China’s law banning all fishermen in waters of the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Vietnam – Escalating to ASEAN meeting

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario

 

Phl to bring China fishing law to ASEAN

 

The Philippines will discuss with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) the new fisheries law of China that raises both regional and international concern for its serious implications.

 

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said yesterday he would raise China's fishing restrictions with his counterparts at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, which began on Jan. 15 and ends this Saturday.

 

Del Rosario is in Bagan, Myanmar for the meeting.

 

"The reported new Hainan fisheries regulations have serious implications on freedom of navigation, maritime security, respect for UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and regional peace and stability," Del Rosario said in a statement.

 

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday that China responded to the Philippines' call for clarification of its new fisheries law, with Beijing insisting that it is not a new measure but an implementation of their fishing regulations covering Hainan.

 

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"As an international issue, all concerned countries should be able to express their views in our common search for security and stability based on the rule of law," Del Rosario said.

 

China came under fire Tuesday at a US House joint committee hearing for its alleged propensity to use coercion, bullying and "salami slicing tactics" to secure its maritime interests in the East and South China Seas.

 

"We take note of the recent pronouncement by members of the US Congress concerning disputes in the seas of East Asia," Del Rosario said.

 

He stressed that the Philippine government has always advocated a peaceful and rules-based settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS.

 

"Stakeholders in these disputes should refrain from acts that are detrimental to peace and stability of the region and ensure global economic progress through unimpeded maritime commerce," he said.

 

The DFA reiterated its strong protest on June 28, 2012 as the jurisdiction of Hainan province includes Philippine territories and impinges on the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

 

The Philippines called on China to conform to international law, particularly the UNCLOS.

 

It asked Beijing to immediately clarify the regulation, saying it is a gross violation of international law.

 

The new fisheries law issued by the Hainan Provincial People's Congress requires foreign fishing vessels to obtain approval from Chinese authorities before they are allowed to fish or conduct surveying activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

 

The DFA said China's latest move would only further escalate tensions in the disputed territory and affect peace and stability in the region.

 

The US slammed China for the new fishing restrictions in disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea, saying they were "provocative and potentially dangerous."

 

Move aims to weaken food security

 

A lawmaker warned that China's move to restrict foreign fishing vessels in the disputed West Philippine Sea was aimed at weakening the country's food security.

 

Assistant Majority Leader and Palawan Rep. Franz Josef Alvarez described Beijing's imposition of a fishing permit on parts of the West Philippine Sea it is claiming as its own as a "blow to our stomachs, and an assault on our food security." – Paolo Romero / philSTAR

 

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Defiant “Kneel” to Hainan China order; Philippines’ Defense to provide armed escorts to Pinoy Fishermen Fishing West Philippine Sea

A view of Pag-asa Island of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan. Photo source

Gov't troops ready to escort Pinoy fishermen at sea

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The government is ready to provide security escorts to Filipino fishermen who will operate in the West Philippine Sea as the government continues to ignore China new fishing policy in the disputed area.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin stressed that the Philippines would not comply with the rules set by China, which has been shoring up its presence in the region.

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We have the capability to secure them (fishermen). As said before, we would not follow their rules in our own territory, Gazmin told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of the anniversary of the Special Operations Command.

Why do we have to secure permission from other countries when they do not own our fishing grounds? he added.

When asked if the government would provide security to fishermen if the need arises, Gazmin said: Kung kinakailangan (If necessary).

China is seeking to enforce a new law requiring foreign fishing boats to seek its permission before operating in the West Philippine Sea.

The new law issued by the Hainan Provincial People Congress took effect last month and covered two million hectares of the area.

Officials said they would disregard the latest effort by China to assert its territorial claim.

The Philippines has warned China that the new fishing policy could escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

It added that the fishery law, which reinforces China expansive claim under the nine-dash line, is a gross violation of the international law.

China nine-dash line covers more than 100 islets, atolls and reefs and overlaps with the claims of the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam.

On Wednesday, Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said Filipino fishermen should not give in to China threats or intimidation.

He said the fishermen should stand up for their rights and go about their normal lives.

Gazmin said a superpower like the United States should stand up against China aggressive acts.

Someone has to demonstrate strength because China has been very aggressive lately. It started with the ADIZ (air defense identification zone), and now the fishing laws, the defense chief said.

Republican Rep. Steve Chabot said China is dangerously trying to take disputed territories by gradual force with the misguided hope that Japan, Southeast Asian nations and the US will just grudgingly accept it.- philSTAR

 

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Defiant “Kneel” to Hainan China order; Philippines’ Defense to provide armed escorts to Pinoy Fishermen Fishing West Philippine Sea

A view of Pag-asa Island of the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan. Photo source

 

Gov't troops ready to escort Pinoy fishermen at sea

 

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The government is ready to provide security escorts to Filipino fishermen who will operate in the West Philippine Sea as the government continues to ignore China new fishing policy in the disputed area.

 

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin stressed that the Philippines would not comply with the rules set by China, which has been shoring up its presence in the region.

 

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We have the capability to secure them (fishermen). As said before, we would not follow their rules in our own territory, Gazmin told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of the anniversary of the Special Operations Command.

 

Why do we have to secure permission from other countries when they do not own our fishing grounds? he added.

 

When asked if the government would provide security to fishermen if the need arises, Gazmin said: Kung kinakailangan (If necessary).

 

China is seeking to enforce a new law requiring foreign fishing boats to seek its permission before operating in the West Philippine Sea.

 

The new law issued by the Hainan Provincial People Congress took effect last month and covered two million hectares of the area.

 

Officials said they would disregard the latest effort by China to assert its territorial claim.

 

The Philippines has warned China that the new fishing policy could escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

 

It added that the fishery law, which reinforces China expansive claim under the nine-dash line, is a gross violation of the international law.

 

China nine-dash line covers more than 100 islets, atolls and reefs and overlaps with the claims of the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam.

 

On Wednesday, Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said Filipino fishermen should not give in to China threats or intimidation.

 

He said the fishermen should stand up for their rights and go about their normal lives.

 

Gazmin said a superpower like the United States should stand up against China aggressive acts.

 

Someone has to demonstrate strength because China has been very aggressive lately. It started with the ADIZ (air defense identification zone), and now the fishing laws, the defense chief said.

 

Republican Rep. Steve Chabot said China is dangerously trying to take disputed territories by gradual force with the misguided hope that Japan, Southeast Asian nations and the US will just grudgingly accept it.- philSTAR

 

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Philippines now defiant to bullies; 2 Air force facilities be constructed in Tawi-Tawi and Palawan

Photo: Facebook AFP Forum 

 

Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) is building two Air Force facilities to upgrade the military's maritime defense and rescue capabilities over the country's territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea and Sulu Sea.

 

Called the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Search and Rescue Basing and Hangarage Project amounting to about ₱149 million, the facilities will be constructed in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and in Sanga-Sanga in Tawi-Tawi.

 

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The department also signed a ₱882-million contract with an Israeli firm last week for the acquisition of 28 armored infantry fighting vehicles.

 

The PAF is also expecting deliveries of a squadron of lead-in fighter jets and rotary aircraft under its ongoing capability upgrade projects in line with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)'s modernization program.

 

"The plan is to upgrade the capability requirements of the Philippine Air Force and improve the operational effectiveness by constructing hangars and facilities as support systems to sustain the search and rescue operations and support its maritime security and protection of the Malampaya natural gas-to-power project, the Reed Bank and the future Sulu oil rig," said Defense Undersecretary Eduardo Batac, who chairs the DND's Special Bids and Awards Committee-2, in a published bidding invitation for the two projects.

 

Reed Bank, which is also being claimed by China, is believed to be sitting on huge oil and natural gas deposits.

 

Two years ago, two Chinese vessels harassed a civilian survey vessel commissioned by the Department of Energy, prompting then Western Command Cmdr. Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban to dispatch two OV-10 bombers to ensure the safety of the DOE vessel and its crew.

 

The Malampaya natural gas-to-power project, also in the waters of Palawan, is in full operation. There are also ongoing oil explorations in Sulu Sea, which is believed to contain huge oil and mineral deposits.

 

"The DND and AFP now invite bids for eligible bidders for the construction of two SAR hangarage projects including other requirements," Batac said.

 

Pre-bid conference is scheduled on Jan. 22 at the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office conference room in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Opening of bids for the project has been scheduled on Feb. 3 at the same venue.

 

"Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens or organizations with at least 75 percent interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines," Batac said.

 

On the acquisition of 28 armored infantry fighting vehicles from Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems Land and C4I, Batac said it is aimed at boosting the inventory of light armored units and land fighting capabilities of the 80,000-strong Philippine Army.

 

Four of the 28 armored vehicles are of the recovery type, which can be used to tow damaged units in times of combat.

 

Defense assistant secretary Patrick Velez said delivery is expected within two years. - philSTAR

 

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Philippines spent ₱35.2 Billion for 1 nonsense law RA 10632 in 2013. Cha-cha to Abolish unproductive CONGRESS

 

Charter Change to- Federal System

• Abolish unproductive congress
• Speedup abolition of Pork Barrel (PDAF and DAF)
• To empower states and provinces for viable economic growth

 

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'Time to abolish unproductive Congress!' – lawyer

 

For just one minor legislation passed by Congress, taxpayers spent a whopping ₱35.2 billion, lawyer Romulo Macalintal said.

 

"The very dismal performance of our legislators in 2013 with only one insignificant law enacted for that year with a whopping ₱35.2 Billion budget is enough justification to call for a charter change to abolish Congress and let the provincial governors and mayors of highly urbanized cities to form the legislative assembly," he said.

 

He said the minor legislation was in the form of a one-page document: Republic Act 10632 or the suspension of the 2013 Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

 

"Despite Congress' high-profile investigations it conducted in previous years 'in aid of legislation', no significant or relevant laws have been enacted as a result of such legislative inquiries," he said.

 

Congress passed the 2014 budget in December, but it could not be considered an accomplishment, he said, since it is Congress' obligation.

 

Even then, the constitution provides that if Congress fails to pass the budget law for a particular year, the budget for the preceding year is "deemed reenacted and shall remain in force and effect," he said.

 

"With such a cheerless and disheartening accomplishments of our legislators where we spent billions and billions of pesos for their salaries and allowances, some of which could not even be audited as the same are justified by mere 'certification of expenditure' without any receipt, time is of the essence that we now give serious consideration in amending our constitution with the abolition of Congress as its first priority," he said.

 

He added charter change is also a shortcut to totally abolishing the pork barrel, instead of waiting for the tedious process at the Supreme Court.

 

He said even the decisions of the high court are ignored by lawmakers.

 

"The gigantic savings that would be generated when Congress is abolished could be properly channeled to augment the much needed rehabilitation of the areas in the Visayan region badly hit by typhoon Yolanda and other worthy projects of the government," he said. – ABS-CBN News

 

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Awaken Philippines of China’s threat: Realized the need of 6 Frigates; to Acquire 2 more Warships from USA

 

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Philippines seeks more US navy ships amid China threat

 

The Philippines wants to acquire two more navy ships from the United States to boost its maritime protection amid threats from China, the country's military chief said Wednesday.

 

The new acquisitions would come under the fresh US military assistance announced by US Secretary of State John Kerry when he visited the Philippines last month, armed forces chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista said.

 

"Within the last year, we realized that there is a real threat out there in terms of securing, defending our territory," Bautista told ANC television.

 

He said that ideally the country needed about six more frigates to guard its long coastline effectively.

 

"In fact, we are bidding now for two frigates, hopefully we will be able to acquire them in (a) couple of years," Bautista said.

 

He said he has made "maritime domain awareness" and protection a key concern of his leadership.

 

The funds used to boost maritime defense, he said, would come from the $40 million military assistance pledged by Kerry in December.

 

The Philippines has already acquired two refurbished American frigates in the past two years, and they now lead patrols in the South China Sea.

 

The Philippines, a long-time US military ally, has been locked in an increasingly tense standoff with China involving disputed reefs and islands in an area Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

 

In 2012, the flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the first acquired from the US, confronted Chinese ships on Scarborough Shoal, a small outcrop just off the coast of the country's main island of Luzon.

 

The Chinese eventually gained control of the outcrop after Manila backed down. However, the government sought UN arbitration to settle the dispute, a move rejected by China.

 

Manila has also increasingly looked to the US for help, and negotiations are ongoing for an increased rotational presence of American soldiers in the Philippines as part of Washington's "pivot" to Asia.

 

Bautista said the Gregorio del Pilar, as well as another frigate that arrived last year, have been deployed to protect the country's waters.

 

"There are Chinese fishing vessels in the West Philippine Sea as we speak," he said, but declined to say where they were in the disputed waters.

 

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including waters near the coast of its neighbours.

 

Recently, it has declared an "air defence identification zone" over the East China Sea where it is engaged in a dispute with Japan.

 

Kerry has warned China against imposing a similar restriction over the South China Sea, and said the US government also rejected the zone over the East China Sea.

 

Last week China also announced a new fisheries law requiring foreign vessels to seek permits for activities in much of the South China Sea, in another move that triggered angry protests from Manila. – MSN News

 

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Philippines recovered ₱164 billion peso Marcos ill-gotten Wealth – Court Ordered

Marcos Jewlery - file

Philippine Government Acquires More Marcos Jewelry

 

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A Philippine court decision ordering the widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to relinquish more than $100,000 in jewelry is a victory for Filipinos and shows that crime does not pay, an official said Tuesday.

 

The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court said Monday that former first lady Imelda Marcos should forfeit the jewelry after ruling it was ill-gotten.

 

Andres Bautista, chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, said the court's decision "is really a victory of the Filipino people."

 

"The important lesson is that crime and corruption do not pay. It may take long but eventually the long arm of the law will catch up," he said.

 

It is the third collection of Marcos jewelry that the government has acquired. The two other collections are estimated to be worth up to $8.4 million.

 

The commission, which is charged with recovering the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses, is proposing that the three collections be exhibited to show the excesses of the 20-year Marcos regime, Bautista said.

 

There was no immediate comment from Imelda Marcos or her lawyer. The flamboyant former first lady was known for shopping sprees abroad while a majority of Filipinos remained mired in poverty at home. Her shoe collection of over 1,000 pairs became a symbol of extravagance.

 

Marcos Jewelries

Marcos, who declared martial law during his rule, was toppled by a popular revolt in 1986. He died in exile in Hawaii three years later.

 

"We cannot deny that this is part and parcel of our history and they are examples of the excesses that were committed during the martial law regime," Bautista said. "We owe it to our future that the lessons of the past are not forgotten and the dark abuses should not return again."

 

Bautista said current President Benigno Aquino III has not decided whether to auction the jewelry.

 

The government has recovered 164 billion pesos ($3.7 billion) of Marcos' alleged hidden wealth over the years and is targeting at least 50 billion pesos ($1.1 billion) more.

 

The amount includes more than $600 million in Swiss accounts set up in the early years of Marcos' administration.

 

The Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that the Marcos' wealth in excess of their legal income of around $304,000 from 1965 to 1986 "is presumed to be ill-gotten," Bautista said. – AFP / ABC News

 

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Onshore Oil Discovery in Cebu Philippines 200 bopd, Could suffice the Island from gas importation

Photo: pinoyrepublic.net

Oil discovered in Cebu close to shore

 

A new oil discovery in Cebu, Philippines declared by the Department of Energy is expected to augur well for the Philippines, which is heavily dependent on imported oil.

 

Australian firm Gas2Grid formally announced the approval by the Energy Department of its application to declare the Malolos-1 oil well on the shore of Cebu as an "oil discovery."

 

"The company advises (announces) that the Philippine Department of Energy has formally recognized Malolos-1 as an oil discovery and approved an extension of SC [Service Contract] 44 in order to conduct oil production with the aim of establishing a commercial oilfield," Gas2Grid said in an announcement.

 

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Earlier Gas2Grid managing director Dennis Morton said application for declaration of an oil discovery is the first step in appraising and developing the Malolos oilfield.

 

Commercial production

 

"When approved by the DOE it will provide an additional minimum period of 12 months to flow test the well and establish commercial production. Following the completion of that work and with the DOE's approval of commercial status, the Malolos oilfield will enter a 25 year production phase.

 

Morton added that available technical data also indicated the possibly that Service Contract 44 "is much larger Malolos oilfield than initially assessed."

 

Service Contract 44, covers 750 square kilometers in central Cebu.

 

Gas2Grid successfully perforated and flow tested two oil bearing sandstones in Malolos-1.

 

"Oil was produced on short term test at indicative production rates of between 100 to 200 barrels of oil per day (bopd) ... Previously drilled wells, Malolos-1 and Malolos-4, recorded oil bearing sandstones over a 496 meter (1,627 feet) vertical interval. The recent oil test production rates (between 100 - 200 bopd) confirm Malolos-1 as an oil discovery well.

 

"We are confident that further testing of Malolos-1 will result in commercial oil production from a much larger Malolos oilfield than currently assessed," Gas2Grid said.

 

Although measurements and testing in Malolos-1 proved that the well can produce oil at rates between 100 to 200 barrels per day, "initial assessment of the oil volume potential within the Malolos oilfield is a 'Contingent Resource' oil in place in the two oil productive sandstones in the range of between a 'Low Estimate' (1C) of 4 million barrels and a 'High Estimate' (3C) of 42 million barrels, with a 'Best Estimate' (2C) of 12 million barrels of 'Total Oil Initially in Place'."

 

Land proximity

 

Another advantage of the onshore Malolos oilfield is its proximity to land which makes transporting its products and establishing a pipeline highly feasible and commercially viable. Most of the oilfields in the country are located far offshore and required relatively bigger investments in terms of infrastructure.

 

Little is known publicly concerning the discovery but a July 18, 2013 service contract for Malolos 1, provides the following description: "The Malolos Oil Field is located some eight kilometres by road from the Cebu's western coast.

 

Oil transportation options from the Malolos Oil Field include road transport by a new, all weather, concrete road from the well site to coastal port options at nearby Aloguinsan (8 kms - less than 10 minutes by road) or the larger, established port of Toledo (32 kms - 30 minutes by road). One option would be to load the oil onto marine transport for sale either to one of two oil refineries located in Batangas, Philippines (approximately 500 kms north) or in Singapore."

 

Although there had been gas finds in the Philippines, most of the wells are located offshore and require considerable investments to extract. – ABS-CBN , Gulf News via Reuters

 

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MERALCO after implementing ₱4.15 KWH hike threatens Philippines to BLACKOUT other increase not approve – Govt ask to take over

 

Outrageous! Philippine Electricity rate now is the most expensive in Asia in the same level rate with Germany and Japan.

 

Western countries pushed for more Nuclear power plants, the Philippines is still in shock?

 

Is this not enough that the Government must take over the Electric companies for their continuous collusion conspiring the simultaneous shutdown to demand power hike?

 

In less than 3 years, the impoverish Philippines would be the most expensive power rate in the world if the government will not intervene the oligarchs conspiracy.

 

Philippines: Lawmaker pushes for government takeover of power utilities

 

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Ridon refers to successive power rate hikes initiated by Meralco

 

Manila: A lawmaker is pushing for a government takeover of power utility firms as he said that the country's constitution allows such a move when the people's interests are at stake.

 

"If Meralco and the power generators cannot deliver affordable power rates to the public, all power utilities should now be taken over by the state for its operations," Representative Terry Ridon of the youth sector party-list "Kabataan" said.

 

Ridon was referring to successive power rate hikes initiated by Meralco, the Philippines' century-old power utility megalith, since November. An unprecedented hike to ₱4.15 per kilowatt hour had been implemented by the power firm that month, which had consumers demanding an explanation.

 

The government met Meralco's rate hike with a court order preventing its implementation.

 

Meralco had responded to the public's outrage by warning that Metro Manila and areas it provides service to risks experiencing long power outages if the rate hike would not be implemented.

 

Kabataan's Ridon described the power firm's response as "fearmongering," Ridon said if Meralco continues to hold the public hostage with threats of power shortages, the government can exercise the option to declare a "national emergency" and take over of all power utilities, from generation to transmission and distribution.

 

"Meralco should thus be circumspect in delivering public statements which seem to blackmail the public to simply accept the reality of very high power rates," it said.

 

Years of poor government decisions had left Filipinos at the mercy of distribution firms like Meralco and the multitude of power generating firms that supply electricity.

 

"The public now knows that power generation utilities have the greatest effect on power rates. Clearly, these utilities are businesses imbued with great public interest," Ridon said.

 

Ridon said that he is also contemplating on filing a bill revoking Meralco's legislative franchise, for its failure to provide the public the least cost of electricity.

 

He is the minority member of the House committees on legislative franchises and energy.

 

The prospect of blackouts struck fear not only to the common consumers but also to businesses that stand to lose much from lost productivity and idle equipment.

 

On the part of the presidential palace, it said the government is determined to find ways to mitigate the impact of rising electricity bills once the high court's temporary restraining order on Meralco's rate adjustment is lifted.

 

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the government must find ways to ease the burden of the power rate hike to consumers.

 

As it stands, Meralco consumers are already paying for electricity that as much as in highly developed countries like Japan and Germany.

 

Meralco had earlier announced the rate increase was to be imposed in three tranches, as a result of the scheduled shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas plant in Palawan.

 

Due to the shutdown, Meralco bought more expensive electricity from the private power providers to cover for the deficit needed in its jurisdiction.

 

Once known as the Manila Electric Railways Corporation when it operated the capital's tram system during the early 1900s all the way to the 1940s, Meralco had since evolved into a virtual electricity distribution monopoly, delivering power to Metro Manila as well as the provinces in its periphery.

 

It consistently figures as among the country's top five corporations.

 

The last time that government took over power firms was when Martial Law was implemented by then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1973. – Gulf News

 

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