Unfair to Almendras

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras last week continued to show his irritation over unfair accusations hurled by critics that the Department of Energy is useless in the face of issues hounding the sector he heads. 

We share the good secretary’s sentiments. There are two issues where uncalled-for criticisms have been thrown his way. One concerns the recent steep hike in the price of imported fuel. Another is what may have been perceived as the slow pace in the implementation of the government’s program to provide alternative indigenous electric power sources that will cushion the uncertainty in the price and supply of their imported counterpart. 

Almendras has made it clear time and again that he is bound to follow what the laws on the deregulation of the local oil industry provide. His critics appear to be pressuring him to file charges against oil firms for hiking prices and to put stronger control measures, both of which do not have bases in law. 

The slow pace in the integration of renewable power sources into the overall power supply of the country is also not the fault of Almendras. As we have underscored a few times, he is facing formidable opposition in his bid to push the country’s renewable energy program which PNoy has advocated. 

Given the names behind the move against renewable energy, we can only sympathize with Almendras. Among these big names are former energy secretaries: former President Ramos’ energy czar Delfin Lazaro and the Arroyo administration’s Raphael “Popo” Lotilla. 

The two are part of a group we mentioned last week – the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) which media colleagues covering the energy beat say has succeeded in slowing down hearings at the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) concerning renewable power sources. 

There are other big names in that group. Business leader Ramon del Rosario Jr. of Phinma chairs the FEF board of which former Arroyo administration standouts Patricia Sto. Tomas and Gloria Tan-Climaco are also part. 

Former Arroyo spokesman Gary Olivar, who recently surfaced to present an economic paper written by the former president against the P-Noy government, is also active in the FEF. A former undersecretary, Romy Bernardo, is also part of the group. 

The FEF now wants the court to throw a temporary restraining order to completely prevent the ERC from proceeding with renewable energy-related hearings. That could further torpedo Almendras’ bid to push the program forward. 

Del Lazaro and Almendras were together in the Ayala group. Sad that the renewable energy program should pit close associates against each other.

Tribesmen on hunger strike

Saying that political and legal remedies may be futile, tribal leaders and their members from Palawan will go on hunger strike to call government’s attention to the still unresolved mining issues in Brooke’s Point Municipality.

The Brooke’s Point Tribal Leaders Federation (BPTLF) led by Agustin Bacosa said they would go on hunger strike until President Aquino puts into action his promise when he came to Palawan early last year.

President Aquino has said that he would approve mining projects recommended by affected communities to be operated by reputable mining firms.

Bacosa said it is now almost a year since the President made the commitment, but the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) has yet to issue the Certificate of Pre-Condition (CP) for MacroAsia Corp. which prompted some 30 tribal leaders to sue for violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices against the NICP officials involved.

The hunger strike to be participated in by tribal people from Barangays Mambalot, Ipilan and Maasin will most likely be held at the historic Mendiola to highlight President Aquino’s promise which he made when he visited Palawan in February last year.

Bacosa and his group said the graft case against NCIP chairman Zenaida Pawid and commissioner Dionesia Banua could drag on, thus prolonging the sufferings of the indigenous people who are hoping to improve their lot with the mining operations in their barangays.

An earlier public consultation on mining held in Palawan attended by congressmen, local government officials, representatives of pro and anti-mining groups and indigenous tribal leaders, rather than addressing the real issues, became a forum for grandstanding by the congressmen with obvious personal agenda, Bacosa said.

They said that they are ready to starve themselves for the sake of more than 3,000 indigenous people who have anchored their financial future on mining.

It will be recalled that 883 of the more than 1,000 registered indigenous families recommended the mining operations by MacroAsia in a free and prior informed consent (FPIC) process conducted in 2010 by the NCIP.

Subsequently, in an en banc meeting in August, the NCIP decided to issue the Certificate of Precondition (CP) for MacroAsia on a 4-3 vote, but was withheld for reason that became obvious in December when they came out with a resolution denying the issuance of the CP on a 7-0 vote.

The tribal leaders said the planned hunger strike could only be averted by the suspension of Pawid and Banua for non-issuance of the CP as a result of the duly conducted FPIC process, or if the Ombudsman would act promptly on the complaint filed by tribal leaders against the two NCIP officials.

 The group has lost hope that their congressmen and local officials would take action since they have been unusually silent on the issue and might have taken the side of the minority which is against mining.

Not so hidden agenda

Our congratulations to the board of directors, trustees, officers and new members of the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice (ACPAPP) who were inducted by no less that Budget Secretary Butch Abad last night.

In his message to the group, Abad said that the group’s theme “Building Relationship through High Ethical Standards” clearly states ACPAPP’s earnest desire to continue improving the profession and the industry, whether as individuals or as an organized group.

He pointed out that the work that ACPAPP’s members accomplish as accountants is vital in ensuring full transparency and honesty in both the public and the private sector and that they can provide crucial assistance to the Aquino administration in fulfilling the President’s social contract with the Filipino people, embodied by “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap”.

Spearheading the organization for this year is ACPAPP president, Atty. Eranio Punsalan, founder and chairman of E.L. Punsalan & Associates (law and accounting firm) and a consultant/lecturer for academe and professional associations on professional ethics and corporate governance. On the other hand, Ma. Cecilia F. Ortiz, an audit and assurance partner and the reputation and risk leader of Manabat Delgado Amper & Co., a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, is the 2012 foundation president.

Inducted as board of directors and committee chairpersons are Atty. Eranio Punsalan, president; Leonardo Cuaresma Jr., EVP and liaison director for ANC; J. Carlitos Cruz, vice president and liaison director for professional development; Cesar Faustino Ravalo, VP for membership and chapter development; Donato Danao, VP for external affairs and liaison director for ethics; Teresita Pestaño, treasurer and VP for internal affairs; Monette Tolentino, secretary; directors: Avis Manlapaz, Gina Maminta, Michael Machica, Lope Bato Jr., Imelda Mangundaya, Katherine Constantino, Oliver Bucao, and Rosemary de Mesa; and chairpersons: Danilo Alas, Ma. Alma Sese, Cleopatra Du, Roy Odsinada, Nestorio Roraldo, Alexander Cabrerra, Nelson Dinio, Mae Villa-Chu, Tess Dimaculangan, Anita Rodriguez, Noel Rabaja, Charisse Siao, Benjie Hortellano, Nymfa Magnaye, and Glady’s Jill Cua. 

The foundation Board of Trustees are Ma. Cecilia Ortiz, chairperson; George Villaruz, VP; Atty. Arminda Acyatan-Guerrero, secretary; Nelson Dinio, treasurer; trustees: Rodelio Acosta, Danilo Alas,Oliver Bucao, Rina Gloriana, Edgardo Leonardo, Ma. Cristina Josefina Ocampo, and Jose Pepito Zabat.

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