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VOL. XXXVI • NO. 299• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Cold storage listing to stem agri smuggling By Rio N. Araja
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said Sunday all cold storage facilities should be registered to address the problem of smuggled agri-
cultural products. DA spokesman Rex Estoperez told radio dzBB that the practice of traders hoarding agricultural products during the harvest season and storing them in cold storage facilities for release only
when prices go up must end. “I think it's high time. We also have imperfections in our systems, but it's high time that all cold storage should be registered,” Estoperez said Next page
PBBM to drum up PH interest at ASEAN-EU summit By Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. flew to Brussels, Belgium on Sunday, set to push for the country's priorities on trade, maritime cooperation, and climate action
at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (ASEAN-EU) Summit. In his departure speech at the Maharlika Hall at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, President Marcos said this
would be the first meeting between ASEAN and EU member states' leaders at the European Union headquarters. "I am pleased to highlight the Ph i l i p p i n e s ’ r o l e a s t h e c o u n t r y Next page
RED CARPET SALUTE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. salutes the troops as he and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Bartolome Bacarro march on the red carpet toward the presidential plane that will take Mr. Marcos to Belgium for the EU-ASEAN Summit starting Monday. Presidential Photo
ERC holds electricity rate hikes Issues freeze order until plea of big firms vs. higher charges is resolved By Alena Mae S. Flores SWIRL OF SPARKS. A fire dancer throws off sparks as he performs to a variety of music during a presentation at the Glorious Fantasy Complex on Sunset Boulevard in Dapitan City over the weekend. Danny Pata
T
HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued status quo orders that effectively prevent retail electricity suppliers from increasing their rates to large companies. Several large companies had earlier asked the ERC to issue temporary restraining orders and cease-and-desist orders to prevent their retail electricity suppliers from disconnecting their supply. The companies alleged that the retail electricity suppliers breached their supply contracts by imposing higher charges beyond what was agreed and wanted to impose fuel cost recovery adjustments due to the alleged extraordinary increases in fuel costs. ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said the status quo would hold until the commission decides on the motions filed before it. "If consumers are disconnected, not only will the petitioner be affected, but its customers as well. With the disconnection, the supply chain will be disrupted, and a domino effect will ensue downstream," it said. The companies said the retail electricity suppliers cited a change in circumstance due to "the unprecedented Next page
DOJ supports Malampaya group says can’t US sanctions sell banked gas to Ilijan plant vs. HR felons By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice on Sunday offered a general statement of support for the US government move to sanction 40 human rights violators in nine countries but was noncommittal on the specific case against Filipino pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, who has been accused of the Next page
THE consortium of the Malampaya deep water-to-gas project, composed of Razon's Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., Dennis Uy's UC38 LL, and state-owned PNOC Exploration Corp., said Sunday there were not refusing to sell to the Malampaya banked gas to the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan power plant. The consortium said in a joint statement there were no legal means by which the sale of banked gas to the Ilijan gas plant in Batangas, owned by SMC Global
Power Holdings Corp., could be made. The banked gas is the accumulated unused gas of the Ilijan power plant, amounting to 108.6 petajoules, due to the underutilization of the plant's take-or-pay quantity within the period 2002 to 2007. The consortium said there was no live contract for the supply of gas from Malampaya between SMCGP subsidiary South Premiere Power Corp. and Spex, now Prime Energy. Next page
MAROONS UP. James Spencer of the University of the Philippines pulls up for a shot over Ateneo's Bryan Andrade in Game 1 of the UAAP Men's Basketball Finals on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. UAAP Media Bureau
UP nears 2nd straight UAAP hoops crown By Peter Atencio THE defending champion University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are close to something they haven’t achieved before—claim a second consecutive crown in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball wars.
The Maroons limited the Ateneo Blue Eagles to just a point in the last two minutes to eke out a 72-66 win Sunday night in Game 1 of the 85th season bestof-three finals at the Mall of Asia Arena. Zavier Lucero struck with a team-high 14 points and hauled 11 rebounds for the Fighting Maroons, who will be shooting Next page
PACQUIAO HINTS AT RETURN TO RING AFTER EXHIBITION WIN SPORTS / C1
RONDINA-GONZAGA DUO WINS CROWN IN SUBIC BEACH VOLLEY SPORTS / C1