Saturday, August 11, 2018

De Lima files bill on incentivizing use of solar energy in households

As a way to lower energy costs and reduce carbon footprint in the country, Senator Leila de Lima has filed a measure seeking to incentivize and promote the use of solar energy in households.

In a statement, the senator said she filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1904 which seeks to promote the use of renewable energy providing incentives and credit facilities for households utilizing solar power systems.

“This bill seeks to institutionalize the provision of adequate incentive mechanisms for small households in order to help ease and expedite their transition to renewable energy sources and thus contribute to the nation’s pursuit towards reducing its overall carbon footprint,” de Lima said.

Under her proposed measure, the Department of Finance (DOF) and concerned agencies shall draw up appropriate mechanisms for the grant of subsidies, establishment of guarantee funds, tax credits, and rebates on the purchase and installation of small solar power system for residential use.

"These incentive mechanisms shall be implemented in tranches beginning from a subsidy of 75 percent of the basic cost for the installation of small solar power systems in the first three years of this Act’s implementation, 50 percent on the next three years, and 25 percent on the seventh year onward," the senator said.

“The installation of small solar power systems shall be granted expedited plan checks and shall be exempt from the payment of building permit fees. The total cost of the solar power system shall further be excluded from the computation and payment of real property taxes,” she added.

The DOF, in coordination with Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Renewable Energy Board shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of the proposed measure to be known as the “Small Solar Power System Incentives Act of 2018.”

In 2016, the DOE reported that approximately 24 percent of power generated nationwide came from Renewable Energy (RE)–based generation facilities.

Upon closer inspection, de Lima said the data revealed that only 1 percent of all renewable energy in 2016 was generated from solar photovoltaic systems.

De Lima said utilizing solar energy is an endeavor that should be considered by the government because “generating electricity by way of harvesting solar energy is becoming cheaper as the years go by.”

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the cost of power generation from solar photovoltaic systems has fallen by 73 percent since 2010 and is projected to be further cut by half in the year 2020.

De Lima also said that solar panels are relatively easy to acquire, transport, and install, noting that it only takes a few hours to a few days for larger arrays.

“This ease of access is what makes solar panels unique from other energy sources—renewable or otherwise,” she said.

“The sooner the nation adopts policies promoting renewable energy sources, the closer it is to achieving energy independence,” she added. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/663773/de-lima-files-bill-on-incentivizing-use-of-solar-energy-in-households/story/

The Bangsamoro should defy the NFA

The simplest and least expensive move for fighting poverty is to let any Filipino be free to buy cheaper rice from abroad. The great enemy of this move is the National Food Authority (see “End the NFA monopoly!” Opinion, 4/22/17).

Rice costs only half as much in Thailand. The wholesale price of rice in the Bangkok metropolis in June 2018 (latest available month) was 12,360 baht per metric ton, for 5 percent broken rice, which is high quality. This is only 19.78 pesos per kg at the exchange rate of 1.60 Philippine pesos per Thai baht (price data from the Bank of Thailand: http://www2/bot.or.th/statistics/ReportPage.aspx?reportID=898&language=eng).

On the other hand, the wholesale price per kg of well-milled rice was42.30 pesos in the Philippines as a whole, and 40.40 pesos in Metro Manila in particular, as of the third week of July (source, Philippine Statistics Authority: https://psa.gov.ph/content/updates-palay-rice-and-corn-prices-0).

The government is failing on its promise to remove controls over rice imports. Sadly, there is no reduction in the NFA’s rice import monopoly in House Bill No. 7735, “An act replacing the quantitative import restrictions on rice with tariffs and creating the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.” The bill lets the NFA retain “sole authority to undertake the direct importation of rice, of ensuring food security and maintaining sufficient national buffer stocks.”

Then it authorizes the NFA “to allocate import permits among certified and licensed importers for importation other than maintaining buffer stocks.” This only solidifies the NFA’s present powers to decide the rice importation details of how much, when and (most of all) who.

HB 7735 also provides that “for imported rice originating from ASEAN Member States, the import duty rate commitments of the Philippines in the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) shall be adopted.”

The import duty for rice was already reduced to 35 percent in 2015, by Executive Order No. 894 (6/18/2010). To me, that is at least 30 percent too high, since ATIGA sets 0-5 percent as the normal tariff for the area. I think the ideal tariff is zero.

The Bangsamoro has a way to defy the NFA, however. The new Bangsamoro Organic Law, RA No. 11054, states in Art. XIII, Sec. 28, “Economic Zones, Industrial Estates, and Free Ports,” that the Bangsamoro Government may establish a Bangsamoro Economic Zone Authority (BEZA), with similar powers as those of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. Its Parliament may provide such additional powers and functions to the BEZA as may be necessary to meet the special circumstances of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

There is a proviso that “for goods consumed and services rendered outside the established economic zones, industrial estates, and free ports in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, all relevant national taxes shall be imposed.” But the section also states: “The area of coverage of a free port may be so much as may be necessary of that portion of the constituent local government units of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, subject to such criteria as the Parliament may provide in a law for that purpose.”

This suggests that the economy of the entire region could be organized to be as free as that of Hong Kong.

I hope the Bangsamoro people will work rapidly to set up their government, and take full advantage of all the economic freedom that seems available in their new organic law. Their looming prosperity will make them the envy of Filipinos everywhere.

Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/115289/bangsamoro-defy-nfa#ixzz5NzJZ95hU
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Entertaining show at The Theatre

We had the chance to watch “Music And Laughter” last July 27 at The Theatre of Solaire Resort & Casino, and we had a wonderful time listening to Willie Nepomuceno as he cracked jokes between his songs and Nonoy Zuñiga’s rendition of romantic songs he popularized in the past.

Wille Nepomuceno and Nonoy Zuñiga

Among Nonoy’s trademark songs which he rendered were “Never Ever Say Goodbye,” “Kumusta Ka?,” “Love Without Time” and “Fragments Of Forever.”

It was a very entertaining show. Willie Nep did not do much impersonation, but he impressed us with his act on former Pres. Erap Estrada now Mayor of Manila. We also enjoyed his Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion numbers.

Grand Leisure Corporation was the producer of “Music And Laughter,” in cooperation with Solaire Resort & Casino while co-presenter was Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines.

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Mr. & Ms. Travel Ambassadors

The Search for Mr. and Ms Travel Ambassadors – Philippines 2018 is ongoing. This is a project of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies – Philippines, Inc. (NAITAS) NCR-North Chapter in collaboration with Quezon City Tourism Council (QCTC) and in partnership with Eastwood Mall (Megaworld Corporation).

In photo are Michael Reyes, Chapter president NAITAS (right) and Richard Hiñola, PR and marketing consultant for Mr. and Ms. Travel Ambassador Philippines 2018
Grand coronation night will be on Oct. 14, 8 p.m. at Citywalk Plaza, Eastwood City. The winner will receive R50,000 cash and trip To Hong Kong, Runners Up will also receive cash and a chance to travel to Palawan, Boracay and Siargao.

Screening of candidates is on Aug. 10-11, 3:30-6:30 p.m. in Quezon City.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Aug. 11, go to John Gokongwei, Cory Quirino, Dr. Francis Agcaoili, Susan del Rosario, Marion Borja, Claire Isidro, Chat Sacay, Alex Ilagan, Menchie Du-lay, Lydia Hao, Susan Claire Agbayani, Jo Fandino, Prosy dela Cruz, Jojo Aguas, Billy Pascua, baby Alexa Deriquito and Jim PebancoAug. 12: Aga Muhlach, Gloria Ignacio, Tessie Rosales, Roberto Za Gaw, Pinky David, Yolanda Federigan, Duds Santiago, Gigi Matibag-Evia, Atty. Jowee Ann Marquez, Ernie Garcia, Steven Young, Tiny Corpuz, Riza Moizes,  Iza Calzado and Marian RiveraAug. 13: Gabby Lopez, Gen. Vidal Querol, Ambeth Ocampo, Ace Palabrica, Sunny dela Luna, Prof. Reynaldo Tamayo, Daisy Vergara, Cedric Ranada, Josephine Zarate, Joel Garcia, Nellie Damson, Joa-quin Anton Co-Unjieng, Rysa Rigos, Mon Cualoping and Thea TolentinoAug. 14: Auggie Cordero, Nolie Hans, Hubert de Joya, Zeny Salgado, Letty Tumangan, Nancy Quimpo, Gigi Buhay, Lyle Marie Escano Bodomo, Carlo Gonzalez, Mayor Charlie Pizarro, Ligaya Salonga and Kim Rodriguez…

https://entertainment.mb.com.ph/2018/08/10/entertaining-show-at-the-theatre/