Category: Business Mirror

Private-sector workers may refuse to report for work without facing administrative sanctions when severe weather or similar events pose an imminent danger to their safety and health, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

The protection is contained in Labor Advisory No. 14, Series of 2026, which updates the rules on work suspensions during weather disturbances and other disruptive events.

Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino signed the advisory on Aug. 19 amid recent flooding and weather disturbances that have affected workers and communities nationwide.

Under the guidelines, workers who fail or refuse to work because of imminent danger arising from weather disturbances or similar occurrences cannot be subjected to administrative penalties.

Employers may also suspend operations when conditions threaten workers’ safety, in coordination with their safety and health committee, safety officer or another responsible company official.

However, the advisory does not automatically guarantee pay when work is suspended.

Employees who do not report because of a work suspension are generally not entitled to regular pay unless a company policy, established practice or collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise.

Workers may instead use accrued leave credits if their employer allows it.

Those who report for duty and work for at least six hours are entitled to their full regular pay.

Employees who render less than six hours will receive pay proportionate to the hours worked, unless more favorable company policies or practices apply.

Employers may also grant additional incentives or benefits to employees who still report for work during severe weather and similar disruptions.

Labor Advisory No. 14 updates guidelines issued in November 2025 covering workers exposed to imminent danger from disruptive events.

The earlier rules covered not only natural disasters but also industrial accidents and public health emergencies.

DOLE said the updated policy is intended to keep workplace safety protections in place during emergencies while allowing businesses to respond to disruptions.

DON’T ask Eumir Felix Marcial about his dream of winning an Asian Games gold medal next month, ask him instead about his eighth professional fight that’s scheduled on the very same day the games open on September 19 in Nagoya.

‘Let’s not talk about the Asian Games for the meantime,’ Marcial told the BusinessMirror on Thursday just hours after it was announced that he’ll be defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight international belt against American Omar Ulises Huerta at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.

‘I’m extremely focused on this fight,’ added the 30-year-old two-time Olympian who owns a middleweight bronze medal from Tokyo 2020.

Marcial always expresses that although the Asian Games rank high in his priorities, a similarly intense dream to become a pro boxing world champion are that high, too.

‘There’s another regional belt that would be staked in this fight, and it could lead to my dream of fighting for a world title,’ he said. ‘It won’t be easy that’s why I must give my entire time and focus on this one.’

On Monday, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said Marcial remains on the list of boxers for the Asian Games and that with his fight set on September 19 and with a high confidence level that he’d win, he’ll have enough time for recovery because the boxing competitions in Nagoya start on September 24.

Tolentino said Marcial ranks as a gold medal potential-he settled for silver losing to a Chinese in the final last 2023 in Hangzhou-alongside Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, as well as Aira Villegas, who like Petecio, clinched bronze in Paris two years ago.

Marcial is now in deep training at the Knuckleheads Gym in Las Vegas under the tight watch of Reynaldo Galido, gold medalist at the Hiroshima 1994 Asian Games and a 1996 Atlanta Olympian.

His main trainer, American Kaye Koroma, is focused on improving the quality of the Zamboanga City pride’s power punches, speed, agility and ring smart-ingredients needed to beat Huerta, who similarly has a burning passion to become a world champion.

Huerta was on a winning streak in 15 fights-13 of his opponents he knocked out-until fellow American Vieto Mielnicki Jr. beat him via unanimous decision last April 11 in New Jersey.

That, according to Marcial, makes his opponent dangerous.

‘It’s going to be dangerous because he is coming from a loss after an undefeated streak,’ said Marcial, ‘and he’s got an experience.’

Marcial is 7-0 with four knockouts but his last fight was almost a year ago-October 29 in the ‘Thrilla in Manila II’ at the Smart Araneta Coliseum-and it was a controversial majority decision over Venezuelan Eddy Colmenares.

He was knocked down in that fight.

Marcial fought at the Bangkok Asian Games last December 19 and won the light heavyweight gold medal, 4-1, over Indonesia’s Maikhel Roberrd Muskita.

The Mandaue City Government will distribute security equipment to public schools and expand police visibility in and around campuses as part of efforts to strengthen protection against school violence.

According to the Mandaue City Public Affairs Office, the city will provide seven walk-through metal detectors, 50 handheld metal detectors and mobile phones that can be used for Zoom live streaming in public schools, Mayor Thadeo ‘Jonkie’ Ouano said following a multi-agency meeting on school safety on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The meeting brought together the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), Department of Education-Mandaue City (DepEd-Mandaue), and various city government offices to discuss measures aimed at keeping students and school personnel safe.

Ouano directed the police to increase their presence in schools, particularly during periods when students are most vulnerable, including mornings, lunch breaks, afternoons, and night classes.

The mayor said stronger police visibility is necessary to deter incidents of violence and help ensure that students can exercise their right to learn in a safe environment.

The city also emphasized the need to remain prepared for violent incidents and other emergencies that could threaten students, teachers and other school personnel.

DepEd Mandaue said it continues to conduct information drives in schools on precautionary measures, including what students and school personnel should do in case of an active school shooting.

The department also noted that, following a June 24 meeting, Barangay Peacekeeping and Security Officers (BPSOs) have become more visible in schools within their respective barangays. Their presence is intended to help prevent unauthorized individuals from entering school premises.

Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Office (SAMHSO) and the City Social Welfare Services Office (CSWSO) reported that they are strengthening programs and services for schools, particularly psychological interventions and other mental health support for students.

SAMHSO also plans to expand seminars for parents, with emphasis on effective communication with children and the use of positive parenting approaches.

The city government and concerned agencies also discussed the development of policies and procedures to further safeguard students and teachers while maintaining a peaceful, secure, and conducive learning environment.

Getting sick in the Philippines is no longer just a health concern. For many families, it has become a financial emergency.

This is one of the key findings of Cocolife Idea Hub’s 2026 Emergency and Medical Preparedness Study, titled Ready or At Risk?, which assessed how Filipinos prepare for medical emergencies and the financial challenges they face when illness strikes.

According to the study, only 1 in 6 Filipinos (16%) considered themselves truly prepared for a medical emergency. Nearly half said they felt uncertain or unprepared to manage the financial impact of unexpected hospitalization, suggesting a persistent gap in financial readiness among Filipino households.

The study also found that 62% of respondents had experienced at least one emergency room visit or hospitalization within the past year. For many, medical emergencies are no longer rare events but recurring experiences they must face.

However, financial safety nets remain thin. Sixty-four percent said their emergency funds would cover no more than three days of hospitalization. By comparison, data from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) estimates that the average inpatient stay lasts 5.18 days and costs around PHP82,000. This gap leaves families vulnerable to healthcare expenses that stretch far beyond their savings.

Beyond inpatient care, ongoing health costs add to the pressure. Seven in 10 respondents visit a doctor at least once a year, often paying for routine consultations and tests out-of-pocket due to a lack of outpatient healthcare coverage.

‘Medical emergencies should not be the source of financial ruin for Filipino families,’ said Ma. Rowena Asnan, Cocolife First Vice-President of Marketing and Research. ‘Our study underscores an urgent need to bridge the gap between healthcare reality and financial readiness, ensuring our countrymen have reliable support when they need it most.’

To address these real-world challenges, Cocolife continues to strengthen its Alagang Cocolife brand of care by bringing together its comprehensive suite of health-focused solutions, backed by nearly 48 years of serving Filipinos.

Under the Alagang Cocolife portfolio are Cocolife Aruga, the Philippines’ first results-oriented life and health insurance plan; Cocolife Agapay, an investment-linked life and health solution that combines protection with long-term savings; Cocolife Kalinga, an affordable term life and health insurance plan; and the Critical Illness Benefit Rider and Hospitalization Income Benefit Rider, which provide additional financial support during serious illness and hospital confinement.

Beyond individual protection, Cocolife Healthcare extends this commitment to organizations through more than 25 years of experience providing healthcare solutions for companies nationwide. As the country’s first ISO 9001:2015-certified healthcare program provider, it continues to partner with leading hospitals, clinics, and healthcare platforms to help support the health and well-being of Filipino employees and their families.

As Filipinos continue to navigate rising healthcare costs, the study highlights the importance of proactive financial preparation. Through Alagang Cocolife, Cocolife remains steadfast in delivering practical protection that empowers Filipinos to face the future with confidence and peace of mind.

A quarter-point rate hike looms as inflation risks ‘broaden’ and policy credibility takes priority, according to Bank of the Philippine Islands’ (BPI) Lead Economist.

In a commentary he wrote, BPI Senior Vice President and Lead Economist Emilio S. Neri Jr. said the lender expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to deliver a 25-basis point rate hike at next Thursday’s policy meeting, with inflation risks remaining ’tilted to the upside’ despite the recent moderation in headline inflation.

According to Neri, adverse weather remains a ‘key concern,’ with habagat-driven monsoon rains and flooding raising the risk of further crop damage just as food supply conditions were beginning to stabilize.

‘Elevated domestic fertilizer prices could further add to farm input costs as the planting season gets underway in the coming months,’ Neri said in the commentary issued last Thursday.

Looking ahead, he said the potential onset of a Super El Niño in the latter part of the year could ‘compound’ agricultural supply disruptions and keep food prices elevated into 2027.

During the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing last Monday, BSP Deputy Governor Zeno Ronald R. Abenoja said the central bank will update its inflation forecasts in accordance with the ‘risk factors’ that it is currently tracking.

‘One of them is the price of crude oil in the international market. Second, the potential effect of El Niño which the peak impact will be experienced in the fourth quarter of 2026 until the first half of 2027,’ added Abenoja.

In his commentary four days later, Neri wrote that oil prices remain ‘volatile’ as US-Iran talks swing between de-escalation and renewed tensions, while rising producer prices in China add another channel for imported cost pressures.

Further, he said the approved NCR wage hike, once implemented, would add to domestic inflation pressures by raising labor costs, particularly in labor-intensive services.

‘Beyond the direct impact on prices, potential second-round effects could make inflation more persistent as businesses pass higher labor costs through to consumers,’ Neri added.

Taken together, he said these risks increase the likelihood of inflation lingering above the central bank’s target range through 2027.

APART from domestic inflation woes, Neri said a sharper depreciation in the local currency ‘would amplify’ imported inflation, which may require tighter policy even if the underlying shock remains ‘largely supply-driven.’

He cited that the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) have ‘declined significantly’ to $103 billion as of July, from $113 billion at the onset of the US-Iran war in late February.

While reserves remain ‘adequate by traditional metrics,’ Neri emphasized that ‘the sustained drawdown points to a gradual erosion of the Philippines’ external buffers.’

‘Without a rate hike, a faster depletion of GIR from spot-market intervention could add to Peso weakness and further lift inflation expectations,’ he stressed.

Within the trading session on Wednesday, the Philippine peso hit its all-time weakest intraday level of 61.995 but recovered as it closed at 61.815 against the dollar, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) showed. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/08/19/rate-hike-may-be-good-defense-for-philippine-peso/)

Monetary policy

NERI also emphasized that monetary authorities staying their hands in an effort to support growth could risk allowing inflation expectations to become less anchored without addressing the underlying supply constraints.’

He said monetary policy can manage cyclical demand but cannot address constraints on potential output, hence leaving ‘limited scope’ for lower rates to offset a ‘predominantly’ supply-driven shock.

Neri explained further that the ‘binding constraint’ on Philippine growth is increasingly structural rather than cyclical, with governance challenges also weighing on economic activity, something monetary policy cannot remedy.

‘The more durable solution lies in advancing reforms across government, from infrastructure execution and agricultural productivity to energy security,’ said Neri.

A 25-basis-point hike, he said, would therefore be ‘consistent’ with the Monetary Board prioritizing price stability while ‘leaving the burden of addressing supply-side constraints where it belongs: with structural and fiscal policy.’

As such, Neri said tighter monetary policy to address inflation would therefore ‘reinforce’ the need for the fiscal side to accelerate reforms, improve spending execution, and tackle bottlenecks that monetary policy cannot resolve.

KPC Importation Services is strengthening its support for Filipino entrepreneurs through its weekly ‘Importing Masterclass: The Strategic Way to Start a Business,’ an online training program designed to help aspiring and existing business owners better understand international sourcing, supplier verification, and the importation process.

Held every Sunday at 6 p.m. via Google Meet, the masterclass forms part of KPC’s continuing commitment to educate aspiring entrepreneurs, existing business owners, working students, overseas Filipino workers, and other Filipinos who want to learn how to import smarter and start a business more efficiently.

The program covers KPC’s history and key milestones, strategic product sourcing through Alibaba, supplier negotiation and legitimacy verification, and the creation and optimization of an Alibaba account. Participants are also introduced to the process of creating a KPC account and securing a KPC Code, as well as the company’s importation routes, extended services, and the strategic advantages of importing with KPC.

The training aims to address common challenges faced by first-time importers, particularly in finding legitimate suppliers, identifying products with market potential, and understanding the processes involved before bringing goods into the Philippines. For existing business owners, the masterclass also provides an opportunity to strengthen sourcing strategies, explore new product categories, and improve supply chain operations.

KPC’s importer education initiatives extend beyond its weekly sessions. In November 2025, KPC Importation Services and Alibaba.com conducted an Advanced Workshop on Alibaba.com Trading and Global Market Expansion, attended by hundreds of business owners from across the country. The workshop provided participants with insights on international sourcing, supplier verification, and opportunities in global trade.

The initiatives reflect KPC’s broader direction as more than a traditional Freight Forwarder in the Philippines, with the company expanding its role to include sourcing education, importer training, and business development support.

‘Kilala nila si KPC as a forwarder, but we don’t just ship the products; we cater to the whole 360 part of the business. Ini-empower namin yung mga clients namin. More than their shipments, priority namin ang growth nila,’ said Mr. Khelvin P. Cruz, CPA, MBA, CEO of KPC Importation Services.

Through this approach, KPC continues to position itself as a Trusted Freight Forwarder that goes beyond importing packages, helping Filipino entrepreneurs gain access not only to logistics services but also to knowledge, sourcing opportunities, and supplier networks that can support long-term business growth.

SELF-RATED poverty and hunger among Filipino families increased by 4 percentage points, from 35 percent in March 2026 to 39 percent in July, equivalent to an increase from about 9.2 million to 10.2 million families, according to the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey by OCTA Research.

The non-commissioned, nationwide survey was conducted from July 4 to 11, 2026, through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents. It has a ±3 percentage-point margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.

The increase was particularly prominent outside the National Capital Region (NCR). While self-rated poverty declined by approximately 3 percentage points in NCR, it climbed by around seven points in Balance Luzon, three points in Mindanao, and two points in the Visayas

Mindanao, usually billed as the ‘Land of Promise,’ continued to post the highest level of self-rated poverty among the major areas at 58 percent, followed by the Visayas at 46 percent, Balance Luzon at 33 percent and NCR at 18 percent. As expected, the burden was also significantly heavier among lower-income households, with 62 percent of Class E families identifying themselves as poor, compared with 37 percent of Class D and 20 percent of Class ABC households.

The survey likewise showed a 4-percentage-point increase in self-rated hunger, from 17 percent in March to 21 percent in July. OCTA estimated that the increase represents roughly 1.1 million additional families, bringing the number of families that experienced involuntary hunger to approximately 5.6 million.

However, the survey found that most hunger episodes were occasional. Among families that experienced hunger, 68percent said it happened only once, while 19percent said it occurred a few times. Overall, 87percent reported experiencing hunger only once or a few times, while 13percent said it occurred often or always.

Balance Luzon recorded the highest hunger incidence among the four major areas at 27 percent followed by NCR at 19 percent, the Visayas at 17 percent and Mindanao at 14 percent. By socioeconomic class, hunger was reported by 35 percent of Class E families, compared with 20 percent of Class D and 8 percent of Class ABC households.

At the regional level, Bicol posted the highest reported hunger incidence at 56 percent followed by Northern Mindanao at 37 percent, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) at 34 percent, Caraga at 29 percent and Eastern Visayas at 28 percent.

OCTA cautioned that regional figures should be interpreted carefully because of their larger margins of error.

Despite the deterioration in overall poverty and hunger indicators, self-rated food poverty declined by three percentage points, from 31 percent in March to 28percent in July. OCTA estimates that this translates to a decrease from about 8.1 million to 7.4 million families who considered themselves food-poor, or roughly 700,000 fewer families.

It said the improvement was recorded across all four major areas. Food poverty fell from 12 percent to 9 percent in NCR, 22 percent to 18 percent in Balance Luzon, 39 percent to 37 percent in the Visayas and 53 percent to 52 percent in Mindanao.

Nonetheless, Mindanao registered the highest level of food poverty at 52 percent, while Class E households continued to carry the heaviest burden at 38 percent, compared with 28 percent for Class D and 14 percent for Class ABC.

The survey also points to continuing financial pressure, mainly low wages among households that remain food-poor. The median amount families said they need each month for food expenses to no longer consider themselves food-poor remained at P10,000. However, the median additional amount they said they currently lack increased from P4,000 in the first quarter to P5,000 in the second quarter.

Uneven recovery

THE latest figures paint a mixed picture of household welfare, with improvements in one measure of food security occurring alongside worsening perceptions of overall poverty and an increase in reported hunger.

OCTA noted that the rise in self-rated poverty was driven largely by conditions outside NCR, while Mindanao continued to register the highest levels of both poverty and food poverty. Balance Luzon, meanwhile, recorded the highest hunger incidence among the major areas.

The results also highlight the continuing vulnerability of Class E households, which recorded substantially higher levels across all three indicators-self-rated poverty, hunger and food poverty-than Class D and Class ABC households.

The results highlight the continuing vulnerability of Class E households, which recorded substantially higher levels of self-rated poverty, hunger, and food poverty than Class D and Class ABC households.

For policymakers, OCTA said these findings underscore the importance of closely monitoring household incomes, employment stability, food prices, and access to financial assistance, particularly for families with limited financial buffers.

OCTA’s survey suggests that while fewer families described themselves as food-poor, more experienced at least one episode of hunger during the preceding three months.

Overall, the Q2 2026 TNM results indicate that improvements in food poverty have a long way to go as they have yet to translate into broad-based economic security, with poverty and hunger remaining significant and uneven challenges across the country.

VICE President Sara Z. Duterte may continue facing separate criminal, civil, and administrative cases even after the conclusion of her impeachment trial, according to the House prosecution team.

House prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan explained that an impeachment proceeding is separate from other legal actions and does not prevent agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsman from pursuing cases based on the same allegations. She said impeachment is considered sui generis, meaning it has its own nature and process, allowing criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings to continue alongside it.

Kapunan made the statement in response to questions regarding complaints filed against Duterte before the Ombudsman involving alleged misuse of public funds.

Several complaints have been filed against the Vice President, including a December 2025 complaint by a group that included former Finance undersecretary Maria Cielo Magno involving alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds. Another complaint was later filed in January 2026 by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and civil society group The Silent Majority.

‘The impeachment trial is separate; it is what we call sui generis [a proceeding unique in nature]. A criminal case, a civil case, or an administrative case may proceed alongside it,’ Kapunan said during an online press briefing.

She emphasized that impeachment has a different purpose and standard of evidence compared with criminal cases. She explained that criminal cases require proof beyond reasonable doubt, while impeachment cases require ‘clear and convincing evidence.’

House impeachment team adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers said that Duterte’s legal challenges would not automatically end after the impeachment trial. He explained that other proceedings may continue depending on the facts and evidence presented in separate cases. According to Barbers, the main issue before the Senate Impeachment Court is whether Duterte should remain in office based on the evidence presented during the trial.

Pattern

OFFICIAL House records submitted to the Senate Impeachment Court reportedly show what prosecutors described as a pattern of withholding information and resisting congressional scrutiny regarding Duterte’s confidential funds. Barbers pointed to the Office of the Vice President’s non-participation in the 2024 House inquiry and its efforts to prevent the release of documents requested by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

Barbers said these actions reflected a lack of transparency and cooperation during the congressional investigation. The Senate Impeachment Court recently took judicial notice of official House records from the 2024 inquiry after Duterte’s defense team agreed to their custody and submission.

Among the records was an August 21, 2024 letter from then-OVP Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez to Commission on Commission on Audit Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba, which prosecutors said discouraged compliance with a House subpoena seeking documents from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. Also included were Duterte’s September 23, 2024 letter declining participation in committee deliberations and requesting the termination of the inquiry, as well as a November 5, 2024 position paper from Lopez, former OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, former DepEd Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda, and others refusing to attend hearings and asking for the investigation to be stopped.

Barbers said these records showed the difficulties encountered by House investigators in obtaining documents and testimonies needed to examine the use of confidential funds. He stressed that because public funds were involved, government officials should provide clear explanations to the Filipino people.

The impeachment complaint against Duterte accuses her of alleged misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds. This includes P500 million released to the Office of the Vice President from December 2022 to September 2023 and P112.5 million released to the Department of Education in three quarters of 2023 while Duterte was serving as Education secretary.

Kapunan maintained that the Senate Impeachment Court should evaluate the case based on the evidence presented during the proceedings, saying, ‘Let us follow the evidence.’

POWER utilities that have the means to reduce technical system losses should also bear their cost instead of automatically passing them on to consumers, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday.

During a Senate Committee on Energy hearing, Gatchalian said that distribution utilities are in the best position to invest in equipment, substations, upgraded lines, and distributed energy systems that can bring down technical system losses.

‘Kung sino ang may kapangyarihan dapat siya ang sumalo dahil incentives iyan. Walang incentives na babaan at ipapasa mo rin, wala ka rin incentive na mag-invest sa mga technology [Whoever has the power should shoulder it because that creates incentives. If you can simply pass it on, there is no incentive to reduce it and no incentive to invest in technology],’ he said.

Gatchalian said system loss is inherent in transmitting electricity and cannot be eliminated, but utilities should be encouraged to minimize losses that can be reduced through better technology and infrastructure.

He proposed treating system loss as a cost of the distribution utility instead of part of its recoverable revenue, which is currently shouldered by consumers and subjected to value-added tax.

‘Kung parte yan ng cost, expense na iyan ng distribution utility [If that becomes part of the cost, then it becomes an expense of the distribution utility],’ he said.

Gatchalian cited options, such as upgraded substations and distributed energy systems, including rooftop solar, which could reduce the need for long line extensions and consequently lower line losses.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, panel chairman, agreed that infrastructure investment should be examined beyond distribution utilities, pointing also to transmission facilities of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

‘Siguro po kailangan na rin mag-upgrade ang National Grid Corporation of the Philippines [Perhaps the NGCP also needs to upgrade],’ he said.

Tulfo later asked if some utilities had failed to modernize over the years because existing rules allowed them to recover system losses from consumers.

‘Hindi sila nag-invest through the years iyong capital expenditure expenses para to modernize. Dahil umasa lang po sila diyan sa systems loss na yan [They did not invest through the years in capital expenditures to modernize because they relied on that system-loss mechanism],’ he said.

He argued that consumers should not be made responsible for utilities’ failure to invest in better infrastructure.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), meanwhile, acknowledged that distribution utilities are required to meet technical and performance standards and may be penalized if they exceed allowable system-loss levels.

ERC Chairperson Francis Juan said utilities also have an incentive to undertake capital expenditure programs when their losses exceed regulatory caps, as they already have to absorb the excess.

‘Sila naman din ay mayroong natural na insentibo na mag-roll out ng mga capital expenditure programs upang mapababa halimbawa ang kanilang system loss.

Dahil nga kung sila ay above the cap na, mamabutihin nilang sila ay makapag-invest sa mga makabagong kagamitan nang sa ganoon ay mapababa nila ang kanilang system loss [They also have a natural incentive to roll out capital expenditure programs to reduce their system loss. If they go beyond the cap, it would be in their interest to invest in modern equipment so they can bring their system loss down],’ Juan said.

The Senate is studying several proposals to reform or remove system-loss charges as lawmakers determine which electricity losses may reasonably be passed on to consumers and which should instead be absorbed by companies capable of preventing or reducing them. With PNA

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) sees the construction of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension moving forward with fewer hurdles following the Villar family’s donation of land to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said the development will allow Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), a subsidiary of the infrastructure conglomerate, to continue building the extension of the train system.

‘I think it will help out the population in the outlying areas if you have good public transportation because the jobs are here in Manila, right?’ Pangilinan said.

He said better connectivity would allow people living farther from major employment centers to access jobs without shouldering the higher costs of living closer to their workplaces.

‘When you build it close to the jobs, you save on expenses. But you need to have a good public transportation.’

The Villar family’s land donation to the DOTr is intended to support infrastructure for the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, which expands rail connectivity south of Metro Manila.

The extension is expected to improve access between Cavite communities and the capital, giving commuters an alternative to road-based transportation and potentially reducing the time and cost of daily travel.

LRMC is a joint venture of MPIC’s Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., Ayala Corp.’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Sumitomo Corp., and Macquarie Investments Holdings (Philippines) PTE Ltd.

The consortium won the concession to operate and maintain LRT 1 in September 2015 through a P65-billion 32-year concession agreement with the Department of Transportation and the Light Rail Transit Authority. Under the deal, LRMC will operate and maintain the existing rail line and will expand it further up to Niog in Cavite. So far, it has extended the system up to Dr. Santos in Sucat, Paranaque.

Last month, the DOTr said the Villar family is willing to donate land for the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension, effectively clearing the right-of-way hurdle that has stalled the project’s completion.

‘The Villar family wants to donate their land,’ Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said, dismissing reports that right-of-way acquisition remains a problem for the rail line’s southern extension.

The commitment removes what had been considered a major obstacle to the timely delivery of the project, which the Light Rail Transit Authority has committed to complete before the end of the Marcos administration’s term in 2028.