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IF there’s one word that defines life in the Philippines today, it’s ‘uncertainty.’ From shifting economic forecasts, rising prices, and political noise to unexpected changes at work and home, many Filipinos are living in a constant state of adaptation. While it’s tempting to feel overwhelmed, it’s also in these moments that resilience shines most-both at the personal and communal level.

Instability affects more than the numbers in the news; it’s felt deeply in day-to-day life. Concerns about job security, higher costs of living, divisive headlines, and shifting government priorities can all trigger stress. It’s important to recognize these feelings as normal responses. After all, Filipino families have weathered many storms before-disasters, political upheavals, and financial challenges.

During turbulent periods, routines become lifelines. Try to set daily anchors, even if circumstances keep changing-meal schedules, exercise, prayer, or quiet time with family bring a sense of stability. Budget wisely: review spending, cut down on unnecessary costs, and save even small amounts if possible. These small habits lay the groundwork for a sense of control.

Managing information overload is another crucial step. Limit ‘doomscrolling’ by curating credible sources and setting boundaries for social media. This allows space to focus on what can be changed rather than what causes fear and uncertainty. Remember, reconnecting with loved ones-even digitally-is a source of comfort and support.

Mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing or short walks, reduce anxiety and refresh the mind. Spiritual activities or prayer may also bring peace and perspective, both of which are anchors in Filipino life.

The Filipino values of bayanihan-helping one another- and resourcefulness remain crucial. In unstable times, collective optimism and small acts of kindness have powered countless families through adversity.

Celebrate small wins: a new income stream, a resolved household problem, or any adjustment that worked. Sharing these stories with family, friends, or workmates can inspire others to persevere, too.

Uncertainty is a fact of life, but as a nation, we have thrived amid change through hope, unity, and ingenuity. Today’s challenges invite everyone to practice, share, and strengthen these habits. Change may be inevitable, but our capacity to adapt, uplift others, and look ahead with hope never wavers.

IN these days of back-to-back challenges-budget troubles, illness, family, or relationship problems-how often do we actually stop to check if we are truly caring for ourselves? Most of the time, we put work, family, and obligations first, and our own needs come last. Many people, especially women, take on the world’s expectations to always embody the ‘superwoman’- strong, beautiful, tireless. Yet in Filipino society, many people still hesitate to talk openly about women’s health, whether it’s PCOS, breast cancer, or mental wellness.

Real strength, I believe, is knowing our limits. Sometimes, we must allow ourselves to put our comfort first, to rest, or to sleep in. This month, as we mark Breast Cancer Awareness and Mental Health Awareness, right after PCOS Awareness Month last September, let’s listen to the voices of women who have learned that real courage means knowing how to care for themselves.

Fortunately, there are organizations and companies now advocating for women-offering information, products, and support, such as New Moon PH and their Power Within campaign. This includes supplements (Soft Glow, Hormo Balance, Nighty Bright) that help women on their path to health, comfort, and self-confidence. The campaign calls every woman to see her own strength and resilience while making her health and wellness a true priority. Find @newmoonph on TikTok.

Just months after Oliver Liao arrived in Pretoria as Taiwan’s de facto ambassador, South Africa began a campaign to downgrade its relationship with the island-thrusting him into the epicenter of a geopolitical drama.

While South Africa decades ago broke formal ties with Taipei in favor of relations with Beijing, now the country wanted to dilute things further, a sign of how the chip hub is increasingly being squeezed on the global stage. In April last year, a formal notice arrived to move Liao’s office from the seat of government to the financial hub of Johannesburg, ending five decades of representation in South Africa’s capital.

Taiwan refused. South Africa, which counts China as its largest trading partner, responded with bureaucratic firepower on an official government website, where it changed the office’s address, wiped all mention of Liao and listed the names of other Taiwanese staff-at least one of whom was dead.

‘They put on some names of our staff who have already passed away,’ he said in an interview late last month. ‘Wow.’

The dispute is a stark example of the precarious moment facing Taiwan in a world order upended by the US under Donald Trump. While a global spending boom around artificial intelligence has turbocharged the self-ruled democracy’s position in critical supply chains, even countries that don’t recognize Taipei are becoming more inhospitable as they draw closer to China, the world’s second-largest economy.

Over the past decade, nations ranging from Burkina Faso to Kiribati and Honduras have cut diplomatic ties with Taipei. But, Liao says, with the exception of Nigeria in 2017, Taiwan has been allowed to keep representation in their capitals. That makes his battle in South Africa all the more significant.

Liao’s 7,000 square-meter (75,000 square-foot) residence, roughly equivalent to the size of one soccer field, boasts tennis courts and a dining area for more than 40 people. At the entrance is a tropical fish tank while the garden has a barbecue area installed and a jacaranda tree beginning to burst into purple bloom in the South African spring.

Speaking at his residence in Pretoria’s Waterkloof Ridge, a sleepy diplomatic quarter that houses many ambassadors’ homes-including that of the US nearby and India’s just a block away-the heavy hand of China’s government looms large for Liao.

‘Why bother to make such a move? I think it’s very clear,’ Liao said of South Africa’s decision. ‘Common sense tells us who’s behind the scenes.’

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, known as Dirco, didn’t respond to requests for comment. Its minister, Ronald Lamola, said the decision was in line with international practice.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun didn’t answer directly when asked at a briefing on Sept. 24 if Beijing had applied pressure on South Africa to close or move the liaison office.

Guo said that ‘we commend the South African government’s abiding commitment to the One China principle,’ the recognition that mainland China and Taiwan make up a single nation governed by Beijing.

The spat began in early 2023, when Dirco tore up a 1997 agreement forged with Taipei by former President Nelson Mandela-a deal which, according to Taiwan, among other things allows it to keep the liaison office name and location in Pretoria. Instead, the government agency began to demand Liao’s office be downgraded and moved about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to Johannesburg, where Taiwan already has a small trade mission.

Taiwan has been refusing to comply, with the deadline for the relocation extended from October 2024 to March this year. Then, on July 21, Dirco issued an official notice unilaterally changing the name to the Taipei Commercial Office and backdating the decision to March 31.

‘Abandoning the existing agreement is literally a denial of Madiba’s wisdom given that the existing agreement was so delicately and wisely crafted,’ Liao said, using Mandela’s clan name. ‘They made so much effort to come up with that agreement with Taiwan in order to preserve the friendship and collaboration.’

Now, that relationship is in tatters. In an unprecedented move, Taiwan on Sept. 23 slapped a ban on its semiconductor chip exports to South Africa, saying Pretoria’s actions ‘undermined its national and public security,’ before suspending it two days later to allow further talks.

For Africa’s most industrialized economy and many others, staying in China’s good graces invariably comes at Taiwan’s expense.

With the Trump administration imposing a 30 percent tariff on exports from South Africa-the most on any sub-Saharan nation-it needs to tap demand from China for its goods. In August, South African Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said increased exports to China are a priority, with his country’s having secured duty-free access for five varieties of fruit. That would add to current shipments of nuts and avocados as well as platinum, chrome, coal and iron ore.

The ties go well beyond trade and economics, especially after South Africa in 2010 joined the BRICS political bloc that was co-founded by China. In November, President Xi Jinping is expected to attend a Group of 20 leaders meeting in Johannesburg, his fifth visit to the country, and China’s navy has conducted exercises with its South African counterpart.

Ahead of that visit, pressure is mounting on Liao to move his mission.

‘The current situation has already created a sense of not only instability, but also frustration,’ said Liao, who previously served in the Solomon Islands when the small Pacific nation cut ties with Taipei.

‘It’s not healthy and it’s not encouraging at all because the purpose of our presence here is to promote friendship and collaboration, but everything has come to a total halt,’ he said.

At threat are ties originally forged during South Africa’s apartheid era, when the two countries, both isolated, developed a closer bond.

A wave of Taiwanese migration to South Africa began in the late 1970s with the South African government offering incentives to attract investment, mainly in the textile sector. Taiwanese immigrants were given ‘honorary White’ status, exempting them from South African laws that enforced racial segregation.

Today, according to the Taipei Liaison Office, 450 Taiwanese companies operate in South Africa and have invested about $2 billion. Over 100 South Africans go to Taiwan on scholarships every year.

Still, the Taiwanese community has shrunk to an estimated 8,000 from 50,000 in 1998. Commerce is also shriveling, with South Africa selling Taiwan goods including coal and corn while smartphones and chemicals heading the other way. From $2.3 billion in 2022, trade fell by more than a third last year.

‘We are not welcome here,’ Liao said. If the Taiwanese ‘don’t feel that they’re welcome and cherished here,’ they leave, he said.

The brightest young athletes of the Philippines will be celebrated at the 5th Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) Siklab Youth Sports Awards presented by the Philippine Sports Commission on Saturday at the Grand Ballroom of Diamond Hotel Manila.

This year’s edition shines a spotlight on the Youth Heroes Awardees, led by weightlifters Jay-R Colonia, Alexandra Ann Diaz, Althea Bacaro, Jhodie Peralta, and Albert Ian Delos Santos.

Their stellar performances at the 2025 World Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Lima, Peru earned the Philippines the top spot among 33 nations, with a remarkable haul of 10 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals.

Joining them are elite junior athletes from various disciplines: Karl Eldrew Yulo (gymnastics), Rianne Malixi (golf), Pi Durden Wangkay (athletics), Dean Darnet Venerable (taekwondo), Tenny Madis (tennis), Kira Ellis (triathlon), and Sam Cantada (volleyball).

Yulo, the younger sibling of the double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, will be recognized for the fifth consecutive year, underscoring his continued excellence in the sport. The event is also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, CEL Logistics, MVPSF, Smart/PLDT, Go For Gold, Homegrown, Orich and Blue Hydra.

Seven-year-old jiujitsu prodigy Aielle Aguilar returns for her third straight Siklab honor after dominating her division at the Pan Kids IBJJF Tournament in Orlando, Florida-the world’s largest youth jiujitsu competition.

Also being hailed as Super Kids are Xian Baguhin (boxing) Sophia Catantan (fencing), Kyra Abella (judo), and Joan Denise Lumbao (karate).

Top performers from the 2025 Palarong Pambansa will also be recognized, including swimmer Titus Sia, archer Naina Tagle, chess player Mar Aviel Carredo, dancesport standout Bhenz Rudolf Owen Semilla, and gymnast King Cjay Pernia.

Not to be outdone, the Batang Pinoy Games will be represented by standout athletes such as Albert Jose Amaro II (swimming), Hazel May Risma (athletics), Haylee Garcia (gymnastics), Mariano Matteo Medina IV (archery), and Arvin Naeem Taguinota II (swimming).

A total of 73 awardees will be honored by the PSC-PPC-POC Media Group, with three special distinctions to be conferred: gymnast Carlos Yulo as Sports Idol of the Year, Cynthia Carrion of gymnastics with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Christian Gonzalez as Godfather of the Year.

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) announced last week that it conducted last September 30 an agency-wide orientation on the responsible use of Microsoft Copilot with governance safeguards in observance of Development Policy Research Month (DPRM).

Anchored on this year’s theme, ‘Reimagining Governance in the Age of AI,’ the online session underscored the need to embrace artificial intelligence responsibly to ensure that innovation is balanced with accountability and transparency in the workplace, read a statement the Pagcor issued on October 3.

AI Workforce Specialist Christeen Padilla introduced Microsoft Copilot Chat, an AI-powered assistant to 98 Pagcor employees. The AI assistant is designed to ‘boost productivity through features such as drafting correspondence, summarizing reports, generating ideas, and answering work-related queries.’ Citing industry data, Padilla noted that 86 percent of AI-assisted chat application users in the Philippines had adopted Copilot in 2024, reflecting the country’s rapid shift toward AI-powered workplace solutions, the statement read.

While highlighting Copilot’s potential to streamline tasks and improve efficiency, the orientation also placed strong emphasis on governance safeguards to ensure its responsible use. These include compliance with enterprise data protection standards, observance of organizational policies, and vigilance in distinguishing between web-based and internal data to protect sensitive information.

Elreen Ann Ando delivered a gritty performance at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships on Sunday in Forde, Norway, clinching a bronze medal in the clean and jerk category of the women’s 63 kg division.

The 26-year-old Cebuana, a two-time Olympian, hoisted 131 kilograms in the clean and jerk, edging out Colombia’s Yenny Sinisterra Torres, who managed 128 kgs.

However, Torres came up with 103 kgs versus Ando’s 100 kgs in the snatch, resulting in a tie at 231 kgs total. The tiebreak favored Torres, who reached the total in her first attempt, relegating Ando to fourth place overall.

Despite missing the podium in the snatch and total lift, Ando, from Carreta, Cebu City, and seen as the successor to Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, showed progress ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics.

North Korea’s Ri Suk topped the event, sweeping the three gold medals with a commanding 253 kg total – 111 kg in snatch and 142 kg in clean and jerk.

Canadian Olympian Maude Charron bagged the silver, lifting 236 kgs (103 kg snatch, 133 kg clean and jerk).

Ando represented the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finishing seventh in the women’s 64 kg category.

Silver medalist in the 2019 and 2021 editions of the Southeast Asian Games, Ando bagged gold at the 2023 SEAG in the 59 kg class, before returning to the Olympic stage in Paris 2024, where she placed sixth.

Eastwood City, the country’s first-ever pet-friendly mall, proudly celebrated the 21st year of the longest-running pet blessing in the Philippines with a glamorous, star-studded event themed ‘Pawlywood.’ Eastwood City transformed into a red carpet playground for pets and pet parents alike, packed with blockbuster activities and Oscar-worthy moments.

Coinciding with World Animal Day and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, this annual tradition once again brought together the pet-loving community for a meaningful and joyful celebration of life, love, and companionship.

Paw-some Activities for Pets and Pet Parents

The celebration featured a pet adoption drive, educational talks about pet care, and activities for furparents and their furbabies. Guests explored pet merchandise booths, posed at themed photo booths, and took part in various interactive stations designed for pets and their owners.

The celebration culminated on October 5 with the highly anticipated Pet Blessing Ceremony at the Eastwood Mall Open Park. Fr. Chris Fajardo prayed for the health, safety, and happiness of every animal present, blessing them with holy water.

Spotlight on the Stars of Pawlywood

Ten pets were honored with Best-Dressed Award-each receiving cheers and applause from the community. Also adding excitement to the event were fun activities such as the pet trivia challenge and games sponsored by partner brands.

Celebrating Pet-Friendly Living at Eastwood City

As a pioneer in pet-friendly living, Eastwood City continues to champion spaces where pets are not only welcome but celebrated. With its pet-friendly restaurants, shops, parks, and regular pet-centric events, Eastwood City remains a beloved destination for animal lovers all over Metro Manila.

There is a crying need to rewrite the script of this nation’s fractured soul-a people coming to grips with a story of insatiable greed now surfacing in the flood-control projects. Many of these were ghosts from the start; others, though completed, collapsed into substandard ruin. What is unfolding is not just corruption but its industrial-scale perfection-a naked grab for treasury money by DPWH engineers, contractors, and lawmakers who treated public funds as private quarry. The emerging tally-close to a trillion pesos-is a ledger of betrayal written in concrete and mud.

That staggering sum could have built classrooms for the 18 million 10-year-olds trapped in functional illiteracy. It could have financed cold-storage chains for farmers, laid down a steel industry for true industrialization, or paved the roads and bridges that connect forgotten communities. Instead, we find ourselves drowning in debt-P16 trillion and rising, nearly triple the national budget-while the floodwaters of neglect lap at our doors.

Something is profoundly amiss. Citizens, stunned by the audacity of it all, now demand less talk and more reckoning-the swift filing of cases against those already unmasked in the Senate and House hearings. Just last Friday, a business leader called me at dawn, asking the question that now hums across coffee tables and construction sites alike: Why do the hearings go on when the evidence already screams?

After all, each crack that let the floodwaters in was a line from an old ledger of deceit: overpriced contracts, ghost projects certified ‘completed,’ signatures of men who mistook public trust for private spoil. Families clung to rooftops while the waters climbed, wondering why the wall that was meant to protect them surrendered after a single season. The answer, as always, was not in the rain-it was in the rot.

We have reached the point where corruption is no longer an accounting error; it is an engineering flaw in the nation’s design. The flood-control scandal is not just about missing billions-it is the story of a Republic rebuilding its defenses on sand. What has been washed away is not merely infrastructure but confidence itself-the belief that government can still be trusted to do something as elemental as keeping its people dry.

Yet the flood did not begin with the rain. It began the day we allowed blacklisted contractors to find their way back into the game-rebranded, renamed, often with the same engineers and the same ghosts signing new papers. We built walls with recycled deceit. The absence of vetting is not a clerical lapse; it is the architecture of impunity. Our flood-control program mirrors our politics: patchwork repairs over unexamined foundations. From the post-Edsa promise of cleansing to today’s ghost projects, the pattern remains-a Republic that cannot remember its past mistakes keeps rebuilding them.

The record is damning. As far back as 2009, firms once debarred quietly resurfaced. The hearings have now unmasked a familiar cast: Wawao Builders, St. Timothy Construction Corp., Syms Trading, and others that siphoned funds for phantom or substandard projects. Preceding them were companies once blacklisted-Val Engineering and Construction, MEP Construction, Benjosh Construction and Supply, DVH Construction Services, NKU Construction and Supply, Cheina Construction, Syndite Construction Corp., M.R. Vargas Construction, R. Semilla Construction and Marketing, JTA Builders, UBAS Construction, MLU Construction, L.M. Baltonado Construction, Audric Construction and Supply, JLP Construction and Supply, and Rex E. Morales Construction. The carousel spins on the taxpayers’ coin.

But a breach, once named, can also be repaired. This scandal must not end in cynicism; it can be the blueprint for reform if we rebuild not only the walls but the way we build them. Begin by reclaiming procurement from the shadows-publish every contract, map every project, invite citizen engineers to audit the sites, and file swift cases against those already caught. This is not radical; it is simply doing in daylight what has long been done in the dark. It will tell a weary middle class and the flood-soaked poor that the carousel is being dismantled at last.

Beyond systems lies the deeper engineering of trust. We must treat corruption not as an occasional scandal but as a flaw in our national foundation-one we are all obliged to repair. Every case filed, every contractor banned for good, every appointee properly vetted becomes a new brick in a stronger civic levee. And if we pour that mix with integrity and vigilance, the next generation may yet stand on banks that hold-not because the rains are kinder, but because we finally learned how to build together.

The Philippines has long been hailed as a country blessed with a significant demographic dividend-a youthful population that, if properly nurtured, could drive economic growth and social progress for decades. Yet, this optimistic narrative is now under serious threat. Recent reports from the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and international assessments reveal a disturbing truth: the country’s education system is failing to equip its young population with the skills they need to thrive, potentially turning the nation’s greatest asset into its biggest liability.

PBEd Executive Director Hanibal Camua’s warnings are clear and sobering. Without urgent and comprehensive reforms in basic education, the Philippines risks transforming its demographic dividend into a demographic deficiency within just five years. Instead of becoming productive contributors to the economy, many young Filipinos may end up unemployed or trapped in low-quality jobs, reliant on government assistance programs rather than driving the nation’s progress.

The data paints a grim picture. The Philippines ranked 64th out of 69 economies in the 2025 IMD World Talent Report, far behind Asean neighbors like Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Filipino students performed near the bottom in the 2022 PISA assessments, showing little improvement from previous years. Most alarmingly, a World Bank study indicates that nine out of 10 Filipino children cannot read and comprehend a simple text by age 10-a fundamental measure of learning poverty that should be unthinkable in a country aspiring to develop its human capital.

Functional literacy statistics echo these concerns: while most Filipinos can read and write, only about 70 percent can truly understand and apply information effectively. This gap underscores a critical weakness in the education system-one that threatens not only individual futures but the nation’s competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global economy.

The problem is not new, nor is it the fault of any single administration. Instead, it reflects decades of systemic underinvestment and neglect in education. The Philippines, once a regional education leader, has been overtaken by its neighbors, who have invested more heavily in talent development and education reforms.

It would do well for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to recognize the urgency of the crisis. Addressing learning poverty must be a national priority, with increased funding, improved teacher training, updated curricula, and stronger accountability measures. The government should also foster partnerships with the private sector and civil society to innovate and scale effective educational interventions.

Failure to act decisively risks squandering one of the country’s most precious resources-its youth. The demographic dividend can only be realized through a competent, well-educated workforce ready to meet the demands of the 21st century. Without this, the country will face not just economic stagnation but a deepening social divide, as a growing population of under-skilled workers struggles to find meaningful employment.

The Philippines has a window of opportunity to avert this looming crisis. By acknowledging the severity of the problem and enacting comprehensive reforms, the country can still harness the potential of its demographic dividend. Failure to act decisively risks squandering this opportunity, potentially trapping a generation of Filipinos in a cycle of poverty, and transforming a potential strength into a devastating weakness.

Coach Johnedel Cardel is hoping Titan Ultra can seal a deal that will bring back 7-foot veteran Greg Slaughter to the PBA.

Slaughter, who made a surprise appearance during the league’s two-day festivities over the weekend, is currently in talks with Titan Ultra’s new management about a potential return to the PBA.

‘Greg [Slaughter] is the type of player that you must have in your team,’ Cardel told BusinessMirror on Monday. ‘He is in shape, and we are confident that he is the missing link in our team. We are hoping that he can play for us.’

At 37, Slaughter is no stranger to the spotlight. A former standout for Ginebra and NorthPort, he’s already met with team manager Aldriane Anglim, and signs point to a promising reunion. The last time the 12-year veteran suited up in the PBA was in 2021, where he posted averages of 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game for the Batang Pier-before contract talks hit a snag.

After his PBA stint, Slaughter took his talents overseas to Japan’s B.League, playing for Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka from 2022 to 2023. He returned to Philippine soil in 2024 to compete in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) for Manila, and now plays for Basilan Starhorse.

Should the deal push through, Titan Ultra will unleash a formidable frontcourt duo: Slaughter and 6-foot-8 rookie Mario Barasi.

The twin-tower setup could help the team match up with the likes of San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, Converge, and TNT-especially in the paint against nine-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of the Beermen.

‘Everybody is excited to have him just like what Calvin [Abueva] said, it will be comfortable if we have him,’ Cardel added. ‘Greg is going to be our equalizer against any competitive teams like the San Miguel Beermen, Ginebra, Converge and TNT.’

‘The good thing so far is Greg’s openness to return to the PBA. We are just hoping that he can play for us in this conference,’ Cardel said. ‘He also said that he is ready to play for us. It is a great sign for the team.’

The Department of Energy (DOE) has cleared the Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco)competitive selection process (CSP) for a 200-megawatt (MW) baseload power supply from renewable energy (RE) facilities.

According to DOE Undersecretary Mario Marasigan, the agency has processed a certificate of conformity (CoC) for the conduct of Meralco’s competitive auction. ‘We issued it. I cannot remember the exact date, but I think the papers came through last week or the other week.’

Meralco, for its part, said over the weekend that it has yet to receive the CoC from the DOE.

A CoC should be issued by the DOE prior to the conduct of CSP. Meralco awaits the issuance of two more CoCs for the 450-MW mid-merit and 600-MW baseload requirements.

‘We have cleared the 200 megawatts. We received the comments of the PCC [Philippine Competition Commission] and the ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission]. In that sense, we deemed it ok to release the certificate of conformity for the 200 megawatts only,’ said Marasigan.

It can be recalled that Meralco has voluntary offered for review to the PCC the 200-MW baseload, 450-MW mid-merit, and 600-MW baseload, with deliveries scheduled to commence in the next five years.

The PCC and ERC will then submit their comments to the DOE which, in turn, will be referred to Meralco for appropriate comments and reply. Meralco’s reply to the comments of PCC and ERC will then have to be evaluated by the DOE.

‘If Meralco feels that they have already complied with the comments of the PCC and ERC, then they can proceed. So, what we certified in our COC was actually the conformity of the 200-megawatt baseload requirement RE,’ added Marasigan.

The 200-MW baseload supply of RE is necessary to comply with Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) policy, which requires power distributors like Meralco to source an increasing percentage of their electricity from RE sources to meet national RE targets.

Aside from the three CSPs, Meralco also plans to conduct another competitive bidding for 900-MW of baseload requirement, the last on its CSP list for the year.

‘There is another one coming in, a 900-MW baseload CSP. We are supposed to do that latter part of this year,’ said Meralco Senior Vice President and Regulatory Affairs head Jose Ronald Valles.

Meralco utility economics head Lawrence Fernandez said the 900-MW capacity is targeted for February 5, 2030, with a contract term of 15 years.