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Family’s organic farm learns to expand business to Europe

When Leonor Pantua, co-owner of a family business in Tupi, South Cotabato, gives cautionary advice to aspiring exporters, she is not trying to discourage them from pursuing their dream.  “You must know who your buyers are. You can get caught as everything comes at a cost,” she says. Her company, Kablon Farms, has gained export success...

NGCP told to ‘practice discipline’ to protect consumers
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NGCP told to ‘practice discipline’ to protect consumers

(Second of two parts) In its preliminary review, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) disallowed the expenses of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) amounting to P3.7 billion, which it said were “improperly documented or not recoverable for customers.” The biggest items disallowed were for public relations, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and advertising expenses.  NGCP’s...

Power transmission monopoly NGCP questions rate review amid calls for refund
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Power transmission monopoly NGCP questions rate review amid calls for refund

(First of two parts) The Supreme Court petition filed by National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to halt a long-delayed review of its rates could keep power costs high and delay potential refunds to consumers. NGCP is a private monopoly that operates the country’s power transmission lines, or the grid linking power generators to...

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Humanizing Metro Manila’s transport system

Metro Manila was tagged as having the fifth worst public transportation system worldwide in the 2022 Urban Mobility Readiness Index launched by the Oliver Wyman Forum and the University of California, Berkeley. This study examined 60 metropolises across the globe to assess their public transport system, including, among others, the reliability of public rail systems,...

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Christmas food and agricultural productivity

What do Filipino households spend most on during Christmas? You guessed it: food.  The Philippines is also the country that proportionately spends the most on Christmas food, according to a 2023 worldwide survey of 23 countries by WorldRemit. The survey classified Christmas spending according to three categories: food, decorations and gifts. A Filipino household on...

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Why not electric jeepneys to modernize the ‘kings of the road’?

When eFrancisco Motor Corp. chair Elmer Francisco rattled off their ejeep’s accessories during a virtual launch on the night of Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day, some viewers gasped in awe. There’s nothing like it yet on the market. It’s got Wi-Fi, GPS system, CCTV, video and audio system, dashcam, AC. But that’s just the bling.  The...

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Boracay feels economic pinch despite 1.8M tourist arrivals

BORACAY ISLAND—John Neil Gregorio, 22, had just completed a four-year computer science course when an uncle prodded him to take on the job of a service crew member in an Indian restaurant in Boracay last August.  Despite the meager starting daily wage of P300, with free meals and board, he bit the bullet, seeing a...

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‘What could have been, what can be done’

If given a three-minute audience with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said former health secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, he will make a strong case for the development of the young population to make the Philippines at par with the fast-growing economies in Southeast Asia.     This will be his recommendation to the President: Synergize education, health, agriculture,...