DLPC leaves approval of refiled bills to Congress

By MAYA M. PADILLO

As travel surge is expected during the Holy Week, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Tuesday said over 2 million passengers are expected in all 42 commercial airports it operates this April.

“CAAP’s 42 commercial airports, including our personnel, are ready to provide service to our passengers during the holiday rush,” CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said in a public briefing.

He said CAAP airports had 1,715,720 passengers in April 2022. The figure is expected to hit over 2 million this year and is projected to increase by 7 to 10 percent annually as travel restrictions continue to ease.

Apolonio said personnel have been augmented and co- ordination with airlines were done to ask them to deploy more personnel at the check-in counters.

TheDavao Light and Power Company (DLPC), told media on Wednesday that they are hopeful but it’s the decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Philippine Congress if they will approve the refiled bills to expand the franchise area of the power company.

Malasakit Help Desks will be placed at the CAAP airports to attend to the passengers’ concerns and inquiries.

According to CAAP, the airports it operates will be on heightened alert from April 2 to 10.

Regular coordination is being conducted with the Office for Transportation Security and the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group so it could also augment its manpower.

Meanwhile, Apolonio urged passengers to check in for their flights at least two to three hours ahead of schedule to avoid inconvenience. (PNA)

“We submit to the authorities specially to the Congress whether or not they will grant the franchise,” Rodger S. Velasco, president and chief operating officer, said during Wednesdays Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall.

House Bill (HB) 5077, which was filed by Davao del Norte 1st

District 1 Representative Pantaleon D. Alvarez, the HB 6740 by Rep. Margarita Ignacia B. Nograles of PBA Partylist, and the HB 7047 by Rep. Sandro L. Gonzales of MARINO Partylist were filed in Congress to expand the franchise of the Aboitizowned DLPC.

Earlier this month, Davao

Consumer Group and the business sector in parts of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro provinces held a motorcade to push for the passage of a law that will transfer their areas’ electricity distribution to DLPC citing the continued inefficient service and high rates of Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco).

“We are honored happy because they see our price, service, the quality that we do as exceptional. But then again we submit to the Congress and to the President for the approval of the franchise,” Velasco said.

Listed renewable energy real estate investment trust Citicore Energy REIT Corp (CREIT) said on Wednesday its net income in 2022 grew over 5 times to P1.25 billion.

Revenues also rose by more than 4 times to P1.37 billion, buoyed by its land portfolio, CREIT said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

“The higher income we gen- erated as a renewable energy REIT allows us to share a bigger pie with our investors and other stakeholders,” said CREIT President and CEO Oliver Tan.

“Our commitment to shared prosperity extends beyond the financial aspect as we also continue to strengthen our Agro-solar and sustainability initiatives, expanding the use of the land as we share our farmer community stakeholders,” he added.

Tan said the company remains committed to build its green asset portfolio and pursue its 5GW pipeline project growth roadmap.

It declared a total dividend of P0.183 per share.

CREIT is the first renewable energy-themed real estate investment trust to list in the stock exchange.