TRADE and industry groups are pressing the Senate to speed up the passage of its version of the bill creating the Philippine Trade Representative Office (PTRO), as they fear that the measure could just end up being shelved anew with only 17 sessions left in the 14th Congress and with the election season about to begin.

The Trade Advocates Group—made up of the Fair Trade Alliance (FTA), Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), Rice Watch and Action Network (R1), and other industry and labor groups—said the creation of the PTRO is critical at this time when negotiations for multilateral, regional and bilateral free-trade agreements (FTAs) are happening left and right.

POTENTIAL off-takers of its renewable energy-sourced electricity would have to decide soon whether it would enter into a supply contract with AboitizPower Corp. (AboitizPower).

This, as company executive Luis Miguel Aboitiz indicated to reporters that the remaining capacity of their renewable energy-based power plants will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Aboitiz said his company is in talks with at least 10 potential off-takers of its renewable energy-based capacity.

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed criminal charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against a businessman and a customs broker in connection with the fraudulent and unlawful importation of elephant tusks valued at P240.85 million.

Charged were Antonio Vinavilles, proprietor of 201 Enterprises based in Ermita, Manila, and Merelyn Pacheco, a licensed customs broker.