THE camp of Manuel V. Pangilinan scored a  victory Thursday night on the so-called battle for control of Manila Electric Co. ( Meralco) when it matched, through Metro Pacific Investments Corp., the rival offer of Henry Sy Jr’s TriRatna Holdings Corp., securing  for Pangilinan at least 41 percent ownership in the country’s largest power distributor.

AS oil companies warned on Thursday of the “imminent danger” posed to the economy by its order freezing oil prices in Luzon to October 15 levels, Malacañang assured the public that President Arroyo will not be pressured into lifting the order despite strong clamor from industry leaders and business groups.

The President’s spokesmen said in a news briefing she remains “determined” to implement Executive Order (EO) 839 unless otherwise recommended by the Joint Department of Energy-Department of Justice Task Force.

Still, the task force’s chief, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, later in the day hinted at the possibility of a partial lifting, but stressed that EO 839 will continue to be enforced strictly until a consensus is forged from a crucial meeting that the task force will convene next week with stakeholders.

Asked whether the President feels any pressure to submit to the lobby of oil firms and business groups against EO 839, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said:  “The President will not be threatened by their clamor. The President has made a decision to effect the executive order and that is going to be done.”

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will spend P1.8 billion in the next three years to step up an ambitious computerization program that will ensure easy access to all information needed by the agency’s external and internal clienteles within the next three years.

The DENR, whose budget under the National Expenditure Program submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to Congress was drastically cut by almost P2 billion, is planning to upgrade infrastructure as part of the plan. 

Secretary Lito Atienza of the DENR, during budget hearings, has been asking lawmakers to retain some of the important budget items in 2009, including the budget to upgrade the DENR’s management information system.