Good News....

[baron]

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Super ferry and Cebu Pacific are offering their help so that our evacuees can be repatriated in our country. This could probably be an answer for those evacuees who are asking for the help of private organizations. As much as the government has been exerting efforts to ensure the implementation of the evacuation plan for our Filipinos there, the government may welcome such offer especially now that the conflict between Lebanon and Israel is escalating.

Filipinos really have this tendency to be united in times of need. After all, Filipinos have strong family ties. We're one big family.

[clarkhkent]

@baron....naa kay link sa news about ana bro?

[grabehbebe]

Sultan Energy to build $500-M coal-fired plant

Sultan Energy Philippines Corp. and MG Mining and Energy Corp. will invest more than $500 million to set up a coal-fired power plant and expand the capacity of an open-pit coal mine in Bislig, Surigao del Sur, a top company official said.

Sultan Energy Phils. president Rufino B. Bomasang said they are looking at various options for raising funds for the power plant and coal mine project. Bomasang, a former key official of the Philippine National Oil Corp. is also the vice chairman of MG Mining.

The power plant will have a initial capacity of 200 megawatts (MW), with the option to increase to 400 MW as demand increases.

Likewise, the present capacity of the Bislig coal mine at just 500 tons per day will be increased to roughly 700,000 metric tons when the power plant is fully operational in 2011.

"We are prepared to infuse capital, borrow money, to invite strategic partners for a joint venture, and to even have it listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange," Bomasang said in a briefing.

When operational, the coal-fired plant has the potential to supply power to the rest of Mindanao. In the event of excess capacity, it can sell power to the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM).

National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) president Alan Ortiz said the deal is beneficial to the National Government as there will be no cash out required.

Under the agreement, TransCo will assume control, operation, and maintenance of the plant "subject to a charge to be imposed on MG Mining and Sultan Energy."

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608100703.htm

[baron]

The government launched the Mayon Express Relief Train to provide continuous and unimpeded disaster relief to our kababayans in the area. It also shows that our rail system still has its significance in times like this. Even if NPA attacks are present in the area, the government really wanted to provide continuous relief operations to our evacuees in the Mt. Mayon area with such initiatives.

[grabehbebe]

Palace resigned to Pinoys’ desire to work abroad

Malacañang is resigned to the fact that many Filipinos would prefer to leave the country given the opportunity at present but maintained yesterday the government has been working hard to improve the country’s condition and make the people stay.

"We must never fault any Filipino for wanting to find greener pastures abroad — and we do acknowledge their sacrifices," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a statement.

"But with our good economic indicators and the growing spirit of enterprise among Filipinos, we hope to eventually reverse the trend," Bunye said.

The government has been saying the economy is on a "winning streak" driven by tough presidential decisions and the "payback to the people is starting to flow down in terms of more jobs, infrastructure and basic social services."

President Arroyo said the government was rushing public investments to provide jobs and could now improve its social services using fresh revenues from fiscal reforms.

@:http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608110407.htm

[baron]

As per the news, we will have lowered electric bills this August as an aftermath of spot power mart.
Aside from the usual things we do, we can rely on this so that when you encounter your bills for this month, we will have lower than usual electric bills.

Also, we have higher agricultural exports by 4.26%. It seems our local products are also stabilizing to a greater extent.

[usrolla]

lets all hope that this would go a long way...not just a short term :mrgreen: improvement

[grabehbebe]

Part makers offer P350,000 People’s Car

The Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines has initially proposed P350,000 as the selling price of a new vehicle under the People’s Car Program.

The association has been pushing for the revival of the program in a bid to increase sales volume of the local auto industry.

It is looking at selling a new car under the People’s Car Program at P350,000 with a local value-added content of 60 percent and compliant to the Clean Air Act.

“Local auto parts makers are advocating for a Philippine Utility Vehicle Program, one wherein locally-assembled brand-new utility vehicles will be produced at the price of an imported used vehicle but with a high level of local value-added parts,” the group said in a statement.

The revival of this program is seen to boost the sales of local auto parts as more and more assemblers are importing fully-built vehicles instead of assembling them locally with local components.

“Vehicle sales reports on the previous priced-based People’s Car Program showed that only the Kia Pride survived until 2003, after hanging on as the only survivor since 2000 in an auto market that was price sensitive. It sold only 180 units that year,” the association said.

Number of auto parts makers went down to 173 today from its peak of 256 in 1996 due to the downfall of the People’s Car Program. Most of them are operating at only 40-percent plant capacity utilization.
Records at the Land Transportation Office show that only 97,067 of the total new vehicle registrations came from the local auto industry last year and the huge balance of 76,604 came from the “gray” auto market, which included the backyard manufacturers, the diplomatic corps and nonmembers of the Chamber of Auto Manufacturers of the Phils. and the Truck Manufacturers Association.

A tripartite working group, composed of the Board of Investments, the auto assemblers and auto parts makers, is reviewing government’s past auto development programs.

The group is also analyzing how a new one can be developed to spur the sales volume of the local industry, particularly vehicles manufactured from completely knocked down kits, or those vehicles that need local assembly.

Vehicle assemblers have generated about P50 billion investments while parts makers generated P30 billion.
The vehicle manufacturers employed over 9,000 workers while the parts manufacturers over 28,000 workers. All of these employees are depending on a viable auto industry for their livelihood. Elaine Ruzul S. Ramos


source:http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?...s03_aug15_2006

[baron]

Supreme Court ordered refunds for Meralco customers.
That would certainly be good news to everyone.

On the other end, concerned government agencies can begin a broader campaign to provide better services for consumers and to secure basic consumer rights thereby informing the citizenry better.

[grabehbebe]

Palace to monitor Meralco compliance with refund order

Malacañang said yesterday it would monitor the Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) compliance with the Supreme Court’s order to refund the unauthorized increase of 13.27 centavos per kilowatt-hour in the generation charge it has imposed on consumers.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the Palace welcomed the ruling, as it would again benefit the public.

"We take this as another victory for the people on whose welfare the Supreme Court has consistently ruled," Bunye said.

He expressed confidence that Meralco would find a way to comply with the mandate of justice.

"We assure the public that the executive will continuously monitor the firm’s compliance on the high court’s order," Bunye added.

Meralco president Jesus Francisco himself earlier gave assurances that they would abide by the decision of the high tribunal.

Initial estimates show that Meralco would need to refund some P800 million to its customers. The SC, though, had suggested that the amount be credited to customers’ future billings.

The increase was approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on June 2, 2004, bringing the generation charge to P3.32 per kilowatt-hour from P3.18.

With the SC ruling, it’s now back to P3.18 per kilowatt-hour. — Aurea Calica

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200608180406.htm