Niña P. Calleja
February 22, 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer

For an official of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI), proof of the “environmental soundness” of the company’s Tampakan gold and copper project in South Cotabato came in the form of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

SMI, a company largely owned by global miner Xtrata Copper, said that the ECC served as a go-signal from the DENR—the first step of a long process that would culminate in the construction of an open pit by 2015.

The company hopes to begin commercial operations in 2019.

Cai Ordinario
02/17/2013
Rappler

Semirara is owned by the 5th richest man in the Philippines, David Consunji. Based on the Forbes list of the 40 Richest Filipinos, Consunji's net worth reached $2.7 billion in 2012. Forbes said Consunji's net worth was borne from construction-related pursuits. Consunji and his 8 children operate DMCI Holdings Inc., the holding firm for all the business interests of the family.

DMCI Holdings was listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange on December 18, 1995 as a holding firm. David Consunji remains chairman of the board of the company, while his son, Isidro, is President.

Amy R. Remo
February 19, 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Power consumers should brace for higher electricity rates, starting March as the Energy Regulatory Commission allowed the state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. to collect over P53 billion worth of stranded contract costs.

This is equivalent to an increase of 19.38 centavos per kilowatt-hour, which will be collected under the universal charge for stranded contract costs (UC-SCC) component of one’s power bill.

Stranded contract costs are calculated every year as the difference between the contractual payment obligations and the revenue earned from the sale of the contracted energy for eligible, government-managed independent power producers (IPPs).

Feb. 18, 2013 — The widespread reduction in Arctic sea ice is causing significant changes to the balance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is shown in a new study conducted by researchers from Lund University in Sweden, among others.

Read more at Science Daily News

“If only the country has a booming shipping industry, we wouldn't have to rely on the US Navy to solve simple issues as dismantling a wrecked ship such as the USS Guardian. There wouldn't have been a need to contract marine salvaging companies from Singapore and other neighboring countries to do the job,” said AGHAM Chairperson Giovanni Tapang.

February 6, 2013

PH needs nat’l ship industry to protect reefs and territory

At the press conference held this morning at the UP Institute of Biology, the FACT-FINDING MISSION-KANANGA KILLINGS, revealed that

* the direction of the bullet marks on the trees originated from a vantage point on the ridge above Leonard Co and his team
* the direction of fire was concentrated on the area where Leonard and his 4 other companions were standing
* tree no.4 was hit three (3) times and the large tree were Ronino Gibe hid had six (6) bullet marks in it, and
* that there are no bullet marks on the trees from the ground looking up to the ridge nor from any other side except from the vantage position.

The report and the powerpoint we presented earlier can be found at www.justiceforleonardco.org or directly at http://bit.ly/hMDhFs

"Pagtitiyak ng Produktibidad ng Sakahan at Seguridad sa Pagkain sa Gitna ng Nagbabagong Klima"