Ben Kritz

I AM in Cebu City today (Tuesday, June 23) to moderate The Manila Times’ Cebu business forum, under the theme, “Padayon Cebu: Accelerating momentum, securing prosperity.” Padayon, as I understand it, is word in the Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray languages meaning “move forward,” or “keep going,” as an exhortation to persevere in the face of challenges. That is an entirely appropriate sentiment for today’s forum, although the reason I think so is probably not as optimistic as the views today’s esteemed speakers and guests may have.

PARTLY due to time constraints, but mostly due to the thought-provoking quality of the point made by SeaLight Foundation Executive Director Ray Powell — a frequent source for West Philippine Sea (WPS)-related news for us here at The Manila Times — I am taking a page from ol’ cut-and-paste’s playbook today to share a recent statement (June 17) by the Chinese Embassy in Manila that was posted to Facebook, and an intriguing rejoinder to it posted to LinkedIn by Mr. Powell on June 18. The embassy’s statement was a reaction to comments made by Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, the spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award in favor of the Philippines in its long-running dispute over the West Philippine Sea.

THIS past Tuesday, June 23, The Manila Times held a business forum at the Radisson Blu hotel in Cebu City to explore the business and economic

LAST month, the nation’s largest distribution utility caused a bit of a stir when Larry Fernandez, vice president and head of utility economics for the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), told a Senate committee that the company supports stricter regulation of rooftop solar installations, including standardization of key components, certification of installers, and a “crackdown” on so-called “guerrilla” installations, those that are done without registration and the corresponding building and safety permits. As I wrote at the time, even though that is what Fernandez literally said, it was reported in such a way as to cast Meralco as being opposed to rooftop solar, while omitting some context that would have clarified the utility’s legitimate concerns about its uncontrolled growth.

FIRST, a public service announcement, one that I seem to feel obliged to make at least once a year. It is the time of the year here in the Philippines when health experts (and naturally, the drug store chains that sell most of the shots) urge people to get their annual influenza vaccination. If you’re like me, someone of the “at your age” age — meaning that many people will tell you, “at your age, you should be careful about (insert name of common ailment or health concern here)” — this is especially important, as contracting the flu can have dire consequences.

First of three parts A SQUABBLE over what is supposed to be a temporary power supply agreement for the electric cooperative (EC) serving

Last of three parts THE report by the Partners for Affordable and Renewable Energy (PARE) that summarized the various allegations it had