retail Electricity Supplier (RES) Licenses and authorized twenty-five (25) Local RES.  The said suppliers now compete for the supply of electricity of contestable customers in the Competitive Retail Electricity Market (CREM).  The CREM is where qualified contestable customers (those consuming 750 kW and above) have the option to choose their electricity provider, either from an RES or from a Local RES, the competitive business segment of a distribution utility (DU).  

"The Commission has been regularly monitoring the activities in the Competitive Retail Electricity Market to observe the behavior of the stakeholders in this market, particularly in terms of pricing, switching patterns and the capacity and energy of contestable customers", said ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera.

The ERC's Monitoring Report further disclosed that as of the 2nd Quarter of 2020 total registered contestable customer issued with Certificates of Contestability by the ERC is at 2,089.  Out of the said number, 1,460 or 70% have entered into Retail Supply Contracts (RSC), which means that these qualified customers have decided to source electricity from a RES. The remaining 629 or 30% stayed with the regulated services of their respective DU.

From the total number of 1,460 contestable customers which have entered into RSCs, 1,120 or 77% are within the 1MW and above threshold, while 340 or 23% are within the 750kW to 999kW threshold.  Meanwhile, for the 629 contestable customers with Certificates of Contestability which have remained under the regulated services of their respective DUs, 328 or 52% are within the 1MW and above threshold, while 301 or 48% are within the 750kW to 999kW category.

In terms of market share, the total demand of all contestable customers as of the 2nd Quarter of 2020 is recorded at 4,977.31 MW.  Out of the said total demand, 81% are currently being served by an RES while the remaining 19% are still under the DU regulated service.

With respect to the suppliers in the CREM, the ERC's monitoring report further disclosed that majority or 55% of the ERC-licensed RES are affiliates of generation companies (GenCos) while 20% are also operating a generation company as another business segment. Meanwhile, 17.50% have no affiliations in the electric power industry whereas the remaining 7.50% are affiliated with Distribution Utilities (DUs).    Having more suppliers that are GenCo affiliated gives confidence that electricity supply is ensured and that they have the capability to offer competitive or cheaper prices in the CREM.  This is a positive indication which signifies that competition in the CREM is gaining ground and slowly breaking the monopoly in the supply of electricity by allowing more entities to act as a supplier. 

As to the contestable customers' participation, the CREM registered an increase of almost 2% despite the Community Quarantine imposition in most of the areas in the country.  Although the contracted capacity of these contestable customers were reduced due to the impact of the pandemic on operations, the increase means that more contestable customers opted to enjoy the benefits of Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA). 

In terms of pricing, the ERC's evaluation revealed that eleven (11) RES have decided to offer lower rates for the quarter, while fourteen (14) RES have maintained their previous quarter's offer prices, and seven (7) RES have increased their prices.  Nonetheless, the overall price scenario for the 2nd Quarter showed a diminishing trend with a weighted average price of PhP4.12/kWh in April which decreased to PhP3.97/kWh and PhP3.95/kWh in May 2020 and June 2020, respectively. Such reduction in the weighted average prices manifests a strengthened competition in the CREM.

"The increased participation of contestable customers in the Contestable Retail Electricity Market and the diminishing trend in the prices being offered by Retail Electricity Suppliers is a silver lining in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic.  This positive development stimulates competition among Retail Electricity Suppliers and will entice more contestable customers to shift to these electricity providers", ERC Chair Devanadera concluded.

No Free Covid Vaccine to Politicians

REP. LAWRENCE "LAW" H. FORTUN
Agusan del Norte 1st District
Member for the Minority,
Committee on Human Rights, Committee on Justice
One of House Authors, Crushing COVID-19 Act (HB 6865)
A lawyer by profession | Mobile number 09177292437

Mabuting ngayon pa lang magkaliwanagan na

NO FREE VACCINES, SPECIAL TREATMENT
FOR ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

[From division chief rank to highest-ranking in government]

Sa free vaccines for 20 million Filipinos, hindi dapat kasama kahit sinong opisyal ng gobyerno at kanilang pamilya, elected man o appointed o career official na may ranggong division chief pataas hanggang Pangulo.

Maging mabuting ehemplo po dapat tayo sa pagkakataong ito.

Personal na gastos dapat nila ang kanilang COVID-19 vaccine. Matataas ang kanilang sweldo at income, so kaya nilang magpabakuna sa pribadong sektor gamit ang sariling pera.

Puro mahihirap ang barangay health workers at kasama sila sa vulnerable sectors, so dapat kasama sila sa free vaccines for the  20 million Filipinos.

Nakasaad na sa House Resolution 6865 on PCR Testing ang listahan ng mga vulnerable sectors na dapat bigyan ng prayoridad sa free vaccines, pero dapat minus diyan ang mga government officials na Salary Grade 24 pataas.

Para naman sa mga hindi mabigyan ng free vaccines, nariyan dapat ang PhilHealth para sa partial subsidy sa mga middle income households, karaniwang empleyado, at informal workers. (END)

Revised Guidelines for GenCos’ Financial Standards

ERC Invites Comments on the Revised Guidelines for GenCos' Financial Standards

 The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), in a Notice issued in connection with ERC Case No. 2019-001 RM in re: Proposed Revised Guidelines for the Financial Standards of Generation Companies, sought the electric power industry participants' comments on the 2nd draft of the subject guidelines.  The proposed revisions to the guidelines seeks to update the 2005 promulgated guidelines to reflect the prevailing economic conditions and developments in the country's electric power industry.

"The Commission takes cognizance of the fact that we need to update our Rules and Guidelines to make them responsive and suitable to the prevailing conditions in the electric power industry.   A lot of developments have taken place in the power industry and the economic conditions now and fourteen (14) years ago, when the Guidelines for the GenCos' Financial Standards was promulgated, have a very huge disparity.  With the revised Guidelines we wanted to ensure that GenCos are financially capable to operate and produce sustainable electricity", ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera averred. 

  The Revised Financial Guidelines will set out the minimum financial capability standards to ensure that GenCos meet these standards in order to protect the public interest pursuant to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 and the Philippine Grid Code (PGC).  The subject Guidelines shall apply to all GenCos, including but not limited to: (i) Entities which own and operate a Generation Facility; (ii) Entities which own a Generation Facility that is operated by another entity under any management contract; (iii) Entities which hold a Capital Lease on generation assets; and (iv) Entities which hold an Operating Lease on generation assets.

The subject Guidelines also sets forth the documents that needs to be submitted for new and renewal of Certificate of Compliance (COC) applications, including the annual submission for the duration of the COC.  

Comments on the Second (2nd) draft of the "Revised Guidelines for the Financial Standards of Generation Companies are advised to be sent both in hard and soft via email at licensing@erc.gov.ph.  

We urge all interested parties to submit their comments on the "Revised Financial Guidelines" on or before 31 July 2020 so that any issues and inputs may be considered in the final version of the guidelines to be promulgated by the Commission", said ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera.

Philhealth Scam

REP. JOCELYN P. TULFO
ACT-CIS Party-list
Member, Committee on Social Services
https://www.facebook.com/jocelyntulfoinaction/ | 09177292437

WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION PANAWAGAN NI REP. TULFO PARA SA NAGBITIW NA PHILHEALTH ANTI-FRAUD OFFICER

Seguridad para sa isang whistleblower ang kailangang ibigay sa nag-resign na PhilHealth anti-fraud officer, ayon kay ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo, dahil sa bigat ng mga paratang ng katiwalian ng kawani laban sa ahensiya.

Ani Tulfo, maaaring ibigay ang whistleblower protection ng Department of Justice, ng civil society groups, at ng mga institusyon tulad ng mga simbahan na kilalang nagbibigay ng sanctuary.

"Whistleblower witness protection measures must be provided to Atty Thorrsson Montes Keith, the anti-fraud officer who has resigned from PhilHealth. The protection measures can be mounted by the National Bureau of Investigation or by civil society groups or institutions who can provide safe sanctuary," ani Tulfo.

"I ask Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to order the NBI to immediately take action, including proper investigation of the accusations the former PhilHealth anti-fraud officer has hurled at PhilHealth," pahayag ni Congresswoman Tulfo.

Hiniling din ni Tulfo sa Commission on Audit at Office of the Ombudsman na maglunsad ng sarili nilang imbestigasyon ayon sa kanilang mandato sa Konstitusyon.

"Preventive measures are also necessary, including specific orders to preserve documents and hold departure orders for if and when formal charges are filed," ani Tulfo.

Dagdag niya, hindi dapat maapektuhan ng anumang imbestigasyon ang operasyon ng PhilHealth lalo na't hindi pa tapos ang COVID-19 pandemic.

"PhilHealth must also fully cooperate with all investigations on the graft and corruption allegations," aniya. (WAKAS)

Philippine OFW Remittances Drop

REP. FRANCISCO GAMBOA DATOL, JR.
SENIOR CITIZEN Party-list
Chair, Special Committee on Senior Citizens
Mobile number - 09177292437

SA PAGBAGSAK NG OFW REMITTANCES, SAAN NA NGAYON KUKUHA NG PAMBILI NG GAMOT ANG OFW DEPENDENTS NA SENIORS?

Dahil damay ang mga seniors na OFW dependents sa pagbagsak ng remittances mula sa abroad, nanawagan si Senior Citizen Party-list Rep. Francisco Datol, Jr. ng agarang dagdag na ayuda para sa OFW dependents. 

"Kabilang ang mga senior citizens sa mga magdurusa sa pagbagsak ng overseas Filipino remittances dahil marami sa kanila ang tumatanggap ng padala mula sa kanilang mga anak sa ibang bansa. Maapektuhan ang kanilang pambili ng gamot at pagkain sa pang-araw-araw," aniya. 

Kaya umapela si Datol sa sangay-ehekutibo.

"I appeal to the economic managers to save our OFW families from the economic impact of the pandemic now and in the coming months," ani Datol.

"OFW families need interest-free grants to enable them to start small businesses. PhilHealth must be ready to provide full coverage of OFW dependents and repatriated OFWs when they get sick for any reason," idinetalye ni Datol.

Napuna ni Datol na $437 million ang malaking pagbaba ng remittances ayon sa datos ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Iyong $437 million na agwat, katumbas ng P21.85 billion na nawala sa budget ng mga OFW dependents.

"Filipino families dependent on OFW remittances collectively lost P21.85 billion pesos last April when the money transfers from their breadwinners abroad dropped to $2.276 billion in April 2020 from $2.713 billion of April last year," ani Datol.

"The 16.1 percent difference is $437 million. P21.85 billion is the rough peso equivalent at an exchange rate of $1 to P50," paliwanag niya.

Maaari umanong lumalala pa ang sitwasyon dahil sa repatriation ng OFWs at mga travel bans sa buong mundo.

"If the official OFW remittances figures of the Bangko Sentral will show further declines in May, June, July and onwards, that would in turn mean more terrible suffering for millions of OFW families. For those on survival mode before the pandemic, they would fall deeper into poverty this year and probably until 2021," ani Datol.

Nangangamba si Datol na sa pagliit ng output ng ekonomiya dahil sa pagsasara ng maraming negosyo, maaaring lumubha pa ang epekto ng pandemic.

"The real estate and housing sector and the banks and other financial institutions could also feel the burn of the drop in OFW remittances because of the resulting dampening of the purchasing power of OFWs, whose spending power had fueled acquisitions of new homes, condominium units, and motor vehicles," ani Datol. - posted at https://ph.mikeligalig.com

DOLE Cash-aid for Workers

REP. JOCELYN P. TULFO
ACT-CIS Party-list
Member, Committee on Social Services
https://www.facebook.com/jocelyntulfoinaction/ | 09177292437

MORAL OBLIGATION OF DOLE TO EXTEND CASH AID AND JOB-MATCHING ASSISTANCE TO ABS-CBN WORKERS DISPLACED AMIDST PANDEMIC

["Millions of  'Kapamilya' will hold us accountable for our words and actions here in Congress." – Rep. Tulfo]

Given the decision of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to deny ABS-CBN Corporation's application for franchise renewal, I urge the Executive branch to immediately task the Department of Labor and Employment to extend cash aid and job-matching assistance to thousands of ABS-CBN workers who will be displaced due to the Philippines' biggest network's shutdown.

We must find ways to aid those thousands of employees caught in the crossfire of the legal dispute by facilitating their transfer to other existing networks or other competing firms in the same sector.

11,071 ang eksaktong bilang ng mga manggagawa ng ABS-CBN. Batid kong malaki ang mababawas sa bilang na iyan ngayong pormal nang inaalis ng Kongreso ang prangkisa ng network at maaari na lamang silang mag-operate online.

Sa gitna ng krisis na dinaranas ng bansa sanhi ng COVID-19 pandemic, marami nang nagsarang kumpanya kaya't lalong mahihirapang maghanap ng trabaho ang mga taga-ABS-CBN lalo pa yung mga may edad na. Kaya't kailangan ng job-matching assistance.

Moral na obligasyon din ng pamahalaan na bigyang ayuda ang mga apektadong trabahador. Ipinapanukala kong isali ang mga displaced  ABS-CBN workers sa kasalukuyang ipinaiiral na one-time cash assistance ng DOLE.

P5,000 cash assistance lamang ang ipinamamahagi ng DOLE. Hindi kalakihang halaga ngunit mabuti na kaysa zero. Madaling makakakuha ng listahan ng mga ABS-CBN employees ang DOLE kaya't madali itong maipapamahagi sa mga susunod na araw.

P5,000 X 11,000 workers = P55 million.

Considering the success of the Department of Finance in securing loans to augment our country's finances, distributing aid totaling P55 million to displaced workers should not be a challenge. So far, the DOF has secured at least $7.8 billion worth of loans and bonds.
 
I am neither a regular Member nor an ex-officio Member of the Committee on Legislative Franchises that is why I do not vote on any franchise application pending before the Committee.

The quest to push for the ABS-CBN franchise renewal is far from over. ABS-CBN supporters may continue to push for franchise renewal. What happened yesterday was not the end.

Members of Congress will have to contend with the political reality that ABS-CBN has a strong following among millions of Filipinos. They are Kapamilya.

The Kapamilya are not trolls. They are real people. There are millions of them and many of them are voters from whom we get our mandate to serve here in Congress.

The Kapamilya will hold us accountable for our words and actions here in Congress.

Some of us may have had their fleeting moments of fame and infamy.

That is the very real political reality on top of considerations of merit, fairness, and justice. (END) - https://news.mikeligalig.com

Couple on Motorcycle Riding During Pandemic

AKO BICOL PARTY-LIST
REP. ALFREDO A. GARBIN, JR.
Vice-Chair, Committee on Justice
Member, Committee on Transportation
One of House Authors, (RA 11469) Bayanihan to Heal As One Act
09177292437 | Twitter @AlfredoGarbin

'Pag mag-asawa, di na kailangan ng "barrier"

SOLON OFFERS SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO KEEP MOTORCYCLE RIDERS, PASSENGERS SAFE FROM COVID-19 https://ph.mikeligalig.com

[Rep. Alfredo Garbin asks for experts' opinion on that shield attachment; also asks IATF anew to allow back riding for other household members]

I thank the IATF for its formal decision soon to allow motorcycle back riding passengers for spouses and living in the same household of motorcycle drivers.

In my letter to the IATF last May 25, I enumerated the various ways proper safety protocols can be strictly observed. I put forth my stand addressing the issues and presented specific ways it could be done with strict implementation.

Nais ko pong umapela sa mga tagapagpatupad ng batas na kapag mag-asawa di na kailangang ng barrier sa pagitan ng angkas at driver.
 
Sabi ng iba kailangan daw ng barrier para di tumalsik yung laway papunta sa pasahero, eh magkasama nga sa bahay yun eh. Mag-asawa yun eh, nagkakaplitan talaga ng bodily fluids yun, so walang sense kung pagdating sa pag-angkas sa motor ire-require pa silang magpakabit ng barrier. Utterly nonsense po.

I appeal to IATF to consider also the motorcycle riders whose passengers are members of their own household are already in close physical contact even before they ride their motorcycle. Example po nito yung mga mag-tatay o nanay, magkapatid, o basta magkasama sa isang bahay.

Since the IATF said it is open to suggestions, I present that instead of the motorcycle shield, both motorcycle driver and passenger wear any of the following sets of gear:

1.   Full face helmet with visor shield;

2.   Face shield and surgical face mask;

3.   N95 face mask and face shield;

4.   Face shield and protective eye shield; or

5.   Full-body personal protective suit

These options, I believe, offer ample protection against respiratory droplets and  pose less road accident hazards under different road and driving conditions.

Any of these options would be better than attaching that plastic shield with frame to the body of motorcycles.

My fear of serious and deadly road accidents from that shield attachment is real. The trade-off of risks is unacceptable.

Takaw aksidente ang tawag sa mga bagay tulad ng mahiwagang "barrier" na gusto ng IATF.

Insurance premiums for motorcycles and riders should go up if that attachment is going to be used.

I suggest to the IATF that they consult automotive engineers and motorcycle safety experts on that motorcycle attachment and other proposed means to protect both rider and passenger, not just from COVID-19 but also from road accidents.

If they have expert opinion on the use of that shield attachment, I hope it comes from people like the motorcycle makers, engineers, and scientists who actually do research and experiments on moving vehicles, aerosol behavior, aerodynamics, and the physics of moving vehicles.  (END)