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Showing posts with label State of the Nation Address. Show all posts
Showing posts with label State of the Nation Address. Show all posts

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Catholic Bishops, Civil Liberty Champs and Millennials to Protest Duterte's Fake SONA


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Church leaders, progressive lawmakers, civil society groups and youth leaders will stage on Monday a day-long "Counter SONA" to protest what they said will be President Rodrigo Duterte's "truth-challenged" State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Organized by the Gathering of Civil Liberties (GCL), Akbayan Party, Kilusan para sa Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME), #YouthResist, Millenials Against Dictators (MAD) and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), the event will protest Duterte's bloody war on drugs, the extension of Martial law in Mindanao and what they called the President's "rising authoritarianism."

The event is also supported by Caloocan Bishop Deogracias IƱiguez, Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias and Father Rudy Abao.

Cultural performances, film showings, speeches and creative youth protests will mark the event, highlighted by a series of masses dubbed as "12-6-12" to be held at 12 midnight, 6:00 AM and 12 noon of the 24th of July. 


Midnight mass and candle-lighting vigil

The midnight mass, to be officiated by Iniguez, will conclude with a candle-lighting protest against extrajudicial killings and Martial Law. A people's vigil will follow shortly after. Senator Risa Hontiveros, Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, KME leader Jimmy Regalario, Church leaders, and youth leaders are expected to lead the event. 


Morning mass

The 6:00 AM mass will be officiated by Tobias. The Bishop will deliver a message on the need for people to unite and not lose hope amid a growing climate of killings and impunity. 


High noon mass

Meanwhile, the 12 noonn mass will be administered by Abao. Prominent civil liberty defenders, progressive lawmakers and sectoral leaders are expected to attend the activity. 


Millennials' "human #hashtag protest"

At exactly 1:00 PM, youth and student leaders will lead a "human #hashtag protest" and noise barrage. The protest will be led by #YouthResist, the broad youth and student formatiom which also organized the massive protest against EJKs at St. Scholastica's College. They said that their protest will "connect the millennials' online anger to offline protests against the culture of killing and resentment for democracy under the Duterte government."


People's verdict: Fake SONA

Afterwards, an ALT-SONA (Alternative SONA) will commence together with a people's viewing of Duterte's 2nd SONA. The protesters will declare the president's annual report to the nation as "fake SONA."

"We will stand for the defense of truth, fact and the right to life, despite the fact that this government has tried to deceive us with fake news, the stifling of dissent and the normalization of violence. We will stand our ground," said Karla Yu, spokesperson of #YouthResist.

Organizers of the day-long event expect a minimum of 2 thousand people to attend their day-long event, majority of whom, they said, will come from the youth sector.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Duterte Government Achieves Twitter Milestone for #SONA2016


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Over 280,000 tweets during the live TV broadcast of President Duterte’s first-ever State of the Nation Address (SONA)

With much anticipation from Filipinos worldwide, newly-elected Philippine President Rodrigo ‘Roa’ Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) and Twitter served as a platform for Filipinos around the world to share their thoughts and reactions on this momentous event. In fact, Filipinos and Philippines’ watchers sent over 280,000 Tweets during the live TV broadcast (from 2pm to 6pm today), peaking at over 3,000 Tweets per minute when he talked about the implementation of Reproductive Health Law at 4:29pm during #SONA2016.


Embeddable chart: http://reverb.twitter.com/view/475509772371776894

Embed code: <iframe src='http://reverb.twitter.com/view/475509772371776894' width='768px' height='432px'></iframe>

There were several notable conversations on Twitter about the President’s first public address since the inauguration. In addition, the most shared and liked Tweets reflected the points raised during the President’s 92-minute speech that resonated the most among Filipino citizens.

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/vicegandako/status/757511876221677568

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/coleengarcia/status/757495367499849729

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/bongbongmarcos/status/757493906636468224?lang=en

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/Cinephilliacy/status/757489430848425984

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/allanplusdale/status/757491562515304449


“The ability to connect, comment and discuss with others in real-time, especially on a significant event like the President’s first State of the Nation Address is important for the Filipino democracy,” said Pratiksha Rao, Head of Media Partnerships, Twitter Southeast Asia. “This is why we are honored to partner with the current administration and empower them with the necessary platform and tools to make its digital governance efforts possible within and beyond the country’s borders.”

As expected, many Twitter users also made light of some highlights during the speech, welcoming the President’s serious message with humor.


Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/OhGerald/status/757484504176918528

Embeddable Tweet:https://twitter.com/IamEthylGabison/status/757487124429975553

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/NicoleCurato/status/757441315801935872


Finally, video Tweets from the @PresidentialCom account gave behind-the-scenes access to the latest happenings at Batasang Pambansa before the start of #SONA2016.

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/PresidentialCom/status/757486972768137217

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/PresidentialCom/status/757482564227506176

#SONA2016: Commendable But Lacks Human Rights Lens


Wazzup Pilipinas!
Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros today said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) has laudable parts but lacked a strong human rights framework.

"I commend President Duterte's commitment to implement the RH Law to the full extent of the law and expand the coverage of the PhilHealth. Together with the enactment of other important health measures, I am hopeful that we will soon provide universal healthcare for the people," Hontiveros.

The neophyte Senator also praised Duterte's recognition of The Hague ruling over the West Philippine Sea. Hontiveros said the ruling must be used by the government to mobilize allies and international public opinion to assert the country's sovereignty and in advancing genuine peace and stability in the region.

Meanwhile, Hontiveros welcomed Duterte's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP-NPA-NDF. "At a time when it is easier to wage war than seek peace, President Duterte's decision is a bold move. I challenge the armed communist left to match this gesture by imposing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire,"the Senator said.

However, Hontiveros lamented the lack of human rights lens in Duterte's SONA. She expressed her concern over the President's order to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to double or triple its anti-crime and anti-illegal drugs efforts and put all alleged criminals and drug pushers "below the ground."

"It could be percieved as public endorsement of more extrajuidicial killings. I am afraid that President Duterte's statement might further embolden some overzealous police elements and vigilantes to disregard the rule of law and circumvent our juidicial system," she explained.

Hontiveros also took exception with President Duterte's warning "not to use human rights to destroy the country."

"It's dangerous. The statement puts human rights advocates and criminals in one basket. It makes human rights defenders target of random killings done in the name of fighting crime," she said.

"President Duterte must understand that safeguarding human rights is not anathema to the effort to protect the people from crime. The day we abandon human rights is the day we commit the highest of crimes: the failure to recognize the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all people," Hontiveros concluded.

Department of Energy's Response to Duterte's SONA


Wazzup Pilipinas!

Here is the response of the Department of Energy (DOE) to the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte last Monday (July 25, 2016) at the Batansang Pambansa Complex.


a) Stand on Coal


The Department of Energy supports President Rodrigo R. Duterte on accelerating economic growth by implementing energy policies that will meet the country’s specific requirements, especially baseload capacities.

The DOE is mandated to ensure energy supply as the country is still in the process of industrialization. It should be emphasized that the Philippines, as a developing country, has low carbon emissions. The country must therefore use whatever energy resources are available and affordable for power generation.


b) Direct access to electricity by the marginalized sectors and informal settlers as well as settlers in relocation sites:

(Please refer to attached PR on DOE Strengthens Partnership with MERALCO)


Oil Industry

a) Oil Price Adjustments:

STATEMENT: Prices of petroleum product will decrease by 10 cents (gasoline), 35 cents (diesel) and 30 cents (kerosene) due to weak demand in Asian market caused by heavy rains in large oil-consuming countries like China and India, and the stronger peso. Chevron, Eastern Petroleum, Flying V, Petron and Seaoil implemented price rollback today (26 July) at 12:01 a.m., while City Oil, Jetti, Phoenix Petroleum, PTT and Shell effected rollback at 6:00 a.m.


Power Industry

a) Ilijan Underpayments of San Miguel:

STATEMENT: The termination will have no effect on the operations of the Ilijan plant, as the plant is being operated by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) through KEPCO Ilijan Corporation.

The contract termination promotes consumers’ interest as the collection of outstanding amount will translate to a reduction of NPC stranded debts that will be recovered through the universal charge. The unpaid amount of SPPC forms part of the privatization proceeds to be utilized to liquidate the financial obligations of National Power Corporation (NPC) pursuant to the EPIRA. This was noted by the Commission on Audit in its qualified opinion for PSALM’s 2014 Annual Report wherein it cited that collections from SPPC are not sufficient to pay for the capacity fees and energy fees due to IPP, fuel expenses and other related expenses necessary for the operation of the said Power Plant, and for the amortization of the outstanding loans of PSALM.

DETAILS: The management and control of the contracted energy output of the Ilijan Plant was transferred to San Miguel Corporation (SMC) on 26 June 2010 as it posted the highest bid of USD870 million (USD870,000,473) and complied with all the Administrator Conditions Precedent. SMC later assigned the IPPA Administration Agreement (AA) to its wholly-owned subsidiary South Premiere Power Corporation (SPPC).

Under the terms of the Ilijan AA, SPPC has the obligation to pay PSALM generation payments and fixed monthly payments.

b) Universal Charge Application of Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM):

STATEMENT: The Department of Energy is studying all options how to lower the universal charge being passed on to consumers. This is one of the mechanisms that the DOE is considering to lower the price of electricity. We hope to come up with a win-win solution for all affected stakeholders.


DETAILS:

a. Universal Charge Remittances, Interests & Disbursements Charge Remittances, Interests & Disbursements


As of 31 May 2016, remittances of collecting entities (CEs) to PSALM amounted to PhP94.817 billion with interest earnings from deposits and placements of UC funds amounted to PhP0.147 billion. On the other hand, UC fund disbursement amounted to PhP94.496 billion. Below are the details of UC remittances, interests and disbursements:

UC Collections as of 31 May 2016 (in Billion PhP)

Particulars
Remittances
Interests
Disbursements
Balance
Special Trust Fund –  Missionary Electrification (ME)   NPC-SPUG

55.260

0.044

55.289

0.015
Special Trust Fund – ME Renewable Energy Developer Cash Incentive (REDCI)

0.246

0.000

0.141

0.105
Special Trust Fund – Environmental Charge (EC)

1.721

0.095

1.491

0.325
Special Trust Fund – Stranded Contract Cost (SCC)

37.590

0.008

37.575

0.023
     TOTAL
94.817
0.147
94.496
0.468
      Source: PSALM

Accounting for the inflows and outflows of the UC fund leaves it with a balance of about PhP0.468 billion as of 31 May 2016.

b. Remittances for CY 2016

For the period November, 2015 to May, 2016, PSALM received Php13.945 billion in UC remittances broken down as follows:

UC Remittances to PSALM for the period November 2015 to May 2016 (In Php Billion)

 
Month
UC-ME
(NPC-SPUG)
UC-ME
(REDCI)
UC – EWR
UC - SCC
Total/Month
November
0.906*
0.010*
0.015
1.142
2.073
December
0.844
0.010
0.013*
1.048
1.915
January
0.917
0.010
0.015
1.145
2.087
February
0.858
0.009*
0.014
1.075
1.956
March
0.826
0.009
0.013
1.031
1.879
April
0.904
0.010
0.015
1.126
2.055
May
0.870
0.010
0.014
1.086
1.980
Total
6.125
0.068
0.099
7.653
13.945
Source: PSALM * Difference of .001 with previous reports was due to rounding off

c. Disbursements for CY 2016

For the period November, 2015 to May, 2016, PSALM disbursed a total amount of Php13.810 billion to UC beneficiaries as follows:

UC Disbursements of PSALM for the Period November 2015 – May  2016 (in Php Billion)Month
ME
(NPC-SPUG)
ME (REDCI)
UC-SCC1/
Total/Month
November 2015
0.906*
0.003
1.143
2.052
December 2015
0.834
-
1.036
1.870
January
0.925
-
1.151
2.076
February
0.857
0.002
1.075
1.934
March
0.823
0.006
1.026
1.855
April
0.915
0.004
1.149
2.068
May
0.872
0.007
1.076
1.955
Total
6.132
0.022
7.656
13.810


For the period January to May 2016, PSALM disbursed PhP4.392 billion to NPC-SPUG to fund missionary electrification functions, chargeable against the UC-ME fund. This is pursuant to the following ERC Decisions/Orders:

Date
Particulars
ERC Case No.
12 August 2013
ERC Decision on CY 2011 True-up Adjustments (PhP4.651 billion)
2012-085 RC
10 October 2013
ERC Decision on CY 2010 True-up Adjustments (PhP2.566 billion)
2012-046 RC
03 November 2013 & 17 August 2015
ERC Order on CY 2015 UC-ME Subsidy
2014-135 RC
20 April 2015
ERC Order on CY 2014 UC-ME Subsidy (PhP2.763 billion)
2012-85    

In accordance with the ERC decision dated 28 January 2013 under Case No. 2011-091 RC, the amount of PhP5.477 billion was transferred from the UC-SCC STF to the UC-SCC SFA for the period January to May 2016.


d. ERC Approved UC Rates

The table below shows the ERC-approved UC rates being implemented as of 31 May 2016:

Type of UC
PhP/kWh
UC-ME
0.1561
UC-EC
0.0025
UC-SCC
0.1938
Total
0.3524

c) SPEX/Malampaya Arbitration:

STATEMENT: The Department of Energy’s thrust is to take a nationalistic approach, which requires a unified stand by the various agencies of government involved to protect the rights and interests of Filipinos.


DETAILS:

Updates on COA (Commission Proper, Local Proceedings):
·        Pending resolution of the Motion for Reconsideration filed by SPEX & Chevron.
·    COA held hearings on June 7 and 27, 2016, in which SPEX and Chevron presented additional documents and witnesses, including former PM Cesar Virata, former DOE Sec. Raphael Lotilla, and former DOE Undersecretary Rufino Bomasang.
·        SPEX and Chevron filed their Memorandum on 04 July 2016.

Updates on International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration (Venue: Singapore)

·        The GRP challenged the jurisdiction of the ICC tribunal.
·       May 2016 - ICC Tribunal decided to first hear the jurisdictional issues and will hold hearings thereon in November 2016.
  
Updates on International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes Arbitration (Venue: Washington, USA)

·        June 27,2016 – SPEX filed the Request for Arbitration (RFA)
·      June 28, 2016 – ICSID acknowledged receipt of the RFA and notified the Office of the Solicitor General and the PH Embassy in Washington DC about said filing of the RFA.
·        July 20, 2016 – ICSID registered the RFA.

d) Agus-Pulangui Privatization Stand per Conversation with Electric Coops:

e) DOE Discussion with PSALM/Department of Finance on Continuing Privatization of Power Assets:

STATEMENT (d/e): The Department of Energy anchors its directions on the merits of the EPIRA. For Malaya Thermal, it is targeted to be bid out by 2018. The DOE will consult the legislative body on privatizing the Agus & Pulangi Hydro Complexes.

Meanwhile, the sale of Bataan Thermal and Bataan Gas Turbines is still pending subject to the resolution of the court involving their assets.

DETAILS:

Indicative Privatization Schedule

Schedule of Privatization for Generating Assets as of 30 June 2016

Asset Type/
Plant Name
Rated Capacity (MW)
Bid Date
Turnover Date
Owned Generating Plants
Malaya Thermal
650.00
1st Semester 2018
2nd Semester 2018
Agus 1 & 2 Hydro
260.00
2017
Subject to consultation with Congress as provided under the EPIRA
Agus 4 & 5 Hydro
213.10
Agus 6 & 7 Hydro
254.00
Pulangui Hydro
255.00
Decommissioned Plants
Sucat Thermal
850.00
2nd Semester 2016
2nd Semester 2016
Bataan Thermal
175.00
Sale/disposal is subject to resolution of court cases involving the asset
Bataan Gas Turbines
120.00
Source: PSALM

PSALM requested DOE for “no objection” on the transfer of ownership and physical possession of PB 104 to SPC Island Corporation (SIPC) relative to its privatization. The DOE in its memorandum dated 27 June 2016 advised PSALM that it does not object to the said transfer of PB 104 to SIPC in line with the agreements reached during the 22 December 2015 PSALM Board Meeting.


f) DOE Direction for NEA on Continuing Mess at Albay Electric Cooperative:

STATEMENT: The Department of Energy (DOE) will continue to closely monitor the concerns of ailing distribution utilities/electric cooperatives to finally resolve their financial obligations and help them improve their operations. Coordination with PEMC is continuing.

DETAILS:


1. Financial and Operational Parameters


NEA classified ALECO in 2015 as one of the ailing ECs based on the following financial & operational parameters which are not complied with under RA 10531 guidelines, as per its latest submission of data on April 30, 2016:

·      Insufficient Cash General Fund to cover the one month working capital for power and non-power cost;
·        The EC’s collection efficiency is only 84.43% which is below the 95% standard of NEA;
·        The EC posted a net margin of Php 8.529 million;
·    The EC’s networth is negative Php76.254 million, its liabilities is almost Php2.731 billion;
·       The EC posted a systems loss of 20.46% which is higher than the 13% systems loss cap.

2) Financial Status (Payables)
·       ALECO has a total of Php1,161.884 million power payables:

Agency
Amount (Php’000)

APRI
Php 29.400 Million
As of  June 30, 2016
PEMC - Current
            - Arrears
TOTAL
Php 124.907 Million
Php 982.844 Million
PhP 1,107.751 Million
As of July, 2016
PSALM
Php 2.320 Million
As of April 30, 2016
NGCP
Php 22.413M
As of  June 30, 2016









As of March 11, 2016, ALECO’s Operations Manager, Mr. Balgemino informed DOE that the Concession Agreement is sufficient for PEMC to defer the payment arrears amounting to PhP 1.240 billion. Mr. Balgemino also informed DOE that the Concession Agreement is sufficient for PEMC to know that APEC is now taking care of the business of ALECO. On APEC’s current arrears in the amount of PhP78.678 million, APEC sent a request for restructuring of their current power payables with payment terms of twelve months starting March 15, 2016 on top of their current bills.

Renewable Energy

a) Additional Approval on 2nd wave of Feed-in Tariff for Solar:

STATEMENT: The Technical Audit teams will assist us in deciding on the area and the rate to be considered in hosting renewable energy (RE) projects.

The area, meaning Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, can even include specific islands that can accommodate more RE projects and consider an energy mix of baseload, mid-merit and peaking plants. The rates will be evaluated so that these will result in minimal cost to consumers.
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