Meralco to hike power rate by 3.06 centavo/kWh

CUSTOMERS of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will see an increase of 3.06 centavo per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in their electricity bills starting next month. In its 21-page order, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said Meralco could collect the additional generation cost for January 26, 2010, to February 25, 2010, of P944 million—or an equivalent to 3.06 centavo per kWh—effective on its next billing cycle until the full amount shall have been collected. The ERC said the amount to be collected covers the differential generation charge within the six-month period, including carrying costs. (Paul Anthony A. Isla)

President Aquino on Monday administered the oath of office to his latest appointees led by Tourism Secretary Ramon Reyes Jimenez Jr., as well as generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces. In simple ceremonies at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall, other officials who were sworn into office included Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie Gatan, Defense Undersecretary Eduardo Batac and Undersecretary Ibarra Gutierrez III, for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs (Opapa); Undersecretary Jose Mari Oquinena for Special Concern of the Presidential Communications Operations Office; Ernesto Ramel Jr. and Lesley Jeanne Cordero, Opapa assistant secretaries; Commissioner Christian Robert Lim of the Commission on Elections; and Postmaster General Ma. Josefina de la Cruz of the Philippine Postal Corp. Also sworn in were Coast Guard Adm. Ramon Liwag; National Youth Commission Commissioner-at-large Gregorio Ramon Tingson; and Commissioner Jennifer Lagbas, representing the business and industry sector in the Philippine Commission on Women. The others were Abdullah Mangotara, deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration, and Robert Nomar Leyretana, acting deputy administrator of the Land Registration Authority.
 The generals and flag officers who took their oaths were Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, Rear Admirals Honorio Balanon Jr. and Armando Guzman, Major Generals Joel Marayag and Noel Coballes; and Brigadier Generals Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo, Danilo Fabian, Reynaldo Torres, Teodoro Cirilo Torralba, Edgar Fallorina, Augusto Tolentino, Leonido Bongcawil and Leo Cresente Ferrer; and Commodores Jose Renan Suarez, Jesus Millan, Romeo Santiago Nebres and Rufino Tiangco. (Mia M. Gonzalez)

Immigration chief orders revamp

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. has ordered a revamp of the top officials of the bureau. Those affected by the revamp were lawyer Ronaldo Ledesma, former Bureau of Immigration officer in charge, lawyer Felino Quirante, Administrative Division chief; Danny Almeda, Alien Registration Division chief; and retired military general Alberto Braganza, Immigration Regulation Division chief. David did not include in the revamp his trusted officers, such as lawyer Arvin Santos, legal division chief; lawyer Antonette Bucasas Magrobang, spokesman and intelligence chief; and Elvie Prisado, chief of finance and management. The revamp was approved by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. Lawyer Felino Quirante, chief of personnel division, reportedly plans to seek a temporary restraining order. Quirante said the revamp was a violation of rules based on Department Order 144 issued by de Lima herself. He said he should not be included in the revamp as his performance was rated satisfactory, if not almost perfect, which David himself gave to him. Rank-and-file employees have already started collecting signatures of support for Quirante and to show opposition to the revamp. (Paul Atienza)

Galoc approves new engineering, design

THE Galoc Production Co. (GPC) said on Monday that the Galoc consortium has agreed to start the front-end engineering and design to support the planned second phase of development of the field and the acquisition of new 3D seismic data. In a statement, GPC said the Galoc oil field started production in October 2008 and has recently produced its 8 millionth barrel of oil and delivered its 23rd cargo. GPC said the joint venture supports planning for a second phase of development of the field by drilling between one and three additional wells targeting 3 million to 10 million barrels of additional reserves. GPC said the Galoc joint venture has approved the start of the work to determine the exact locations and number of additional wells to be drilled, with drilling likely to take place in 2013. GPC said the Galoc field performance continues to reinforce their confidence in the field reserves with current production being approximately 6,700 barrels per day. (Paul Anthony A. Isla)