Indigenous gets priority over imported natgas By Lenie Lectura
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@llectura
HE Department of Energy (DOE) has formally declared the prioritization of indigenous natural gas over imported natural gas via the issuance of a department circular over the weekend. “Procurement and utilization of indigenous natural gas, including
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without limitation, by gas-fired power plants, shall be prioritized over imported natural gas. All users of natural gas shall first utilize available quantities of indigenous natural gas,” DOE DC 2025-09-13 stated. The pricing of indigenous natural gas shall be based on a sixmonth averaging of indices and quarterly price adjustments. If and when this will result in higher
prices compared to imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), users of the natural gas may opt to temporarily purchase imported LNG for not more than three consecutive months. The DOE said it will evaluate and review the temporary purchase with due regard to the government’s share in the production of indigenous natural gas. Mentioned in the circular is the gas aggregation scheme, in which
the gas aggregator procures the LNG volumes and indigenous natural gas through supply and/ or financial trade contracts, and sells the blended and consolidated gas to buyers in the Philippines or abroad. “The DOE shall declare the need for aggregation and issue the necessary guidelines to regulate the development of See “Indigenous,” A2
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Monday, September 8, 2025 Vol. 20 No. 330
P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 22 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
HE government scaled back its debt servicing in the first seven months of the year as amortization eased, but upcoming large bond maturities could push payments higher in the coming months. According to the Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) latest data, the government paid a total of P876.164 billion for some of its debt from January to July. This plunged by 35.76 percent from P1.367 trillion in debt servicing during the same period last year. The bulk, or 59.47 percent, of the debt servicing was for inter-
est payments, while 40.53 percent paid off amortization. Interest payments jumped by 14.09 percent to P521.040 billion as of end-July, up from P456.660 billion in the same period a year ago. Of the amount, P382.743 billion went to service domestic obligations, such as interest worth See “end-July,” A2
PIÑA-JUSI GETS FOCUS AS PHL EMBASSY, M.A.M. SALUTE ARMANI By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
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HE Philippine Embassy in Rome and Italian fashion school Maiani Accademia Moda (MAM) turned their “Bianchi Contaminati” runway on September 4 into a moving homage to the late Giorgio Armani, who that early morning. Against the early-20th-century Art Nouveau backdrop of Villino Pacelli—a 1906 Libertystyle villa serving as the Philippine Embassy headquarters since 2022—40 white-themed designs by MAM students celebrated both Filipino textile
heritage and Armani’s legacy of purity and restraint. “The passing of Giorgio Armani is a great loss to the fashion world and to Italian culture. He was one of Italy’s finest cultural ambassadors and we honor him today with our own fashion show at the embassy, knowing his legacy lives on,” Philippine Ambassador Nathaniel Imperial said. The runway spotlighted a quartet of luxury organzas rooted in Filipino heritage. Pure piña—hand-extracted from pineapple leaves and recognized See “PiÑa-Jusi,” A2
BIANCHI CONTAMINATI: A TRIBUTE TO ARMANI The Philippine Embassy in Rome and Maiani Accademia Moda (MAM) turned their “Bianchi Contaminati” runway on September 4 into a moving tribute to the late Giorgio Armani. Set against the Art Nouveau backdrop of Villino Pacelli, student designers showcased 40 white-themed creations featuring Unesco-recognized piña and other Filipino heritage textiles. Philippine Ambassador Nathaniel G. Imperial hailed the show as a synergy of “memory and innovation, Filipino craftsmanship and Italian design education,” while Rome Deputy for Tourism, Sport and Fashion Alessandro Onorato praised the event for empowering young talents and highlighting Rome’s role as a cultural capital. See boxed story at left. EG OQUENDO | PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN ROME
Asia’s Modern Hero Awards fetes ALC Group for ‘malasakit’-driven initiatives
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HE ALC Group of Companies was recognized with the Modern Hero of Compassion and Service Award at Asia’s Modern Hero Awards, held on September 5, 2025, at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila. The award celebrates organizations that go beyond business to serve the greater good, something the ALC Group has quietly and consistently done for decades. Representing the ALC Group of Companies at the awarding ceremony were Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon’s daughters: Giannina Eunice A. Cabangon, Operations Executive of Isuzu Gencars group, and Dannica Nicole A. Cabangon, Operations Executive of The Eternal Group. Chairman Cabangon expressed deep gratitude to the award-giving
body, with special thanks to Dr. Ronnel Ybañez and the organizing committee of Asia’s Modern Hero Awards. “We accept this award with deep humility and pride, not just for the ALC Group, but for every Filipino we serve. We are deeply grateful and more inspired to continue the work we have started,” Chairman Cabangon shared. “These efforts are a reflection of the values instilled in us by our founder, my father, Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, whose legacy of malasakit lives on in everything we do,” he added. The award recognizes the ALC Group’s commitment to social responsibility and nation-building. Over the years, the conglomerate has championed initiatives spanning health, education, humanitarian response, environmental pro-
GIANNINA EUNICE A. CABANGON (center) and Dannica Nicole A. Cabangon (right) proudly accept the Modern Hero of Compassion and Service Award for the ALC Group of Companies. Joining them is Dr. Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., distinguished Executive Council member of the Asia’s Modern Hero Awards. NONIE REYES
tection, and spiritual development. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ALC Group was among the first to promptly respond to the government’s urgent call for help by converting 10 of its hotels in key cities, including Manila, Pasig, Mandaluyong, and Puerto Princesa, into quarantine facilities. Offered free of charge for over a year, these spaces provided safe refuge for frontliners such as doctors and nurses from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and other nearby hospitals, as well as individuals requiring isolation, playing a vital role in the national pandemic response. In addition, the Group has maintained a strong partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, regularly organizing blood donation drives and other public health
activities. In education, the ALC Group collaborates closely with the Department of Education, supporting students and teachers through various programs and outreach efforts. The Group also partnered with Caritas Manila by donating Isuzu Traviz utility vehicles to assist with the organization’s logistics, along with relief goods and cash assistance to support communities affected by natural disasters. Moreover, the ALC Group participates in environmental initiatives such as clean-up drives and tree planting. Equally unwavering is its dedication to the Church and the broader community, demonstrated through its vital role in the Catholic Mass Media Awards and other religious and civic programs.
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 57.2110 n JAPAN 0.3855 n UK 76.8630 n HK 7.3336 n CHINA 8.0126 n SINGAPORE 44.3634 n AUSTRALIA 37.2730 n EU 66.6508 n KOREA 0.0411 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.2494 Source: BSP (September 5, 2025)