READ: Gatchalian pushes use of clean energy SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday pushed the use of renewable energy (RE), saying making the transition to clean fuel is the "dawn of a new tomorrow." He also called for a whole-of-government approach in combating climate change. Speaking at the forum hosted by The Manila Times dubbed "Propelling Renewable Energy against Climate Change," Gatchalian urged the government to maximize the potential of RE in the country. The senator backed the plan of the Department of Energy (DoE) to impose a moratorium on coal use. This, he said, should be accompanied by regulations encouraging the building of flexible systems such as energy storage. He observed that the imposition of lockdown in the country saw a drop in coal generation amid a decrease in demand as operations of industrial facilities and commercial establishments slowed. According to market research provider S&P Global, major oil companies are diversifying into renewable and low carbon energy in response to the growing concerns on climate change.
READ: Red tape hampers RE development – experts THE Philippines has vast sources of renewable energy but these remain largely untapped because of red tape and delays in policy implementation, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, in his keynote address at the forum hosted by The Manila Times dubbed "Propelling Renewable Energy against Climate Change". Another factor that has greatly affected RE growth is the delay in implementing some of the policies to develop clean energy sources. Monalisa Dimalanta, former chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB), said the feed-in-tariff (FiT) program, which she described as the "banner program" of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, took years before it was implemented. WeGen President Charlie Ayco pointed out that the government should simplify and standardize requirements and permits. Solar Philippines president Leandro Leviste said the key challenge to harnessing unconventional energy sources was two-fold. LONGi Solar Regional Sales Director for Asia Pacific Sam Zheng said that the country can tap into the solar photovoltaic (PV) system as its cost has declined by 75 percent.
READ: PDP-Laban leaders want Pacquiao out The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan's (PDP-Laban) national council on Wednesday urged Sen. Emmanuel 'Manny' Pacquiao to resign as president of the party because of his recent attacks on President Rodrigo Duterte. The President is the chairman of the ruling party. In a statement, the party called on Pacquiao to resign "in light of his recent actuations unbecoming of a good and true party member". The group said Pacquiao's behavior "is clearly driven by his political ambition and is solely designed to gain publicity at the expense of our Party Chairman, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his administration." PDP-Laban later said they remain in unity and accord with Duterte.
READ: Taal vog reaches Metro Manila The smog seen in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces was not urban pollution after all. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Wednesday admitted that the vog (volcanic fog) came from Taal Volcano. The Phivolcs warned that continuous high gas emission, earthquakes and slow but steady inflation indicates the unrest of the Batangas volcano. Solidum rectified his statement on Tuesday, saying the 3-kilometer-high smog seen over Metro Manila and surrounding provinces was caused by increased vehicle emission and not by sulfur dioxide (SO2) from Taal.
READ: Palace defends Duque from Pacquiao's attacks Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. on Wednesday said Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao might have been absent or preoccupied when Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd and other Cabinet members attended the Senate's inquiry on the government's Covid-19 pandemic response. Roque made the statement after Pacquiao said the Department of Health (DoH) should be investigated over alleged corruption in the procurement of Covid-19 test kits and personal protective equipment, among others.
READ: Politicians warned vs keeping private armies INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday warned politicians that they can be charged with violating the anti-terrorism law should they be linked to private armed groups. Año, former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said authorities are monitoring over a hundred "potential" private armed groups (PAGS) in Western Mindanao alone. He said these suspected PAGS are likely to be tapped by politicians to advance their interests as the 2022 election season gets near. Aspirants for elective positions from the president down to municipal councilors will be filing their certificates of candidacy in October with the campaign season to officially kick off in February next year.
READ: Opposition looks to Robredo for unity Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo should run for president because she is the only one who can unite the fractious opposition, an official of the Liberal Party (LP) said. Quezon City Sixth District Rep. Jose Christopher "Kit" Belmonte, LP secretary-general, said only the vice president "can unite all pro-democracy forces." Belmonte's statement comes as former senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes 4th, a member of the Magdalo party-list, criticized the LP for considering adopting Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, president of the ruling party PDP-Laban, or Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso as its possible presidential bets. The Magdalo party-list is among the supporters and member groups of opposition coalition 1Sambayan.
BUSINESS: BSP projects slower inflation in June Over to business, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Wednesday that the country's headline inflation rate likely dropped to a five-month low of 4.3 percent in June. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a statement that June's point inflation projection was within the central bank's expected range of 3.9 to 4.7 percent for the month. The forecast is a slowdown from the 4.5 percent consumer price growth in May, but faster than the 2.5 percent a year ago. If correct, the estimated figure would be the slowest in five months, or since last January's 4.2 percent. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will release official June inflation data on July 6, 2021.
SPORTS: Underdog Gilas begins hunt for Olympic berth In sports, the 94-76 demolition of Serbia over Dominican Republic on Wednesday served as a strong warning and also a glimmer of hope for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia. A warning for Gilas not to take for granted the more experienced Serbian squad when they collide at 2:15 a.m. on Thursday and a hope that the Philippine squad can beat the Dominican quintet at 2:30 a.m. on Friday.
READ: Opinion and Editorial Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Rep. Edcel Lagman are our front page columnists. Contreras discusses a "different" kind of survey, Makabenta believes sovereign immunity is the shield against the International Criminal Court's meddling in PH affairs, and Rep. Lagman revisits the Reproductive Health Law.
Today's editorial discusses the United States' help in the Philippines' fight against HIV/AIDS. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Christian Crow Maghanoy reporting.