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PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has sought a ‘reset’ of talks with Beijing to prevent future violent confrontation between the Chinese Coast Guard and members of the Philippine Army during his meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan earlier this week.

This, after two members of the Philippine Navy were hurt by people onboard a Chinese Coast Guard vessel at the Ayungin Shoal last Monday.

Marcos condemned the incident, which prompted him to summon the Chinese Ambassador.

‘Whatever issues exist between China and the Philippines, he [Marcos] wants a reset in those discussions. The Chinese ambassador heard him, and the President also heard [the position of the] Chinese ambassador; so, hopefully, this leads to a better outcome,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Thursday.

Castro declined to give further details about the meeting, which lasted an hour and 20 minutes at the Palace, but she said its outcome appears to be positive.

As to the Chinese embassy’s claim that the Ayungin incident happened after the Philippines allegedly violated the terms of a supposed 2024 arrangement between Manila and Beijing by doing construction work in BRP Sierra Madre, Castro said she has no information on the matter. The DFA has denied there was such an arrangement.

BRP Sierra Madre is a Philippine Navy ship, which was intentionally ran aground in the Ayungin Shoal to allow the country maintain its territorial claim in the area.

Castro challenged the Chinese embassy to release a copy of the said 2024 agreement.

The Presidential Communications Office undersecretary said the Philippine government is still open to holding future talks with China despite its repeated efforts to encroach on parts of the West Philippine Sea.

‘We should always act in good faith. We should always have in mind that we are dealing with people who will also be in good faith. It is difficult to [make a] deal when you immediately think that the person you are talking to is lying,’ Castro said.

In a related development, Marcos visited the two Philippine Navy members who were hurt from the Ayungin mishap, at the Camp Ricarte Station Hospital sa Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on Thursday.

The chief executive recognized the bravery and faithful service to the nation, and conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu upon the two soldiers and awarded them financial assistance of P100,000 each.

GMA Network once again affirmed its excellence in broadcast, entertainment, and public service as its programs and personalities emerged among the biggest winners at the first-ever FAMAS Broadcast Awards.

Multi-awarded broadcast journalist Kara David led the network’s roster of winners during the awarding ceremony held on July 20 at The Manila Hotel. She earned three major accolades: Best Documentary for I-Witness’ ‘Embalsamador De Motor,’ Best Public Affairs Talk Show for I-Listen, and Best Host for Public Service for I-Listen. GMA Public Affairs continued its strong showing with Born to Be Wild winning Best Educational Show and Biyahe ni Drew taking home the award for Best Lifestyle Show.

These recognitions further underscore GMA Public Affairs’ enduring commitment to producing thought-provoking documentaries, informative programs, and meaningful stories that inspire, educate, and create a positive impact. GMA Entertainment likewise extended its winning streak, proving its ability to deliver programs that not only captivate audiences, but also create lasting connections with Filipino viewers.

Family Feud was named Best Show for Game, Reality and Competition, while Fast Talk with Boy Abunda received the award for Best Entertainment Talk Show.

Sparkle star Kelvin Miranda brought home the Best Performer for Series and Anthology award for his role in the epic series Sanggre: Encantadia Chronicles.

Meanwhile, the country’s top-rating noontime program It’s Showtime was recognized as Best Variety Show, with Vice Ganda taking home the award for Best Host for Entertainment.

CHINESE Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro exchanged protests over the July 20 maritime clash at Ayungin Shoal, underscoring the deepening strain in bilateral ties.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Wang lodged a ‘strong protest against the reckless act’ of Philippine Navy sailors, accusing them of ramming inflatable boats into a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel. Beijing insisted the Philippine side provoked the incident-a claim the Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied.

The exchange took place during Wang and Lazaro’s bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asean-related ministerial meetings in Manila, their first Foreign Minister-level engagement in two years.

The DFA earlier said Lazaro protested the ‘violent’ incident that injured a Filipino soldier, while also raising Manila’s objections to the July 10 AI-generated China Daily video portraying Filipinos as ‘stupid monkeys’ and as lackeys of the US and Japan.

On Thursday, a third incident tested the Asian neighbors’ relations: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported being harassed by the CCG as it, along with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), conducted fuel subsidy missions for Filipino fishermen at Bajo de Masinloc (BdM). The CCG side used its water cannon and at one point, executed a dangerous maneuver, crossing approximately 500 meters ahead of the bow of BRP Datu Paiburong (MMOV-3018).

Relations at a crossroads

Amid this chain of incidents, Guo quoted Foreign Minister Wang as saying. ‘China-Philippines relations now stand at a crossroads, and it falls on the Philippines to make a right and rational choice about the way forward.’

Wang questioned the timing of the Ayungin clash, noting it occurred a day before his scheduled visit to Manila. He alleged that ‘some forces in the military and police’ deliberately create incidents to derail dialogue, acting on the ‘bidding of external forces’ rather than the well-being of Filipinos.

Wang warned that attempts to ‘provoke trouble with the help of external forces’ would only cause the Philippines to ‘reap what it sows.’

He urged Manila to stop provocative maritime actions, honor commitments made to China, and take steps to stabilize relations.

Teodoro: China has no right to enter

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday said Chinese maritime forces, especially its Coast Guard, have no right to enter Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and interfere with Filipino troops there going about their lawful mandate.

He issued this comment after Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan, attempted to justify the actions of the CCG who clashed with Philippine Navy personnel manning the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) in Ayungin Shoal on July 20.

The Chinese envoy claimed that CCG personnel went to Ayungin Shoal after receiving reports that Filipino troops are engaging in construction activities aboard the Sierra Madre, which he said is in violation of a provisional agreement entered into by the two nations.

And while not confirming construction activities, Teodoro said, in a mix of Filipino and English, ‘They have no right to interfere, secondly, they have no right to be there.’

Asked if China’s actions are escalatory in nature in the WPS, Teodoro said, ‘it’s not an escalation. It is part of a design to control the Pacific Ocean.’

The DFA said both ministers nevertheless highlighted progress in negotiations on the Asean-China Code of Conduct and reaffirmed their willingness to conclude talks this year.

They also discussed broader cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to pursue dialogue and diplomacy while remaining assertive in protecting Philippine interests.

Asked if China’s actions are escalatory in nature in the WPS, Teodoro said, ‘it’s not an escalation. It is part of a design to control the Pacific Ocean.’

The DFA said both ministers nevertheless highlighted progress in negotiations on the Asean-China Code of Conduct and reaffirmed their willingness to conclude talks this year.

They also discussed broader cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to pursue dialogue and diplomacy while remaining assertive in protecting Philippine interests.

San Miguel Beer import George King Jr. goes hard for a layup against Converge big man Justin Baltazar in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Wednesday night at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The Beermen won, 128-122, to remain undefeated in three games while the FiberXers dropped to 3-1 won-lost.

THE Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Thursday said the rise in electricity bills for the past few months was driven by uncontrollable, surge-level generation charges, which are subject to strict regulatory oversight.

Generation rate, a major component of an electric bill, is the cost of producing or purchasing electricity. This a pass-through charge paid by Meralco to its power suppliers. Meralco does not earn from this.

‘The recent electricity price increases pertain to generation charges, which reflect the spike in international fuel prices and peso depreciation as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,’ said Meralco senior vice president Atty. Jose Ronald Valles. ‘The effect of these factors on the generation charges are beyond the control of Meralco.’

Besides, Meralco’s procurement of its power requirements could not happen without the regulators’ approval. ‘The procurement by distribution utilities of electricity is affected by international fuel prices and exchange rate fluctuations. The procurement by distribution utilities [DUs] of electricity supply is heavily regulated by the government,’ Valles said.

Valles said the Department of Energy (DOE) and ERC established competitive public guidelines with which all DUs must comply. These guidelines ensure equal opportunities for all eligible power generation firms, regardless of affiliation, and mandate that supply contracts be awarded to those that offer the lowest prices.

‘During the regulatory proceedings and public hearings, the ERC determines whether such contract complies with the distribution utilities mandate under the EPIA to provide customers with the least-cost supply.

All the power supply agreements of Meralco were approved by the ERC, a testament to its compliance with the least-cost mandate under the law,’ said Valles.

He said Meralco’s distribution rates have declined by 18 percent since 2014. The distribution component of an electricity bill goes directly to Meralco. ‘Customers are paying less today for the distribution-related charges of Meralco compared to more than a decade ago. Meanwhile, prices of basic commodities like food and transport as part of consumer price index increase annually by an average of 4.1 and 2.7 percent, respectively,’ said Valles.

Meanwhile, the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development [CEED] is calling for a suspension of pass-through charges, saying that these fees allow power generation companies to pass volatile fuel costs to consumers.

‘One of the primary drivers for increasing rates of electricity are pass-through provisions within power supply agreements [PSAs]. Generation companies are allowed to pass volatile fuel prices and other variables like foreign exchange rates onto consumers.

This burdens Filipinos with expensive electricity every single month. In the Meralco franchise area, 83 percent of electricity comes from coal and gas, whose prices fluctuate wildly,’ said Atty. Avril De Torres, Deputy Executive Director of CEED.

For the ERC’s part, the chairperson confirmed that distribution rates were last adjusted over 10 years ago.

‘They have not moved for a decade. If we look at that specific component of our bill regulated by the Commission, it does not change month-to-month. It remains constant because distribution utilities can only adjust it after filing an application, undergoing hearings, and receiving a Commission decision on the appropriate rates,’ said Atty. Francis Saturnino Juan.