Manila Standard - 2026 November 12 - Thursday by Manila Standard

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BELENISMO IN TARLAC. The 19th Belenismo in Tarlac, an annual celebration led by Dr. Isa

Cojuangco Suntay, co-founder of the Tarlac Heritage Foundation, revives the tradition of making Belen as a manifestation of the faith, culture, art, and unity of Tarlaqueños. Belenismo in Tarlac continues to strengthen the province’s identity as the home of colorful culture, faith, and the spirit of Filipino Christmas. Lino Santos

Marcos, Sara ratings hit new lows; Palace says figures ‘not full measure’ By Katrina Manubay and Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trust and performance ratings fell for a second consecutive quarter to their lowest levels in an OCTA Research survey, while Vice President Sara Duterte’s ratings remained near their record lows. Malacañang said Wednesday the survey results should serve as a reminder to the administration but should not be treated as the sole measure of the President’s performance. The latest Tugon ng Masa survey showed Mr. Marcos’ trust rating dropping to 45 percent in September from 49 percent in July, while his performance rating declined to 44 percent from 47 percent. Next page

‘VP got P2.14m from GenCorp’ Witness: Duterte only made ‘loose investment’ but with no shares

By Maricel V. Cruz, Joel Zurbano, Katrina Manubay and Jenniffer B. Austria

ICE President Sara Duterte allegedly received a total of P2,142,369.14 in payments from GenCorp Industries Inc. between 2022 and 2025, her own defense witness testified Wednesday, prompting House prosecutors to thank the defense team for bolstering their case. Suzette Balucanag-Punay, in-house counsel for GenCorp and Metro City Chow Foods Corporation, however, m a i n tained Duterte had no

shares in GenCorp. She later described Duterte’s investment in the Jollibee Times Square branch in Davao City -- operated by GenCorp -- as return of capital and a “loose investment.” Senate impeachment court presiding office Francis Escudero questioned the description, saying “loose investment” Next page

FOURTH WITNESS. The defense panel presents its fourth witness, GenCorp In-House Counsel Suzette Balucanag-Punay, before the Senate impeachment court during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Lino Santos

VOL. XL • NO. 268 • 3 SECTIONS 22 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

WALK THROUGH. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. conducts a walkthrough of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to personally assess the venue’s readiness and key preparations for the country’s hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. The walkthrough underscores the Philippines’ commitment as ASEAN Chair to ensure the country is fully prepared to successfully host these important regional meetings in November. PCO

NBI validating reports MILF members shielding fugitive Bato By Gwyneth Nolasco THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is currently validating reports regarding the alleged protection of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members for fugitive Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Wednesday. In a report by Bilyonaryo News Channel, Matibag visited General Santos City on Tuesday to meet with governors and officials of the Bangsamoro

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and seek assistance in locating dela Rosa and other fugitives. According to the NBI chief, local government officials categorically denied allegations that their territories were being used to hide fugitives, but the bureau would still verify the information. “Well, some reports like that have surfaced, and there was a categorical denial Next page

ASEAN hosting to create jobs, investments—PBBM By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines’ hosting of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit will generate employment opportunities, support lo-

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio Araja

By Ma. Katrina Mikaela Manubay

case the country’s economic potentials, tourism destinations, and culture and hospitality while creating opportunities for Filipinos to benefit from increased economic activities. “The Philippines’ hosting of the Next page

Sandigan nixes Bong Revilla’s bid to quash flood control raps

DFA expects South China Sea COC update THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) may include an update on negotiations for the South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) in the ASEAN Chair’s Statement if the talks do not conclude as planned, diplomatic sources told Manila Standard Wednesday.

cal businesses, and attract investments. The President made this observation as the country prepares to welcome regional leaders and thousands of delegates next week. Marcos said the international gathering presents an opportunity to show-

STANDING ROOM ONLY. Over 100 computer engineering students and teachers from Pampanga State University (PSU) jammed the newsroom of the Manila Standard last Tuesday for a discussion on how today’s newspapers use technology to disseminate the news of the day. The group was led by Engr. Kastle S. Dela Cruz and PSU student batch leader Bryx B. Violenta. With them are the Standard’s news editor, Virgilio DC. Galvez, Bernadette Araño, multimedia editor, and IT head Jun Buscas. Lino Santos

THE Sandiganbayan Third Division has denied former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s motion asking the court’s permission to file a demurrer to evidence in his malversation case over the alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan. A demurrer to evidence seeks to dismiss a case on the ground that the prosecution’s evidence is insufficient to prove guilt. The court noted the attachments Revilla submitted in support of his motion.

The defense is scheduled to begin its presentation of evidence when the trial opens on Nov. 24. Meanwhile, the camp of former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez of Leyte on Wednesday stressed that his 90-day preventive suspension does not constitute a finding of guilt. “Suspension is not a verdict of guilt. The court itself stated that the allegations still need to be proven. An accusation is not enough—evidence is required,” lawyer Ade Fajardo said.

JAPAN TO PROVIDE DRONES, RADARS TO PH MILITARY

POPE SAYS ILL HEALTH, AGE WON’T AFFECT ZEAL

FDI NEW INFLOWS CLIMB 25% TO $690M IN AUG.

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‘Limit time of witness vs. Rody’ By Gwyneth Nolasco

HE common legal representatives of victims (CLRV) asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III to admit the prior recorded testimony of victim-witness P-1303, in a bid to limit her time in court in the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

sideration for Trial Chamber III (the ‘Chamber’) in determining whether to admit her prior recorded testimony pursuant to Rule 68(3) of the Rules,” they wrote. The representatives said reducing the number of times she has to recall the events before the ICC would help mitigate the psychological impact of her testimony. They added that P-1303 will still be questioned by Duterte’s defense and may be required to recount events that affected her and her children, as she is set to appear as a Rule 68(3) witness. Citing Article 68(1) of the Statute, the representatives said the Trial Chamber is required to take appropriate measures to

protect the “safety, physical and psychological well-being, dignity and privacy of victims and witnesses.” “Given that P-1303 will be available for questioning by the Defence, admitting her prior recorded statement would help to avoid unnecessary repetition of her traumatic experiences while preserving the Defence’s opportunity to examine her,” they said. The approach, they said, would be consistent with the Chamber’s obligation under Article 64(2) of the Statute to ensure that the trial is “fair and expeditious” and conducted with full respect for the accused’s rights and due regard for the protection of victims and witnesses.

over as other companies operated the Times Square outlet. “So the same loose investment is now carried over to GenCorp,” she said. For his part, House prosecutor Joel Chua said Punay’s disclosure made him question whether she was a witness for the prosecution or for the defense. “I actually thought that person was our witness...It seemed that she was also confused by her own statement,” Chua said. House prosecution spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong added: “The word that I would probably use is thank you for bolstering our case.” Punay placed the disbursements to the Vice President at P337,500 in 2022, P555,750 in 2023, P612,419.14 in 2024, and P636,700 in 2025. Still, Duterte’s camp maintained her alleged financial interest in Davao

Bounty does not amount to a conflict of interest. In a chance interview with reporters at the Senate, Duterte’s spokesperson Paolo Panelo argued the Constitution bars public officials from actively participating in business operations, but not from simply holding a financial stake in a corporation. “To me there is no conflict of interest. Let’s start whether it’s actually illegal or prohibited to be financially interested in a corporation while being the Vice President of the Philippines,” Panelo said. “And my position there from the start, and I’m not sure if this is the same position of the defense team, but the prohibition of the Constitution is not to be financially interested in any business, but to actively participate in a business,” he added.

He pointed out that the Sandiganbayan itself acknowledged that the ex-Speaker’s alleged participation in plunder and receipt of supposed kickbacks remain matters to be established during trial. Fajardo, counsel for Romualdez, said the November 10 resolution merely determined that the criminal Information was legally sufficient and that preventive suspension was mandatory under the law. “The court has not found Martin guilty of plunder. It has not established that he received a single peso in illegal commissions or kickbacks,” Fajardo said in a statement. In its resolution, the Sandiganbayan Third Division expressly stated that the particular acts attributable to Romualdez, his degree of participation, and the specific transactions through which he allegedly received kickbacks or commissions “are matters to be threshed out and established during trial.” Fajardo emphasized that the court’s ruling on the validity of the Information should not be mistaken for proof of the accusations. “An allegation is not evidence. A valid Information is not a conviction. The prosecution must still prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,” he said. The defense also pointed out that Romualdez is already detained and unable to exercise the ordinary powers of his congressional office. While the Sandiganbayan ruled that preventive suspension remains mandatory despite his detention, it made no specific finding that Romualdez had intimidated witnesses, tampered with evidence, or obstructed the proceedings. Fajardo said Romualdez respects the court’s ruling and will evaluate available legal remedies while continuing to assert his innocence. He stressed that the burden remains on the prosecution to prove the allegations against the former Speaker.

conducting checks,” Matibag said. The officials assured the NBI of their cooperation in the manhunt and said they would not allow their territories to become hiding places for fugitives, including dela Rosa. “They are committed to helping us and providing information if Senator Bato is indeed there. They also made

a commitment that the BARMM area, Mindanao and the other governors will not allow their territories to become hiding places for fugitives from justice, those we are looking for, including Senator Bato,” he said. Matibag earlier said the bureau had received numerous reports about dela Rosa’s possible whereabouts in Min-

danao and other areas. The reports undergo validation and cross-validation before the NBI takes the necessary law enforcement action. The NBI has continued its intensified efforts to locate dela Rosa following the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

May, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace and to resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law. The COC negotiations have been ongoing for nearly 17 years. Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit Manila to attend the ASEAN summit this week, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, joining world leaders including US President Donald Trump. China and the Philippines have long been at loggerheads over competing claims in the South China Sea and have traded diplomatic barbs in the run-up to the summit. Beijing accused Manila in October of “erecting multiple obstacles” to its attendance at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in the Philippines that month, a claim rejected by the Southeast Asian country’s defense chief. China’s top diplomat Wang Yi also

urged the Philippines to rein in politicians who had repeatedly “smeared” Beijing and crossed its “red lines.” Beijing’s Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that Li would participate in the upcoming ASEAN summit in Manila on Sunday and Monday. “Through this meeting, China looks forward to strengthening solidarity and mutual trust with ASEAN member states,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters at a regular briefing. “We aim to deepen collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, energy security, connectivity, poverty reduction and development,” Guo added. Trump, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are among the world leaders confirmed to fly to Manila for the November 1518 ASEAN summit and related meetings. With AFP

OCTA said the one-point gain in her trust rating did not reverse her earlier decline. Her national trust rating rose from 51 percent in September 2025 to 53 percent in December and 55 percent in March 2026, before dropping eight points to 47 percent in July. The latest survey showed that 48 percent of respondents trusted Duterte, 33 percent distrusted her and 19 percent were undecided. Her trust rating was highest in Mindanao at 94 percent, followed by the Visayas at 66 percent and the NCR at 44 percent. Balance Luzon recorded the lowest level at 25 percent. By socioeconomic class, trust in Duterte was highest among Class D respondents at 47 percent, followed by Class E at 45 percent and Class ABC at 39 percent. On her performance, 46 percent of

respondents were satisfied, 36 percent were dissatisfied and 18 percent were undecided. Majority satisfaction was recorded in Mindanao at 88 percent and the Visayas at 60 percent. OCTA said neither of the country’s two highest officials commanded majority trust or approval, with their national ratings statistically close despite drawing support from different parts of the country. Castro said the survey results would not discourage Mr. Marcos from continuing his work and implementing programs for Filipinos. The face-to-face survey was conducted from September 28 to October 4 and covered 1,200 Filipino adults aged 18 and above. It had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level, rising to plus or minus six percentage points for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and the Visayas.

In a public filing, counsels Gilbert Andres, Joel Butuyan, and Paolina Massidda said P-1303’s court time must be kept to a minimum to protect her psychological well-being and to ensure a fair and equitable trial. They said learning about the killings

was highly traumatizing for P-1303, and that recounting the events would cause her severe distress. “The need to limit the extent to which she must recount the particularly traumatising events experienced [REDACTED] should be a significant con-

ASEAN... From A1

‘VP... From A1

ASEAN Summit is an important opportunity to create more jobs, support local businesses and open new doors for our people,” Marcos said in a social media post Tuesday evening. He also recognized the Filipinos working behind the scenes to ensure the successful staging of the regional gathering, which will require coordination among government agencies, security personnel, local governments, and private-sector partners. “As we make our final preparations, I want to recognize the many Filipinos working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of this important gathering,” he said. The President said the Philippines looks forward to welcoming its ASEAN neighbors and demonstrating not only what the country can offer, but also the warmth, hard work, and hospitality of its people. President Marcos urged the public to take pride in the country’s hosting of the gathering, emphasizing the collective contribution of those involved in making the international event successful. The 49th ASEAN Summit and related meeting will be held on Nov. 15-17 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, with the Philippines serving as the bloc’s chair for 2026. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, who chairs the ASEAN National Organizing Council, earlier said the Philippines was preparing to host 20 heads of state and government, along with thousands of delegates and business leaders. The preparations cover security arrangements, transportation, accommodation, conference facilities and traffic management, among other logistical requirements. The government has also been coordinating with various agencies to ensure the smooth movement of visiting leaders and their delegations. The summit is expected to tackle regional concerns involving political and security cooperation, economic integration, energy security, digital transformation and sustainable development. The country is also pushing for stronger regional trade and investment linkages, support for micro, small and medium enterprises, digital economic cooperation and sustainable economic development.

was not a technical term. Punay eventually admitted it was her own term. Asked whether the term “loose investment” is valid, Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Francisco Lim said: “I have not heard the phrase used in the business world.” Escudero also pointed out the P2.14 million Duterte received from GenCorp was 45 times her documented capital contribution of P46,875 to Davao Bounty, where Punay said Duterte had been a stockholder. Davao Bounty failed to obtain the franchise of the Jollibee branch, Punay said, but Duterte’s investment carried

In a message to Manila Standard, a diplomatic source said a separate standalone statement remains an option, subject to the parties’ agreement. “The Chair’s Statement will be prepared during the Summit and is usually finalized and released on the final day or when the summit concludes. It is expected to reflect the deliberations and any agreements reached by the parties,” the diplomatic source said. In July, during the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Post-Ministerial Conferences (AMM-PMC) and related meetings, Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said the bloc was “endeavoring to conclude” negotiations on an effective and substantive COC. She reaffirmed the importance of resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In a joint communiqué, the foreign ministers reaffirmed the need to strengthen mutual trust and confidence and exercise self-restraint in activities that could complicate or escalate disputes in the waters, including those covered by the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The 2002 DOC is a nonbinding agreement signed by ASEAN and China that commits the parties to peaceful dispute resolution, freedom of navigation and cooperative maritime efforts. It serves as a foundation for a formal COC. Lazaro noted that negotiators meet monthly and said the plan has always been to conclude the negotiations under the Philippine chairship. Meanwhile, in the ASEAN Declaration on Maritime Security issued after the 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in

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grams. She cited farmers and patients who received medical treatment under the government’s zero-balance billing policy in hospitals. She also pointed to the Walang Gutom Program, saying improvements in beneficiaries’ living conditions had yielded favorable survey results. “Because the changes in the Walang Gutom program’s conditions are good, the figures it produced are good,” she said. The survey showed that 45 percent of Filipino adults expressed trust in Mr. Marcos, while 36 percent distrusted him and 19 percent were undecided. His trust rating was highest in Balance Luzon at 54 percent, followed by the National Capital Region at 45 percent and the Visayas at 43 percent. Mindanao registered the lowest level at 28 percent. Distrust was highest in Mindanao at

60 percent, followed by the NCR at 38 percent and the Visayas at 36 percent. Balance Luzon recorded the lowest distrust level at 28 percent. By socioeconomic class, distrust was highest among Class ABC respondents at 42 percent, followed by Class D at 37 percent and Class E at 23 percent. On his performance, 44 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with Mr. Marcos, while 36 percent were dissatisfied and 19 percent were undecided. Majority satisfaction was recorded only in Balance Luzon, at 55 percent. Satisfaction stood at 43 percent in the NCR, 42 percent in the Visayas and 27 percent in Mindanao. Meanwhile, Duterte’s trust rating rose slightly to 48 percent from 47 percent in July, while her performance rating increased to 46 percent from 45 percent.

“The survey results are numbers that provide reminders, but they do not show the real work the President is doing for our fellow citizens,” said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro. OCTA said this marked the second consecutive quarterly decline in both ratings following a brief rebound in March 2026, and the fourth decline in the last five survey rounds. Since July 2025, Mr. Marcos’ trust rating has fallen by 19 percentage points, from 64 percent, while his performance rating has dropped by 18 points, from 62 percent. Castro said the figures might not capture the experiences of Filipinos who have benefited from government pro-

NBI... From A1 from the local government units in Mindanao. They will not coddle fugitives. But of course, we will also validate the information. It is possible that they are not being seen or something, but we are

DFA... From A1

Sandigan... From A1

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Marcos tackles power, flood control projects By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reviewed infrastructure and social welfare initiatives covering power generation, flood mitigation, transportation and affordable student housing as his administration seeks to address gaps in basic services and improve living conditions across the country. During the 12th meeting of the Economy and Development Council (EDC) at Malacañang Palace, President Marcos and government officials discussed the rehabilitation of Mindanao’s AgusPulangi hydropower facilities, the completion of flood-control pumping stations in Metro Manila and proposed changes to a major bridge project linking Davao City and Samal Island. The rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi facilities is intended to improve the reliability of electricity supply in Mindanao and reinforce the country’s energy security. President Marcos stressed that the National Power Corporation (NPC) should retain authority over the rehabilitation, even as the private sector takes charge of day-to-day operations and maintenance. Under the proposed arrangement, the electricity tariff will be capped at P4 per kilowatt-hour, subject to approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The rehabilitation aims to restore the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex’s generating capacity to 1,001.96 megawatts (MW) and increase annual electricity production from 3,746 gigawatthours (GWh) to 4,305 GWh.

VP witnesses are completely empty-handed’ By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE impeachment adviser and spokesperson Ace Barbers on Wednesday described the witnesses presented by Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense panel before the Senate impeachment court as “completely emptyhanded,” saying their testimonies have so far been characterized by an apparent inability to remember, recall or even know the matters they were supposed to shed light on. Barbers said the recurring responses of “can’t remember,” “can’t recall” and “know nothing” have raised serious questions about the value and credibility of the defense witnesses, particularly when they are expected to clarify issues central to the impeachment proceedings. The first three defense witnesses reported to have taken the stand are: • Engr. Jaime G. Adalin, Davao City assessor, presented on November 9. • Engr. John Kenneth Enumerables, Island Garden City of Samal assessor, presented on November 10. • Vingelin Bajan, Davao City accountant, presented on November 10. Barbers said their testimonies dealt with disputed properties and salary records. Notably, Enumerables said he was not certain that the Samal property he identified was the same property declared in Sara Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), Barbers said.

GOLDEN HOUR. Lateafternoon sunlight bathes Baguio City in an amber glow, illuminating dramatic cloud formations along the ridgeline as cool highland winds usher in the evening. Conrad Rotor

IN BRIEF

Japan to provide radar, drones to PH military By Rex Espiritu

APAN will provide a radar system and unmanned aircraft worth 4.3 billion yen ($27 million) to the Philippine military under its security aid framework for likeminded partners, the Japanese government said Monday, amid China’s maritime assertiveness in regional waters.

The provision of a coastal radar system to the Philippine Navy will be the first transfer of a completed Japanesemade defense product under Tokyo’s Official Security Assistance program, launched in 2023, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Katsuro Kitagawa and Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro signed the agreements in Manila. These also cover the provision of un-

manned aerial vehicles for surveillance missions by the Philippine Air Force. The project is of “great importance in further promoting security cooperation between Japan and the Philippines, enhancing security of important sea lanes for Japan, and contributing to maintaining and strengthening regional peace and stability,” the ministry said. Security cooperation between Japan and the Philippines has deepened in recent years, with the two US allies in Asia sharing concerns over China’s growing military activities in the Indo-Pacific. Beijing claims the Tokyo-controlled, uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and remains locked in territorial disputes with the Philippines and other countries in the South China Sea. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and Philippine Navy welcomed Japan’s commitment to transfer unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and coastal surveillance radar systems to the Philippines, saying the equipment would strengthen the country’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and maritime domain awareness capabilities. In a recent press briefing at Camp

Zalameda: Prudence needed in judicial power

Aguinaldo, PAF spokesperson Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian said the UAVs would augment the service’s existing ISR assets and described the agreement as another step toward stronger defense relations between the Philippines and Japan. “That new asset will be a boost to our existing ISR assets. So, it’s a big deal. And that signing just highlights the continuing strengthening of relations between Japan and the Philippines,” he said. The Philippine Navy also welcomed the radar transfer, with spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez saying the systems would improve the Navy’s ability to monitor maritime activities and support the military’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept and the Navy’s Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy. “This would further enhance the maritime domain awareness capability of the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Most especially, it would support the 360-degree maritime domain awareness of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, as well as the Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy of the Philippine Navy,” Martinez said.

First sea turtle hatchlings of season released NAIC, Cavite – The first sea turtle hatchlings from the Naic Sea Turtle Hatchery Facility were released into the wild in Barangay Labac on the afternoon of Nov. 8. Vice Mayor Jacinta Remulla and Roger Bilugan, leader of the Labac Sea Turtle Patrollers Association, led the release of 53 newly hatched Olive Ridley sea turtles, witnessed by local residents. A brief lecture was held at the hatchery before the release. Bilugan said sea turtle conservation and protection efforts in Naic began in 2011, aiming to safeguard the eggs and ensure the hatchlings return to their natural habitat. Dennis Abrina

LTO Santiago EO brings free driving course

UNIFIED STATION. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and other Department of Transportation officials inspect the Unified Grand Central Station along North Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday morning. Manny Palmero

Group backs Dizon’s reforms, regulations

HATCHLINGS. The first 53 Olive Ridley sea turtle hatchlings of the breeding season make their way to their natural habitat following their release at the Naic Sea Turtle Hatchery Facility in Barangay Labac, Cavite, on Nov. 8. Dennis Abrina

SUPREME Court (SC) Chief Justice Rodil Zalameda highlighted the importance of prudence and discernment in exercising judicial power, emphasizing that every court decision affects lives even beyond the courtroom. Zalameda made the statement after accepting an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of the East (UE) during a ceremony on Oct. 27, coinciding with the school’s 80th founding anniversary. In his speech, the veteran public servant said judicial office demands restraint, independence, humility, and constant awareness that the authority to decide carries the responsibility to do so carefully. Gwyneth Nolasco

MOTORCYCLE taxi riders’ group METRO has expressed its full support for Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon’s efforts to address regulatory issues affecting the motorcycle taxi industry, while reiterating its appeal to protect riders’ livelihoods and pursue the industry’s full legalization. METRO co-convenor Jayson Luna said recent developments should provide an opportunity for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to introduce meaningful and lasting reforms that will benefit both riders and the commuting public. “Our longstanding appeal is that no rider should lose their livelihood. We thank Secretary Vince Dizon for giving attention to this issue. We hope recent developments will pave the way for better regulations, fair allocation of riders and the full legali-

zation of the motorcycle taxi industry,” Luna said. During METRO’s recent dialogue with the LTFRB, Luna emphasized that motorcycle taxi riders should not suffer the consequences of regulatory controversies involving transport operators. He stressed that protecting riders’ livelihoods must remain a central consideration in any government action affecting the industry. METRO welcomed the direction taken by Dizon and urged transport authorities to review existing rider allocation limits based on actual passenger demand, industry capacity and prevailing transport conditions. The group maintained that rider caps must be fair, transparent and supported by reliable data to prevent unnecessary restrictions on employment opportunities while maintaining passenger safety and regulatory accountability.

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) Santiago Extension Office has completed a two-day free Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) at Fourlanes Plaza in Santiago City, Isabela, as part of its continuing commitment to road safety. The caravan was conducted for student permit applicants, providing them with the basic knowledge required before taking to the road. On the first day, Oct. 23, participants learned about road safety, traffic rules and regulations, road signs, pavement markings, and responsible driving. LTO Chief Dennis Buendia said road safety starts with education, stressing that aspiring drivers must acquire the proper knowledge and values before being issued a license. He said driving is not just a privilege but a responsibility requiring discipline, patience, and awareness of other road users. Jessica M. Bacud REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS Twentieth Congress Second Regular Session

ANNOUNCEMENT President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA), for confirmation, the ad interim appointment of: Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ALLAN JOSE L. TAGUBA to the rank of Major General The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the above ad interim appointment in seven (7) copies to the CA Secretariat, 11th Floor, Uptown Eastgate Tower I, corner 11th and 36th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone number 8832-2827 local 2142 to 2144, and local 2512 to 2514. 10 November 2026. MARK LLANDRO L. MENDOZA Acting Secretary (MS-NOV. 12, 2026)

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Judicial probers told to maintain sound judgment By Pot Chavez SUPREME Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen has urged investigating commissioners to uphold integrity and exercise sound human judgment amid the growing influence of social media and artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking at the 4th Investigating Commissioners’ Summit of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Commission on Bar Discipline on Nov. 4, Leonen identified social media and AI as emerging challenges that could affect how people assess information and make decisions. He said integrity requires commissioners to remain accountable to the people involved in every case, adding that judicial independence begins with the careful and impartial examination of facts. Leonen also stressed that fairness and social justice require giving the complainants seeking redress and the respondents facing accusations an opportunity to be heard through a fair process. He reminded the commissioners that their findings help establish the factual basis for the Court’s decisions. “This commission is the Court’s eye on the facts. A court can be no more independent than the facts placed before it,” Leonen said.

NBI sets inquiry on crematorium malpractices By Gwyneth Nolasco THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is willing to investigate allegations that a Parañaque City crematorium cremated multiple bodies simultaneously and improperly distributed human remains, but added it is still seeking a clearer complaint to establish the basis for the inquiry. NBI director Melvin Matibag said the bureau could initiate an investigation motu proprio but would need complainants to provide more specific information. “We can conduct an investigation on our own initiative, but in this case, we need someone to file a clearer complaint, so we have a basis to investigate,” Matibag said. The allegations surfaced after two former crematorium employees appeared on the radio program “Wanted sa Radyo,” hosted by Senator Raffy Tulfo, and claimed alleged irregularities in the facility’s operations. The employees asserted that they were instructed to place multiple bodies in a cremation machine at the same time, giving rise to families of the departed receiving ashes from remains other than those of their loved ones, including leftover ashes from previous cremations. They also alleged that the crematorium continued operating despite a defective machine and that clients were not informed about the malpractice.

MAKESHIFT LAGOON. Picnickers set up camps

beside this lagoon which used to be an open-pit mining site in Lubo, Kibungan, Benguet, but was abandoned in the late 70s. Over time, the gap filled with rain water and has attracted local and foreign visitors looking for an alternative place to frolic and swim. Dave Leprozo

‘DepEd-issued laptops for teaching use only’ By Gabriel Oliva

HE Department of Education (DepEd) said Tuesday that teachers should not sell or pawn the laptop units they received through the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP) as safeguards have been put in place to protect them. In a press briefing at Malacañang, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the DCP involved more than 231,000 newly procured teacher laptops. “This is the most extensive and comprehensive computerization initiative ever undertaken in Philippine

education under the Marcos administration,” Angara said. He said that the computers, although handed over to the teachers across the country, could not be sold or pawned because they remain to be government property. “Each school has a designated property custodian responsible for monitoring the laptop inventory and ensuring their proper use,” Angara added. In a statement, the DepEd said accountability mechanisms are in place to curb illegal selling, pawning, or transfer of the electronic devices. The new laptop units are enrolled in DepEd’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) system. This system gives DepEd the power to lock or disable units once confirmed as stolen or illegally sold. “Violators face administrative and criminal charges,” DepEd warned. To ensure fair laptop distribution,

DepEd enforces the Teacher Assignment for Laptop Allocation (TALA) guidelines, which distribute units based on school and teacher populations. Schools and educators who have never received a laptop from the government are given the highest priority. “First priority goes to unserved teachers actively leading classroom tech integration, such as ICT coordinators, EdTech champions, and Khan Academy teachers, followed by other unserved teachers, and finally past recipients whose government laptops were lost to calamities or theft, or declared unserviceable,” DepEd said. Angara said this allows for a fair and clear system. He also said the government saved money from the acquisition of the new Apple MacBook Neos conducted through an open bidding.

MOA SIGNING. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Romando Artes and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency director general Lt. Gen. Ricardo De Leon (retired) show off their copies of an agreement for celebration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month every September. The accord also involves the setting up of murals along major thoroughfares and strategic urban centers to promote information, education, and communication initiatives.

Slovakia to launch embassy in Manila By Kartrina Manubay

LET THERE BE LIGHT…EVEN AMID STORMS. With this projected Mobile

Energy System courtesy of the United States Department of State, Isabela need not grope in the dark during power outages. The device is a movable, solar-powered electricity generator designed as a backup power during disasters and tropical cyclones, while also helping reduce electricity cost during regular hospital operations. Jessica M. Bacud

SLOVAK Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár will open his country’s embassy in Manila and lead efforts to strengthen trade and investment ties during his official visit to the Philippines on Nov. 12 to 15, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed Tuesday. In a statement, the DFA said Blanár is scheduled to attend a bilateral meeting and luncheon with Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro while in Manila. “Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár will undertake an official visit to the Philippines on 12-15 November 2026, marking the first Official Visit by a Slovak Foreign Minister to the Philippines since 2015,” the

DFA said. “The Secretary and the Minister are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation in political and economic relations, as well as people-to-people ties. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues,” it added. Accompanied by a business delegation, Blanár is also slated to deliver the keynote address at the Philippines-Slovak Business Forum and meet with Trade Secretary Cristina Roque on Nov. 13 to discuss ways to boost bilateral economic cooperation. “Foreign Minister Blanár will sign the Declaration on the Deposit of the Slovak Republic’s Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia,” the DFA added.

IN BRIEF LTO bans rider for life over fatal road rage THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has recommended a lifetime ban on a motorcycle rider, who allegedly hit a minor, then mauled to death the child’s father in Muntinlupa City. “I recommend the immediate imposition of a lifetime ban on obtaining any driver’s license against the involved rider. An incident that took a life should not result in lack of accountability so we will ensure that this goes through a thorough investigation and due process,” LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said. “Our stance is clear, no one should escape accountability when proven to have violated the law,” he emphasized. Police report showed that the incident occurred while the father and his son were walking home. When the father tried to confront the rider, the suspect and his friends fatally ganged up on the older man. Rio N. Araja

PH, Indonesia armies deepen security ties THE Philippine Army and its Indonesian counterpart have discussed expanding cooperation in defense and security, intelligencesharing, military training, and humanitarian assistance during their 32nd bilateral working group meeting on Nov. 10. The 32nd Indonesia-Philippines Army Working Group meeting at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, brought together military planners from both countries to discuss areas of bilateral collaboration. Among the topics discussed were information-sharing on transnational threats, leadership exchanges, training and communications cooperation, and joint efforts in humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Both armies also reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, dialogue, and respect for international law. Rex Espiritu

DOT, business partners promote Cebu in S’pore THE Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7), along with Cebu hotels and the Cebu MICE Alliance (CMA), promoted the region as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) during the ITB Asia 2026, held Oct. 21 to 23 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore. The group highlighted Cebu’s business events facilities and tourism attractions as Central Visayas seeks to build on its 6.9 million tourist arrivals in 2025 and attract more international events. The DOT-7 joined NUSTAR Resort and Casino, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, bai Hotel Cebu, JPark Island Resort and Waterpark, and Robinsons Land Corp. under the CMA banner. The delegation presented the Philippines as both a business events hub and a leisure destination. Minerva Newman

OPINION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Pushing irrelevance WHEN arguments on the subject fall apart, bring up an irrelevant riposte. When you cannot dispute facts, neither barangay maps, come up with a new tactic. Muddle the issue. Tar the personal credibility of the object by bringing up an extraneous matter he is not prepared to confront. He is an engineer after all, not a smart lawyer or a lying politician who can think on his feet and can wiggle himself out of an irrelevant matter. Confronted with the facts brought out by the Davao City assessor, the imperial Manila-based lawyers and senator-judges who have cast their lot with Malacanang brought out the foreign trips of their object. Caught by surprise, the assessor questioned relevance with a smiling face. But the well-dressed, city slick prosecutor who once defended US serviceman Joseph Pemberton (remember him and Jennifer Laude?) pounded on his apertura a sinistra, like a quick below the belt hit. And the senator-judges inflicted with Sinophobia jumped to their feet and became a Greek chorus who found a hallelujah moment. The lawyers for the respondent later admitted they did not see this irrelevance forthcoming but could not protest. They should have learned their lesson. From now on, never underestimate the potential for ridicule these city-slick DDH can unleash against promdi’s coming from “down-under” Mindanao and the Bisaya. Tie them up to that Ronald Llamas’ original creative taunt, “tsinador” and you can rile up Balance Luzon, or so they think. They saw how their Octa findings were thrashed even by their media friends because put side by side with Pulse and SWS, WR Numero and Publicus, even Tangere, its findings stood out like a sore thumb only the DDH and the few remaining Marcos loyalists could suck up to. And then the unkindest cut came the very same day. From Naga City blessed by “Ina” came the final, final nail on their political coffin. Mayor Leni Robredo flatly dashed all hopes that she would go running for president or any national position in 2028. Not now, not ever. “So what happens now?”, as Evita once asked when confronted by “the end is near”. Risa? Supply another name. Raffy? Faded glory. Erwin? Isn’t he the guy who fooled the US of A, immigration cum armed forces combined? How about Bam? He is wiser than you think. Hindi n’yo kayang goyo-in. What about Gibo? Let him run in Nebraska, better yet Montana. Baka sakali. Even their traditional media sympathizers found it so difficult to claim victory over an irrelevant matter. They tried mightily to be giddy, but it fell flat. Akala niyo tanga ang masa? Only Lor-

na Kapunan can be so arrogant. And then came another “unkindest” cut, this time from the embassy by the bay, when the ambassador from Mar-a-Lago, the genial giant so very close to the Donald, flatly stated there will be no Pax Silica in the agenda when Trump goes peek-aboo in next Monday’s Asean fiesta. O-lats na, nang asar pa? You really know how to hurt a loyal and subservient ally, don’t you?

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The perennially poor are starving, and the middle class see their dinner plates shrinking by the day Then came the national statisticians. Headline inflation rose to 7.8% despite massive rice imports coupled with massive smuggling of all other kinds of food, they said that 2.86 million of the work force are unemployed, a 5.4% increase. Rice alone accounted for 20.7% inflation. How about the chronic disease called underemployment? Don’t ask an unanswerable question, stupid. And while private sector analysts wished for anywhere from a low 2.2 percent third quarter GDP growth to an optimistic 3.7 percent from RCBC’s seer, PSA came up with even worse: 2.1 percent, s’il vous plait. And I thought it would be a low 1.8% and a max 2% GDP growth. But a former head of the economic team of a former president chided me, saying, “don’t worry, we’ll get there!” So what’s the newest debt-to-GDP ratio? Tama na, save that bad news for another day. Meanwhile, the impeachment circus at the Senate goes on, while behind closed doors, denizens of the lower house are mightily trying to convince the beleaguered JV Ejercito and the “siding” Win Gatchalian to compromise on the insertions and allocables the Supreme Court outlawed. “Oh what a circus, Oh what a show!”, the mythical Che Guevarra from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s hit Evita opens up the show for Juan Peron’s inamorata. Meanwhile, the perennially poor are starving, and the middle class see their dinner plates shrinking by the day. And this is neither Milei’s Buenos Aires, Macron’s Paris, or Pena’s Asuncion upon landlocked Paraguay. “So what happens now?” Send in the clowns. Some of them will willingly play clown, now that their “acting” chops have been “legalized” through “ad interim” appointments. “The best cabinet since my father’s time”, their president enthused as they hurriedly beat the deadline before Congress reconvened. But that’s another story.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR THE November 6 article of Manila Standard columnist Ernesto Hilario, titled Montemayor and the Hypocrisy of Rice Politics, is a classic example of the “straw man fallacy.” Mr. Hilario deliberately misrepresented my long-held position on rice importation. He insinuated to his readers that I am totally opposed to importing rice in order to look good among our farmers; whereas, when I was Agriculture Secretary in 2001-2002, I allowed the country’s importation of a million metric tons to address a deficit in supply. Thus, he concludes that I am a hypocrite! What are the facts? In 2001, the Philippines imported 810,000 tons of rice. In 2002, the volume was 1,200,000 tons. The increase resulted from a multiagency, multi-level process (also involving representatives of farmers, consumers and other stakeholders) at the technical and policy levels. It took into special account the occurrence of El Nino in 2002. The final decision was made by the President with her Cabinet. All these years, my position – and that

of my organization, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) – has been consistent and clear. We must focus our policies and resources on supporting our farmers and maximizing domestic production of rice. It will be dangerous to our food and national security, if our country becomes primarily dependent on externally sourced rice supplies. (Sadly, our 90-92 percent rice self-sufficiency level in 2001-2002 has fallen to around 70 percent today). However, if locally produced rice is insufficient, then we must import to close the deficit. Importation should be properly calibrated so as to meet consumers’ needs and, at the same time, assure decent palay prices for our rice producers. NEVER should we allow imports during the harvest season, as these would undercut palay farmers. It is most unfortunate that Mr. Hilario did not do his homework before accusing me of duplicity. But perhaps it’s best that I treat his slanderous polemic as a hysterical and hilarious one! LEONARDO Q. MONTEMAYOR

Clash between economics and national security

HERE is now a growing debate in Philippine foreign policy: should economic considerations take precedence over national sovereignty, or can the Philippines pursue both at the same time? After 22 business and sectoral organizations warned that worsening Philippine-China relations could harm trade, investment, tourism, and employment. In response, consumer and civil society groups CitizenWatch, Konsyumer At Mamamayan (KM), Bantay Konsyumer, Kuryente, Kalsada (BK3) and Democracy Watch challenged these claims, arguing that economic fears should not be used to pressure the government into softening its position on sovereignty issues, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. At its core, the debate reflects two competing perspectives. The business groups are taking a pragmatic view. China remains one of the Philippines’ largest trading partners and an important source of imports, tourists, and investments. They worry that escalating diplomatic confrontations could discourage Chinese investors, reduce market access for Philippine exports, and affect sectors dependent on Chinese economic activity. Their argument is essentially that political tensions carry real economic costs. The consumer and civil society organizations, however, view the issue differently. They argue that economic depend-

ManilaStandard

ONLINE

IF THERE is any lesson we learned from the recently concluded 2026 United States midterms elections, it showed us what true democracy is all about. With all the money spent including promises of some kind of payment if a political party wins, people went out in droves to vote for the candidates who they believe were deserving, ignoring the promise of money. The voting clearly showed that the people cared more about the issues affecting their daily lives disregarding all the rhetoric describing situations that are devoid of reality. The election was a victory for democracy because it showed that it does work in effecting societal change. In less than two years, we will also be having our own national elections in 2028 to choose our next president and vice president who will be leading us for six years. The big question that we should be asking ourselves now is, will we be able to also rise to the occasion and choose the most deserving candidates or simply succumb again to the power of money? People in the US today are also struggling in their own way with rising prices and high inflation just like us. Yet, in spite of promises of cash, they went out and voted for candidates of their own liking. Let us hope that we will also be capable in rising to the occasion by not voting for candidates who will be willing to pay for a vote come May 2028 as it has been happening in previous elections. If we scan our current political landscape and analyze the public officials

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

At issue is not merely trade, but whether economic considerations should shape the Philippines’ response to sovereignty challenges in the West Philippine Sea By demanding evidence for claims of “millions of jobs” being at risk, these groups are challenging what they see as economic alarmism. More importantly, this dispute reflects a broader shift in Philippine attitudes toward China. In previous years, particularly during the Duterte administration, the

that the people seem to prefer as leaders based on the surveys being conducted, the future is looking bleak. It appears that the voting public still prefer the usual suspects instead of selecting public officials who have proven themselves to be moral, upright and honest leaders.

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If we keep on voting for the usual suspects, we have no one to blame but ourselves With so many problems we Filipinos are facing today in the economic, political, national security and geopolitical fronts, it is inexplicable why people keep on choosing politicians who have proven themselves to be so corrupt. Perhaps, part of the explanation is that in one international survey that I came across, the Philippines is the second country after Ghana whose people are easily swayed by what they read on social media. What this tells us is that our people may lack the ability of critical judgment or can actually discern but simply choose not to care. It could also be that selling their votes is more important. In the presidential race, for instance, all these months, VP Sara has continuously led in the surveys. This, while is undergoing an impeachment trial which she seems to treat with utter contempt. To add to this gloomy situation, Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, the

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser

only current public official who can realistically challenge VP Sara, has just stated categorically she will not be running for president in 2028 making Vice President Sara’s route to the presidency easier. That is of course if Mayor Robredo can no longer be persuaded to reconsider her decision or VP Sara will not be convicted in her ongoing impeachment trial which is now causing impeachment fatigue among the public. And that is not the only problem. If she will indeed be convicted on 14 votes, as was decided by the impeachment court recently, this will trigger another round of uncertainty due to the appeals process that will surely be filed before the Supreme Court. Instead of the long impeachment trial being over, the battle will simply shift to another venue, ensuring that the other equally important issues confronting the nation will be sidetracked. Very soon, political fever will be on the air with our political leaders scrambling to protect their political fiefdoms, ensuring that nothing substantive like controlling inflation will happen. On the other hand, it could be an opportunity for a meaningful change if the people will change their voting culture by electing incorruptible leaders because this is what the country badly needs right now. Hopefully, voters can and will change because our well-being actually depends entirely on us if we want it badly enough. If we keep on voting for the usual suspects, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We should all try to make May 2028 an election to remember.

Emil P. Jurado+ Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

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2028

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net

ence should not become a tool for influencing Philippine policy. Their position is that defending territorial rights and national sovereignty is a constitutional and strategic obligation that should not be compromised because of fears over trade or investment losses.

government pursued a policy that sought to separate economic cooperation from maritime disputes. The expectation was that warmer political ties would generate significant Chinese investments and infrastructure funding. Under the Marcos Jr. administration, however, the Philippines has adopted a firmer stance on maritime rights while simultaneously strengthening security ties with the United States, Japan, Australia, and other partners. The result has been more frequent diplomatic friction with Beijing, particularly over incidents in the West Philippine Sea. The statements from consumer and civil society groups suggest that a growing segment of Philippine society is willing to tolerate some economic costs if they are seen as necessary to defend national interests. This indicates that public opinion may be becoming more resilient to arguments that frame sovereignty and economic development as mutually exclusive choices. What the exchange between business groups and civil society organizations reflects is a deeper shift in Philippine-China relations. At issue is not merely trade, but whether economic considerations should shape the Philippines’ response to sovereignty challenges in the West Philippine Sea. In the years ahead, PhilippineChina relations are likely to become more compartmentalized: economic cooperation where interests align, but firmer resistance on sovereignty and security issues.

Mario R. Policarpio Jr. Head - Finance

Baldwin R. Felipe

Head - Ad Solutions

Joyce Pangco Pañares Managing Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie

Opinion Editor

Feliciano T. Buscas Jr. Head - IT-MIS

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Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT BETWEEN ABRA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (ABRECO) AND SUAL POWER, INC. (SPI), WITH PRAYERS FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF AND MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION, ERC CASE NO. 2026-184 RC ABRA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (ABRECO) AND SUAL POWER, INC. (SPI) Applicants. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that 03 November 2026, Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO) and Sual Power, Inc (SPI) filed a Joint Application, 01 October 2026, seeking the Commission’s approval of their Power Supply Agreement (PSA), with prayers for Provisional Authority or Interim Relief and motion for confidential treatment of information. The docketed copy of the Joint Application, excluding its annexes, is attached as Annex “A” of the Notice of Virtual Hearing. ERC The CASE NO. 2026-184 Commission has RC set the instant Joint Application for NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING hearing, pursuant to the pertinent rules of the Commission, as follows: PAGE 2 OF 4 Date and Time 10 December 2026 (Thursday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.) 17 December 2026 (Thursday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

Platform

Microsoft Teams

Activity Determination of compliance with jurisdictional requirements and Expository Presentation

Pre-Trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

Accordingly, Applicants are hereby directed to mirror the virtual hearings, to be hosted by the Commission, at ABRECO’s Principal Office at ABRECO Compound, Capitulacion Street, Brgy. Calaba, Bangued, Abra, as the designated venue for the conduct thereof and ensure that the same is open to the public. Moreover, Applicants shall guarantee that, during the conduct of the expository presentation, the participation of the public shall not be impaired. Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled initial virtual hearing, via e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation. Moreover, any person who has an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party upon compliance with ERC Resolution No. 31, Series of 2026 or the 2026 Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission (2026 RPP) and thereafter filing a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing, via email at docket@erc.ph. The verified Petition to Intervene must follow the requirements under Rule 7 of the 2026 RPP, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case, and state the following: 1) The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address; ERC CASE NO. 2026-184 RC NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING PAGE2)3 OFThe 4 nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and 3)

A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph, and copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, their Opposition or Comment thereon at least ERC CASE NO. 2026-184 RC five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing under Rule 7 NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING of the 2026 No particular form of Opposition or Comment is PAGE 4 OF RPP. 4 required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN, and the Honorable 1) The name, mailing address, and e-mail address of the Commissioners FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO person; ROMEO L. FUENTES, AMANTE A. LIBERATO and PARIS G. REAL, Energy Regulatory Commission, Pasig City. 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3)

The grounds relied upon. FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION: Any of the persons mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may access the copy of the Joint Application on the Commission’s official website at www.erc.gov.ph. ATTY. MARIA CORAZON C. GINES1 Director III, Legal Service Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled virtual hearings by providing the Commission, through legal.virtualhearings@erc.ph, their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Joint Application. ERC CASE NO. 2026-184 RC access link/s to the aforementioned The Commission will send the NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING hearing within five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled LS: LBB/RCD platform PAGE 4 OF 4 hearings. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN, and the Honorable (This space is intentionally left blank.) Commissioners FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, AMANTE A. LIBERATO and PARIS G. REAL, Energy Regulatory Commission, Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

ATTY. MARIA CORAZON C. GINES1 Director III, Legal Service

LS: LBB/RCD 1

Authority granted per Office Order No. 71, Series of 2025 dated 20 August 2025, with the subject “Approving/Signing Authorities for Consumer Complaints Cases and Interlocutory Orders”.

Authority granted per Office Order No. 71, Series of 2025 dated 20 August 2025, with the subject “Approving/Signing Authorities for Consumer Complaints Cases and Interlocutory 2026-184 Orders”. November 03, 2026

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

WORLD Republicans derail bid to impeach Pentagon chief

ASHINGTON, DC – Republicans in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) blocked an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Iran war, handing President Donald Trump a victory days after his party’s crushing midterm election defeat. The House voted 211 to 204 to send the impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, effectively derailing a planned vote Wednesday on whether to bring formal charges against the embattled Pentagon chief. The resolution was introduced by Republican Thomas Massie, a Trump critic who was the only member of his party to oppose the procedural maneuver, according to US media. The impeachment drive had threatened to deepen Trump’s troubles after Democrats swept last week’s midterms, with anger at the sputtering Iran war and soaring fuel prices helping drive voters to a historic rejection of Republicans. Republicans still hold a narrow House majority until January, when Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress. And 11 Democrats missed the vote. Trump hailed the procedural defeat as an “EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot,” in a post on Truth Social, while Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, in a post on X, called the vote as a “TOTAL VICTORY!” “We look forward to ending this sham impeachment in the committee room, where facts will continue to prevail and this distraction can be put to rest,” Parnell added. AFP

IMPEACHMENT BLOCKED. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time). A Republican lawmaker moved to impeach Hegseth over the war in Iran, setting up a potentially explosive vote in Congress just days after President Donald Trump’s party suffered a crushing midterm defeat. Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of illegally waging war without congressional authorization and abusing his powers as Pentagon chief. AFP

2026-184 November 03, 2026

US calls for new Europe security at Kyiv-Moscow negotiations

(MS-NOV. 12/19, 2026)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Washington called for a “new” security framework on the first day of US-led talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was “happy” with the changes in approach by US mediators. US leader Donald Trump’s envoys -- his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff -brought together the warring sides for several hours of negotiations that are set to continue Wednesday. Kushner told delegates the United States had “narrowed the gaps” between the sides -without providing details -- and hoped to move towards a “solution” to Europe’s worst conflict since World War II. In Paris, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the talks as “very productive” and called for Europeans to be eventually included at the negotiating table “because they are part of solving this problem”. AFP

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT BETWEEN ZAMBALES II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ZAMECO II) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI), WITH MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION AND PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF

2. It holds an exclusive franchise issued by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to operate an electric light and power services in the municipalities of the province of Zambales, namely: Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe and Cabangan.

Notice is hereby given that 03 November 2026, Zambales II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMECO II) and Sual Power Inc. (SPI) filed a Joint Application, dated 01 October 2026, seeking the Commission’s approval of the Power Supply Agreement between ZAMECO II and SPI, with motion for confidential treatment of information and prayer for provisional authority or interim relief. The docketed copy of the Joint Application, excluding its annexes, is attached as AnnexRC “A” hereof. ERC CASE NO. 2026-183 NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING PAGEThe 2 OF 4 Commission has set the Joint Application for hearing, pursuant to the pertinent rules of the Commission, as follows: Platform

Microsoft Teams

Activity Determination of compliance with jurisdictional requirements and Expository Presentation

The RER shall be accompanied by a certification or authorization containing the following: (1) designated e-mail addressdocket to be used; 1) Applicable number and title of the proceeding; (2) two (2) designated mobile numbers that the Commission's personnel can contact during working hours; (3) names the two (2) dedicated liaison officers manage and operate the 2) ofPetitioner-intervenor’s name,authorized address,toand e-mail address; designated mobile numbers and e-mail address; and (4) copies of the company-issued identification cards (IDs) and/or government-issued IDs of 3)liaisonNature of interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, the officers who will handle the designated mobile numbers.

and the way and manner in which such interest is affected

In case of natural persons representing themselves, the RER need not be accompanied by a by the issues involved in the proceeding; and certification or authorization.

A statement of the relief desired.

A Petition to Intervene filed by an organization, association, or entity shall be accompanied by a Special Power of Attorney, Board or Sanggunian Resolution, a Secretary’s Certificate, or any competent proof of authority, authorizing the signatory thereto to file the same and represent the organization, association, or entity in the proceedings before the Commission. ERC CASE NO. 2026-183 RC NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING Likewise, PAGE 4 OF 4 all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file through e-mail atwill docket@erc.ph, copylink/s furnish theaforementioned Legal Service The Commission send the access to the through their or days Comment thereon at least hearing legal@erc.ph, platform within fiveOpposition (5) calendar prior to the scheduled five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing and subject to hearings. the requirements under Section 5 of Rule 7 of the 2026 RPP. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the WITNESS, Honorable Chairperson and CEO FRANCIS document, letter, orthe writing should contain the following: SATURNINO C. JUAN and the Honorable Commissioners FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO ROMEO L. 1) TheAMANTE name, address, and e-mail address of the person; FUENTES, A. LIBERATO and PARIS G. REAL, Energy Regulatory Commission in Pasig City. 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3)

10. Hence, ZAMECO II and SPI hereby submit the instant Joint Application for the evaluation/approval of the PSA by the Honorable Commission.

11.1 Contract Capacity. SPI shall supply a 6 MW baseload to ZAMECO II (Schedule 2 of the PSA) for a period of fifteen (15) years from Delivery Date.

Prescribing the Policy for the Mandatory Conduct of the Competitive Selection Process by the Distribution Utilities for the Procurement of Power Supply for their Captive Market” dated June 30, 2023 Implementing Guidelines for the Procurement, Execution, and Evaluation of Power Supply SCHEDULE 2. CONTRACT CAPACITY Agreements entered into by Distribution Utilities for the Supply of Electricity to their Captive Market” dated October 3, 2023 Adoption of the National Electrification Administration Selection Process Guidelines TABLECompetitive 1 Implementing the Department of Energy’s Department Circular No. DC2023-06-0023 and the (in MW) Energy Regulatory Commission’s Resolution No. 16, Series of 2023” or the “NEA 2023 CSP Au No Guidelines” dated November 20, 2023Ma

Year 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 2041

Jan 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Feb 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Mar 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Apr 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

y 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Jun 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Jul 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

g 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Sep 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Oct 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

v 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

𝑄𝑄𝑡𝑡 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 , 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑡𝑡 )

As previously defined

AEt TEDt

As previously defined Total Energy Delivered, which is Actual Energy Delivered from the Facility and the Replacement Power energy, during the Billing Period in kWh

As previously defined

HO HFM t

As previously defined

𝑦𝑦

𝐻𝐻𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = ∑ (1 −

Where:

Seller Actual BCQ Declared due to force majeure

11.5 Total Generation Charge (“TGC”). The TGC is composed of Capital Recovery Fee (“CRF”), Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee (“FOMF”), Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee (“VOMF”), Fuel Cost (“FC”), and applicable Value-Added Tax (“VAT”).

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN and the Honorable Commissioners FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, AMANTE A. LIBERATO and PARIS G. REAL, Energy Regulatory Commission in Pasig City.

Schedule 7 of the PSA Monthly Payment, Indexation and Adjustment Total Generation Charge:

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

Buyer Day Ahead Nomination

LS: KACF/JGGW

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 , 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 )

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Exquadra Tower, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila

Where: CRFCUFt CRRCUFt AEt

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT BETWEEN ZAMBALES II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ZAMECO II) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI), WITH MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION AND PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL 2 AUTHORITY Authority granted per Office 71, Series of 2025 dated 20 August 2025, with the subject OROrder No. INTERIM “Approving/Signing Authorities for Consumer Complaints Cases and Interlocutory Orders”. RELIEF,

183 RC ERC Case No. 2026-____ ZAMBALES II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ZAMECO II) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI),

November 03, 2026

Joint Applicants. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

JOINT APPLICATION

(with MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION and PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF) Joint Applicants, ZAMBALES II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (“ZAMECO II”) and SUAL POWER INC. (“SPI”), through their respective undersigned counsels, respectfully state: PARTIES 1. Applicant ZAMECO II is an electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at Brgy. Nagbunga,

AEDt CRR100%CUF CUFt t

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 =

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶100%𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑡𝑡

Rate Component to calculate CRFCUFt, expressed in PhP/kWh,

Rate Component to calculate FOMFCUFt, expressed in As previously defined As previously defined

FOMR100%CUF

Corresponding FOMR at 100% CUF, which is PhP0.4500/kWh. For reference, the FOMRCUF from 65% to 100% is presented below. CUF 100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

FOMR LOCAL Php/kWh 0.4500 0.4545 0.4592 0.4639 0.4688 0.4737 0.4787 0.4839 0.4891 0.4945 0.5000 0.5056 0.5114 0.5172 0.5233 0.5294 0.5357 0.5422 0.5488 0.5556 0.5625 0.5696 0.5769 0.5844 0.5921 0.6000 0.6081 0.6164 0.6250 0.6338 0.6429 0.6522 0.6618 0.6716 0.6818 0.6923

The VOMFt shall be calculated as the product of the Variable Operation and Maintenance Rate ("VOMR"), in PhP/kWh, and the actual energy delivered for the Billing Period. The formula to calculate VOMFt shall be: 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑡𝑡 = 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑡𝑡 × 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡

CUF

CRR Php/kWh 2.1500 2.1717 2.1939 2.2165 2.2396 2.2632 2.2872 2.3118 2.3370 2.3626 2.3889 2.4157 2.4432 2.4713 2.5000 2.5294 2.5595 2.5904 2.6220 2.6543 2.6875 2.7215 2.7564 2.7922 2.8289 2.8667 2.9054 2.9452 2.9861 3.0282 3.0714

Corresponding VOMF to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period

VOMFt

Rate Component to calculate VOMFt which is PhP0.2000/kWh As previously defined

VOMRt AEDt

Corresponding FC to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period

FPt

Applicable Fuel Price for the Billing Period, expressed in PhP/MT

AEDt

Fuel Commodity Cost in USD/MT calculated using the formula below: 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 13𝑚𝑚 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 103.09 × [(97.09% × ) + 2.91%] 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 1𝑂𝑂 The average value for the three (3) months preceding the Billing Period for which the Invoice is being prepared of the Indonesian Coal Index 2 (5,800 GAR/ 5,500 NAR) as published by the Argus/Coalindo for Indonesian Coal Index Report, in USD/MT Value of Indonesian Coal Index 2 (5,800 GAR/ 5,500 NAR) for the month of May 2026, which is 100.09, in USD/MT As previously defined Weighted average of the actual Freight Cost, Marine Cargo Insurance, Letter of Credit Opening Charges, Disport Surveyor Fees, Wharfage, and Brokerage Fees, in PhP/MT.

Demurrage costs arising from this Agreement shall be a pass-through cost subject to the following: ● Any demurrage arising from the Seller's procurement of coal in excess of its requirements, including demurrage resulting from the use of a port or vessel as temporary storage for such excess coal, shall be solely for the account of the Seller and shall not be passed on to the Buyer.

NFCCt

0.4818

CUF 100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95%

FCR, kg/kWh 0.4595 0.4600 0.4607 0.4612 0.4617 0.4623

94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

0.4631 0.4637 0.4642 0.4648 0.4654 0.4661 0.4670 0.4676 0.4683 0.4690 0.4697 0.4707 0.4714 0.4722 0.4729 0.4737 0.4744 0.4756 0.4764 0.4772 0.4784 0.4793 0.4801 0.4810 0.4818 0.4827 0.4841 0.4850 0.4859 0.4869

Except for VAT, which shall be a pass-through component of the price, all other taxes pursuant to Section 13.1 and government dues, the WESM market fees, and ER 1-94 (Benefits to Host Community) shall be to the account of the Seller.

Replacement Power Charge If Seller provides Replacement Power, Seller shall attach to the Seller Invoice the computation showing both the actual rate of the Replacement Power and the generation rate based on the approved tariff for this Agreement. In computing the actual rate of the Replacement Power, Seller shall declare whether the replacement energy was generated from a renewable energy source/s or from sources exempt from ValueAdded Taxes and shall provide the invoice issued to it by the replacement power plant clearly showing the breakdown of the rate for the replacement energy delivered.

● The CRRCUFt, FOMRCUFt and VOMRt shall be as previously defined above. ● Further, the Fuel Cost shall be calculated using a fuel rate based on the FPt and FXm as previously defined above and the Seller’s Fuel Consumption Rate at the CUF level associated with the CRRCUFt and FOMRCUFt.

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑡𝑡 = (𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑡𝑡 × 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚 ) + 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡 + 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇

FCt

NFI lO

FCRCUF1

E. Value-added Tax ("VAT'), if any. VAT shall only be chargeable to the Buyer if prevailing laws expressly allow its passing on by the Seller.

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑡𝑡 × 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑡𝑡 ) × 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑡𝑡 = ( 1000

NFI 13m avg

0.4810

Note: For avoidance of doubt, the Buyer shall bear all other applicable costs, charges and taxes pursuant to Section 13.2 of this Agreement.

The FCt for the Billing Period shall be calculated as follows:

FCCt

70%

FCRCUF2

The generation rate based on this Agreement shall be computed in accordance with Schedule 7 as follows:

D. Fuel Cost (“FC”)

Where:

71%

CUF1

The FCR at CUF levels from 65% to 100% are as follows:

PhP/kWh, for the Billing Period. AEt

CUF increment of the nearest upper value, in % CUF increment of the nearest lower value, in %

CUF2

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹100%𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑡𝑡

AEDt

corresponding FCR for CUF1 set forth in the table below

Illustration: CUFt 70.53%

Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period

Billing Period

100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70%

CUF1

Corresponding FOMFCUF to calculate the Total Generation

FOMRCUFt

for the Billing Period Associated Energy based on the 65% Monthly Minimum CUF in kWh for the Billing Period Actual Energy Delivered from the Facility during the Billing Period in kWh Corresponding CRR at 100% CUF, which is PhP2.1500/kWh For reference, the CRRCUF from 65% to 100% is presented below. Actual CUF for the Billing Period. The CUF shall be calculated in accordance with the formula below.

as previously defined corresponding FCR for CUF2 set forth in the table below

CUF2

Where: FOMFCUFt

guaranteed FCR corresponding to the Actual CUF for the Billing Period

FCRCU FCRCU

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 , 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 ) 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 =

(𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 − 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶1 ) × (𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑡𝑡 − 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶1) (𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 − 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶1)

CUFt F2

The FOMFCUFt shall be calculated as the product of the Fixed Operation and Maintenance Rate ("FOMRCUFt"), in PhP/kWh, and the actual energy delivered during the Billing Period or the equivalent associated energy based on the Monthly Minimum CUF, whichever is higher. The formula to calculate FOMFCUFt shall be:

Corresponding CRFCUF to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period

FCRCU Ft

B. Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee (“FOMF”)

A. Capital Recovery Fee (“CRF”)

2 Authority granted per Office Order No. 71, Series of 2025 dated 20 August 2025, with the subject “Approving/Signing Authorities for Consumer Complaints Cases and Interlocutory Orders”.

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶1 +

Total Generation Charge= CRFCUFt + FOMFCUFt + VOMFt + FCt + VAT

The CRFCUFt shall be calculated as the product of the Capital Recovery Rate ("CRRCUFt"), in PhP/kWh, and the Actual Energy Delivered during the Billing Period or the equivalent Associated Energy based on the 65% Monthly Minimum CUF, whichever is higher. The formula to calculate the CRFCUFt shall be:

If the resulting CUFt is not a whole percentage number, the guaranteed FCRCUFt shall be determined using the following formula:

The actual reconciled quantity of BCQ declared by the Seller to the Buyer for the relevant hour i, expressed in kW, which was affected by or reduced due to an event of force majeure for either the Buyer or the Seller, in accordance with the BCQ Nomination Protocol under the PSA The quantity of BCQ nominated by the Buyer for delivery for the relevant hour i in the DayAhead Nomination, expressed in kW, submitted in accordance with the BCQ Nomination Protocol under the PSA

C. Variable Operations and Maintenance Fee (“VOMF”)

b. The next immediate 26th day of the month following the ERC’s issuance of a Provisional Authority (PA) or Interim Relief (IR)to implement the Agreement, as applicable, or Final Authority to implement the Agreement, if neither PA nor IR was issued.

If the resulting CUFt is a whole percentage number, the guaranteed FCRCUFt shall be the corresponding FCR set forth in the table below for CUF levels from 65% to 100%.

Total number of Hours in a Billing Period

Dec 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

a. December 26, 2026; or

𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷, 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 ) 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝐴𝐴ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁

11.4 Delivery Date. The Seller shall commence delivery of the Contract Capacity provided in Schedule 2 of the PSA to Buyer on Delivery Date. The Delivery Date shall be the later of either:

The Commission will send the access link/s to the aforementioned hearing platform within five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled hearings.

ATTY. MARIA CORAZON C. GINES2 Director III, Legal Service

𝑖𝑖=1

Applicable Fuel Consumption Rate (“FCR”) for the Billing Period, expressed in kg/kWh, shall be the lower between: (i) the guaranteed FCRCUFt; or (ii) the actual plant FCR

FCRt

● The formula to calculate the HFM shall be:

11.3 Contract Term. The PSA shall take effect immediately from the Effective Date, and from such date shall remain in force and effect for fifteen (15) years from Delivery Date unless sooner terminated in accordance with the PSA and upon approval by the ERC.

Any of the persons mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may access the copy of the Application on the Commission’s official website at www.erc.gov.ph. ATTY. MARIA CORAZON C. GINES2 Director III, Legal Service Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the ERC CASE NO. 2026-183 RC scheduled virtual hearings by providing the Commission, through LS: KACF/JGGW NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING legal.virtualhearings@erc.ph, their respective e-mail addresses, PAGE 4 OF 4 indicating therein the case number of the instant Joint Application.

Buyer reserves the right to refuse payment of the Fuel Cost if Seller fails to provide either the fuel supplier's invoice or the monthly inventory report referred to above.

As previously defined As previously defined

11.2 Associated Energy. ZAMECO II, as Buyer, shall be allowed to nominate the entire Contract Capacity of six megawatts (6 MW) and is required to maintain a Monthly Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor (“CUF”) of sixtyfive percent (65%), subject to Force Majeure and the other applicable exceptions under the PSA. SPI, as Seller, is correspondingly required to make the full Contract Capacity available to ZAMECO II in accordance with the terms and conditions of the PSA.

The grounds relied upon. FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

For this purpose, the Seller's Invoice shall include, subject to confidentiality clause, the relevant fuel supplier's invoice, certified by Seller, which will detail the actual fuel cost incurred to produce the delivered energy to Buyer. If any index or indices are used, the Seller must provide the Buyer with either (a) a screenshot or snapshot of the actual published price from the index provider OR (b) a certification from the publisher of the nominated index/indices certifying the actual published price. The Seller must also attach the monthly fuel inventory report.

𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡 = 65% × 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × (𝐻𝐻𝑇𝑇 − 𝐻𝐻𝑂𝑂 − 𝐻𝐻𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 )

SALIENT TERMS OF THE PSA 11. The PSA between ZAMECO II and SPI, a copy of which is attached as ANNEX “A”, contains the following salient features:

2. The actual fuel price as billed by the fuel supplier/s (i.e., supported by actual invoices) including the Non-Fuel Commodity Cost for the relevant Billing Period.

● Formula to calculate the Qt and AEt for any billing period shall be:

8. Based on the evaluation and post-qualification criteria set by the NEA-SBAC and after deliberation, the NEA-SBAC recommended awarding a PSA for 6 MW to SPI for the supply of ZAMECO II. Said recommendation was accepted and approved by ZAMECO II.

Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled initial virtual hearing, via e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnished the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation. Moreover, any person who has an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party upon compliance with Section 2ERC of Rule 41 ofNO. ERC2026-183 ResolutionRC No. 31, Series of 2026 or the 2026 Rules CASE of PracticeOFand Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission NOTICE VIRTUAL HEARING (2026 PAGERPP) 3 OFand 4 thereafter filing a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing, via e-mail at docket@erc.ph. The verified Petition to Intervene must follow the requirements under Section 1 of Rule 7 of the 2026 RPP, 1 Section 2. Registration Process. - Any person listed in the immediately preceding provision shall indicating therein and stating(RER) the following: submit a Request for E-mail Registration through the Commission's online digital platform.

HFM

9. Subsequently, a Notice of Award dated August 18, 2026 was issued by NEA in favor of SPI, informing the latter that SPI’s bid proposal was compliant with the requirements of the Luzon and Visayas Cooperatives. Thereafter, Applicants executed a PSA on September 9, 2026.

1. The sum of the (i) resulting value using the Fuel Commodity Cost Formula and (ii) the Non-Fuel Commodity Cost; or

Zero (0) for each Billing Period, as the Seller has no Outage Allowance The Equivalent Hours of Force Majeure in the Billing Period As previously defined

Accordingly, Applicants are hereby directed to mirror the virtual hearings, to be hosted by the Commission, at Applicant ZAMECO II’s Principal Office at Brgy. Nagbunga, Castillejos, Zambales, as the designated venue for the conduct thereof and ensure that the same is open to the public. Moreover, Applicants shall guarantee that, during the conduct of the expository presentation, the participation of the public shall not be impaired.

The FPt to be billed by Seller shall be the lower between:

Total number of hours in the Billing Period

Pre-Trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

Energy delivered during the Billing Period or the equivalent associated energy based on the Monthly Minimum CUF, whichever is higher Contract Capacity for the Billing Period in kW as indicated in Schedule 2

CCt

STATEMENT OF FACTS 7. Applicant ZAMECO II is in need of a monthly 6 Megawatts (“MW”) baseload supply starting on December 26, 2026 up to December 25, 2041. ZAMECO II is a participating member under Lot 1 of the aggregated baseload supply of the on-grid Luzon and Visayas Electric Cooperatives (“EC”). The Joint Competitive Selection Process (“Joint CSP”) for the aggregated supply was conducted by the National Electrification Administration Special Bids and Awards Committee (“NEASBAC”) pursuant to the Department of Energy (“DOE”) Department Circular No. DC2023-06-0021 1, the Energy Regulatory Commission (“ERC”) Resolution No. 16, Series of 2023 2, and the National Electrification Administration (“NEA”) Memorandum No. 2023-57 3.

Applicable taxes

𝑄𝑄𝑡𝑡 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑡𝑡 × (𝐻𝐻𝑇𝑇 − 𝐻𝐻𝑂𝑂 − 𝐻𝐻𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 )

As previously defined

6. The Joint Application for approval of the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) between ZAMECO II and SPI, is being submitted to the Honorable Commission for its review and approval pursuant to Sections 25 and 45(b) of Republic Act No. 9136, Rule 20(B) of Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, and other pertinent rules and regulations;

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

19 January 2027 (Tuesday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.)

CUFt

Where:

NATURE OF THE APPLICATION

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING

15 December 2026 (Tuesday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.)

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑡𝑡 =

Where:

4. SPI is a subsidiary of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (“SMGP”) and is the owner of the 1,294.040 MW Sual CoalFired Thermal Power Plant located in Barangay, Pangascasan, Sual, Pangasinan (the “Power Plant”); 5. Joint Applicants may be served with notices, orders, and other processes of this Honorable Commission through their respective counsel at the addresses indicated herein;

When applicable, Seller must disclose actual cost of NFCC in USD/MT and disclose the actual foreign exchange rate used to convert USD denominated costs into PHP. The monthly average of the PhP/USD exchange rate for the month (i.e., first until last day of the month) for which the invoice is being prepared, as published in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas website Applicable taxes relating to FC for the Billing Period, in PhP/MT

FXm

ZAMBALES II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ZAMECO II) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI), Applicants. x----------------------x

3.1159 3.1618 3.2090 3.2576 3.3077

● The CUFt shall be calculated in accordance with the formula below:

3. Co-Applicant SPI is a domestic corporation duly organized and existing by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at 5th Floor, C5 Office Building Complex, #100 E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, C5 Road, Bo. Ugong, Pasig City 1604;

ERC CASE NO. 2026-183 RC

Date and Time

69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

Castillejos, Zambales 2208, represented in this instance by its General Manager, ENGR. ROMWIL F. DE JESUS, of legal age, Filipino, married and with office address also at ZAMECO II;

Provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply where such excess procurement or the resulting demurrage is attributable (i) to a directive of a relevant government agency, regulatory authority, or market operator, such as the Department of Energy, the Energy Regulatory Commission, the System Operator, or the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines; or (ii) to comply with applicable laws, regulations, or mandatory fuel inventory requirements, in which case the resulting demurrage cost shall be passed on to the Buyer or PhP200/MT, whichever is lower. ● Demurrage costs arising from causes other than the Seller’s excess procurement of coal, negligence, or fault, as stated above, shall be passed on to the Buyer, subject to a cap of PhP 200/MT or the actual demurrage cost, whichever is lower. ● Any penalty, fine, surcharge, or similar charge imposed by the DOE or BOC arising from the failure to timely secure, submit, or comply with the requirements relating to the Certificate of Compliance for coal importation issued by the DOE shall be solely for the account of the Seller. Seller can only recover the NFCC items listed above and shall submit to the Buyer proof of actual costs in the form of official invoices and supporting documents.

● In the event that the FPt is unavailable due to the Facility being unable to utilize fuel and generate power for the supply under this Agreement, the fuel rate shall be based on the most recent 3-month average fuel cost, in PhP/kWh. Thus, the Replacement Power cost shall be: 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡 = [𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀(𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑟𝑟 , 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑟𝑟 ) × 𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑡𝑡 ] + 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑡𝑡 , 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑡𝑡 × 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚 )] 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑟𝑟 = [(𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 + 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 + 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑡𝑡 ) + ( 1000 RPt

RPr CPr REt CRRCUFt FOMRCUFt VOMRt FPt FCRCUFt FXm VATt t

Replacement Power cost for the Billing Period, in PhP Actual generation rate of the Replacement Power exclusive of VAT, in PhP/kWh Generation rate based on this Agreement exclusive of VAT, in PhP/kWh

Replacement Power Energy supplied by the Seller to the Buyer for the Billing Period, in kWh As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined Applicable VAT for the Replacement Power Cost for the Billing Period, if any. Billing Period 11.6 Outages. Scheduled Outages. Every October of each year during the Term of this Agreement the Seller shall inform the Buyer of its Scheduled Outages for the succeeding year as approved by the System Operator and the DOE, ensuring that these are aligned with the most recent DOEapproved Grid Operating and Maintenance Program. Seller shall not request from the System Operator or the DOE any plant-level Scheduled Outage or Preventive Maintenance Schedule for any of its Facility’s units during the months of April, May, or June. Any such request shall constitute an Event of Default under Section 17.1.2 of this Agreement. However, if the plant-level Scheduled Outage or Preventive Maintenance Schedule during the months of April, May, or June is directed or required by the System Operator or the DOE, the same shall be allowed and shall not constitute an Event of Default. Seller’s Outage Allowance. Seller is allowed a Scheduled Outage Allowance and Unscheduled Outage Allowance (taken together, the “Outage Allowance”) not to exceed the number of days for each Year as set forth in SCHEDULE 6, during which times, reduced or no deliveries shall be available to Buyer, subject to ERC rules and regulations on reliability performance indices applicable for the Facility.

SCHEDULE 6. OUTAGE ALLOWANCE The Seller shall have an Outage Allowance for each Contract Year not exceeding: Scheduled Outages: Unscheduled Outages:

___0__ Days ___0__ Days

11.7 Replacement Power (“RP”). The procurement of any Replacement Power shall be the responsibility of Seller, provided that the rates to be paid by Buyer for the procurement of Replacement Power shall be the lower between: i. ii.

the actual rate of the Replacement Power; or the generation rate based on the approved tariff for this Agreement.

If Seller provides Replacement Power, Seller shall attach to the Seller Invoice the computation showing both the actual rate of the Replacement Power and the generation rate based on the approved tariff for this Agreement. If the Seller is able to supply only a portion of the Contract Capacity, contrary to its committed capacities under this Agreement, the Seller shall procure and provide Replacement Power for the deficient capacity at the generation rate equivalent to the Provisional or Final Approved Generation Rate, or the actual rate of the Replacement Power, whichever is lower. In computing the actual rate of the Replacement Power, Seller shall declare whether the replacement energy was generated from a renewable energy source/s or from sources exempt from Value-Added Taxes and shall provide the invoice issued to it by the replacement power plant clearly showing the breakdown of the rate for the replacement energy delivered. The generation rate based on this Agreement shall be computed in accordance with the Replacement Power Charge Provision under SCHEDULE 7. Further, the Fuel Cost shall be calculated using a fuel rate based on the as calculated using current FPt SCHEDULE 7 and the Seller’s Fuel Consumption Rate at the CUF level associated with the CRRCUF and FOMRCUF. In the event that the current month’s FP is unavailable due to the Facility being unable to utilize fuel and generate power, the fuel rate shall be based on the most recent 3month average fuel cost, in PhP/kWh. The line rental component of any Replacement Power shall be settled in accordance with SECTION 12 hereof and its subsections. If, for any reason, the dependable capacity of the Facility is reduced, the Seller shall, to the extent practicable, equitably allocate its available capacity among all of its offtakers. In the event of failure by Seller to provide the Replacement Power when required under this Agreement, Buyer shall source Replacement Power at the expense of Seller. Seller shall shoulder the positive difference between the Replacement Power cost and the generation rate based on the approved tariff for this Agreement including the total line rental costs, if any. Additionally, Seller shall pay reasonable fees to cover the cost incurred by the Buyer in covering the shortage as well as Liquidated Damages provided under SECTION 18.3.2 of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section, “reasonable fees” shall mean that Seller shall pay Buyer the fee of two thousand pesos (PhP 2,000) per day that Buyer had to source the Replacement Power to be paid within thirty (30) Days after written demand for payment. 11.8 Line Rental (“LR”). The Line Rental Cap is PhP 0.2734/kWh and shall apply on a per Billing Period basis throughout the entire Term of the Agreement. For each Billing Period, the Buyer shall pay only the lower of: (a) the Actual Line Rental Charges incurred for the energy delivered during such Billing Period; or (b) Capped Line Rental Charges.

11.9 Prompt Payment Discount (“PPD”). 11.9.1 Seller shall extend a three percent (3%) discount based on the total Capital Recovery Fee, Fixed Operations and Maintenance Fee, and Variable Operations and Maintenance Fee for the Billing Period to Buyer as a PPD if: a. Payment by Buyer is made in full or partial within fifteen (15) Days upon receipt of the Seller Invoice for a Billing Period (the “Prompt Payment Period”); and b. Buyer is up to date with all its payment obligations under this Agreement. 11.9.2 If the Buyer makes a partial payment within the applicable Prompt Payment Period, the Seller shall still grant an applicable PPD determined on a pro rata basis, provided that full payment of the Seller Invoice is made by the Buyer on or before the Due Date.

Where:

CRFCUF

FOMFCUF VOMF Partial Payment

Total Generation Charge

ZAMECO II’s Certificate of Registration

“02E”

ZAMECO II’s List of Board of Directors

“02F”

ZAMECO II’s Supply Demand Scenario

“03”

ZAMECO II’s Details of Existing Suppliers

“03A”

ZAMECO II’s Contract Utilization

“03B”

ZAMECO II’s Average Daily Load Curve

“03C”

ZAMECO II’s Distribution Development Plan

“03D”

ZAMECO II’s Power Supply Procurement Plan

“03E”

ZAMECO II’s TOR vs PSA Provision Matrix

“04”

Bid Forms (Confidential)*

“05A”

SPI’s Generation Rate and Derivation (Confidential)*

“05B”

Sample Bill

“05C”

ZAMECO II’s Rate Impact Analysis

“05D”

Secretary Certificate of ZAMECO II for the Joint Filing of the PSA to ERC

“D”

SPI’s Secretary’s Certificates

“D-1” and “E-1”

SPI’s Secretary’s Certificate – Authority to Execute the PSA

“D-2”

Brief Description of the CSP Conducted

“H”

BAC/Joint BAC

“I”

CSP Observers

“J”

PRAYER

Invitation to Bid (ITB)

“K”

Certificate of Conformity from the NEA

“L”

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed that the Honorable Commission:

Publication of the ITB

“M”

Posting of the ITB

“N”

29.The grant of a provisional authority or interim relief will allow ZAMECO II to have a steady, continuous, secured, and reliable source of electricity, which will immediately redound to the benefit of ZAMECO II’s customers in terms of providing a more affordable rate. To support the Motion for Provisional Authority, the Affidavit of Engr. Romwil F. De Jesus, the ZAMECO II’s General Manager, is attached as Annex “X” of the Application.

(i) ISSUE an Order treating Annexes “02”, “05A” and “05B” as confidential in perpetuity, directing their nondisclosure to persons other than the officers and staff of the Honorable Commission, perpetually protecting the said information from public disclosure by maintaining the same separate and apart from the records of the case, ensuring that these are not divulged to unauthorized persons, and that these confidential documents are returned to ZAMECO II and SPI after the termination of this case pursuant to Rule 4 of its Rules of Practice and Procedure;

“O” and series

Terms of Reference (TOR)

“P”

Pre-bid Conference

“Q”

Eligibility Requirements

“R” and series

Submission of Bids

“S” and series

Evaluation of Bids

“T” and series

Award of Contract

“U” and series

Execution of Contract

“V” and series

Affidavit of Engr. Romwil F. De Jesus in support of the prayer for Provisional Authority or Interim Relief

(ii) Pending trial on the merits, GRANT provisional authority or interim relief allowing the implementation of the PSA including all the rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustment mechanisms set out therein at the rates provided in the PSA and authorizing ZAMECO II to charge and collect such rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustment therein from its customers reckoned from the start of the supply by SPI to ZAMECO II under the PSA subject of this Joint Application; and

“X”

(iii) After hearing on the merits, ISSUE a Decision approving the Joint Application and the PSA between ZAMECO II and SPI, including all the rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustment mechanisms set out therein at the rates provided in the PSA, and authorizing ZAMECO II to charge and collect such rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustments therein from its endusers reckoned from the start of the supply by SPI to ZAMECO II under the PSA.

* Subject of the Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION 15. Under the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, a party to any proceeding before the Honorable Commission may request that certain information not be disclosed and be treated as confidential. 5 Pursuant to this, Applicants ZAMECO II and SPI pray for the confidential treatment of the information contained in the following annexes: Documents and/or Information

Operations and Maintenance Agreement

“02”

Bid Forms

“05A”

SPI’s Generation Rate and Derivation

“05B”

ARNIDO O. INUMERABLE Counsel for ZAMECO II 405 Elisa St., U.E. Village, Cainta, Rizal Email: attyinumerable@yahoo.com.ph Telephone No. (02) 8647-3056 PTR No. 8459220 / 01-21-26 / Quezon City IBP No. 537308 / 01-21-26 / Pasig City MCLE Compliance No. VIII-0042694, Valid Until 14 April 2028 Roll of Attorneys No. 28764

18. Annexes “05B” contain the details concerning the financial plans and power rate calculations of SPI as well as the manner and details by which these were derived. The subject information are proprietary in nature and should be protected as trade secrets as contemplated by law and jurisprudence. In the case of Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell, Inc. 6, the Supreme Court defined a trade secret, as follows: �

8 SUAL INC. (SPI) (Signature pagePOWER for the counsels of SPI will follow)

“A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that: (1) is used in one's business; and (2) gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess the information. Generally, a trade secret is a process or device intended for continuous use in the operation of the business, for example, a machine or formula, but can be a price list or catalogue or specialized customer list. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights. The inventor, discoverer, or possessor of a trade secret or similar innovation has rights therein which may be treated as property, and ordinarily an injunction will be granted to prevent the disclosure of the trade secret by one who obtained the information "in confidence" or through a "confidential relationship". American jurisprudence has utilized the following factors to determine if an information is a trade secret, to wit:

(2)

Generation Rate Impact (exclusive of VAT) of SPI PSA 6

By:

Competitive Selection Process (“Joint CSP”) for the aggregated Pre-bid Conference “Q” and supply was Annex conducted byPhP7.3028/kWh the National Generation rate without SPI “02” (Documents 16. In addition, Related Electrification to Fuel Administration Special Bids and Awards 8Committee (“NEA(2) theand extent to POWER which the information known Operations Maintenance Agreement) contract SUAL INC. (SPI) areisSPI’s “R” SBAC”) pursuant tocontaining theand Department ofincluding Energy (“DOE”) by employees others involved in the with its fuel supplier the terms, the rate, Eligibility Requirements and series Generation rate with SPI G.PhP6.8898/kWh CEDO III A y" INO 1, the Plant Energy Department Circular DC2023-06-0021 business; at which SPI purchases orNo. procures fuel for the Power By: 5th Flooa.-, CS Office Building Complex Regulatory Commission (“ERC”) Resolution No. 16, “S” Series of Submission of Bids 2 , and the National Electrification Administration 2023 and seriesof Rate17. Impact PhP(0.4129) /kWh #100 Rodriguez, Jr.the Ave., CS Road, Bo.employer Ugong, Annex “05A” contains details of breakdown (3) E. the extent of measures taken by the the (“NEA”) Memorandum No. 2023-57 3. Pasigofthe City 1604, Manila generation other power suppliers who participated to costs guard secrecy ofMetro the information; “T” Evaluation Bids �,z;, JUPITER C� ��B and of submitted bid prices during the ZAMECO II’sand CSPseries � Telephone No. (02) 53171000 /Macedoiii@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph 8. Based on the evaluation ande post-qualification 5th Floor, CS Offi Building Complexcriteria set by PTR No. 977996 05 January 2026 /Bo.Pasig City (4) the value the to NEA-SBAC the “U” the NEA-SBAC and/ of after deliberation, the #100 E. 3Rodriguez, Jr. Ave., CSinformation Road, Ugong, Award of copy Contract 18. Annexes “05B” contain the details concerning financial and competitors; A ofemployer ZAMECO II’sto Impact Analysis isthe attached as and IBP Lifetime No. 103 recommended awarding a0Rate PSA80 for/ 6PPLM MW toChapter SPI for theseries supply Pasig City 1604, Metro Manila plans and power rate calculations of SPI as well as the manner Annex 05D. ofCompliance ZAMECO Said recommendation was accepted and Telephone No. (02) II. 53171000/ jcabaguio@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph MCLE No. VIII 0029077 valid until 14 April 2028 and details by which these were derived. The“V” subject Execution of Contract approved byamount ZAMECO II. No. 3 977997 /effort 05No. January 2026 / Pasig City (5)PTRthe of money expended byprotected the and series Roll 54500 information are proprietary inornature and should be IBP Lifetime No.the 063above 72 / the Makati Chapter and 13.as Astrade can be gleaned from simulation, SPI's entry company in developing information; secrets as contemplated byrate law and jurisprudence. In Affidavit of Engr. Romwil F. De Jesus in2570 support of the 14 MCLE Compliance No. VIII 003 valid until April as ZAMECO II's baseload power supplier would result in62028 a, was net 9. the Subsequently, Notice of Corporation Award dated 18, Inc. 2026 the “X” case of Air aPhilippines vs.August Pennswell, prayer for Provisional Authority orNo. Interim Relief II, which would Roll 47 1 12 reduction of generation cost to ZAMECO issued NEA in favor SPI, informing the latter Supreme Court defined aoftrade secret, as follows: (6) bythe extent to which the information couldthat be SPI’s subsequently redound to the benefit of ZAMECO II proposal compliant with the requirements * Subjectbid of the Motion fororConfidential Treatment of Information easilywas readily obtained through anof the consumers. It Visayas will also contribute in protecting the consumers Luzon and Cooperatives. Thereafter, Applicants independent source.” (citations omitted, “A tradeinsecret mayrate consist ofthe any formula, from an increase electricity from volatile prices of executed a PSA onsupplied) September 9, 2026. Complex, emphasis 5th Floor, pattern, device, or Office compilation of information that: y" INO G.Building CEDO III ACS electricity inFOR the CONFIDENTIAL WESM. MOTION OF (1) isE.5th used in one's business; and (2)Bo. gives the #100 Rodriguez Ave., CSTREATMENT Road, Ugong, Flooa.-, CS Jr. Office Building Complex INFORMATION 10. Hence, ZAMECO II and SPI hereby submit the instant Joint employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage #100 E. Rodriguez, Jr. Ave., CS Road, Bo. Ugong, The interest ofCity the1604, consuming public is sufficiently Pasig Metro Manila 14. Likewise, the Applicants provide the following documents for Application for the evaluation/approval of the over competitors who do not possess theby Pasig City 1604, Manila protected by the review andMetro evaluation ofthe the PSA rates under Telephone No. (02) 53171000 / jestamo@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph the evaluation of the Joint Application: Honorable information. Generally, a trade secret is aand process or needa 15. Under the Commission. ERC Revised Rules of Practice Procedure, Telephone No. (02) 53171000 / acedoiii@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph the PSA by the Honorable Commission, without the PTR 3 978000 05 January 2026 /Pasig Pasig City“05B”. device intended for//continuous in/the operation party toNo. any proceeding theuse Honorable Commission PTR No. 3 977996 05before January 2026 City to disclose the contents of Annexes “02”, “05A” and ofIBP thereasonableness business, for 53 example, or formula, mayThe request that certain information not PSA be disclosed and of be IBP Lifetime 0103 transparency 80 /a07machine PPLM Chapter Invoice No. 6845 / OF January 2026 /prices SALIENT TERMS THE and of the Annex Description of No. Document but can list5- or catalogue specialized Pursuant toor this, Applicants treated as beconfidential. MCLE Compliance No. VIII 0029077 until 14Commission April 2028 electricity isatoprice beLuzon assured by thevalid Honorable Central Bulacan Chapter customer list. Itreview is indubitable that trade secrets of the ZAMECO IIits and SPI pray for confidential treatment Power Supply Agreement (PSA) between ZAMECO Roll No. 54500 own andthe ofcopy SPI’s “01” 11.information Thethrough PSA between ZAMECO IIverification andvalid SPI, auntil which2028 is MCLE No. VIII-00 14ofgeneration April constitute proprietary rights. The inventor, contained in the16943 following annexes: II and SPI Compliance costs. attached as ANNEX “A”, the following discoverer, or possessor ofcontains trade secret or similarsalient Roll No. 3a9024 features: SPI’s Certification on rights Documents Previously innovation has therein which may be treated and/or Annex Submitted invoking Section 24competitors of Information the ERCan Resolution More importantly, ofinjunction SPI, shouldwill theybe obtain as Documents property, and J in ordinarily No. 07, Series of 2026: the information Annexes “02”, “05A” and secret “05B” may prevent disclosure the trade 5thto Office BuildingofComplex, “02” Documentgranted Related toFloor, Fuel CS the ERC Case No. 2024-103 RC gain undue advantage to the prejudice of SPI. by one who obtained the information "in confidence" #100 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., CS Road, Bo. Ugong, 1 Prescribing the Policy for the Mandatory Conduct of the Competitive Selection Process by the 4 ● SPI’s or WESM Registration “02” “02” Operations and Maintenance Agreement through a "confidential relationship". American Pasig City Metro Distribution Utilities for the Procurement of1604, Power Supply forManila their Captive Market” dated June ●Telephone Write-up on Shareholders' Agreement SPI 19. Joint Applicants hereby submit one (1) factors copy to of the 30, 2023 jurisprudence has utilized the following No. (02) 53171000 / jestamo@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph 2 Implementing Guidelines for the Procurement, Execution, and Evaluation of Power “05A” Supply Bid● Forms Write-up on the Non-applicability of BOI confidential documents in a sealed envelope, with the determine an information a Supply trade wit: PTR No. 3uiatorycompliance@smcgph.sanmiguel.com.ph 978000 / Utilities 05 January 2026 of/secret, PasigtoCity Other registered email: rebygif Agreements entered into Distribution foristhe Electricity to their Captive Registration envelope and each page53of the/document the Market” dated October 3,Invoice 2023 IBP No. 6845 07 Januarystamped 2026 / with “05B” SPI’s Generation Rate and Derivation 3 Adoption of the National Electrification Administration Competitive Selection Process Guidelines 7 ● SPI’s Environmental Compliance Certificate word “Confidential”. Central Luzon Bulacan Chapter Implementing(1) the Department of Energy’s Department Circular No. DC2023-06-0023 the extent to which the information is known and the Energy Regulatory Commission’sNo. Resolution No. 16, Series of 2023” the April “NEA 2023 CSP MCLE Compliance 16943 valid untilor14 2028 outside theVIII-00 employer's business; Guidelines” dated November 20,of 2023 Rollwould No. 3 9024 Joint“06”, Applicants like“13”, to implore the discerning 4 Annex20. 02 Further, includes Annexes “07”, “08”, “09”, “10”, “12”, “14”, “15”, “16”, “17”, “18”, “19”, “20” and “21”in the of Technical Requirements. wisdom the Pre-Filing Honorable Commission to include in its 5 Section 1, Rule 4, Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure of the ERC Resolution No. 01, series issuance for this purpose the “procedures for the handling or �

�

G.R. No. 172835, December 13, 2007

(4)

the value of the information to employer and to competitors;

the

�

A copy of ZAMECO II’s Rate Impact Analysis is attached as Annex 05D. 13. As can be gleaned from the above rate simulation, SPI's entry as ZAMECO II's baseload power supplier would result in a net reduction of generation cost to ZAMECO II, which would subsequently redound to the benefit of ZAMECO II consumers. It will also contribute in protecting the consumers from an increase in electricity rate from the volatile prices of electricity in the WESM. 14. Likewise, the Applicants provide the following documents for the evaluation of the Joint Application: Description of Document

Annex

Power Supply Agreement (PSA) between ZAMECO II and SPI

“01”

SPI’s Certification on Documents Previously Submitted invoking Section 24 of the ERC Resolution No. 07, Series of 2026: ERC Case No. 2024-103 RC ● SPI’s WESM Registration ● Write-up on Shareholders' Agreement SPI ● Write-up on the Non-applicability of BOI Registration ● SPI’s Environmental Compliance Certificate 4

“02” 4 �

Annex 02 includes Annexes “06”, “07”, “08”, “09”, “10”, “12”, “13”, “14”, “15”, “16”, “17”, “18”, “19”, “20” and “21”in the Technical Pre-Filing Requirements.

(5)

the amount of effort or money expended by the company in developing the information; and

(6)

the extent to which the information could be easily or readily obtained through an independent source.” (citations omitted, emphasis supplied)

The interest of the consuming public is sufficiently protected by the review and evaluation of the rates under the PSA by the Honorable Commission, without the need to disclose the contents of Annexes “02”, “05A” and “05B”. The reasonableness and transparency of the prices of electricity is to be assured by the Honorable Commission through its own review and verification of SPI’s generation costs.

�

More importantly, competitors of SPI, should they obtain the information in Annexes “02”, “05A” and “05B” may gain undue advantage to the prejudice of SPI.

�

19. Joint Applicants hereby submit one (1) copy of the confidential documents in a sealed envelope, with the envelope and each page of the document stamped with the word “Confidential”. 7

of 2021

�

6 G.R. No. 172835, December 13, 2007

20. Further, Joint Applicants would like to implore the discerning wisdom of the Honorable Commission to include in its issuance for this purpose the “procedures for the handling or 7Ê Soft copies of the same to be provided to this Honorable Commission are password protected.

12-DAY LATIN AMERICA TOUR.

Pope Leo XIV leaves the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption en route to the airport for his return flight to Buenos Aires, in Cordoba, Argentina, on Wednesday, Manila time. The South America trip is being seen as a double homecoming of sorts -- taking Leo back to Peru, where he spent almost two decades as a missionary, and bringing him to Argentina, birthplace of his predecessor Francis. Leo has repeatedly evoked Francis, who disappointed many by never returning home as pope. AFP

Kennedy family asks court to block Trump arch construction

the extent to which the information is known by employees and others involved in the business; the extent of measures taken by the employer to guard the secrecy of the information;

The 71-year-old leader of the Catholic Church is on an ambitious 12-day Latin America tour less than a month after he underwent surgery for lung cancer. “Neither age nor physical limitations can extinguish our zeal,” he said in a rousing speech to Catholic clergy in the northern city of Cordoba. “Our strength may run out, but God’s power never will!” he said. The US-born pope had refused to reschedule the trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, despite having the lower part of his right lung removed to extract a cancerous tumor. With apparently boundless energy, he returned to Buenos Aires Tuesday for a candlelit youth vigil that drew 1.3 million people and featured a show with tango dancers and Argentine singers. Leo warned against being obsessed with looks or lying on social media to win popularity or approval from others. “Idols arise and demand our worship: success at any cost, money, an obsession with appearance, popularity or the unrestrained pursuit of pleasure,” he said. They must “stand firm” in the face of pleasures “that ultimately enslave us, such as pornography” and drugs, he said. The message hit home with a crowd that has largely grown up with social media. Jose Morando, a 19-year-old architecture student, told AFP that there was a “great deal of obsession” with image, with people “criticized for their bodies.” AFP

��B��,z;, JUPITER M C� 5th Floor, CS Offi e Building Complex #100 E. Rodriguez, Jr. Ave., CS Road, Bo. Ugong, Pasig City1604, Metro Manila Telephone No. (02) 53171000/ jcabaguio@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph PTR No. 3 977997 / 05 January 2026 / Pasig City IBP Lifetime No. 063 72 / Makati Chapter 25, 2041. ZAMECO II is valid a participating member MCLEDecember Compliance No. VIII - 003 2570 until14 April 2028 under Lot 1 of the aggregated baseload supply of the on-grid Generation Rate Impact (exclusive of SPI PSA Roll No. 47112of VAT) Luzon and Visayas Electric Cooperatives (“EC”). The Joint

the extent to which the information is known outside of the employer's business;

(3)

UENOS AIRES – Pope Leo XIV vowed not to let illness or old age affect his zeal Tuesday, urging Argentines to “go forth and be saints!” and warning the young not to obsess over looks, money or popularity.

By:

17. Annex “05A” contains the details of the breakdown of generation costs of other power suppliers who participated and submitted bid prices during the ZAMECO II’s CSP

(1)

Pope says age, ill health can’t affect his zeal

ZAMBALES II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.

16. In addition, Annex “02” (Documents Related to Fuel and Operations and Maintenance Agreement) are SPI’s contract with its fuel supplier containing the terms, including the rate, of 2021 at which SPI purchases or procures fuel for the Power Plant

12. The estimated rate impact on ZAMECO II’s overall generation rate with and without the additional supply from SPI is as follows:

WORLD

(Signature page for the counsel of ZAMECO II will follow)

5 Section 1, Rule 4, Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure of the ERC Resolution No. 01, series

RATE IMPACT ON ZAMECO II’S OVERALL GENERATION RATE

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cainta, Rizal and Pasig City for Pasig City, 01 October 2026.

Annex “02”

Document Related to Fuel

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

Other relief just and reasonable are likewise prayed for.

�

The Seller expressly agrees that the occurrence of such events constitutes a valid basis for the continued application of the PPD.

PhP(0.4129) /kWh

28.The implementation of the PSA with SPI will enable ZAMECO II to continuously provide its customers with stable, reliable, secured, and long-term power supply at cheaper electricity rate.

“07”

11.9.6 The Buyer may be entitled to PPD if it is unable to pay the full amount due under the Seller Invoice within the Prompt Payment Period due to an Event of Force Majeure, any regulatory issuances, pandemic, or geopolitical conflicts affecting or restricting the collection and/or preventing disconnection of consumers, provided that the Buyer has qualified for and availed full three percent (3%) PPD of the immediately preceding three (3) Billing Periods, provided further that any PPD to be granted under this provision shall be upon the written request of the Buyer and subject to the Seller's approval.

Rate Impact

27.As shown in the rate impact simulation, the subject PSA would provide ZAMECO II’s customers up to PhP 0.4129/kWh average rate reduction in their monthly electricity bill in 2027.

“11”

The PPD for the current Seller Invoice shall be made available to the Buyer in the succeeding Seller Invoice through the issuance of a credit memorandum. Upon expiration of the Agreement, the Buyer who is qualified to avail the PPD under the Seller Invoice shall receive its discount upon final settlement and clearance with the Seller.

PhP6.8898/kWh

26.Without the supply of SPI, ZAMECO II will be severely exposed to volatile prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (“WESM”). Consequently, the ZAMECO II’s generation charge will be adversely affected to the prejudice of its customers.

ZAMECO II’s Estimation of Potential Reduction

11.9.5 The Buyer shall not automatically deduct the PPD which it may have earned under a current Seller Invoice from the payment of that current Seller Invoice.

Generation rate with SPI

25.The latest ZAMECO II’s DDP shows an increasing demand and energy requirements of its new and current customers in 2027-2041.

ZAMECO II’s WESM Registration

11.9.4 If the final day of the Prompt Payment Period falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Prompt Payment Period shall be extended to the next immediate Business Day.

PhP7.3028/kWh

24.With the current limitations on the available capacity in the Luzon Grid, ZAMECO II must immediately source its power supply from SPI to achieve energy security and to avoid potential power outages in ZAMECO II’s franchise area.

“02A” “02C”

Schedule 7 expressed in PhP

Generation rate without SPI

23.The ZAMECO II’s 22.909 MW power supply under PSA with the ERC Case No. 2009-141 RC has expired on February 25, 2025.

“02D”

Partial Prompt Payment Discount, expressed in PhP CRF for a Billing Period from the Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) for the Billing Period, expressed in PhP FOMF for a Billing Period from the CUF for the Billing Period, expressed in PhP VOMF for a Billing Period, expressed in PhP Partial payment made by the Buyer on the Seller Invoice for a Billing Period, expressed in PhP net of VAT Total generation charge due to the Seller for the Billing Period, as computed in

11.9.3 If the Buyer pays by check within the Prompt Payment Period, the Buyer shall be entitled to the corresponding PPD, to be implemented in accordance with Section 14.5; provided, however, that if such check is dishonored for insufficient funds or is not cleared by the Seller’s bank, the Buyer shall not be entitled to any PPD for the relevant Seller Invoice.

22.Under Rule 14, Section 1 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, the Honorable Commission may issue a provisional authority or interim relief prior to a final decision, provided the facts and circumstances alleged warrant such remedy.

ZAMECO II’s Certificate of Registration

(𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 + 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 + 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹) × 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 × 3% 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃

PPDPAR

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF

ZAMECO II’s Certificate of Franchise

Accordingly, the PPD applicable to a partial payment shall be computed as follows: 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 =

21. This is guided by the fact that Joint Applicants will seek for the return of these sought to be declared confidential annexes after its utilization as evidence in this case and/or at the close of the proceedings hereof, so as to relieve the Honorable Commission of the burden of safekeeping the trade secrets of SPI enclosed in the subject annexes.

ZAMECO II’s By-Laws

Instruction to Bidders

returning the confidential information, as appropriate, upon the close of the proceedings or at the end of the period provided in this Rule”.

● Write-up on RE Developer ● Write-up on RE Service Contract ● Write-up on Water Permit ● Documents Related to Fuel (Confidential)* ERC Case No. 2025-018 RC ● Certification on Non-Applicability of DWS Agreement ● Certification on Non-Applicability of Transmission Wheeling Contract ● Write-up on IPPA Agreement ● Write-up on EPC Contract ● Write-up on Project Feasibility Study ● Write-up on Wholesale Aggregator Agreement ERC Case No. 2026-057 RC ● Transmission Service Agreement ERC Case No. 2026-063 RC ● SPI’s Certification on Ultimate Parent Company ERC Case No. 2026-121 RC ● SPI’s Amended Articles of Incorporation, SPI’s Amended By-Laws, and General Information Sheet for 2026 ● Provisional Authority to Operate - 05 11 2026 Sual Power, Inc. (SPI) - 1,294.040 MW Sual CFTPP ● SPI’s Latest Audited Financial Statement ● SPI’s Write-up on the Non-Applicability of Rental Agreements ● Operations and Maintenance Agreement (Confidential)*

7Ê Soft copies of the same to be provided to this Honorable Commission are password protected. 8

Other registered email: reguiatorycompliance@smcgph.sanmiguel.com.ph

(MS-NOV. 12/19, 2026)

WAASHINGTON, DC – The family of former US president John F. Kennedy asked a court on Tuesday to block construction of a massive triumphal arch ordered by Donald Trump, according to court documents. The proposed arch -- which at 250 feet (76.2 meters) would be the largest structure of its kind in the world -- is one of several construction projects the US president is pushing to put his personal stamp on Washington. The Kennedy family said in documents filed Tuesday that the arch would block views of the former president and his relatives’ gravesites, “destroying an essential element of the gravesites’ design.” The family also said that its positioning would block a direct line of sight between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetary, “that was designed to represent the unification of the nation following the Civil War.” Notably, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who currently serves as Trump’s Health Secretary was not named as one of the nine plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Former president John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and two of their children are buried at Arlington, a large military cemetery near Washington, as are his brothers Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy, both former senators. Ethel Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy’s wife, is also buried there. AFP

SPORTS

A10

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

RIERA U. MALLARI, Editor RANDY M. CALUAG, Asst. Editor

Boatwright, Abando join Gilas team RHENZ Abando is making his muchawaited return to Gilas Pilipinas, while newly naturalized player Bennie Boatwright is set to make his national team debut in the fifth window of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) unveiled Gilas’ final 12-man roster on Wednesday, with Abando and Boatwright joining the national squad for its crucial games against Syria on November 27 and Iran on November 29 at the Karisma Arena in Malaysia. Abando’s return is among the biggest highlights of the lineup after the 6-foot-2 high-flying forward last suited up for the country in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila under former head coach Chot Reyes. Long sought after by fans, the Korean Basketball League campaigner is expected to provide a huge boost to Gilas’ wing rotation, which will be without Calvin Oftana and Carl Tamayo. Oftana begged off from the November window due to his wife’s pregnancy while Tamayo remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Boatwright, on the other hand, is finally set to don the national colors after completing his naturalization process. The 6-foot-10 forward is expected to take on a key role in the absence of Justin Brownlee, who missed the previous window due to health concerns involving his heart and blood pressure. Also returning to the national team are Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips, who both sat out the previous window in Manila.

Rhenz Abando FIBA

Pi Durden Wangkay (right) takes a group photo with his fellow podium achievers -silver medalist Deuquan Farrell of Guyana (left) and gold medalist Ropafadzo Mizondo of Zimbabwe (center). POC MEDIA

Wangkay captures bronze as PH nets best YOG finish By Jeremiah Sevilla

RACKSTER Pi Durden Wangkay delivered another medal for the Philippines after capturing the bronze in the men’s 200-meter run of the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games in Senegal early Wednesday (Philippine time). Wangkay clocked a personal-best 21.36 seconds to finish third in a tightly contested medal race, becoming the first Filipino male athlete to win an athletics medal in the Youth Olympics. The 17-year-old sprinter narrowly missed out on the silver medal by just 0.004 of a second in a photo finish with Deuquan Farrell of Guyana. Ropafadzo Mizondo of Zimbabwe claimed the gold in 21.04 seconds. “I ran blind [on Lane 9],” said Wangkay. “I never expected to medal, because I also had the fifth-best time in the

heats, but our [with mom and coach Jonah Genilza] strategy worked—for me to run my own race,” added the De La Salle star who’ll be back donning his alma mater’s jersey starting November 29 in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Wangkay ran his season-best 21.96 seconds in the semifinals and, mathematically, was off by more than a second for a podium finish. Wangkay’s bronze-winning time also established a new national junior record, breaking his previous Philippine under-18 and under-20 marks of

POC president Abraham Tolentino lauds Pi Durden Wangkay

21.40 seconds he set during the PATAFA Weekly Relay Series Finals just two weeks ago. The De La Salle Zobel standout’s podium finish came a day after fellow track star Naomi Cesar claimed silver

Sy Tancontian boosts Olympic bid with 2nd straight IJF bronze medal By Randy M. Caluag FILIPINO judoka Chino Sy Tancontian bolstered his bid for a berth in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after capturing his second consecutive bronze medal on the International Judo Federation continental circuit, placing third in the men’s under100kg division at the Montreal Pan American Judo Open in Canada. The podium finish earned the 25-year-old Davaoeño 50 crucial ranking points, adding to his current tally of 492 points that places him at No. 74 in the IJF world rankings. Sy Tancontian is maximizing

his appearances in IJF-sanctioned tournaments to steadily climb the global ladder and secure an Olympic qualification spot for Los Angeles. His campaign in Montreal began on a rocky note after bowing to Nathaniel Keeve of the United States—the same opponent Sy Tancontian defeated a week earlier en route to claiming his first bronze medal at the Florida leg in Gainesville. Undeterred, the Philippine national team mainstay stormed back through the repechage bracket with back-to-back dominant victories. He dispatched Chile’s Yeison

Donoso via ippon before needing just 27 seconds to score another ippon triumph over American Caedmon Haddad to clinch the bronze. The consecutive podium finishes mark a major turnaround for Sy Tancontian, who drew renewed confidence from his breakthrough performance in Gainesville following a difficult Asian Games debut. By stringing together back-toback medals against seasoned international competition, Sy Tancontian continues to build vital momentum—and the necessary ranking points—to keep the Philippines in contention on the road to LA 2028.

Altas, Cardinals shoot for final quarterfinal slots By Dennis Abrina

Chino Sy Tancontian Ace Larida

PSC’s Indigenous Peoples Games wrap up Antique leg with champions recognized SAN JOSE, Antique — Indigenous communities from across Antique showcased their sporting skills and cultural heritage as the Philippine Sports Commission’s Indigenous Peoples (IP) Games 2026 concluded its final regional leg, with the winners honored during an awarding ceremony on November 8 at the EBJ Gymnasium of the Binirayan Sports Complex. The two-day competition, held on November 7 and 8, brought together participants from various municipalities across the province for a series of traditional individual and team events that highlighted indigenous sports, skills and customs. The awarding ceremony was attended by Marnie Payne, political affairs officer Participants try to outdo each other in the traditional game of Palo Sebo.

in the women’s 800-meter run. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino praised Wangkay for his historic performance, which added to his gold medal in the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Manama, Bahrain. “From the very first time I saw him on the track, I knew this kid was destined for greatness, which he proved with his Asian Youth Games gold in Bahrain,” Tolentino said. Tolentino also credited the country’s grassroots development program and Wangkay’s coaches, including his mother and former national champion Jonah Genilza. “Pi is a living testament to our grassroots program. His hard-fought bronze here is a clear indicator of his massive potential for the regular Olympic Games,” he said. “Not to mention, his batch mate Naomi Cesar, who won a silver the other day. We have a very bright future ahead,” he added.

from the Office of Congressman Antonio “AA” Legarda, and Alex Centena, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples commissioner for the Island Groups and the Rest of Visayas. Hosted by the provincial government of Antique under Governor Paolo Everardo S. Javier, the event marked the final regional stop of the PSC’s nationwide initiative to preserve and promote traditional Filipino games while providing indigenous communities with opportunities to showcase their athletic abilities. PSC commissioner Matthew “Fritz” Gaston praised the Antique provincial government for partnering with the commission in staging the competition, which also received support from Legarda, a known sports patron. Cebuana Lhuillier and Pocari Sweat also supported the undertaking, held

in cooperation with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. In the individual competitions, Cluster 2, composed of Hamtic and Sibalom, topped Pukol and Kudkod ka Niyog, while Cluster 4 (San Remigio, Valderrama and Libertad) ruled Mat Weaving. Cluster 3, representing Patnongon and Laua-an, captured the Karera kang Bao title. For the team events, Cluster 6 (Culasi) emerged victorious in Lisiklisik, while Cluster 3 claimed the Palo Sebo championship. Cluster 1, composed of Anini-y, Tobias Fornier and San Jose de Buenavista, dominated the Kadang sa Kawayan, Kadang sa Paya, Bag-id and Butungay Kalat competitions. Cluster 2 completed its impressive showing by winning Bayo ka Paray.

THE Perpetual Altas and the Mapua Cardinals look to seal their quarterfinal spots on Thursday as the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament play-in round kicks off at the FilOil Playtime Centre in San Juan City. Holding crucial twice-to-beat advantages for the fourth and final quarterfinal slots, both teams need just one victory to advance. Mapua faces Lyceum, with the winner advancing to play Group B topseed Letran. Perpetual takes on San Sebastian College, with the winner advancing to face Group A leader and defending champion San Beda. Perpetual head coach Olsen Racela expressed confidence ahead of their matchup, having swept the Stags in the elimination round with an 86–74 first-round win and an 82–75 victory in the second. Mark “MGC” Gojo Cruz, JM Tulabut, LA Casinillo, and Gelo Gelsano consistently led the Altas with doubledigit scoring in both games.

Perpetual’s Jericho Cristino Dennis Abrina

BUSINESS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

ECONOMIC REPORTING. Ayala Corporation chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala leads executives of the Ayala Group in paying tribute to the persistence, rigor and integrity economic journalists bring to their work during the 35th Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Business Journalism Awards at Fairmont Makati on Nov. 6, 2026.

FDI net inflows climbed 25% to $690m in August

BOI expects to meet P1-t investment target for 2026 By Othel V. Campos THE Board of Investments (BOI) said Wednesday it expects to meet its P1trillion investment approval target for 2026 and is working to exceed it, although its priorities are shifting toward improving the business environment and developing strategic industries. Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing-head Ceferino Rodolfo said the agency is placing greater emphasis on policy reforms and creating conditions that would attract investments across the country’s investment promotion agencies (IPAs).

“Our focus really now is on the business environment, policy reform, new industries, rather than the actual approvals or registration to BOI,” Rodolfo said. He said the BOI wants investors to register with the appropriate IPAs, even if projects are booked outside the agency. Rodolfo said the shift does not mean the BOI is taking a lesser role in investment promotion. He said it strengthens the agency’s mandate to provide an enabling environment for investments across industries and agencies. The agency is prioritizing transfor-

mative investments with long-term industrial benefits rather than projects driven mainly by short-term economic growth or quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) performance, he said. These include strategic projects in advanced manufacturing and energy, particularly those that could strengthen the country’s industrial capabilities and support long-term economic development. Renewable energy projects also remain substantial in the investment pipeline, Rodolfo said. The BOI has yet to reassess its investment targets for 2027 as it continues to

SM Investments’ 9-month income rose 9% to P70.2b By Jenniffer B. Austria SM Investments Corp. (SM) said Wednesday its consolidated net income rose 9 percent to P70.2 billion in the first nine months of 2026 from a year ago, led by growth in its banking, property, retail and portfolio businesses. Consolidated revenues increased 5 percent to P506.8 billion from P482.3 billion, the conglomerate said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. Banking accounted for 48 percent of net income, followed by property at 26 percent, retail at 15 percent and portfolio investments at 11 percent. “Ongoing resilient consumer demand supported retail and malls, while portfolio investments delivered stronger earnings,” SM Investments president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio said. SM Retail’s net income grew 7 percent to P13.1 billion as revenues climbed 5.4 percent to P335.3 billion. Food retail posted steady sales growth across its supermarket and minimart formats, while specialty retail benefited from spending on selected discretionary goods, including toys, stationery and pet products. The group’s mall business grew revenues 10 percent to P63.7 billion, boosted by additional leasable space, higher occupancy and demand for dining and experiential offerings. BDO Unibank’s loan portfolio expanded 16 percent, with double-digit growth across all segments, while China Banking Corp. reported a 19-percent increase in net loans. Portfolio investments contributed 11 percent of SM Investments’ consolidated net income. Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. returned to profitability as higher copper prices supported earnings. 2GO Group Inc. posted a 15-percent increase in revenues, driven by its sea travel and container services businesses, while Philippine Geothermal Production Co. Inc. recorded 13-percent revenue growth.

DREAMER PLANE. Cebu Pacific unveils its special livery aircraft --- the Dreamer Plane --- marking a major milestone in its 30th anniversary celebration. The Airbus A321neo aircraft arrived in Manila from Airbus’ facility in Hamburg, Germany on Nov. 8. At the time of its arrival, the Dreamer Plane became the world’s most-tracked aircraft on real-time flight tracker Flightradar24, drawing global attention to the Philippine aviation industry and providing a platform to showcase the country’s creative scene. The aircraft features a commissioned design by Cebu-based art duo Happy Garaje, transforming the aircraft into a flying canvas that celebrates Cebuano creativity, Filipino aspirations and the millions of journeys made possible by CEB over the past three decades.

By Thony Rose Lesaca

OREIGN direct investment (FDI) inflows to the Philippines rose 25 percent to $690 million in August from $552 million a year ago, on higher equity capital investments and reinvested earnings, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Tuesday.

It said, however, that net FDI inflows in the first eight months still fell 19 percent to $4.77 billion from $5.90 billion in the same period last year. Lower net investments in debt instruments drove the decline. They plunged 29.94 percent to $2.57 billion from $3.66 billion, reflecting lower net intercompany borrowings from foreign direct investors. Net equity capital investments climbed 29.45 percent in August to $189 million from $146 million a year ago. Reinvestment of earnings jumped 50.21 percent to $365 million from $243 million. Non-residents’ investments in debt instruments declined 17.07 percent to $136 million from $164 million in August 2025. Equity capital placements in the first eight months were little changed at $870 million. Most came from Japan, the United States and Singapore, and went largely into manufacturing, financial and insurance, and real estate. Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development senior research fellow Ser Percival PeñaReyes said the August rebound likely reflected foreign investors’ continued interest in business opportunities in the Philippines, particularly in manufacturing, financial and insurance activities and real estate. “However, the broader picture remains challenging, as weaker intercompany borrowings and cautious investment decisions amid global uncertainties continue to weigh on cumulative inflows,” Peña-Reyes said. Peña-Reyes said FDI inflows will likely remain uneven in the near term.

SEC tightens rules on online stockholder meetings CORPORATIONS may no longer hold purely online stockholders’ meetings for convenience or cost savings, as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued draft guidelines setting stricter conditions for remote-only gatherings. Under the draft rules, corporations would generally have to hold stockholders’ meetings in person or in a hybrid format that allows shareholders to attend physically or participate remotely. Purely online meetings would be allowed only when circumstances beyond a corporation’s reasonable control make an in-person gathering impracticable. These include public health emergencies, natural disasters, severe weather, armed conflict, civil disturbances and government restrictions on travel or gatherings, provided they materially affect attendees’ safety or the feasibility of holding a physical meeting. “Mere convenience, cost savings, or preference for remote communication shall not, by themselves, constitute impracticability,” the draft guidelines read.

Corporations would also have to document the circumstances behind their decision and how these affect participants’ safety or the feasibility of using a physical venue. The draft guidelines also require corporations to protect stockholders’ rights regardless of meeting format. Participants must have a meaningful opportunity to attend, follow proceedings, join discussions, ask questions, express their views and vote. In hybrid meetings, remote participants must have a fair opportunity to take part in discussions and exercise their rights, without being placed at an undue disadvantage compared with those attending in person. Stockholders who plan to join remotely must notify the corporate secretary or designated personnel in advance, following the corporation’s procedures. The corporate secretary must record remote participants in the meeting minutes. They will be considered present for purposes of determining a quorum, subject to applicable rules. Jenniffer B. Austria

Spot market power prices surged 18.4% in October on tight supply By Alena Mae S. Flores THE systemwide average price at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) rose 18.4 percent to P8.79 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in October from P7.43 per kWh in September as the overall supply margin narrowed. The Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), which runs the spot market, said average systemwide supply rose 1.4 percent from the previous billing month to 20,493 megawatts (MW). Average systemwide demand climbed 4.3 percent to 14,793 MW. Demand growth outpaced supply growth, and the average systemwide supply margin fell to 3,664 MW from

3,957 MW, IEMOP said. Conditions varied across the grids. Luzon’s supply margin shrank by 676 MW, while the margins in Visayas and Mindanao widened by 97 MW and 285 MW, respectively. IEMOP attributed the changes to differences in outages, available supply, demand levels, grid conditions and flows on the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) links. “So, overall, for this year, we saw a significant increase in prices compared to last year. Last year, I think, if I’m not mistaken, prices ranged from P3 to P6. But now, as we have seen, we reached around P11. Last month, it’s about P11 in the Visayas and Mindanao and it’s about P7 or P8 in Luzon,” said IEMOP vice-president for trading operations Isidro Cacho Jr.

“So, what drove the prices? Of course, it was also a combination of seeing an increase in demand. But, coupled that with the supply limitations that we’ve seen, so that translated to higher market prices. But in terms of volatility, we mitigated that with the application of the secondary price cap (SPC) on a regional level,” he said. In Luzon, average supply fell 0.9 percent, while average demand rose 6.9 percent. The average price climbed to P7.83 per kWh from P5.18 per kWh. Although Luzon posted a supply margin of 3,100 MW, IEMOP said several outages pushed prices higher during the period. In Visayas, average supply rose 8.7 percent as some major plants returned to service, while average demand slipped 0.6 percent.

$690 million FDI net inflows in August

$4.77 billion 8-month net inflows in 2026

$5.90 billion 8-month net inflows in 2025 He said the August improvement offers some optimism but does not yet signal a sustained recovery. “Much will depend on global economic conditions, investor confidence, and our ability to address structural constraints such as high energy costs, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory bottlenecks,” he said. He said that faster reform implementation and greater policy predictability will be crucial in attracting long-term investments and turning investment commitments into actual capital inflows.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT (PSA) BETWEEN SAN JOSE CITY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (SAJELCO) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI), WITH MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION AND MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF ERC CASE NO. 2026-181 RC SAN JOSE CITY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (SAJELCO) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI), Applicants. x-------------------------------------x NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 28 October 2026, the San Jose City Electric Cooperative (SAJELCO) and Sual Power Inc. (SPI) filed a Joint Application dated 01 October 2026, seeking the Commission’s approval of their Power Supply Agreement (PSA), with motion for confidential treatment of information and motion for provisional authority or interim relief. ERC CASE NO. 2026-181 RC The OF docketed copyHEARING of the Joint Application, excluding its NOTICE VIRTUAL annexes, attached as Annex “A” hereof. PAGE 2 is OF 4 The Commission has set the Joint Application for hearing, pursuant to the pertinent rules of the Commission, as follows: Date and Time 09 December 2026 (Wednesday), at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.) 16 December 2026 (Wednesday), at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

Platform

Microsoft Teams

Activity Determination of compliance with jurisdictional requirements and Expository Presentation Pre-Trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

Accordingly, Applicants are directed to mirror the virtual hearings, to be hosted by the Commission, at SAJELCO’s Principal Office located at Maharlika Road, Brgy. Abar 1st, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, as the designated venue for the conduct thereof and ensure that the same is open to the public. Moreover, Applicants shall guarantee that, during the conduct of the expository presentation, the participation of the public shall not be impaired. Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled initial virtual hearing, via e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation. Moreover, any person who has an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission via e-mail at docket@erc.ph, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing. The verified Petition to Intervene must follow the requirements under Rule 7 of the Commission’s 2026 Rules of Practice and Procedure1 (2026 RPP), indicating therein and stating the following: ERC CASE NO. 2026-181 RC NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING 1) Applicable docket number and title of the proceeding; PAGE 3 OF 4 2)

Petitioner-intervenor’s name, address, and e-mail address;

Nature of interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, the way and manner in which such interest is affected Procedure of theand Energy Regulatory Commission”. by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

1 Resolution No. 31, Series of 2026 entitled, “A Resolution Adopting the 2026 Rules of Practice and

ERC CASE 2026-181 4) ANO. statement of theRC relief desired. NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING PAGE 4 OF 4 A Petition InterveneRC filed by an organization, association, or ERC CASE NO.to2026-181 entity shallOF beVIRTUAL accompanied by a Special Power of Attorney, Board or NOTICE HEARING Sanggunian Resolution, a Secretary’s Certificate, or any competent PAGE 2 OF 4 Honorable and CEO proof WITNESS, of authority, the authorizing theChairperson signatory thereto to fileFRANCIS the same SATURNINO C. JUAN andthethe Honorable and represent the organization, association, or Commissioners entity in the The Commission has set Joint Application for hearing, FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO ROMEO L. proceedings before the Commission. pursuant to the pertinent rules of the Commission, as follows: FUENTES, AMANTE A. LIBERATO and PARIS G. REAL, Energy Regulatory Commission, in Pasig City. Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to Date and Time Platform Activity the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal of Service Determination FOR AND BY AUTHORITY 09 December 2026 through legal@erc.ph, their Opposition or Comment thereon compliance withat least OF THE COMMISSION: (Wednesday), at five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtualjurisdictional hearing and subject nine o’clock in the to the requirements under Section 5, Rule 7requirements of the 2026 and RPP. No morning (9:00 A.M.) Microsoft particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the Expository Presentation * ATTY. MARIA CORAZON C. GINES Teams document, letter, or writing should contain the following: Director III, Legal Service 16 December 2026 Pre-Trial Conference and (Wednesday), at 1) o’clock Thein name, of theofperson; Presentation Evidence nine the address, and e-mail address LS: KSA/ARG morning (9:00 A.M.) 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon. Accordingly, Applicants are directed to mirror the virtual hearings, to be hosted by the Commission, at SAJELCO’s Principal OfficeFinally, located Maharlika Road,may Brgy. 1st,toSan allatinterested persons be Abar allowed joinJose the City, Nueva Ecija, as the designated venue the conductthrough thereof scheduled virtual hearings by providing thefor Commission, and ensure that the same is open to the public. Moreover, Applicants legal.virtualhearings@erc.ph, their respective e-mail addresses, ERC CASE NO. 2026-181 RCconduct shall guarantee that, during the of the expository indicating therein the case number of the instant Jointpresentation, Application. NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING the participation of the public shall not be impaired. The Commission PAGE 4 OF 4 will send the access link/s to the aforementioned hearing platform within five (5) working days prior to the scheduled hearings. Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled the via Honorable and copy CEO furnish FRANCIS initialWITNESS, virtual hearing, e-mail atChairperson docket@erc.ph, the SATURNINO C. JUAN and the The Honorable Commissioners Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. Commission shall give FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO ROMEO L. (This space is intentionally left blank.) priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective FUENTES,and/or AMANTE A. LIBERATO PARIS REAL, comments clarifications, to discuss and the same andG.propound Energy Regulatory Commission, Pasig City.presentation. questions during the course of theinexpository Moreover, any person who has interest in the subject matter FORanAND BY AUTHORITY of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission OF THE COMMISSION: via e-mail at docket@erc.ph, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing. The verified Petition to Intervene follow the requirements under * ATTY.must MARIA CORAZON C. GINES Rule 7 of the Commission’s 2026Director Rules ofIII, Practice and Procedure1 Legal Service (2026 RPP), indicating therein and stating the following: LS: KSA/ARG

Applicable docket number and title of the proceeding;

Petitioner-intervenor’s name, address, and e-mail address;

* Authority granted pursuant to Office Order No. 71, Series of 2025.

1 Resolution No. 31, Series of 2026 entitled, “A Resolution Adopting the 2026 Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission”.

* Authority granted pursuant to Office Order No. 71, Series of 2025.

181 October 28, 2026

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS Solid Group to invest $20m in solar module joint venture By Jenniffer B. Austria

OLID Group Inc. said Wednesday it is investing $20 million in a joint venture to build and operate a solar photovoltaic cell and module manufacturing facility in the Philippines. In a statement, Solid Group said its wholly owned subsidiary Brilliant Reach Ltd. teamed up with MSRenewable Investment Holding Ltd., a firm backed by Singaporean investors, to develop the project. Brilliant Reach will hold a 50 percent stake in the joint venture, which will be incorporated in Singapore. The joint venture will have a total equity capital of $40 million, with each partner contributing $20 million. The facility will manufacture solar PV cells, modules, and related products primarily for export markets. Solid Group’s board approved an $8 million cash infusion into Brilliant Reach to fund part of the investment. The subsidiary will combine that amount with $12 million from existing cash reserves to fulfill its $20 million commitment. Solid Group said the investment allows the company to enter the growing renewable energy hardware market, diversify its revenue streams, and support long-term growth. The company noted that the timetable for development and operations has not yet been finalized. Solid Group is primarily engaged in distributing mobile devices and consumer electronics, as well as providing electronic servicing and repair. The company also holds investments in real estate and logistics.

Local stocks end lower; peso weakens to 63.25

(MS-NOVEMBER 5 & 12, 2026)

SHARE prices ended lower Wednesday as investors digested mixed thirdquarter financial disclosures from major companies. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 22.95 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 5,693.20, while the broader all shares index dipped 3.56 points, or 0.11 percent, to 3,200.62. The peso also weakened against the U.S. dollar, closing at 63.25 compared with 62.91 uesday. “The local bourse ended lower as investors continued to digest the ongoing release of corporate earnings from major index heavyweights, with results shaping overall market sentiment,” Luis Limlingan, head of sales at Regina Capital Development Corp., said. “Trading remained cautious as market participants assessed corporate performance against expectations and evaluated near-term earnings prospects,” he added. Limlingan said investors remained selective while awaiting further disclosures for clearer direction. Sectoral indices ended mixed. Industrial rose 1.47 percent, while Property went up 0.75 percent. Conversely, services declined 1.98 percent, and mining and oil fell 1.52 percent. Holding firms dipped 0.33 percent, while financials slipped 0.10 percent. Decliners narrowly beat out gainers, 85 to 81, with 65 issues unchanged. Total turnover reached P5.48 billion as foreign investors turned net buyers with inflows of P55 million. Jollibee Foods Corp. was the day’s top index gainer, jumping 5.08 percent to P155 on strong third-quarter results. San Miguel Corp. dropped to the bottom of the index, falling 3.84 percent to P64.40. Most Asian stocks rose Wednesday on renewed optimism over the AI trade, while traders appeared to take in stride forecast-topping US inflation data and the prospect of a bumper interest rate hike next month. After last week’s rout fueled by fears that Democrats would ramp up regulation of artificial intelligence, beaten down tech stocks have bounced this week on bargainbuying and a feeling their fears may have been overdone. Jenniffer B. Austria with AFP

Reform Act of 2013 (NEARA), with principal office at Brgy. Amacalan, Gerona, Tarlac, Philippines. 2. TARELCO I is a distribution utility duly authorized to engage in distribution of light and power its franchise area covering the Municipalities of Anao, Camiling, Gerona, Mayantoc, Paniqui, Pura, Moncada, Ramos, San Clemente, San Jose, San Manuel, Sta. Ignacia, and Victoria, all in the Province of Tarlac; Barangays Batang-Batang, Bora, Laoang, San Juan de Mata, and Sto. Domingo of Tarlac City, Province of Tarlac; the Municipalities of Cuyapo and Nampicuan, Province of Nueva Ecija; Barangays Maybubon, Agcano, Bagong Barrio, Bulakid, Caingin, Tabing Ilog, San Agustin, Yuson, Lamorito, and San Miguel of the Municipality of Guimba, Province of Nueva Ecija, and Barangay Villa Rosa, Municipality of Licab, likewise in the Province of Nueva Ecija. 3. SPI is a corporation duly organized and existing by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at 5th Floor, C5 Office Building Complex, #100 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., C5 Road, Bo. Ugong, Pasig City 1604.

TARLAC I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (TARELCO I) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI)

4. Applicants may be served with notices, orders, and other processes of this Honorable Commission through their respective counsels at the addresses hereinbelow indicated.

Applicants. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

NATURE OF THE APPLICATION

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 09 November 2026, Tarlac I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TARELCO I) and Sual Power Inc. (SPI) filed a Joint Application dated 01 October 2026, seeking the Commission’s approval of their Power Supply Agreement (PSA), with motion for confidential treatment of information and motion for provisional authority or interim relief. The docketed copy of the Joint Application, excluding its annexes, is attached as Annex “A” of the Notice of Virtual Hearing. ERC The CASE NO. 2026-189 Commission has RC set the instant Joint Application for NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING hearing, pursuant to the pertinent rules of the Commission, as follows: PAGE 2 OF 4 Date and Time 16 DECEMBER 2026 (WEDNESDAY) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.) 13 JANUARY 2027 ( WEDNESDAY) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

Platform

Microsoft Teams

Activity Determination of compliance with jurisdictional requirements and Expository Presentation

Pre-Trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

Accordingly, Applicants are hereby directed to mirror the virtual hearings, to be hosted by the Commission, at TARELCO I’s Principal Office at Brgy. Amacalan, Gerona, Tarlac, as the designated venue for the conduct thereof and ensure that the same is open to the public. Moreover, Applicants shall guarantee that, during the conduct of the expository presentation, the participation of the public shall not be impaired. Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled initial virtual hearing, via e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation. Moreover, any person who has an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party upon compliance with ERC Resolution No. 31, Series of 2026, or the 2026 Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission (2026 RPP), and thereafter filing a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing, via email at docket@erc.ph. The verified Petition to Intervene must follow the requirements under Rule 7 of the 2026 RPP, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case, and state the following: The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address; ERC CASE NO. 2026-189 RC NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING The PAGE2)3 OF 4 nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

5. The instant Joint Application for approval of the Power Supply Agreement entered into by and between the Applicants dated 09 September 2026 (the PSA) is being submitted to the Honorable Commission for its review and approval pursuant to Rule 20(B) of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Resolution No. 01, Series of 2021 (ERC RRPP), and Article VII of the Honorable Commission’s Resolution No. 07, Series of 2026 (ERC 2026 Procurement Guidelines). 6. The subject PSA was procured through a Joint Competitive Selection Process (CSP) conducted by the National Electrification Administration (NEA), in accordance with Article 13.1 of the NEA Memorandum No. 2023-057 (NEA 2023 CSP Memorandum), consistent with the Department of Energy (DOE) Circular No. DC202306-0021, as amended by DOE Circular No. DC2025-10-0022 (DOE CSP Policy, as amended), whereby NEA is allowed to undertake the CSP on behalf of the Electric Cooperative (EC) in case the latter requests the NEA’s assistance or is unable to complete its CSP one Joint Application |2 (1) year before the scheduled date as indicated in the EC’s Power Supply Procurement Plan (PSPP).

13. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subject PSA may not be implemented without the prior approval of this Honorable Commission. Hence, this instant Joint Application.

14.1. Contract Term. Under Section 3.1, the Agreement shall take effect immediately from the Effective Date, and from such date shall remain in force and effect for fifteen (15) years from Delivery Date unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Agreement and upon approval by the ERC. 14.2. Delivery Date. Under Section 3.3, the Seller shall commence delivery of the Contract Capacity provided in SCHEDULE 2 to Buyer on Delivery Date. The Delivery Date shall be the later of either: a. December 26, 2026; or b. The next immediate 26th day of the month following the ERC’s issuance of a Provisional Authority or Interim Relief to implement the Agreement, as applicable, or Final Authority to implement the Agreement, if neither Provisional Authority nor Interim Relief was issued. 14.3. Contract Capacity. The Contact Capacity is detailed in Schedule 2 of the PSA, as follows: SCHEDULE 2. CONTRACT CAPACITY

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer SATURNINO C. JUAN, and address the Honorable 1) FRANCIS The name, mailing address, and e-mail of the Commissioners FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO person; ROMEO L. FUENTES, AMANTE A. LIBERATO and PARIS G. REAL, Energy Regulatory Commission, Pasig City. 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3)

The grounds relied upon. FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION: Any of the persons mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may access the copy of the Joint Application on the Commission’s official website at www.erc.gov.ph. ATTY. MARIA CORAZON C. GINES1 Director III, Legal Service Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled virtual hearings by providing the Commission, through legal.virtualhearings@erc.ph, their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Joint Application. ERC CASE NO. 2026-189 RC The Commission will send the access link/s to the aforementioned NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING hearing platform within five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled LS: LRQ / RCD PAGE 4 OF 4 hearings. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN, and the Honorable space is intentionally left blank.) Commissioners(This FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, AMANTE A. LIBERATO and PARIS G. REAL, Energy Regulatory Commission, Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

LS: LRQ / RCD

Authority granted per Office Order No. 71, Series of 2025 dated 20 August 2025, with the subject “Approving/Signing Authorities for Consumer Complaints Cases and Interlocutory Orders”.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT (PSA) BETWEEN TARLAC I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND SUAL POWER INC., WITH MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION AND 1MOTION FOR perPROVISIONAL Authority granted Office Order No. 71, Series of 2025 dated 20 August 2025, with the subject “Approving/Signing AUTHORITY OR Authorities INTERIMfor Consumer Complaints Cases and Interlocutory Orders”. RELIEF,

189 RC ERC Case No. 2026-____ TARLAC I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (TARELCO I) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI), Applicants. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x

November 09, 2026

JOINT APPLICATION (with Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information and Motion for Provisional Authority or Interim Relief) Applicants, TARLAC I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (TARELCO I) and SUAL POWER INC. (SPI), through their respective undersigned counsels, respectfully state: THE APPLICANTS 1. TARELCO I is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, particularly Presidential Decree (PD) No. 269 as amended by PD 1645, Republic Act (RA) No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), and RA 10531, otherwise known as the National Electrification Administration

The Seller shall have an Outage Allowance for each Contract Year not exceeding: Scheduled Outages:

0 Days

Unscheduled Outages:

0 Days

AEt AEDt

As previously defined As previously defined

FOMR100%CUF

Corresponding FOMR at 100% CUF, which is PhP0.4500/kWh. For reference, the FOMRCUF from 65% to 100% is presented below.

100% 99% 98%

FOMR LOCAL Php/kWh 0.4500 0.4545 0.4592

97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

0.4639 0.4688 0.4737 0.4787 0.4839 0.4891 0.4945 0.5000 0.5056 0.5114 0.5172 0.5233 0.5294 0.5357 0.5422 0.5488 0.5556 0.5625 0.5696 0.5769 0.5844 0.5921 0.6000 0.6081 0.6164 0.6250 0.6338 0.6429 0.6522 0.6618 0.6716 0.6818 0.6923

the actual rate of the Replacement Power; or

ii.

the generation rate based on the approved tariff for this Agreement.

Joint Application | 8

C. Variable Operations and Maintenance Fee (“VOMF”)

𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶

VOMFt

Corresponding VOMF to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period

VOMRt

Rate Component to calculate VOMFt which is PhP0.2000/kWh

AEDt

As previously defined

The FCt for the Billing Period shall be calculated as follows: 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 � × 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = � 1000

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = (𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 ) + 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 + 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇

Where: FCt

Corresponding FC to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period

FPt

Applicable Fuel Price for the Billing Period, expressed in PhP/MT Fuel Commodity Cost in USD/MT calculated using the formula below:

FCCt

103.09 × ��97.09% ×

The average value for the three (3) months preceding the Billing Period for which the Invoice is being prepared of the Indonesian Coal Index 2 (5,800 GAR/ 5,500 NAR) as published by the Argus/Coalindo for Indonesian Coal Index Report, in USD/MT

NFI lO

Value of Indonesian Coal Index 2 (5,800 GAR/ 5,500 NAR) for the month of May 2026, which is 100.09, in USD/MT As previously defined

AEDt

Weighted average of the actual Freight Cost, Marine Cargo Insurance, Letter of Credit Opening Charges, Disport Surveyor Fees, Wharfage, and Brokerage Fees, in PhP/MT.

A. Capital Recovery Fee (“CRF”)

Demurrage costs arising from this Agreement shall be a pass-through cost subject to the following:

NFCCt •

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 (𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 , 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 )

9.5. On 10 July 2026, the submission, opening, and evaluation of bids for the Joint CSP were conducted at Ardenhills Suites and Hotel, No. 1 Scout Albano Avenue, Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City.

Corresponding CRFCUF to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period

CRRCUFt

Rate Component to calculate CRFCUFt, expressed in PhP/kWh, for the Billing Period

AEDt CRR100%CUF

For Lot 2, MPI, PCPC, TVI, EDC, CEDC, and PEDC timely submitted their bids, while FDC Misamis, GNPK, TSI, and TPC withdrew from the Joint CSP.

CUFt

9.6. The bids were evaluated in accordance with the parameters under the Final Transaction Documents issued by the NEASBAC. For Lot 1, SPI, MPGC, and TLI passed the preliminary evaluation, with SPI and TLI submitting the Lowest Calculated Bids, each covering fifty percent (50%) of the aggregated contract capacity. For Lot 2, MPI, PCPC, TVI, and EDC passed the preliminary evaluation and submitted the Lowest Calculated Bids, with MPI, PCPC, and EDC each covering twenty percent (20%), and TVI forty percent (40%), of the aggregated contract capacity. For Lot 2, CEDC and PEDC were declared non-compliant with the Technical Proposal requirements and consequently disqualified from further participation in Lot 2 of the Joint CSP. 9.7. Accordingly, SPI and TLI for Lot 1, and MPI, PCPC, TVI, and EDC for Lot 2, proceeded to post-qualification. Upon completion thereof, the NEA-SBAC TWG confirmed that their respective legal, technical, and financial documents were genuine, valid, and accurate, and recommended that they be declared the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidders for their respective Lots. 9.8. On 17 August 2026, the NEA-SBAC issued Resolution No. 13, Series of 2026, declaring SPI and TLI as the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidders for Lot 1, each for fifty percent (50%) of the aggregated contract capacity, and MPI, PCPC, TVI, and EDC as the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidders for Lot 2, for twenty percent (20%), twenty percent (20%), forty percent (40%), and twenty percent (20%), respectively.

Joint Application | 5

Associated Energy based on the 65% Monthly Minimum CUF in kWh for the Billing Period Actual Energy Delivered from the Facility during the Billing Period in kWh Corresponding CRR at 100% CUF, which is PhP2.1500/kWh For reference, the CRRCUF from 65% to 100% is presented below. Actual CUF for the Billing Period. The CUF shall be calculated in accordance with the formula below. Billing Period CUF

CRR Php/kWh

100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

2.1500 2.1717 2.1939 2.2165 2.2396 2.2632 2.2872 2.3118 2.3370 2.3626 2.3889 2.4157 2.4432 2.4713 2.5000 2.5294 2.5595 2.5904 2.6220 2.6543 2.6875 2.7215 2.7564 2.7922 2.8289 2.8667 2.9054 2.9452 2.9861 3.0282 3.0714 3.1159 3.1618 3.2090 3.2576 3.3077

Where:

Joint Application | 10

𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × (𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 − 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 − 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 )

CC HT HO HFM t

Applicable taxes

Applicable taxes relating to FC for the Billing Period, in PhP/MT

2. The actual fuel price as billed by the Joint fuel Application supplier/s (i.e., | 15 supported by actual invoices) including the Non-Fuel Commodity Cost for the relevant Billing Period. Applicable Fuel Consumption Rate (“FCR”) for the Billing Period, expressed in kg/kWh, shall be the lower between: (i) the guaranteed FCRCUFt; or (ii) the actual plant FCR

If Buyer fails to utilize the Contract Capacity at the Monthly Minimum CUF, Seller may apply the higher of its actual plant FCR or the guaranteed consumption rate corresponding to the Minimum CUF for that Billing Period. If the resulting CUFt is a whole percentage number, the guaranteed FCRCUFt shall be the corresponding FCR set forth in the table below for CUF levels from 65% to 100%. If the resulting CUFt is not a whole percentage number, the guaranteed FCRCUFt shall be determined using the following formula: (𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 − 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶1 ) × (𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 − 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶1) (𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 − 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶1) guaranteed FCR corresponding to the Actual CUF for the Billing Period as previously defined corresponding FCR for CUF2 set forth in the table below corresponding FCR for CUF1 set forth in the table below CUF increment of the nearest upper value, in % CUF increment of the nearest lower value, in %

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶1 + FCRCUFt CUFt FCRCUF2

𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 (𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 , 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 )

Qt AEt TEDt

The monthly average of the PhP/USD exchange rate for the month (i.e., first until last day of the month) for which the invoice is being prepared, as published in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas website

FCRt

● Formula to calculate the Qt and AEt for any billing period shall be:

Where:

FXm

1. The sum of the (i) resulting value using the Fuel Commodity Cost Formula and (ii) the Non-Fuel Commodity Cost; or

As previously defined

Any penalty, fine, surcharge, or similar charge imposed by the DOE or BOC arising from the failure to timely secure, submit, or comply with the requirements relating to the Certificate of Compliance for coal importation issued by the DOE shall be solely for the account of the Seller.

The FPt to be billed by Seller shall be the lower between:

CCt

•

HFM

Demurrage costs arising from causes other than the Seller’s excess procurement of coal, negligence, or fault, as stated above, shall be passed on to the Buyer, subject to a cap of PhP 200/MT or the actual demurrage cost, whichever is lower.

When applicable, Seller must disclose actual cost of NFCC in USD/MT and disclose the actual foreign exchange rate used to convert USD denominated costs into PHP.

As previously defined Energy delivered during the Billing Period or the equivalent associated energy based on the Monthly Minimum CUF, whichever is higher Contract Capacity for the Billing Period in kW as indicated in Schedule 2 Total number of hours in the Billing Period Zero (0) for each Billing Period, as the Seller has no Outage Allowance The Equivalent Hours of Force Majeure in the Billing Period

CUFt

•

Seller can only recover the NFCC items listed above and shall submit to the Buyer proof of actual costs in the form of official invoices and supporting documents.

● The CUFt shall be calculated in accordance with the formula below:

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 =

Any demurrage arising from the Seller's procurement of coal in excess of its requirements, including demurrage resulting from the use of a port or vessel as temporary storage for such excess coal, shall be solely for the account of the Seller and shall not be passed on to the Buyer. Provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply where such excess procurement or the resulting demurrage is attributable (i) to a directive of a relevant Joint Application | 14 government agency, regulatory authority, or market operator, such as the Department of Energy, the Energy Regulatory Commission, the System Operator, or the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines; or (ii) to comply with applicable laws, regulations, or mandatory fuel inventory requirements, in which case the resulting demurrage cost shall be passed on to the Buyer or PhP200/MT, whichever is lower.

Joint Application | 9

CRFCUFt

AEt

For Lot 1, SPI, MPGC, and TLI timely submitted their bids, while GNPD, GMEC, and PEDC withdrew from the Joint CSP.

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶100%𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶

𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 13𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 � + 2.91%� 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 1𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂

NFI 13m avg

Total Generation Charge= CRFCUFt + FOMFCUFt + VOMFt + FCt + VAT

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 =

Joint Application | 13

D. Fuel Cost (“FC”)

Total Generation Charge

Where:

Joint Application | 12

The procurement of any Replacement Power shall be the responsibility of Seller, provided that the rates to be paid by Buyer for the procurement of Replacement Power shall be the lower between:

● Bid Bulletin No. 01, issued on 25 May 2026, announcing the revised schedule of succeeding bidding activities for the Joint CSP; ● Bid Bulletin No. 02, issued on 29 May 2026, providing official responses to questions raised by prospective bidders, and the issuance of Revised Transaction Documents; ● Bid Bulletin No. 03, issued on 17 June 2026, providing official responses to questions and issues raised by prospective bidders regarding the Revised Transaction Documents, and the issuance of Final Transaction Documents; ● Bid Bulletin No. 04, issued on 25 June 2026, providing clarifications and corrections to the Final Bidding Procedures and related transaction documents; and ● Bid Bulletin No. 05, issued on 12 August 2026, announcing the revised schedule for the issuance of the Notice of Award to Winning Bidders and the signing of the Power Joint Application | 4 Supply Agreements.

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶100%𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶

Corresponding FOMFCUF to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period Rate Component to calculate FOMFCUFt, expressed in PhP/kWh, for the Billing Period.

14.5. Replacement Power. Section 10.3 provides for replacement power as follows:

9.4. The following Bid Bulletins (“BB”) were issued by the NEASBAC throughout the Joint CSP process:

12. Notably, the subject PSA between TARELCO I and SPI was the result of a Joint CSP conducted by the NEA itself, the final form of which was subjected to a separate and independent review by the NEA. Thus, the subject PSA, including its terms and conditions, may be considered to have been reviewed and determined to be consistent with the applicable policies, rules, and requirements of the DOE, the NEA, and the Honorable Commission.

Where: FOMFCUFt

SCHEDULE 6. OUTAGE ALLOWANCE

● For Lot 2, these were Cebu Energy Development Corporation (“CEDC”), Energy Development Corporation (“EDC”), FDC Misamis Power Corporation (“FDC Misamis”), GN Power Kauswagan, Ltd. Co. (“GNPK"), Malita Power, Inc. (“MPI”), Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (“PCPC”), Panay Energy Development Corporation (“PEDC”), Therma South, Inc. (“TSI”), Therma Visayas, Inc. (“TVI”), and Toledo Power Co. (“TPC”).

11. Through such aggregated procurement, the participating ECs, including Applicant TARELCO I, were able to pursue the procurement of the required power supply, consistent with the projected supply requirements and timelines set forth in their respective PSPPs.

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 =

Seller's Outage Allowance. Seller is allowed a Scheduled Outage Allowance and Unscheduled Outage Allowance (taken together, the “Outage Allowance") not to exceed the number of days for each Year as set forth in SCHEDULE 6, during which times, reduced or no deliveries shall be available to Buyer, subject to ERC rules and regulations on reliability performance indices applicable for the Facility.

● For Lot 1, these were GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (“GNPD”), GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co. (“GMEC”), Mariveles Power Generation Corporation (“MPGC”), Panay Energy Development Corporation Joint Application |3 (“PEDC”), Sual Power Inc. (“SPI”), and Therma Luzon, Inc. (“TLI”).

10. On 09 September 2026, the PSA between TARELCO I and SPI, resulting from the above-detailed Joint CSP conducted by the NEA, was executed.

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 (𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 , 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 )

Seller shall not request from the System Operator or the DOE any plant-level Scheduled Outage or Preventive Maintenance Schedule for any of its Facility’s units during the months of April, May, or June. Any such request shall constitute an Event of Default under Section 17.1.2. of this Agreement. However, if the plant-level Scheduled Outage or Preventive Maintenance Schedule during the months of April, May, or June is directed or required by the System Operator or the DOE, the same shall be allowed and shall not constitute an Event of Default.

9.2. The Bidding Documents were issued to the following entities that expressed interest in participating in the Joint CSP:

9.11. On 08 September 2026, the Notices to Execute the Agreement were issued to and received by the Member ECs, directing the Luzon Member ECs to execute their PSAs with SPI and TLI, and the Visayas Member ECs to execute their PSAs with MPI, PCPC, TVI, and EDC.

Scheduled Outages. Every October of each year during the Term of this Agreement, the Seller shall inform the Buyer of its Scheduled Outages for the succeeding year as approved by the System Operator and the DOE, ensuring that these are aligned with the most recent DOE-approved Grid Operating and Maintenance Program.

9. A CSP Report prepared by the NEA-SBAC is attached to the Joint Application. A summary of the key dates and events of the Joint CSP is provided below:

9.10. From 24 August 2026 to 04 September 2026, the Joint Body representatives of the Member ECs negotiated and finalized the PSAs with the winning bidders. On 04 September 2026, the negotiated and finalized PSAs for Lots 1 and 2 were submitted to the NEA-SBAC for approval. Through Resolution No. 14, Series of 2026, the NEA-SBAC approved the negotiated PSAs and endorsed the issuance of the corresponding Notices to Execute the Agreement.

B. Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee (“FOMF”)

Joint Application | 7

8. On 15 April 2026, the NEA issued Certificate of Conformity No. NEA-RAO-COC-2026-02, certifying that, for each Member EC, the contract quantity and cooperation period covered by the Joint CSP were consistent with its latest posted Power Supply Procurement Plan (“PSPP”) for each Member EC.

9.9. On 18 August 2026, the corresponding Notices of Award were issued in favor of SPI and TLI for Lot 1, and MPI, PCPC, TVI, and EDC for Lot 2. The Notices of Award were acknowledged and accepted by TLI and TVI on 20 August 2026, MPI on 24 August 2026, and SPI, PCPC, and EDC on 25 August 2026.

Buyer Day Ahead Nomination

14.4. Allowed Outages. Under Section 10.1-10.2 and Schedule 6, the seller is allowed the following outages:

ATTY. MARIA CORAZON C. GINES1 Director III, Legal Service

The actual reconciled quantity of BCQ declared by the Seller to the Buyer for the relevant hour i, expressed in kW, which was affected by or reduced due to an event of force majeure for either the Buyer or the Seller, in accordance with the BCQ Nomination Protocol under the PSA The quantity of BCQ nominated by the Buyer for delivery for the relevant hour i in the Day-Ahead Nomination, expressed in kW, submitted in accordance with the BCQ Nomination Protocol under the PSA

Seller Actual BCQ Declared due to force majeure

CUF

A statement of the relief desired.

Total number of Hours in a Billing Period

FOMRCUFt

7. The NEA issued Office Order No. 2026-043 dated 03 February 2026, creating a Special Bids and Awards Committee (the “NEA-SBAC”) to conduct the Joint CSP for the procurement of baseload power supply for the aggregation of the on-grid ECs in Luzon and Visayas that had not yet commenced their respective CSPs within one (1) year before the expiration of their current and subsisting PSAs or projected increase in demand based on their latest and posted PSPPs. The Joint CSP was conducted for and on behalf of nineteen (19) ECs in Luzon (Lot 1) and ten (10) ECs in the Visayas (Lot 2) (collectively, the “Member ECs”). Applicant TARELCO I is one of the Member ECs covered by Lot 1 of the Joint CSP.

9.3. On 14 May 2026, the Pre-Bid Conference for the Joint CSP was held at the Honesty, Efficiency and Solidarity Auditorium, 2nd Floor, NEA Building, 57 NIA Road, Government Center, Diliman, Quezon City. The Pre-Bid Conference was attended by the NEA-SBAC, NEA-SBAC Technical Working Group (“NEA-SBAC TWG”), NEA-SBAC Secretariat, DOE CSP Observers, and the prospective bidders. Other invited CSP Observers were unable to attend. The Pre-Bid Conference was conducted to clarify the provisions, requirements, and terms and conditions of the Transaction Documents, as well as matters raised by the prospective bidders.

𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷, 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 � 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁

14. The subject PSA between TARELCO I and SPI contains the following salient features:

𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

Where:

SALIENT TERMS OF THE PSA

STATEMENT OF FACTS

9.1. On 21 and 28 April 2026, the Invitation to Bid and Terms of Reference for the Joint CSP were duly published in The Manila Times newspaper. The NEA-SBAC and the Member ECs likewise caused the posting of the Invitation to Bid and Terms of Reference on the DOE CSP e-based portal, the NEA website, and the Member ECs’ respective official websites or social media accounts.

𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦

𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = � �1 −

FCRCUF1 CUF2 CUF1

Illustration: CUFt 70.53%

𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 65% × 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × (𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 − 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 − 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 )

As previously defined As previously defined Total Energy Delivered, which is Actual Energy Delivered from the Facility and the Replacement Power energy, during the Billing Period in kWh As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined

● The formula to calculate the HFM shall be:

CUF2

71%

CUF1

70%

FCRCUF2

0.4810

FCRCUF1

0.4818

The FCR at CUF levels from 65% to 100% are as follows: CUF 100% 99% 98%

FCR, kg/kWh 0.4595 0.4600 0.4607 Joint Application | 16

Joint Application | 6

Joint Application | 11

97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

Description of Document TOR vs PSA Provision Matrix Bid Forms (Confidential)* SPI’s Generation Rate and Derivation (Confidential)* Sample Bill TARELCO I's Rate Impact Analysis TARELCO I's WESM Registration TARELCO I’s Verified Certification certifying the list of its Board of Directors/Board Members and the absence of an ultimate parent company or subsidiaries; TARELCO I's Estimation of potential reduction SPI’s Secretary’s Certificates Brief Description of the CSP Conducted

0.4612 0.4617 0.4623 0.4631 0.4637 0.4642 0.4648 0.4654 0.4661 0.4670 0.4676 0.4683 0.4690 0.4697 0.4707 0.4714 0.4722 0.4729 0.4737 0.4744 0.4756 0.4764 0.4772 0.4784 0.4793 0.4801 0.4810 0.4818 0.4827 0.4841 0.4850 0.4859 0.4869

Annex 04 05A 05B 05C 05D 07A 09A

(ii) Issue the corresponding PROTECTIVE ORDER in accordance with the said Rule 4 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure;

(iv) After hearing on the merits, render a DECISION APPROVING the PSA subject of the instant Joint Application, including all the rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustment mechanisms set out therein, and authorizing TARELCO I to charge and collect such rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustments therein from its customers reckoned from the actual delivery of supply of SPI to TARELCO I.

Posting of the ITB

11 D and E H I and series J and series K L M N and series

Instruction to Bidders

BAC/Joint BAC CSP Observers Invitation to Bid (ITB) Certificate of Conformity from the NEA Publication of the ITB

E. Value-added Tax ("VAT'), if any. VAT shall only be chargeable to the Buyer if prevailing laws expressly allow its passing on by the Seller. Except for VAT, which shall be a pass-through component of the price, all other taxes pursuant to Section 13.1 and government dues, the WESM market fees, and ER 1-94 (Benefits to Host Community) shall be to the account of the Seller.

14.7. Prompt Payment Discount (PPD). Section 14 provides for Prompt Payment Discount as follows: Seller shall extend a three percent (3%) discount based on the total Capital Recovery Fee, Fixed Operations and Joint Application | 17

Pre-bid Conference Eligibility Requirements Submission of Bids Evaluation of Bids Award of Contract Execution of Contract Affidavit to Support Provisional Approval or Interim Relief TARELCO I’s Board Resolution No. 173-09-2026, Series of 2026

* Subject of the Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information

a. Payment by Buyer is made in full or partial within fifteen (15) Days upon receipt of the Seller Invoice for a Billing Period (the “Prompt Payment Period”); and

MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION

If the Buyer makes a partial payment within the applicable Prompt Payment Period, the Seller shall still grant an applicable PPD determined on a pro rata basis, provided that full payment of the Seller Invoice is made by the Buyer on or before the Due Date. Accordingly, the PPD applicable to a partial payment shall be computed as follows: �� =

(�� + �� + ��) × �� × 3% �� ℎ��

Where:

PPDPAR

Partial Prompt Payment Discount, expressed in PhP CRFCUF CRF for a Billing Period from the Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) for the Billing Period, expressed in PhP FOMFCUF FOMF for a Billing Period from the CUF for the Billing Period, expressed in PhP VOMF VOMF for a Billing Period, expressed in PhP Partial Payment Partial payment made by the Buyer on the Seller Invoice for a Billing Period, expressed in PhP net of VAT Total Generation Total generation charge due to the Seller Charge for the Billing Period, as computed in Schedule 7 expressed in PhP

Documents and/or Information

Operations and Maintenance Agreement

Bid Forms

05A

SPI’s Generation Rate and Derivation

05B

Energy Purchased, kWh PhP/kWh 5,519,000 6.9609

SMEC (SPI)

38,417,471.40

GMEC

34,942,948.33

5,406,418

6.4632

MPCL

42,624,215.64

6,992,000

6.0961

TLI

44,534,362.23

7,008,000

6.3548

SUAL POWER INC. (Subject PSA)

39,304,032.00

7,440,000

5.2828

WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY SPOT 137,619,480.64 MARKET Blended Generation Rate 337,442,510.25 (exclusive of VAT) WITHOUT SPI (PSA) Power Suppliers

Amount, PhP

Joint Application7.9575 | 19 17,294,330

20. In the case of Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell, Section 1, Rule 4, Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission. Inc., 3 the Supreme Court defined “trade secrets” and explained that: “A trade secret is defined as a plan or process, tool, mechanism or compound known only to its owner and those of his employees to whom it is necessary to confide it. The definition also extends to a secret formula or process not patented, but known only to certain individuals using it in compounding some article of trade having a commercial value. A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that: (1) is used in one’s business; and (2) gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess the information. Generally, a trade secret is a process or device intended for continuous use in the operation of the business, for example, a machine or formula, but can be a price list or catalogue or specialized customer list. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights.” (Emphasis supplied.)

21. Moreover, the Honorable Commission categorically acknowledged in its Decision in ERC Case No. 2015-111 RC 4 that formulas and pricing structures of a generation company must be accorded confidential protection, to wit: “In the case of PNOC RC, the documents sought to be protected from disclosure contain formula and pricing structures used in arriving at their proposed tariff. In fact, all three (3) documents were used by the Commission in evaluating the reasonableness of the proposed rate. In the electric power industry w(h)ere prices is[sic] a major consideration in selecting one’s supplier, it is apparent that the assumptions used in arriving at one’s proposed tariff is considered a competitive leverage by one player against its competitors. Thus, the Commission resolves to treat the said documents confidential and may not be publicly disclosed.” (Emphasis supplied).

22. Clearly, the Honorable Commission recognizes the importance of treating pricing structures as confidential in order to ensure competitiveness of the generation sector. This information, which falls within the definition of a trade secret as defined by jurisprudence, merits the confidential treatment provided for under Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. 23. In view thereof, in accordance with Section 1 (b), Rule 4 of the Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, Applicants submit 564 ERC Phil. 774 (2007), G.R. No. 172835. Decision, Case No. dated 30 May 2017 entitled “In thedocuments Matter of the Application one (1)ERC copy of2015-111 their RCrespective confidential to the for Approval of the Power Supply Agreement Between Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc.Honorable in a Renewables sealed envelope, with the Area 2 (NEECOCommission II – Area 2) and PNOC Corporation (PNOC RC).”envelope and each page of the document marked with the word “Confidential”.5 3 4

38,417,471.40

5,406,418

6.4632

MPCL

42,624,215.64

6,992,000

6.0961

TLI 44,534,362.23 WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY SPOT 196,823,215.97 MARKET Blended Generation Rate 357,342,213.57 (exclusive of VAT)

7,008,000

6.3548

24,734,330

7.9575

49,659,748

7.1958

RATE IMPACT

-0.4007

Notes: Assumed at 100% CUF for SUAL POWER Inc. (Subject PSA) Other Supplier rate is based on Actual Energy Purchased for the month of July 2026 Billing period

MOTION FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF 26. Under Rule 14 of the ERC RRPP, the Honorable Commission is authorized to issue provisional authority (PA) or interim relief (IR) prior to a final decision, provided the facts and circumstances alleged warrant such remedy. 6

27. The foregoing allegations are hereby repleaded and incorporated herein insofar as they may be necessary and applicable to the instant Motion for the Issuance of a Provisional Authority or Interim Relief.

16. As shown in the Rate Impact Simulation, the implementation of the PSA between TARELCO I and SPI will be beneficial to its member-consumers with an estimated generation rate reduction of PhP0.4007/kWh as compared to sourcing the same power requirements from the WESM. Thus, the PSA subject of this Joint Application will ultimately redound to the benefit of the memberconsumers, providing a continuous, consistent and reliable supply of electricity at affordable rates. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS 17. In support of this Joint Application, the following documents are hereby submitted for the evaluation of the Honorable Commission: Description of Document PSA bet SPI and TARELCO I dated 9 September 2026

Annex 01

Description of Document Annex SPI’s Certification on Documents Previously Submitted 021 invoking Section 24 of the ERC Resolution No. 07, Series Joint Application | 20 of 2026: ERC Case No. 2024-103 RC ● SPI’s WESM Registration ● Write-up on Shareholders' Agreement SPI ● Write-up on the Non-applicability of BOI Registration ● SPI’s Environmental Compliance Certificate ● Write-up on RE Developer ● Write-up on RE Service Contract ● Write-up on Water Permit ● Documents Related to Fuel (Confidential)* ERC Case No. 2025-018 RC ● Certification on Non-Applicability of DWS Agreement ● Certification on Non-Applicability of Transmission Wheeling Contract ● Write-up on IPPA Agreement ● Write-up on EPC Contract ● Write-up on Project Feasibility Study ● Write-up on Wholesale Aggregator Agreement ERC Case No. 2026-057 RC ● Transmission Service Agreement ERC Case No. 2026-063 RC ● SPI’s Certification on Ultimate Parent Company ERC Case No. 2026-121 RC ● SPI’s Amended Articles of Incorporation, SPI’s Amended By-Laws, and General Information Sheet for 2026 ● Provisional Authority to Operate - 05 11 2026 Sual Power, Inc. (SPI) - 1,294.040 MW Sual CFTPP ● SPI’s Latest Audited Financial Statement ● SPI’s Write-up on the Non-Applicability of Rental Agreements ● Operations and Maintenance Agreement (Confidential)* TARELCO I's Certificate of Registration 2A TARELCO I's Supply and Demand Scenario 03 TARELCO I's Distribution Development Plan 2025-2034 3A TARELCO I's Power Supply Procurement Plan 20253B 2034 Annex 02 includes Annexes “06”, “07”, “08”, “09”, “10”, “12”, “13”, “14”, “15”, “16”, “17”, “18”, “19”, “20” and “21”in the Technical Pre-Filing Requirements.

Joint Application | 21

By Othel V. Campos

HILIP Morris International sees the Philippines as a potential growth market for smoke-free products, with about 200,000 users of its IQOS heated tobacco devices and ZYN nicotine pouches, though adoption remains at an early stage compared with the country’s estimated 14 million adult smokers.

DOT urges focus on infra projects over luxury resorts

Joint Application | 24

25. In accordance with Sections 3 and 4, Rule 4 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, Applicants reserve the right to use the documents subject of the present motion and their contents as evidence, and respectfully moves for the issuance of a Protective Order.

34,942,948.33

Philip Morris sees growth potential for smoke-free products in PH

Vassilis Gkatzelis, PMI president for East and Southeast Asia, Pacific and Global Travel Retail, said the company sees room to accelerate the shift to smoke-free alternatives, supported by the country’s regulatory framework and PMI’s investments in local manufacturing and commercial operations. “We have around 200,000 users in our products, around 200,000 users with IQOS and ZYN. And given the fact that there are 14 million smokers, adult smokers in the Philippines, I have to say we are still relatively at the beginning of the journey,” Gkatzelis said at the Technovation Manila 2026 summit on Nov. 10. PMI has invested more than $2 billion in the Philippines since 2010, covering manufacturing and other business operations. It introduced IQOS in the country in 2020 and has since expanded its smokefree portfolio to include ZYN. Gkatzelis said the Philippines has a progressive legal framework for smokefree products, allowing regulated taxation while providing consumer safeguards, particularly against access by minors.

Joint Application | 23

Energy Purchased, kWh PhP/kWh 5,519,000 6.9609

GMEC

BUSINESS

Vassilis Gkatzelis

24. Further, all parties who are furnished copies of the instant Joint Application are not furnished copies of the documents subject of the present motion.

SMEC (SPI)

extrastory2000@gmail.com

19.2. Moreover, the interest of applicant TARELCO I’s consumers is sufficiently protected by the review and evaluation of the rates under the subject PSA by the Honorable Commission, without the need to disclose the contents of the Confidential Documents.

6.7951

49,659,748

Joint Application | 27

19.1. Foregoing annexes contain non-public, proprietary information and data involving investments, business operations, and financial calculations of the parties involved. The parties to the above documents determine their competitive rates through the power rate calculations and financial model through these pieces of information, thus, the methodology thereof is privileged and confidential in nature. Furthermore, these information and data are not generally available to the public. The parties’ competitiveness will seriously be prejudiced if this information is unduly disclosed.

15. TARELCO I calculated the rate impact of the implementation of the subject PSA with SPI and compared it with the generation rate if the same demand requirements are sourced from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), as follows:

Amount, PhP

UEDA o o orneys o. PTR No. 8355206, 08 January 2026, Quezon City IBP No. 587192, 05 January 2026, Quezon City Chapter MCLE Compliance No. VIII-0040569; valid until 14 April 2028 E-mail: macmarqueda@powerlawfirm.net

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

19. The above enumerated annexes contain information and data with actual and valuable proprietary interest for the parties to protect which fall within the bounds of “trade secrets” that are entitled to protection under the Constitution, statutes, and rules and regulations of this Honorable Commission.

RATE IMPLICATIONS

Power Suppliers

MARI

Annex

Documents Related to Fuel

WITH SPI (PSA)

By:

18. Under the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, a party to any proceeding before the Honorable Commission may request that certain information be not disclosed to the public and be treated as confidential. 2 Accordingly, Applicants pray for the confidential treatment of the information contained in the following annexes:

The Buyer shall not automatically deduct the PPD which it may have earned under a current Seller Invoice from the payment of that current Seller Invoice.

The Buyer may be entitled to PPD if it is unable to pay the full amount due under the Seller Invoice within the Prompt Payment Period due to an Event of Force Majeure, any regulatory issuances, pandemic, or geopolitical conflicts affecting or restricting the collection and/or preventing disconnection of consumers, provided that the Buyer has qualified for and availed full three percent (3%) PPD of the immediately preceding three (3) Billing Periods, provided further that any PPD to be granted under this provision shall be upon the written request of the Buyer and subject to the Seller's approval.

<Signature pages follow.> DECHAVEZ LERIOS-AMBOY AND EVANGELISTA LAW OFFICES Counsel for Applicant Tarlac I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TARELCO I) Unit 2008, Tycoon Centre Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1605 Tel. Nos. 7910-1587 E-mail: powerlawfirm@gmail.com

Joint Application | 22

If the Buyer pays by check within the Prompt Payment Period, the Buyer shall be entitled to the corresponding PPD, to be implemented in accordance with Section 14.5; provided, however, that if such check is dishonored for insufficient funds or is not cleared by the Seller's bank, the Buyer shall not be entitled to any PPD for the relevant Seller Invoice. If the final day of the Prompt Payment Period falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Prompt Payment Period shall Joint Application | 18 be extended to the next immediate Business Day.

Pasig City, 01 October 2026.

Maintenance Fee, and Variable Operations and Maintenance Fee for the Billing Period to Buyer as a PPD if:

b. Buyer is up to date with all its payment obligations under this Agreement.

Other kinds of relief, just and equitable under the premises, are likewise prayed for.

P Q and Series R and Series S and Series T and Series U and Series V and Series X

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Note: For avoidance of doubt, the Buyer shall bear all other applicable costs, charges and taxes pursuant to Section 13.2 of this Agreement.

(iii) Issue an Order GRANTING PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF to the subject PSA, including all the rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustment mechanisms set out therein, thereby authorizing Applicants to immediately implement the subject PSA pending final evaluation; and

28. A careful perusal of the supporting documents submitted in relation to the instant Joint Application shows that the Joint CSP was conducted by the NEA in accordance with Article 13.1 of the NEA 2023 CSP Memorandum and consistent with the DOE CSP Policy, as amended. The Joint CSP was undertaken in recognition of the need to assist the Luzon and Visayas ECs whose timely commencement or completion of their respective CSPs had been delayed, as reflected in their latest and duly posted PSPPs. 29. This recognition by the NEA of said delay in the commencement or completion of the member ECs’ individual CSP is a clear indicium of an existing and very immediate necessity for the concerned ECs, including Applicant TARELCO I, to procure and implement the resulting PSA for a continuous and reliable supply of electricity to its member-consumers at affordable rates. 5

Electronic copies of the documents subject of the Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information 30. to this While TARELCO is fully aware are provided Honorable Commission inI password protected files. that the target ERC Resolution No. 1,date Seriesfor of 2021. commencement the delivery of supply under the subject PSA

is “December 26, 2026,” it also recognizes that there is a rigorous Joint Application | 25 process required to secure the final approval for the PSA, from ERC’s technical and legal pre-filing to its final evaluation. 31. Considering the lengthy regulatory processes before the Applicants could secure a final approval of the subject PSA, there exists a real and imminent risk that the delay in the target commencement date for the delivery of supply from SPI will further be prolonged, placing then TARELCO I’s member-consumers at a significant risk of being exposed to the volatile prices of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) by the time the supply requirements arise absent a provisional approval or interim relief. 32. Furthermore, from the TARELCO I’s rate impact simulation, it is clear that the implementation of the subject PSA with SPI would reduce TARELCO I’s rate by PhP0.4007/kWh, as compared to sourcing the same power requirements from the WESM. 33. As such, the issuance of a Provisional Authority or Interim Relief for the subject PSA, which will allow the timely implementation of the subject PSA pending final evaluation of the Honorable Commission, would be beneficial to TARELCO I and its memberconsumers as it will ensure the timely provision of reliable, secure, and quality supply of electricity in the least cost manner. Any further delay to its implementation will be tantamount to a denial of TARELCO I’s member-consumers’ opportunity to enjoy its advantageous and beneficial effect. 34. To support the motion for provisional authority or interim relief, the Affidavit in Support of the Issuance of a Provisional Authority or Interim Relief is attached hereto as Annex.”X”

PRAYER

“20” and “21”in the Technical Pre-Filing Requirements.

clear indicium of an existing and very immediate necessity for the Section 1, Rule 4, Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission. 21 concerned ECs, including Applicant TARELCO Joint I, toApplication procure |and 564 Phil. 774 (2007), G.R. No. 172835. Joint Application | 23 4implement the resulting PSA for a continuous and reliable supply of Decision, ERC Case No. 2015-111 RC dated 30 May 2017 entitled “In the Matter of the Application electricity totheitsPower member-consumers at affordable for Approval of Supply Agreement Between Nueva Ecija IIrates. Electric Cooperative, Inc.-

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants TARLAC I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (TARELCO I) and SUAL POWER INC. (SPI) respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission: (i)

Description of Document Annex *SPI’s Subject of the Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information Certification on Documents Previously Submitted 021 invoking Section 24 of the ERC Resolution No. 07, Series ofMOTION 2026: FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION ERC Case No. 2024-103 RC the case of Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell, ●3 20. SPI’s In WESM Registration Inc., Supreme Court defined “trade secrets” and explainedathat: 18. the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, ● the Write-up on Shareholders' Agreement SPI 23. Under In view thereof, in accordance with Section 1 (b), Ruleparty 4 of to proceeding before thePractice Honorable may request that ●ERC Write-up theof Non-applicability of BOI theany Revisedon Rules and Commission Procedure, Applicants submit certain information be disclosed public and be treated as “Acopy tradeofsecret isrespective defined asto a the plan or process, tool,to the Registration one (1) theirnot confidential documents 2 mechanism or compound known only to itswith owner those and Accordingly, pray for theand confidential confidential. ● SPI’s Environmental Certificate Honorable Commission in Compliance a Applicants sealed envelope, the envelope ofofhis employees to whom it is necessary to confide it. The 5 treatment information contained in the annexes: ● page Write-up on RE Developer each ofthe the document marked with the following word “Confidential”. definition also extends to a secret formula or process not ● Write-up on but RE known Serviceonly Contract patented, to certain individuals using it in ● Write-up on Water Permit 24.compounding Further, allsome parties who of aretrade furnished of the instant article havingcopies a commercial Documents and/or Annex of ● Application Documents Related to Fuel (Confidential)* value. A are trade mayInformation consist pattern, Joint notsecret furnished copiesofofany the formula, documents subject device, or compilation ERC Case No. 2025-018 RC of information that: (1) is used in one’s the present motion. business; (2) Non-Applicability gives the employer ofan opportunity to02 Documents Relatedand to ● Certification onFuel DWS obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess Agreement 25.the Ininformation. accordance with Sections 3 and 4, Rule 4 of the ERC Generally, a trade secret is a process or02 Operations andofMaintenance Agreement ● Certification on Non-Applicability of Transmission Revised Rules Practice Procedure, Applicants reserve the right device intended forand continuous use in the operation of the Contract to useWheeling the documents subjectaofmachine the present motion andbe their contents business, for example, or formula, but can a price 05A Bid Forms Write-up on IPPA Agreement list or and catalogue or specialized list. It is indubitable as ●evidence, respectfully movescustomer for the issuance of a Protective that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights.” (Emphasis ● Write-up on EPC Contract Order. 05B SPI’s andFeasibility DerivationStudy supplied.) ● Generation Write-up on Rate Project ● Write-up on Wholesale Aggregator Agreement MOTION FOR ISSUANCE OF ERC Case No. 2026-057 RC Honorable 19. The above enumerated annexes contain RELIEF information and 21.PROVISIONAL Moreover, the categorically AUTHORITY ORCommission INTERIM ● with Transmission Agreement data actualin and valuable interest for the parties to acknowledged itsService Decision inproprietary ERC Case No. 2015-111 RC4 that ERC Case No.fall 2026-063 protect which withinstructures theRC bounds secrets” that aremust entitled formulas and pricing of of a “trade generation company be 6 and regulations ● SPI’s Certification on14Ultimate Parent to protection under the Constitution, statutes, and rules accorded protection, wit: the Honorable 26. confidential Under Rule of tothe ERC Company RRPP, ERC No. 2026-121 RC of thisCase Honorable Commission. Commission is authorized to issue provisional authority (PA) or interim “In the case of PNOC RC, the documents to becircumstances protected ● (IR) SPI’s Amended Articles ofprovided Incorporation, relief prior to a final decision, thesought factsSPI’s and from disclosure containand formula and pricing structures used in Amended By-Laws, General Information alleged warrant such remedy. 19.1. Foregoing contain proprietary arriving at theirannexes proposed tariff. In fact, allnon-public, three (3) documents Sheet for 2026 information and data involving business were used by the Commission in evaluatinginvestments, the reasonableness ● Provisional Authority to Operate 05 11 2026 Sual 27.operations, The foregoing allegations are hereby repleaded and of the proposed In the calculations electric power w(h)ere andrate. financial ofindustry the parties involved. Power, Inc. (SPI) 1,294.040 MW Sual CFTPP incorporated herein insofar as they may be necessary and applicable pricesparties is[sic] ato major in selecting one’s their The the consideration above documents determine Latest Financial Statement supplier, it Audited is apparent that thethe assumptions used in arriving to ● theSPI’s instant Motion for the Issuance of a Provisional Authorityand or competitive rates through power rate calculations at one’s proposed tariff is considered a competitive ● SPI’s Write-up on the Non-Applicability of Rental leverage Interim Relief. financial model through these pieces of information, thus, the by one player against its competitors. Agreements methodology thereof is privileged and confidential in nature. ● Operations Maintenance Agreement submitted in 28.Furthermore, A careful and perusal the supporting these of information and documents data are not generally Thus, Commission resolves toshows treat the said (Confidential)* relation to the the instant Joint Application that thedocuments Joint CSP was available themay public. parties’ competitiveness will confidentialtoand not beThe publicly disclosed.” conducted by the NEA in accordance with Article of(Emphasis the disclosed. NEA TARELCO I's Certificate of Registration 2A 2023 seriously be prejudiced if this information13.1 is unduly supplied). CSP Memorandum consistentScenario with the DOE CSP Policy, TARELCO I's Supply and and Demand 03 as amended. The Joint CSP was undertaken in recognition of the need to 19.2. Moreover, the interest of applicant TARELCO I’s consumers 22. Clearly, the Honorable Commission recognizes TARELCO I's Distribution Development Plan 2025-2034 3A assist the Luzon and Visayas ECs whose timely commencementthe or is sufficiently protected by the and evaluation importance oftheir treating pricing structures as confidential order to TARELCO I's Power Supply Procurement Plan 20253Bof the completion of respective CSPs hadreview been delayed, as in reflected in rates under the subject PSA by the Honorable Commission, ensure competitiveness of the generation sector. This information, 2034 their latest and duly posted PSPPs. without thethe needdefinition to disclose contents of the which falls within of the a trade secret as Confidential defined by jurisprudence, the confidential provided 29.Documents. Thismerits recognition by the treatment NEA of said delayfor inunder the 1Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. Annex 02 includes Annexes “07”, “08”, “09”, “10”,member “12”, “13”, “14”, “15”,individual “16”, “17”, “18”, “19”,is a commencement or“06”, completion of the ECs’ CSP

Issue an Order treating Annexes “02”, “05A”, and “05B” as CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION within the purview of Rule 4 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, as well as directing that the subject documents be treated with confidentiality and be protected from public disclosure; Joint Application | 26

Area 2 (NEECO II – Area 2) and PNOC Renewables Corporation (PNOC RC).” 5

Electronic copies of the documents subject of the Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information are provided to this Honorable Commission in password protected files. Joint Application | 24 ERC Resolution No. 1, Series of 2021.

Joint Application | 25 (MS-NOV. 12/19, 2026)

TOURISM Secretary Frasco Angara-Mathay urged local and foreign investors to look beyond luxury hotels and resorts and support infrastructure and digital solutions that would make smaller island destinations more accessible and spread tourism revenues to local communities. Speaking at the ASEAN Inclusive Growth Forum organized by Mastercard, Angara-Mathay said tourism employed about 7.7 million Filipinos last year—accounting for 15.6 percent of the workforce—and questioned whether smaller communities were benefiting from the industry’s growth. “What will it do for us if we have one of the most beautiful beaches and islands, and one of the best diving spots, but if it takes a lot of money and a lot of effort to get there, then that is a problem,” she said Wednesday. She identified ports, airports, digital platforms, and cashless payment systems as investment priorities to improve access and help micro, small, and medium enterprises reach international markets. The Department of Tourism is also promoting community-based and experiential tourism in Mindanao, the Cordillera region, and smaller islands, encouraging visitors to experience local cuisine, homestays, farming, weaving, and other community activities. Angara-Mathay cited the recent recognition of 127 establishments under the Michelin Guide, noting that businesses receiving such recognition could see revenues and reservations rise 40 percent to 100 percent. She said the government will provide enabling policies, infrastructure, and workforce training, while private investors bring capital, technology, and operational expertise. The department is pursuing a resilient tourism framework covering climate-resilient infrastructure, disaster mitigation, workforce development, accessibility, digitalization, and sustainability. It also seeks to expand opportunities for women and persons with disabilities. Othel V. Campos

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE THREE MEGAWATTS (3 MW) BASE LOAD POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT BETWEEN QUEZON II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (QUEZELCO II) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI), WITH MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION AND PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF

NATURE OF THE APPLICATION

Applicants. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that 09 November 2026, Quezon II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO II) and Sual Power, Inc. (SPI) filed a Joint Application dated 01 October 2026, seeking the Commission’s approval of their Power Supply Agreement (PSA), with prayers for Provisional Authority or Interim Relief and motion for confidential treatment of information. ERC CASE NO. 2026-194 RC NOTICE VIRTUAL The OF docketed copyHEARING of the Joint Application, excluding its PAGE 2 is OF 4 annexes, attached as Annex “A” of the Notice of Virtual Hearing. The Commission has set the instant Joint Application for hearing, pursuant to the pertinent rules of the Commission, as follows: Platform

15 January 2027 (Friday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

Microsoft Teams

Activity Determination of compliance with jurisdictional requirements and Expository Presentation

Pre-Trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

Accordingly, Applicants are hereby directed to mirror the virtual hearings, to be hosted by the Commission, at QUEZELCO II’s Principal Office at QUEZELCO II Main Office, Brgy. Gumian, Infanta, Quezon, as the designated venue for the conduct thereof and ensure that the same is open to the public. Moreover, Applicants shall guarantee that, during the conduct of the expository presentation, the participation of the public shall not be impaired. Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled initial virtual hearing, via e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation. Moreover, any person who has an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party upon compliance with ERC Resolution No. 31, Series of 2026 or the 2026 Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission (2026 RPP) and thereafter filing a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing, via email at docket@erc.ph. The verified Petition to Intervene must follow the requirements under Rule 7 of the 2026 RPP, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case, and state the following: ERC CASE NO. 2026-194 RC NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING PAGE1)3 OFThe 4 petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address; 2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph, and copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, their Opposition or Comment thereon at least ERC NO.days 2026-194 five (5)CASE calendar prior toRC the initial virtual hearing under Rule 7 NOTICE OFRPP. VIRTUAL HEARING of the 2026 No particular form of Opposition or Comment is PAGE 4 OF required, but 4the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer SATURNINO C. JUAN, and address the Honorable 1) FRANCIS The name, mailing address, and e-mail of the Commissioners FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO person; ROMEO L. FUENTES, AMANTE A. LIBERATO and PARIS G. REAL, Energy Regulatory Commission, Pasig City. 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3)

The grounds relied upon. FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION: Any of the persons mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may access the copy of the Joint Application on the Commission’s official website at www.erc.gov.ph. ATTY. MARIA CORAZON C. GINES1 Director III, Legal Service Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled virtual hearings by providing the Commission, through legal.virtualhearings@erc.ph, their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Joint Application. ERC CASE NO. 2026-194 RC The Commission will send the access link/s to the aforementioned NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING hearing platform within five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled LS: MCHB/RCD PAGE 4 OF 4 hearings. WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN, and the Honorable space is intentionally left blank.) Commissioners(This FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, AMANTE A. LIBERATO and PARIS G. REAL, Energy Regulatory Commission, Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

ATTY. MARIA CORAZON C. GINES1 Director III, Legal Service

LS: MCHB/RCD

3. SPI is a subsidiary of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP) and is the owner of the 1,294.040 MW Sual Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant located in Barangay, Pangascasan, Sual, Pangasinan; 4. Joint Applicants may be served with notices, orders, and other processes of this Honorable Commission through their respective counsel at the addresses indicated herein;

QUEZON II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (QUEZELCO II) AND SUAL POWER, INC. (SPI),

11 December 2026 (Friday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

1. Co-Applicant QUEZELCO II is a distribution utility (“DU”) and electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office at Brgy. Gumian, Infanta, Quezon, represented in this instance by its General Manager, ENGR. VON ERWIN G. AZAGRA, of legal age, Filipino, married and with office address also at QUEZELCO II Main Office, Brgy. Gumian, Infanta, Quezon. QUEZELCO II holds an exclusive Certificate of Franchise to operate electric light and power services in the municipalities in the Province of Quezon, namely: Infanta, Real, General Nakar, Burdeos, Jomalig, Panukulan, Patnanungan, and Polilio; 2. Co-Applicant SPI is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at 5th Floor, C5 Office Building Complex, No. 100 E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, C5 Road, Bo. Ugong, Pasig City 1604;

ERC CASE NO. 2026-194 RC

Date and Time

PARTIES

Authority granted per Office Order No. 71, Series of 2025 dated 20 August 2025, with the subject “Approving/Signing Authorities for Consumer Complaints Cases and Interlocutory Orders”.

5. The instant Joint Application for approval of the three (3) megawatts (“MW”) Base Load Power Supply Agreement (“PSA”) entered into by and between QUEZELCO II and SPI, is being submitted to this Honorable Commission for its review and approval pursuant to Sections 251 and 45(b)2 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), Rule 20(B) of the Honorable Commission’s Resolution No. 01, Series of 2021 (ERC RRPP),3 and Article VIII of the Honorable Commission’s Resolution No. 16, Series of 20234 (2023 CSP Guidelines). 1

SEC.25. Retail Rate. – The retail rates charged by distribution utilities for the supply of electricity 6. captive Section 23be of the EPIRAby mandates a distribution in their market shall subject to regulation the ERC based onthat the principle of full recovery of prudent and reasonable economic incurred, or such other in principles that willcost promote efficiency utility has the obligation tocosts supply electricity the least manner as may be determined by the ERC. to its 2 captive market, subject to collection of retail rate duly approved Distribution utilities may enter into bilateral power supply contracts subject to review by the ERC: by this xxx. Honorable Commission. In relation to this, Section 45 (b) of the 3 A expressly Resolution Adopting the Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure of theinto Energybilateral Regulatory EPIRA allows distribution utilities to enter Commission. power supply contracts subject to the review of this Honorable

Commission. It is consistentPage with the 2 of 29 State’s policy to ensure the quality, reliability, security, and affordability of the supply of electric power.5

7. The subject PSA was procured through a Joint Competitive Selection Process (CSP) conducted by the National Electrification Administration (NEA), in accordance with NEA Memorandum No. 2023-057 (NEA 2023 CSP Guidelines), consistent with Section 5.4 of the Department of Energy (DOE) Circular No. DC2023-06-0021 (DOE 2023 CSP Policy), as amended, whereby NEA is authorized to undertake CSP on behalf of the electric cooperatives (ECs) in case the latter request the NEA’s assistance or is unable to complete its CSP one (1) year before the scheduled date as indicated in the Power Supply Procurement Plan (PSPP), and the 2023 CSP Guidelines.

QUEZON II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (QUEZELCO II) AND SUAL POWER INC. (SPI),

November 09, 2026

Applicants. x-----------------------x

JOINT APPLICATION (with Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information and Prayer for Provisional Authority or Interim Relief) Joint Applicants, QUEZON II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (QUEZELCO II) and SUAL POWER INC. (SPI), by and through their respective counsels, and unto this Honorable Commission most respectfully state:

13.9. Accordingly, the bid evaluation and post-qualification were conducted by the NEA-SBAC on SPI and TLI for Lot 1 and MPI, PCPC, TVI and EDC for Lot 1. Upon completion thereof, the NEASBAC TWG confirmed that their respective legal, technical, and financial documents were genuine, valid, and accurate, and recommended that they be declared the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidders for their respective Lots. 13.10. On 17 August 2026, the NEA-SBAC issued Resolution No. 13, Series of 2026, declaring SPI and TLI as the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidders for Lot 1, each for fifty percent (50%) of the aggregated contract capacity, and MPI, PCPC, TVI, and EDC as the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidders for Lot 2, for twenty percent (20%), twenty percent (20%), forty percent (40%), and twenty percent (20%), respectively. 13.11. On 18 August 2026, the corresponding Notices of Award were issued in favor of SPI and TLI for Lot 1. The Notices of Award were acknowledged and accepted by TLI and SPI on 20 August 2026 and 25 August 2026, respectively. 13.12. From 24 August 2026 to 04 September 2026, QUEZELCO II negotiated and finalized the PSAs with SPI. On 04 September 2026, the negotiated and finalized PSA was submitted to the NEA-SBAC for approval. Through Resolution No. 14, Series of 2026, the NEA-SBAC approved the negotiated PSA and endorsed the issuance of the corresponding Notice to Execute the Agreement.

Where: As previously defined As previously defined Total Energy Delivered, which is Actual Energy Delivered from the Facility and the Replacement Power energy, during the Billing Period in kWh As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined As previously defined

Qt AEt TEDt CC HT HO HFM t

● Formula to calculate the HFM shall be:

Where: y Seller Actual BCQ Declared due to force majeure

Total number of Hours in a Billing Period The actual reconciled quantity of BCQ declared by the Seller to the Buyer for the relevant hour i, expressed in kW, which was affected by or reduced due to an event of force majeure for either the Buyer or the Seller, in accordance with the BCQ Nomination Protocol under the PSA Buyer Day The quantity of BCQ nominated by the Buyer for delivery for the relevant hour i in the Day-Ahead Ahead Nomination, expressed in kW, submitted in Nomination accordance with the BCQ Nomination Protocol under the PSA B. Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee (“FOMF”) The FOMFCUFt shall be calculated as the product of the Fixed Operation and Maintenance Rate (“FOMRCUFt”), in PhP/kWh, and the actual energy delivered during the Billing Period or the equivalent associated energy based on the Monthly Minimum CUF, whichever is higher. The formula to calculate FOMFCUFt shall be:

13.13. On 08 September 2026, the Notice to Execute the Agreement was issued to and received by QUEZELCO II, directing QUEZELCO II to execute the PSA with SPI. 13.14. On 09 September 2026, QUEZELCO II and SPI signed the subject PSA.

Page 12 of 29

7 of 29 14. Hence, QUEZELCO II Page and SPI hereby submit the instant Joint Application for the evaluation and approval of the PSA by the Honorable Commission.

SALIENT TERMS OF THE PSA 15. The PSA between QUEZELCO II and SPI, a copy of which is hereto attached as Annex “01”, contains the following salient features:

Where: FOMFCUFt

15.1. Contract Term. This Agreement shall take effect immediately from Execution Date, and shall remain in force and effect for fifteen (15) years from Delivery Date unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Agreement and upon approval by the ERC.

FOMRCUFt AEt AEDt FOMR100%CU F

15.2. Delivery Date. SPI shall commence delivery of the Contract Capacity provided in Schedule 2 of the PSA to QUEZELCO II on Delivery Date. The Delivery Date shall be later of either:

Competitive Selection Process 8. Based on its current Supply-Demand Scenario for the years 2021 to 2041, QUEZELCO II’s peak demand increased from 7.06 MW in 2021 to 10.47 MW in 2025. The Supply-Demand Scenario also shows that QUEZELCO II’s peak demand will continue to increase from 11.40 MW in 2026 to 32.64 MW in 2041. As of year 2026 QUEZELCO II has a supply deficit of 3.40MW and an expected supply deficit of 0.64 MW by 2041. A copy of QUEZELCO II’s Supply-Demand Scenario is hereto attached as Annex “03”.

CUF

15.3. Supply of Energy. Subject to the approval of the ERC, beginning on the Delivery Date and until the termination or expiration of this Agreement, SPI shall supply and deliver the Contract Capacity to QUEZELCO II at the Delivery Point, as provided in Schedule 2 of this Agreement, and QUEZELCO II shall purchase the Contract Capacity and Associated Energy, and pay SPI as provided in Schedule 7. Schedule 2. Contract Capacity (in MW)

10. Accordingly, QUEZELCO II initiated the conduct of CSP Implementing Guidelines of for the and Evaluation of Power Supply for 4 the procurement its Procurement, six (6) Execution, MW baseload power supply Agreements Entered Into by Distribution Utilities for the Supply of Electricity To Their Captive Market. requirement thru the NEA. 5 EPIRA, Sec. 2 (b).

3 ofOrder 29 11. The NEA issued Page Office No. 2026-043 dated 03 February 2026, creating a Special Bids and Awards Committee (the “NEA-SBAC”) to conduct the Joint CSP for the procurement of baseload power supply for the aggregation of the on-grid ECs in Luzon and Visayas that had not yet commenced their respective CSPs within one (1) year before the expiration of their current and subsisting PSAs or projected increase in demand based on their latest and posted PSPPs. The Joint CSP was conducted for and on behalf of twenty-nine (29) ECs, consisting of nineteen (19) ECs in Luzon and ten (10) ECs in the Visayas (collectively, the “Member ECs”). Applicant QUEZELCO II is one of the Member ECs covered by Lot 1 of the Joint CSP.

Page 8 of 29

12. On 15 April 2026, the NEA issued a Certificate of Conformity (NEA-RAO-COC-2026-02) stating that:

QUEZELCO II shall be allowed to nominate the entire Contract Capacity but is only obliged to utilize the Contract Capacity at the 65% Monthly Minimum Capacity Utilization Factor (“CUF”) for every Billing Period except in cases of force majeure events where it may result into a partial or complete unavailability of the Contract Capacity.

“This is to certify that the contract quantities and cooperation periods for the Competitive Selection Process (CSP) of the Luzon and Visayas Electric Cooperatives (EC) Aggregation power supply requirement are consistent with the latest posted Power Supply Procurement Plans. xxx”

Should QUEZELCO II fail to dispatch the SPI at the 65% Monthly Minimum CUF for a Billing Period, without the occurrence of any force majeure event and SPI has made the same available for dispatch, QUEZELCO II shall pay the Seller the CRRCUF and FOMRCUF for the equivalent energy at 65% CUF level.

13.2. The Bidding Documents were issued to the following entities that expressed interest in participating the Joint CSP: For Lot 1:

Schedule 7. Adjustment

13.4. On 14 May 2026, the Pre-Bid Conference for the CSP was held at the NEA Main Office, NEA Honesty, Efficiency, Solidarity Auditorium, NIA Road, Government Center, Diliman, Quezon City. The Pre-Bid Conference was attended by the representative of NEA-SBAC, NEA-SBAC Technical Working Group (NEA-SBAC TWG), DOE CSP Observers and the prospective bidders. Other invited CSP Observers were unable to attend the Pre-Bid Conference. The Pre-Bid Conference was conducted to clarify the provisions, requirements, and terms and conditions of the Transaction Documents, as well as matter raised by the prospective bidders.

4 5

Description

25 May 2026

The new schedule of the following:

1. The issuance of the Revised Transaction Documents; 2. The deadline of submission of written comments on the Revised Page 5 ofTransaction 29 Documents; 3. The issuance of Final Transaction Documents 4. Bid submission deadline, opening and evaluation of bids 5. The post-qualification and evaluation of bids 6. Issuance of Notice of Award 7. Signing of PSA 29 May 2026 NEA-SBAC’s Response to the comments raised by prospective bidders and issuance of the Revised Transaction Documents 17 June 2026 NEA-SBAC’s Response to the questions, requests and issues raised by the comments raised by prospective bidders in relation to the Revised Transaction Documents. 25 June 2026 The new schedule of bid activities. 12 August 2026 The announcement on the revised schedule for the issuance of Notice of Award to Winning Bidders and the signing of the Power Supply Agreements.

a. For Lot 1: SPI, MPGC, and TLI timely submitted their bids, while GNPD, GMEC, and PEDC withdrew from the Joint CSP. b. For Lot 2: MPI, PCPC, TVI, EDC, CEDC, and PEDC timely submitted their bids, while FDC Misamis, GNPK, TSI, and TPC withdrew from the Joint CSP. 13.8. On the same date, the respective proposals of SPI, MPGC, and TLI, MPI, PCPC, TVI, EDC, CEDC, and PEDC were opened in public and in the presence of the CSP Observers and bidders’ representatives to determine the bidders’ compliance with the parameters prescribed under the Final Transaction Documents Page 6 of 29

VOMRt

AEDt

Corresponding VOMF to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period Rate Component to calculate VOMFt which is PhP0.2000/kWh As previously defined

D. Fuel Cost (“FC”) The FCt for the Billing Period shall be calculated as follows:

The CRFCUFt shall be calculated as the product of the Capital Recovery Rate (“CRRCUFt”) in PhP/kWh, and the Actual Energy Delivered during the Billing Period or the Page 9 of 29 equivalent Associated Energy based on the 65% Monthly Minimum CUF, whichever is higher. The formula to calculate the CRFCUFt shall be: Where: FCt Corresponding FC to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, Page 14 of 29 for the Billing Period FPt Applicable Fuel Price for the Billing Period, expressed in PhP/MT FCCt Fuel Commodity Cost in USD/MT calculated using the formula below:

Where: Corresponding CRFCUFt to calculate the Total CRFCUFt Generation Charge expressed in PhP, for the Billing Peirod CRRCUFt Rate Component to calculate CRRCUFt, expressed in PhP/kWh for the Billing Period AEt Associated Energy based on the 65% Monthly Minimum CUF in kWh for the Billing Period AEDt Actual Energy Delivered from the Facility during the Billing Period in kWh CRR100%CUF Corresponding CRR at 100%CUF, which is PhP2.1500/kWh for reference, the CRRCUF from 65% to 100% is presented below. CUFt Actual CUF for the Billing Period. The CUF shall be calculated in accordance with the formula below. t Billing Period CUF 100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

CRR Php/kWh 2.1500 2.1717 2.1939 2.2165 2.2396 2.2632 2.2872 2.3118 2.3370 2.3626 2.3889 2.4157 2.4432 2.4713 2.5000 2.5294 2.5595 2.5904 Page 10 of 29 2.6220 2.6543 2.6875 2.7215 2.7564 2.7922 2.8289 2.8667 2.9054 2.9452 2.9861 3.0282 3.0714 3.1159 3.1618 3.2090 3.2576 3.3077

NFI 13m avg The average value for the three (3) months preceding the Billing Period for which the Invoice is being prepared of the Indonesian Coal Index 2 (5,800 GAR/5,500 NAR) as published by the Argus/Coalindo for Indonesian Coal Index Report, in USD/MT NFI 10 Value of Indonesian Coal Index 2 (5,800 GAR/5,500 NAR) for the month of May 2026, which is 100.09, in USD/MT AEDt As previously defined Weighted average of the actual Freight Cost, Marine Cargo Insurance, Letter of Credit Opening Charges, Disport Surveyor Fees, Wharfage, and Brokerage Fees in PhP/MT. Demurrage costs arising from this Agreement shall be a pass-through cost subject to the following: ● Any demurrage arising from the Seller’s procurement of coal in excess of its requirements, including demurrage resulting from the use of a port or vessel as temporary storage for such excess coal, shall be solely for the account of the Seller and shall not be passed on to the Buyer.

NFCCt

● Demurrage costs arising from causes other than the Seller’s excess procurement of coal, negligence, or fault, as stated above, shall be passed on to the Buyer, subject to a cap of PhP 200/MT or the actual demurrage cost, whichever is lower. ● A penalty, fine, surcharge, or similar charge imposed by the DOE or BOC arising from the failure to timely secure, submit, or comply with the requirements relating to the Certificate of Compliance for coal importation issued by the DOE shall be solely for the account of the Seller. Seller can only recover the NFCC items listed above and shall submit to the Buyer proof of actual costs in the form of official invoices and supporting documents.

FXm

Where: CUFt Qt CCt HT HO HFM t

As previously defined Energy delivered during the Billing Period or the equivalent associated energy based on the Monthly Minimum CUF, whichever is higher. Contract Capacity for the Billing Period in kW as indicated in Schedule 2 Total number of hours in the Billing Period Zero (0) for each Billing Period, as the Seller has no Outage Allowance The Equivalent Hours of Force Majeure in the Billing Period. As previously defined

● Formula to calculate the Qt and Aet for any billing period shall be:

● The CUFt shall be calculated in accordance with the formula below:

13.6. The NEA-SBAC issued the Invitation to Participate as CSP Observers for the submission and opening of bids scheduled on 10 July 2026 at the Ardenhills Suites and Hotel, Scout Albano, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City. 13.7. On 10 July 2026, the bid submission, opening and evaluation of bids were conducted where the following bidders submitted their respective bids:

VOMFt

A. Capital Recovery Fee (“CRF”)

13.5. The following Supplemental Bid Bulletins were issued by NEA-SBAC throughout the Joint CSP Process: Date Issued

Indexation

Fee

Where:

Total Generation Charge = CRFCUFt + FOMFCUFt + VOMFt + FCt + VAT

For Lot 2:

13.3. Invitations to Participate as CSP Observers were sent inviting certain groups to participate as CSP Observers in the PreBid Conference, including consumer representatives, from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-accredited consumer groups or from Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)registered consumer groups, community representatives, interested civil society organizations and consumers.

Payment,

Maintenance

Total Generation Charge

a. Therma Luzon Inc. (TLI); b. GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co. (GMEC); c. Sual Power Inc. (SPI); d. Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC); PageCo. 4 of(GNPD); 29 e. GNPower Dinginin Ltd. and f. Mariveles Power Generation Corporation (MPGC).

a. Cebu Energy Development Corporation (CEDC); b. Energy Development Corporation (EDC); c. FDC Misamis Power Corporation (FDC Misamis) d. GN Power Kauswagan, Ltd. Co. (GNPK); e. Malita Power, Inc. (MPI); f. Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC); g. PEDC h. Therma South, Inc. (TSI); i. Therma Visayas, Inc. (TVI); and j. Toledo Power Co. (TPC).

Monthly

and

The VOMFt shall be calculated as the product of the Variable Operation and Maintenance Rate (“VOMR”), in PhP/kWh, and the actual energy delivered for the Billing Period. The formula to calculate VOMFt shall be:

QUEZELCO II’s Minimum Hourly Nomination shall be 35% of the Contract Capacity for the Billing Period except in cases of force majeure event.

13.1. The Invitation to Bid (ITB) and the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the CSP were published in The Manila Times newspaper on 21 and 28 April 2026. The NEA-SBAC and the Member ECs likewise caused the posting of the ITB and TOR on the DOE CSP e-based portal, the NEA website, and the Member EC’s respective official websites or social media accounts.

FOMR LOCAL Php/kWh 0.4500 0.4545 0.4592 0.4639 0.4688 0.4737 0.4787 0.4839 0.4891 0.4945 0.5000 0.5056 0.5114 0.5172 0.5233 0.5294 0.5357 0.5422 0.5488 0.5556 0.5625 0.5696 0.5769 0.5844 0.5921 Page 13 of 29 0.6000 0.6081 0.6164 0.6250 0.6338 0.6429 0.6522 0.6618 0.6716 0.6818 0.6923

C. Variable Operations (“VOMF”)

Notwithstanding the 65% Monthly Minimum CUF, SPI must make available for dispatch the Contract Capacity.

13. Accordingly, the NEA-SBAC commenced and conducted the Joint CSP for the procurement of the aggregated baseload supply of the members ECs including QUEZELCO II. The CSP was structured into two (2) Lots: Lot 1, covering the Luzon Member ECs and Lot 2 covering the Visayas Member ECs. A CSP Report prepared by the NEASBAC is attached as Annex “H”. A summary of the key dates and events of the Joint CSP is provided below:

Corresponding FOMFCUF to calculate the Total Generation Charge, expressed in PhP, for the Billing Period Rate component to calculate FOMFCUFt, expressed in PhP/kWh for the Billing Period As previously defined As previously defined Corresponding FOMR at 100% CUF, which is PhP0.4500/kWh. For reference, the FOMRCUF from 65% to 100% is presented below.

100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

a. 26 December 2026; or b. The next immediate 26th day of the month following the ERC’s issuance of a Provisional Authority or Interim Relief to implement the Agreement, as applicable, or Final Authority to implement the Agreement, if neither Provisional Authority nor Interim Relief was issued.

9. Currently, QUEZELCO II maintains an existing supply agreement for a contracted capacity of five (5) MW Baseload and three (3) MW Emergency Supply. However, this contracted capacity has become insufficient to address QUEZELCO II’s increasing load requirements. Based on QUEZELCO II’s load forecasts and actual supply position, QUEZELCO II faces a power supply shortfall.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Exquadra Tower, Jade Drive, Ortigas Center Pasig City

194 RC ERC CASE NO. 2026 -___

For Lot 2, CEDC and PEDC were declared non-compliant with the Technical Proposal requirements and consequently disqualified from further participation in Lot 2 of the Joint CSP.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

BB No. 01

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE THREE MEGAWATTS (3 MW) BASE LOAD POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT BETWEEN QUEZON II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. 1 Authority granted per Order No. 71, Series of 2025 dated 20 August 2025, with the (QUEZELCO II)Office AND SUAL subject “Approving/Signing Authorities for Consumer Complaints Cases and Interlocutory POWER INC. (SPI), WITH Orders”. MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION AND PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF

issued by NEA-SBAC. For Lot 1, SPI, MPGC, and TLI passed the preliminary evaluation, with SPI and TLI submitting the Lowest Calculated Bids, each covering fifty percent (50%) of the aggregated contract capacity. For Lot 2, MPI, PCPC, TVI, and EDC passed the preliminary evaluation and submitted the Lowest Calculated Bids, with MPI, PCPC, and EDC each covering twenty percent (20%), and TVI forty percent (40%), of the aggregated contract capacity.

Applicabl e Taxes

In the event that the index (a) becomes unavailable, (b) is replaced by a new benchmark rate as determined by the relevant authorized entity, its successor-in-interest, or (c) ceases to exist, the Parties shall agree to adopt a new price index. The FPt to be billed by Seller shall be the lower between: 1. The sum of the (i) resulting value arising the Fuel Commodity Cost Formula and (ii) the Non-Fuel Commodity Cost; or 2. The actual fuel price as billed by the fuel supplier/s (i.e., supported by actual invoices) including the Non-Fuel Commodity Cost for the relevant Billing Period.

Page 11 of 29 Page 16 of 29

the Joint Application.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants Quezon II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO II) and Sual Power Inc. (SPI) respectfully pray of this Honorable Commission t0:

FCRt

Generation Rate Impact of SPI PSA Generation rate without SPI PhP6.3566/kWh Generation rate with SPI PhP5.4876/kWh Rate Impact PhP(0.8890)/kWh

Applicable Fuel Consumption Rate (“FCR”) for the Billing Period, expressed in kg/kWh, shall be the lower between: (i) the guaranteed FCRCUFt; or (ii) the actual plant FCR

17.Ê As shown in the rate impact analysis, the implementation of the PSA between SPI and QUEZELCO II will benefit the latter and its consumers with an average generation rate reduction of PhP0.8890/kWh. Thus, the PSA subject of this Joint Application will ultimately provide QUEZELCO II’s end-users with a continuous, secure and reliable supply of electricity at affordable rates.

If the resulting CUFt is a whole percentage number, the guaranteed FCRCUFt shall be the corresponding FCR set forth in the table below for CUF levels from 65% to 100%.

19.Ê The Applicants submit the following documents in support of the instant Joint Application: Description of Document

CUFt FURCUF2 FURCUF1 CUF2 CUF1

Illustration: CUFt 70.53% 71% 70% 0.4810 0.4818

The FCR at CUF levels from 65% to 100% are as follows: CUF 100% 99% 98% 97% 96% 95% 94% 93% 92% 91% 90% 89% 88% 87% 86% 85% 84% 83% 82% 81% 80% 79% 78% 77% 76% 75% 74% 73% 72% 71% 70% 69% 68% 67% 66% 65%

FCR, kg/kWh 0.4595 0.4600 0.4607 0.4612 0.4617 0.4623 0.4631 Page 17 of 29 0.4637 0.4642 0.4648 0.4654 0.4661 0.4670 0.4676 0.4683 0.4690 0.4697 0.4707 0.4714 0.4722 0.4729 0.4737 0.4744 0.4756 0.4764 0.4772 0.4784 0.4793 0.4801 0.4810 0.4818 0.4827 0.4841 0.4850 0.4859 0.4869

Note: For avoidance of doubt, the Buyer shall bear all other applicable costs, charges and taxes pursuant to Section 13.2 of this Agreement. E. Value-added Tax ("VAT'), if any. VAT shall only be chargeable to the Buyer if prevailing laws expressly allow its passing on by the Seller. Except for VAT, which shall be a pass-through component of the price, all other taxes pursuant to Section 13.1 and government dues, the WESM market fees, and ER 1-94 (Benefits to Host Community) shall be to the account of the Seller. Page 18 of 29

15.4. Replacement Power Charge The procurement of any Replacement Power shall be the responsibility of SPI, provided that the rates to be paid by Buyer for the procurement of Replacement Power shall be the lower between: a.Ê the actual rate of the Replacement Power; or b.Ê the generation rate based on the approved tariff for this Agreement. If Seller provides Replacement Power, Seller shall attach to the Seller Invoice the computation showing both the actual rate of the Replacement Power and the generation rate based on the approved tariff for this Agreement. In computing the actual rate of the Replacement Power, Seller shall declare whether the replacement energy was generated from a renewable energy source/s or from sources exempt from ValueAdded Taxes and shall provide the invoice issued to it by the replacement power plant clearly showing the breakdown of the rate for the replacement energy delivered. The generation rate based on this Agreement shall be computed in accordance with Schedule 7 as follows: ●Ê The CRRCUFt, FOMRCUFt and VOMRt shall be as previously defined above. ●Ê Further, the Fuel Cost shall be calculated using a fuel rate based on the FPt and FXm as previously defined above and the Seller’s Fuel Consumption Rate at the CUF level associated with the CRRCUFt and FOMRCUFt. ●Ê In the event that the FPt is unavailable due to the Facility being unable to utilize fuel and generate power for the supply under this Agreement, the fuel rate shall be based on the most recent 3-month average fuel cost, in PhP/kWh. Thus, the Replacement Power cost shall be:

3.Ê After hearing on the merits, ISSUE a Decision approving the Joint Application, including the PSA entered into by and between QUEZELCO II and SPI, and all the rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustment mechanisms set out therein at the rates provided in the PSA, and authorizing QUEZELCO II to charge and collect such rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustments therein from its end-users reckoned from the start of the supply by SPI to QUEZELCO II.

Annex

Power Supply Agreement between QUEZELCO II and SPI dated 09 September 2026 SPI’s Certification on Documents Previously Submitted invoking Section 24 of the ERC Resolution No. 07, Series of 2026: ERC Case No. 2024-103 RC ●Ê SPI’s WESM Registration ●Ê Write-up on Shareholders' Agreement SPI ●Ê Write-up on the Non-applicability of BOI Registration ●Ê SPI’s Environmental Compliance Certificate ●Ê Write-up on RE Developer ●Ê Write-up on RE Service Contract ●Ê Write-up on Water Permit ●Ê Documents Related to Fuel (Confidential) ERC Case No. 2025-018 RC ●Ê Certification on Non-Applicability of DWS Agreement ●Ê Certification on Non-Applicability of Transmission Wheeling Contract

Guaranteed FCR corresponding to the Actual CUF for the Billing Period. As previously defined Corresponding FCR for CUF2 set forth in the table below Corresponding FCR for CUF1 set forth in the table below CUF increment of the nearest upper value, in % CUF increment of the nearest lower value, in %

CUF2 CUF1 FCRCUF2 FCRCUF1

2.Ê Pending trial on the merits, GRANT provisional authority or interim relief allowing the implementation of the PSA including all the rates, fees, charges, and tariff adjustment therein from its customers reckoned from the start of the supply by SPI to QUEZELCO II under the PSA subject of this Joint Application; and

18.Ê In addition to the rate impact analysis, Joint Applicants wish to emphasize that the conduct of CSP was mandated to ensure the provision of least cost supply to consumers.

If the resulting CUFt is not a whole percentage number, the guaranteed FCRCUFt shall be determined using the following formula:

FCRCUFt

1.Ê ISSUE an Order treating Annexes “02”, “05A” and “05B” as confidential in perpetuity, directing their non-disclosure to persons other than the relevant officers and staff of the Honorable Commission, perpetually protecting the said information from public disclosure by maintaining the same separate and apart from the records of the case, ensuring that these are not divulged to unauthorized persons, and that these confidential documents are returned to QUEZELCO II and SPI after the termination of this case pursuant to Rule 4 of Practice and Procedure;

“01”

Other reliefs, just and equitable, are likewise prayed for. Cainta, Rizal and Quezon City for Pasig City, 01 October 2026. QUEZON II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. By:

“02”6

GREGORIO L. OFALSA Counsel for Page Applicant QUEZELCO II 27 of 29 PTR No. 8196746; 06 February 2026; Quezon City IBP No. 598102; 31 January 2026; Quezon City e-mail address: greg_ofalsa@yahoo.com MCLE Compliance No. VIII-0031655/2 May 2025 Roll No. 49009

●Ê Write-up on IPPA Agreement

Annex 02 includes Annexes “06”,on “07”, “08”, “09”, “10”, “12”, “13”, “14”, “15”, “16”, “17”, “18”, ●Ê Write-up EPC Contract “19”, “20” and “21”in the Technical Pre-Filing Requirements.

●Ê Write-up on Project Feasibility Study 22 of 29 ●Ê Write-up onPageWholesale Aggregator Agreement ERC Case No. 2026-057 RC ●Ê Transmission Service Agreement ERC Case No. 2026-063 RC ●Ê SPI’s Certification on Ultimate Parent Company ERC Case No. 2026-121 RC ●Ê SPI’s Amended Articles of Incorporation, SPI’s Amended By-Laws, and General Information Sheet for 2026 ●Ê Provisional Authority to Operate - 05 11 2026 Sual Power, Inc. (SPI) - 1,294.040 MW Sual CFTPP ●Ê SPI’s Latest Audited Financial Statement ●Ê SPI’s Write-up on the Non-Applicability of Rental Agreements ●Ê Operations and Maintenance Agreement (Confidential) QUEZELCO II’s Articles of Incorporation QUEZELCO II’s Business Registration QUEZELCO II’s Certificate of Franchise QUEZELCO II’s Existing Operating Permits Supply Demand Scenario Details of Existing Suppliers Contract Utilization Daily Load Curve Distribution Development Plan 2026 Power Supply Procurement Plan 2026 Matrix of Comparison in the DU Terms of Reference Bid Forms (Confidential) SPI’s Generation Rate and Derivation (Confidential) Sample Bill Rate Impact Analysis QUEZELCO II’s Certificate of Membership Estimation of Potential Reduction SPI’s Secretary’s Certificates

SUAL POWER INC. (SPI)7 By:

JUPITJ;R ��.�GUIO 5th Floor, Cs Office Building Complex #100 E. Rodriguez, Jr. Ave., Cs Road, Bo. Ugong, Pasig City1604, Metro Manila Telephone No. (02) 53171000/ jcabaguio@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph PTR No. 3 977997 / 05 January 2026 / Pasig City IBP Lifetime No. 063 72 / Makati Chapter MCLE Compliance No. VIII - 003 2570 valid until14 April 2028 Roll No. 47112

A IN G. CEDO III 5th Floo , Cs Office Building Complex #100 E. Rodriguez, Jr. Ave., Cs Road, Bo. Ugong, Pasig City1604, Metro Manila Telephone No. (02) 53171000 / acedoiii@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph PTR No. 3 977996 / 05 January 2026 / Pasig City IBP Lifetime No. 0103 80 / PPLM Chapter MCLE Compliance No. VIII - 0029077 valid until14 April 2028 Roll No. 54500

“02A” “02B” “02C” “02D” “03” “03A” “03B” “03C” “03D” “03E”

JU IETA B. ESTAMO Page 28 of 29 Complex, 5th Floor, Cs Office Building #100 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Cs Road, Bo. Ugong, Pasig City1604, Metro Manila Telephone No. (02) 53171000 / jestamo@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph PTR No. 3 978000 / 05 January 2026 / Pasig City IBP Invoice No. 53 6845 / 07 January 2026 / Central Luzon Bulacan Chapter MCLE Compliance No. VIII-0016943 valid until14 April 2028 Roll No. 3 9024

“04” “05A” “05B” “05C” “05D”

WESM

Page 23 of 29

Brief Description of the CSP Conducted BAC/Joint BAC CSP Observers Invitation to Bid (ITB) Certificate of Conformity from the NEA Publication of the ITB Posting of the ITB Instruction to Bidders Terms of Reference (TOR) Pre-bid Conference Eligibility Requirements Submission of Bids Evaluation of Bids Award of Contract Execution of Contract Affidavit to Support Provisional Approval or Interim Relief

“07” “11” D and E H I J K L M N O P Q and Series R and Series S and Series T and Series U and Series V-Series X

Other registered email: regulatorycompliance@smcgph.sanmiguel.com.ph

Page 29 of 29

MOTION FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFORMATION 20.Ê Section 1, Rule 4 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure provides that a party to any proceeding before the Honorable Commission may request that certain information not be disclosed and be treated as confidential. Pursuant to this, Applicants QUEZELCO II and SPI pray for the confidential treatment of the information contained in the following annexes: Documents and/or Information Documents Related to Fuel (Confidential)* Operations and Maintenance Agreement (Confidential)* Bid Forms (Confidential)* SPI’s Generation Rate and Derivation (Confidential)*

Annex 02 02 05A 05B

In the event of failure by Seller to provide the Replacement Power when required under this Agreement, Buyer shall source Replacement Power at the expense of Seller. Seller shall shoulder the positive difference between the Replacement Power cost and the generation rate based on the approved tariff for this Agreement including the total line rental costs, if any. Additionally, Seller shall pay reasonable fees to cover the cost incurred by the Buyer in covering the shortage as well as Liquidated Damages provided under Section 18.3.2 of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section, “reasonable fees” shall mean that Seller shall pay Buyer the fee of two thousand pesos (PhP 2,000) per day that Buyer had to source the Replacement Power to be paid within thirty (30) Days after written demand for payment. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 12.2.9 of the PSA shall apply where the Seller provides Replacement Power. Where the Buyer sources Replacement Power due to the Seller’s failure to provide the same, Section 10.4 of the PSA shall apply. 15.5. Outage Allowance. Except during force majeure event, SPI guarantees the delivery of the Contract Capacity in accordance with this Agreement. 15.6. Line Rental Charges. The Line Rental Cap is PhP 0.2734/kWh and shall apply on a per Billing Period basis throughout the entire Term of the Agreement. For each Billing Period, the Buyer shall pay only the lower of: (a) the Actual Line Rental Charges incurred for the energy delivered during such Billing Period; or (b) Capped Line Rental Charges. The procedures for the determination, billing, and settlement of Line Page 20 of 29 Rental Charges for any Billing Period are prescribed under Section 12 of the PSA. 15.7. Taxes. All present and future national, local or other lawful taxes, duties, levies, or other impositions applicable to Seller, the Facility and Seller’s other assets shall be paid by Seller in a timely manner, including any adjustments thereon. All present and future national, local or other lawful taxes, duties, levies, or other impositions applicable to Buyer arising from or in connection with its rights and obligations under this Agreement shall be paid by Buyer in a timely manner, including any adjustments thereon. 15.8. Prompt Payment Discount (“PPD”). Subject to Section 14 of the PSA, SPI shall extend a three percent (3%) discount based on the total Capital Recovery Fee, Fixed Operations and Maintenance Fee, and Variable Operations and Maintenance Fee for the Billing Period to QUEZELCO II as a PPD if: a. Payment by QUEZELCO II is made in full or partial within fifteen (15) Days upon receipt of the Seller Invoice for a Billing Period; and b. QUEZELCO II is up to date with all its payment obligations under this Agreement. RATE IMPACT ANALYSIS 16.Ê QUEZELCO II conducted a simulated rate impact analysis comparing two scenarios: (i) with the proposed Power Supply Agreement (PSA) with SPI, and (ii) without the PSA. The simulation incorporates relevant assumptions on demand forecast, supply mix, and existing contract capacities. The “without PSA” scenario considers the replacement of the required capacity through alternative sources, particularly the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). The indicative rate impact on its overall generation rate with and without supply from SPI under the PSA are as follows:

Page 21 of 29

23.Ê Annex “05B” contains the details concerning the financial plans and power rate calculations of SPI as well as the manner and details by which these were derived. The subject information is proprietary in nature and should be protected as trade secrets as contemplated by law and jurisprudence. In the case of Air Philippines Corporation vs. Pennswell, Inc. (G.R. No. 172836, December 13, 2007), the Supreme Court defined a trade secret, as follows:

25.Ê More importantly, competitors of SPI, should they obtain the information in Annexes “02-01“, “02-02”, “05A” and “05B“ may gain undue advantage to the prejudice of SPI. 26.Ê Joint Applicants hereby submit one (1) copy of the confidential documents in a sealed envelope, with the envelope and each page of the document stamped with the word “Confidential”. 27.Ê Further, Joint Applicants would like to implore the discerning wisdom of the Honorable Commission to include in its issuance for this purpose the “procedures for the handling or returning the confidential information, as appropriate, upon the close of the proceedings or at the end of25 theofperiod provided in this Rule”. Page 29 28.Ê This is guided by the fact that Joint Applicants will seek for the return of these sought to be declared confidential annexes after its utilization as evidence in this case and/or at the close of the proceedings hereof, so as to relieve the Honorable Commission of the burden of safekeeping the trade secrets of SPI enclosed in the subject annexes. ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF 29.Ê Under Rule 14, Section 1 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, the Honorable Commission may issue a provisional authority or interim relief prior to a final decision, provided the facts and circumstances alleged warrant such remedy. 30.Ê With the current limitations on the available capacity in the Luzon Grid, QUEZELCO II must immediately source its power supply from SPI to achieve energy security and to avoid potential power outages in QUEZELCO II’s franchise area. 31.Ê The latest QUEZELCO II’s DDP shows an increasing demand and energy requirements of its new and current customers in 2026-2040; 32.Ê Without the supply of SPI, QUEZELCO II will be severely exposed to volatile prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). Consequently, the QUEZELCO II’s generation charge will be adversely affected to the prejudice of its customers. 33.Ê As shown in the rate impact simulation, the subject PSA would provide QUEZELCO II’s customers with an average reduction of Php 0.8890/kWh. 34.Ê The implementation of the PSA with SPI will enable QUEZELCO II to continuously provide its customers with stable, reliable, secured, and long-term power supply at cheaper electricity rate. 35.Ê The grant of a Provisional Authority or Interim Relief will allow QUEZELCO II to have a steady, continuous, secured, and reliable source of electricity, which will immediately redound to the benefit of its customers in terms of providing a more affordable rate. To support the Motion for Provisional Authority, the Affidavit of Engr. Von Erwin G. Azagra, the Page 26 of 29 is attached as Annex “X” of QUEZELCO II’s General Manager, the Joint Application.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants Quezon II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO II) and Sual Power Inc. (SPI) respectfully pray of this Honorable Commission t0: 1.Ê ISSUE an Order treating Annexes “02”, “05A” and “05B” as confidential in perpetuity, directing their non-disclosure to persons other than the relevant officers and staff of the Honorable Commission, perpetually protecting the said information from public disclosure by maintaining the same separate and apart from the records of the case, ensuring that these are not divulged to unauthorized persons, and that these

BUSINESS DOE launches bidding round for Semirara coal blocks By Alena Mae S. Flores

HE Department of Energy invited qualified bidders Wednesday to participate in a coal bidding round scheduled for next month for development and production contracts on Semirara Island in Antique, as well as areas in Cagayan and Isabela provinces.

In a bidding notice, the DOE said the tender falls under Joint Administrative Order JAO 2026-01, titled “Providing for the Framework for the Evaluation and Award of Contracts and Agreements Involving Confirmed Resources (National Interest Evaluation Framework).” The bid round covers predetermined areas: PDA-DP-01, comprising 10 coal blocks on Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique; PDADP-02, involving three blocks in Amulung and Iguig, Cagayan; and PDA-DP-03, covering five blocks in Benito Soliven, Naguilian, and Cauayan in Isabela. The DOE established bidding criteria that include technical competence, requiring bidders to demonstrate they will have key mine personnel with the necessary qualifications and experience when the contract takes effect. Bidders must show satisfactory performance and at least five years of experience in mine development and operations using their proposed mining method as of the bid submission deadline. As an alternative to direct mining experience, related industry experience in upstream or downstream coal operations may be accepted under Section 7.4(b) of the framework, provided it is equivalent in scale, capital costs, or years of operation. Applicants must submit a proposed fiveyear work program and budget that includes a mine development plan, a production plan, and work commitments. Bidders for the Semirara blocks must commit to a minimum production target of 60 million metric tons.

By Gene Paul Agapito

“A trade secret may consist of any formula, pattern, device, or compilation of information that: (1) is used in one’s business; and (2) gives the employer an opportunity to obtain an advantage over competitors who do not possess the information. Generally, a trade secret is a process or device intended for continuous use in the operation of the business, for example, a machine or formula, but can be a price list or catalogue or specialized customer list. It is indubitable that trade secrets constitute proprietary rights.” 24.Ê The interest of the consuming public is sufficiently protected by the review and evaluation of the rates under the PSA by the Honorable Commission without the need to disclose the contents of Annexes “02-01“, “02-02”, “05A” and “05B“. The reasonableness and transparency of the prices of electricity is to be assured by the Honorable Commission through its own review and verification of SPI’s generation costs.

extrastory2000@gmail.com

CHED eyes Visa ‘Green Lane’ for foreign students

21.Ê In addition, Annex 02 (Documents Related to Fuel and Operations and Maintenance are SPI’s contract with Page 24Agreement) of 29 its fuel supplier containing the terms, including the rate, at which SPI purchases or procures fuel for the Power Plant. 22.Ê Annex “05A” contains the details of the breakdown of generation costs of other power suppliers who participated and submitted bid prices during the QUEZELCO II’s CSP.

Page 19 of 29

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

PARTIES 1.Ê Co-Applicant QUEZELCO II is a distribution utility (“DU”) Commission’s Resolutionduly No.organized 16, Series 20234under (2023 and electric cooperative and of existing andCSP by Guidelines). virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal Generation Rate Impact of SPI PSA office at Brgy. Gumian, Infanta, Quezon, represented in this instance 7 Generation without SPIERWIN PhP6.3566/kWh SUAL POWER INC. (SPI) Section 23rate of the EPIRA mandates a distribution by its 6.Ê General Manager, ENGR. VON G.that AZAGRA, of legal Generation rate with SPI PhP5.4876/kWh utility has the married obligation to with supply electricity inalso the least cost manner age, Filipino, and office address at QUEZELCO II By: Rate Impact PhP(0.8890)/kWh to its captive market, subjectInfanta, to collection of retail rate dulyIIapproved Main Office, Brgy. Gumian, Quezon. QUEZELCO holds an by this Honorable Commission. In to relation to this, Section (b)power of the exclusive Certificate of Franchise operate electric light45 and EPIRA allows distribution into bilateral servicesexpressly in the municipalities in the utilities Provinceto ofenter Quezon, namely: 17.Ê As shown in the rate impact analysis, the implementation of the power the review of this Panukulan, Honorable Infanta,supply Real, contracts General subject Nakar, toBurdeos, Jomalig, PSA between SPI andwith QUEZELCO II will benefit the latter Commission. It is Polilio; consistent the State’s policy to ensure theand Patnanungan, and JUPITJ;R ��.generation �GUIO its consumers withand anaffordability average rate of reduction quality, reliability, security, of the supply electric of 5 PhP0.8890/kWh. 5th Floor, Building Thus, the PSA Complex subject of thisand Joint power.2.Ê Co-Applicant SPICs isOffice a corporation duly organized #100 E. by Rodriguez, Jr.the Ave., Cs Road, Ugong, Application willvirtue ultimately provide QUEZELCO II’s of end-users existing under and of laws of theBo. Republic the Pasig City 1604, Metro Manila a subject continuous, secure and reliable supply electricity 7.Ê with The PSA was procured through a Joint Competitive Philippines, with principal office address at 5th Floor,of C5 Office at Telephone No. (02) 53171000/ jcabaguio@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph affordable rates. Selection Process (CSP) conducted by the Building Complex, No. 100 E. Rodriguez Jr.National Avenue, Electrification C5 Road, Bo. No. 3 977997 / 05 January Pasig City Administration (NEA), in accordance with 2026 NEA /Memorandum No. Ugong, Pasig PTR City 1604; IBP to Lifetime No. 063 72analysis, / MakatiJoint Chapter 18.Ê In(NEA addition the Guidelines), rate impact wish 2023-057 2023 CSP consistent withApplicants Section 5.4 of to MCLE Compliance VIII 003 2570 valid until 14 April 2028 the that No. the conduct ofMiguel CSP mandated to ensure the Department of aEnergy (DOE) No.was DC2023-06-0021 (DOE 3.Ê emphasize SPI is subsidiary ofCircular San Global Power Holdings No. 47consumers. 112 NEA provision least costRoll supply to 2023 CSP Policy), amended, whereby is Sual authorized to Corp. (SMGP) and of is as the owner of the 1,294.040 MW Coal-Fired undertake CSP on Plant behalf located of the electric cooperatives (ECs) in case the Thermal Power in Barangay, Pangascasan, Sual, 19.Ê The Applicants submit theorfollowing inits support of the latter request the NEA’s assistance is unabledocuments to complete CSP one Pangasinan; instantthe Joint Application: (1) year before scheduled date as indicated in the Power Supply Procurement PlanApplicants (PSPP), and thebe 2023 CSPwith Guidelines. 4.Ê Joint may served notices, orders, and A Honorable IN G. CEDO III other processes of Description this Commission through Annex their of Document 5th Floo , Cs Office Building Complex respective counsel at the addresses indicated herein; Power Agreement between QUEZELCO II #100 Supply E. Rodriguez, Jr. Ave., Cs Road, Bo. Ugong, STATEMENT OF FACTS “01” Pasig 1604, Metro and SPI dated 09City September 2026Manila Telephone No. (02) 53171000 / acedoiii@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph SPI’s Certification on THE Documents Previously Competitive Selection Process NATURE OF APPLICATION PTR No. 3 977996 January Pasig City Submitted invoking/ 05 Section 242026 of /the ERC IBP Lifetime No. 0 103 80 / PPLM Chapter Resolution No. 07, Series of 2026: 8.Ê Based on its current Supply-Demand Scenario for the years 5.Ê The instant Joint Application for approval of the three (3) MCLE Compliance VIII - 0029077 validAgreement untilfrom 14 April 2028 ERC CaseBase No.No. 2024-103 RC Supply 2021 to 2041, QUEZELCO II’s peak demand increased 7.06 MW megawatts (“MW”) Load Power (“PSA”) Roll No. 54500 in 2021 to 10.47 MW in 2025. The Supply-Demand Scenario also ●Ê SPI’s WESM Registration entered into by and between QUEZELCO II and SPI, is being shows thattoQUEZELCO II’s peak demandfor will to approval increase ●Ê Write-up onCommission Shareholders' Agreement submitted this Honorable its continue review SPI and 2 ofinRepublic from 11.40toMW in 2026 32.64 MW 2041. As of year 2026 ●Ê Write-up on the45(b) Non-applicability ofAct BOI pursuant Sections 251 to and No. 9136, QUEZELCO II hasRegistration deficitPower of 3.40MW andReform an expected otherwise known asa supply the Electric Industry Act ofsupply 2001 deficit of 0.64 by 2041. copy of QUEZELCO II’s Supply-Demand ●Ê SPI’s Environmental Compliance (EPIRA), RuleMW 20(B) of theA Honorable Commission’s Resolution No. JU IETA B. ESTAMO 3 and“03”. Scenario hereto attached as Annex 01, Seriesisof 2021Certificate (ERC RRPP), Article VIII of the Honorable6 “02” 5th Floor,onCsRE Office Building Complex, ●Ê Write-up Developer #100 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Cs Road, an Bo.existing Ugong, supply 9.Ê Currently, QUEZELCO II maintains ●Ê Write-up on RE Service Contract Pasigcapacity City 1604,five Metro agreement for a●Êcontracted (5) Manila MW Baseload and three Write-up on WaterofPermit 1 SEC.25. RetailNo. Rate. (02) – The retail rates charged by distribution utilities for the supply of electricity Telephone 53171000 / jestamo@smgp.sanmiguel.com.ph (3) inMW Emergency Supply. However, this contracted capacity has ●Ê Documents Related toon the principle Fuel their captivePTR marketNo. shall be subject to regulation by the ERC based of full recovery 3 978000 / 05 January 2026 Pasig City become to address QUEZELCO II’s/that increasing load (Confidential) of prudentinsufficient and reasonable economic costs incurred, or such other principles will promote efficiency IBP Invoice No. 53 6845 / 07 January 2026 / as may be determined by the ERC. requirements. Based QUEZELCO ERC Caseon No. 2025-018 II’s RC load forecasts and actual 2 Luzon Bulacan Chapter Distribution utilities mayCentral enter into bilateral power supply contracts subject to review by the ERC: supply position, faces a power supply shortfall. ●ÊQUEZELCO CertificationIIon Non-Applicability of DWS xxx. MCLE Compliance No. VIII-00 16943 valid until14 April 2028 3 Agreement A Resolution Adopting the Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Roll No. 3 9024 Commission. ●Ê Certification on Non-Applicability of 4 Transmission Wheeling Contract Implementing Guidelines for the Procurement, Execution, and Evaluation of Power Supply Page 2 of 29 Agreements Entered Into by Distribution Utilities for the Supply of Electricity To Their Captive Market. 5 EPIRA, Sec. 2 (b).

Annex 02 includes Annexes “06”, “07”, “08”, “09”, “10”, “12”, “13”, “14”, “15”, “16”, “17”, “18”, Page 3 of 29 “19”, “20” and “21”in the Technical Pre-Filing Requirements.

Other registered email: Page 22 of 29 regulatorycompliance@smcgph.sanmiguel.com.ph

Page 29 of 29

(MS-NOV. 12/19, 2026)

THE Commission on Higher Education aims to create a visa “green lane” for foreign students aspiring to study in the Philippines, streamlining application and approval processes. At the ASEAN-UK Higher Education Week 2026, CHED chairperson Shirley Agrupis announced the plan to make studying in the country more accessible by addressing bureaucratic delays in verifying foreign documents. “One of the concerns that we got from the ground is the long processing of visas, the bureaucracy,” Agrupis said. “That there’s so many requirements, one student visits from one office to another.” To address this, CHED aims to launch a one-stop, interoperable digital portal for all government agencies involved in processing and validating student credentials. The portal is designed to consolidate application steps into a single platform for incoming international students. “This was designed not really [just for] expediting, but one way of selling our education system in the Philippines,” Agrupis said. CHED also plans to expand the country’s transnational higher education partnerships. Agrupis highlighted 10 priority sectors for academic collaboration, including climate change, health care, digital literacy, artificial intelligence, financial literacy, agriculture, and fisheries. “We are looking into Japan,” Agrupis said. “In fact, we signed already because they are close to us and they are leading in smart and resilient agriculture and fisheries.” Agrupis said CHED is also pursuing agreements with universities in the United States, Canada, and Australia, noting Australia’s strength in health sciences and forensic science. “We have many existing partnerships already with other universities, of course, covered with scholarships,” she said. CHED is pushing for mutual recognition of degrees offered in the Philippines and abroad, leveraging the recently signed AsiaPacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, known as the Tokyo Convention.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026 extrastory2000@gmail.com RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ, Editor ALENA MAE S. FLORES, Asst. Editor

Solon seeks investigation on DOE’s coal mine auction

EXTRAJUDICIAL EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT SETTLEMENT OF OF THE THE ESTATE ESTATE OF OF SONIA SONIA M. M. BALLO, BALLO, DELFIN DELFIN C. C. BALLO BALLO AND AND CHRISTINA CHRISTINA M. M. BALLO BALLO Notice Notice is is hereby hereby given given that that the the estate estate of of the the late late Sonia Sonia M. M. Ballo, Ballo, Delfin Delfin C. C. Ballo Ballo and and Christina Christina M. M. Ballo Ballo has has been been extrajudicially extrajudicially settled settled among among their their heirs heirs as as per per Doc. Doc. No. No. 721; 721; Page Page No. No. 41; 41; Book Book No. No. II; II; Series Series of of 2026, 2026, before before Atty. Atty. Rhouan Rhouan S. S. Loseriaga, Loseriaga, Notary Notary Public Public City City of of Makati. Makati. Until Until December December 31, 31, 2026, 2026, Appt. Appt. No. No. M-035 M-035 (2025-2026), (2025-2026), Roll Roll of of Attorneys Attorneys No. No. 48469, 48469, IBP IBP Lifetime Lifetime Member Member No. No. 09625; 09625; Manila Manila III III Chapter, Chapter, PTR PTR No. No. MKT10788909 MKT10788909 01/22/2026, 01/22/2026, Makati Makati City, City, Unit Unit 708 708 Cityland Cityland Herrera Herrera Tower, Tower, 98 98 V.A. V.A. Rufino Rufino St., St., Salcedo Salcedo Village, Village, Makati Makati City, City, Philippines, Philippines, Telephone Telephone No. No. 02 02 8816-3806 8816-3806

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A LAWMAKER has called for a congressional investigation into the Department of Energy (DOE), citing issues over the impending auction of the Semirara coal mine and other regulatory concerns. Rep. Mark Cojuangco of Pangasinan’s 2nd District said in a privilege speech before the 20th Congress the issues surrounding the DOE are “a matter of grave and urgent national interest.” “We are witnessing policy Career Career Opportunity Opportunity in in INDUS INDUS HEALTHCARE HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, PRODUCTS, INC. INC. confusion, administrative negligence and troubling moves DEPUTY DEPUTY GENERAL GENERAL MANAGER MANAGER –– INDUS INDUS PH PH (( 11 vacancy) vacancy) towards the privatization of Job Job Description: Description: irreplaceable national assets,” Supports Supports the the General General Manager Manager in in overseeing overseeing the the overall overall operations operations on on Indus Indus PH, PH, aa he said. pharmaceutical pharmaceutical import import and and distribution distribution company company sourcing sourcing products products from from India India for for the the Philippines Philippines market. market. Responsible Responsible for for ensuring ensuring smooth smooth coordination coordination across across regulatory, regulatory, supply supply “Energy security is national chain, chain, logistics, logistics, sales sales and and administration. administration. security. When the lights go out, the economy stops. When QUALIFICATIONS: QUALIFICATIONS:  Must Must have have 30 30 years years minimum minimum experience experience in in the the pharmaceutical pharmaceutical industry, industry, preferably preferably with with power becomes a luxury, the strong strong background background in in pharmaceutical pharmaceutical importation, importation, regulatory regulatory processes, processes, supply supply chain chain poor suffer. That is why I and and distribution distribution in in the the Philippines. Philippines. am compelled today to cast  Must Must have have strong strong leadership, leadership, operational operational and and regulatory regulatory coordination coordination experienced experienced  Must Must have have the the knowledge knowledge about about products products from from India India a searching, critical eye on several burning issues involvApplications Applications may may be be sent sent to: to: ing the DOE and its attached philippines@indusgroups.com philippines@indusgroups.com agency,” he said. MS MS-October -October29, 29,November November5, 5,and and12, 12,2026 2026

INDUS INDUS HEALTHCARE HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, PRODUCTS, INC. INC. 2706 2706 AA Centuria Centuria Medical Medical Makati Makati 27F 27F Kalayaan Kalayaan Avenue Avenue Poblacion, Poblacion, Makati Makati City City 1210 1210

of sustaining macroeconomic stability, a sound financial system and reliable infrastructure and connectivity to support the growth of emerging and higher-value industries in an economic briefing in Iloilo. For Western Visayas, opportunities include building on the region’s strengths in agriculture and commerce while expanding capabilities in digital services, renewable energy, tourism and higher-value manufacturing, particularly activities that generate greater economic value through processing, innovation and technology.

VINAYAGAMOORTHY, VINAYAGAMOORTHY, ANAND ANAND BABU BABU Indian Indian National National

ICTSI’s income jumped 20% to $899m in first 9 months

Indus Indus Healthcare Healthcare Products, Products, Inc. Inc. hereby hereby declares declares that that the the above-named above-named foreign foreign national national is is able, able, willing, willing, and and qualified qualified to to perform perform the the services services and and job job description description for for this this position. position. The The company company has has the the intention intention to to employ employ the the said said foreign foreign national national and and apply apply for for an an Alien Alien Employment Employment Permit Permit with with the the Department Department of of Labor Labor and and Employment Employment –– National National Capital Capital Region Region located located at at 967 967 Manila Manila Maligaya Maligaya St., St., Malate Malate Manila. Manila.

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TODAY IfIf there there are are any any objections objections or or inquiries, inquiries, please please contact contact the the concerned concerned DOLE DOLE Regional Regional Office Office ÊÊ

ILOILO BRIEFING. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) officials underscore the importance

Career Career Opportunity Opportunity in in JellyfishÊEducationÊPhilippinesÊInc.Ê JellyfishÊEducationÊPhilippinesÊInc.Ê NihongoÊInstructorÊ NihongoÊInstructorÊ (1 (1 Vacancy) Vacancy)

By Darwin G. Amojelar

JobÊDescription:Ê JobÊDescription:Ê Teach Teach Japanese Japanese language language classes classes to to beginners beginners and/or and/or advanced advanced learners. learners. Develop Develop lesson lesson plans plans and and teaching teaching materials. materials. Assess Assess student student progress progress and and provide provide feedback. feedback. Conduct Conduct classroom classroom activities activities that that promote promote language language learning learning and and cultural cultural understanding. understanding. Support Support students students in in preparing preparing for for language language proficiency proficiency tests tests (e.g., (e.g., JLPT). JLPT).

    

NTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said Wednesday its net income rose 20 percent to $898.89 million in the first nine months of 2026 from $751.56 million a year ago on the back of higher operating income and contributions from newly-added terminals.

QualificationÊ(Education,ÊExperience,ÊProfessionalÊLicense,ÊSkillsÊCertification,ÊSpecializedÊTraining):Ê QualificationÊ(Education,ÊExperience,ÊProfessionalÊLicense,ÊSkillsÊCertification,ÊSpecializedÊTraining):Ê ÊÊ

Graduated Graduated from from university university and and fall fall under under any any of of the the following: following: oo Completed Completed aa major/minor major/minor in in Japanese Japanese language language education education at at aa University University oo Passed Passed the the Japanese Japanese Language Language Teaching Teaching Competition Competition Test Test oo Completed Completed 420 420 hours hours of of Japanese Japanese language language teacher teacher training training course course accepted accepted by by the the Agency Agency for for Cultural Cultural Affairs Affairs Person Person or or prospective prospective graduate graduate Japanese Japanese native native level, level, English English daily daily conversation conversation level level Can Can work work for for aa long long time time

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Applications Applications may may be besent sent to: to: Marie Marie Joy Joy Alejo Alejo humanresource.jec@gmail.com humanresource.jec@gmail.com Company/ÊEmployerÊ Company/ÊEmployerÊ

NameÊofÊforeignÊnationalÊintendingÊtoÊapplyÊforÊtheÊ NameÊofÊforeignÊnationalÊintendingÊtoÊapplyÊforÊtheÊ positionÊ positionÊ

CompanyÊName:ÊJellyfishÊEducationÊ CompanyÊName:ÊJellyfishÊEducationÊ PhilippinesÊInc.Ê PhilippinesÊInc.Ê

Name: Name: Sakura Sakura Okamura Okamura Address: Address: 11A 11A Santos Santos St. St. Buting Buting Pasig Pasig City, City, 1600 1600 IntendedÊperiodÊofÊemployment:ÊOne IntendedÊperiodÊofÊemployment:ÊOne (1) (1) year year

Complete Complete address: address: Unit Unit 902A 902A East East Tower, Tower, Tektite Tektite Towers, Towers, Ortigas Ortigas Pasig Pasig City City NatureÊofÊbusiness: NatureÊofÊbusiness: Education/ConsultancyÊ Education/ConsultancyÊ

Excluding a nonrecurring charge related to the sale of Yantai International Container Terminal (YICT) in China’s Shandong Province, the Razon-led port operator’s net income would have grown 22 percent to $913.59 million. Revenue from port operations rose 24 percent to $2.90 billion from $2.34 billion. ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. said the company delivered dou-

Manila Manila

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CompanyÊhereby CompanyÊhereby declares declares that that the the above-named above-named foreign foreign national national isis able, able, willing, willing, and and qualified qualified to to perform perform the the services services and and job job description description for for this this position. position. The The company company has has the the intention intention to to employ employ the the said said foreign foreign national national and and apply apply for for an an Alien Alien Employment Employment Permit Permit with with the the DepartmentÊofÊLaborÊandÊEmploymentÊ-ÊNationalÊCapitalÊ DepartmentÊofÊLaborÊandÊEmploymentÊ-ÊNationalÊCapitalÊ RegionÊlocated RegionÊlocated at at 967ÊMaligayaÊStreet,ÊMalate,ÊManila. 967ÊMaligayaÊStreet,ÊMalate,ÊManila.

TODAY

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Career Opportunity Career Opportunity in in Amazon Amazon Operation Operation Services Services Philippines Philippines Inc Inc (AOSPI) (AOSPI) Career Opportunity in Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI)

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Career Opportunity in Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI)

Position title: Risk Specialist II Associate Position title: Risk Specialist Position title: Prod Compliance Position title: Prod Compliance Associate Sr. Sr. Vacancy Vacancy (1) Vacancy (1) Vacancy (1)(1) Job Description: Job Description: Job Description: Job Description: ••

ACEN’s 9-month profit surged 84%

As As aa Senior Senior Compliance Compliance Associate, Associate,you you will will review review product productinformation information against against regulatory regulatory documentation documentation to to ensure ensure compliance compliance ffor or Amazon Amazon listings. listings.

Amazon tools, you products and from in collaboration with your and Using Amazon tools, you will will classify classify products and address address deviations from SOPs SOPs inbad collaboration with your manager manager and expert experts. s. ➢ disrupt bad behaviors and insights to us where actors prioritizing their ➢ ••To ToUsing disrupt bad actor actor behaviors and generate generate insights to help helpdeviations us understand understand where bad actors are are prioritizing their efforts. efforts. •• You You will will prioritize prioritize tasks tasks using using reports reports to to meet meet quality, quality, productivity, productivity, and and service service targets. targets. ➢ experience in investigations, identity and authenticating fraudulent documents and ➢ ••Have Have experience in fraud fraud investigations, identity verification, verification, andreports authenticating fraudulent documents and invoices. invoices. You with You may may identify identify improvement improvement opportunities, opportunities, like like automating automating reports with Excel, Excel, and and contribute contribute to to SOP SOP refinement. refinement. You You will will sh share are expertise expertise in in ➢ role sellers through video ➢ This Thisknowledge-sharing role will will involve involve interviewing interviewing sellers through video calls. calls. sessions mentor peers. knowledge-sharing sessions and and mentor peers. ➢ ➢ The The working working hours hours will will align align with with business business hours hours in in China. China. ➢ Develops, teaches, and mentors other investigators to deliver accurate, comprehensive investigations with detailed, thoughtful annotations. ➢ Develops, teaches, and mentors other investigators to deliver accurate, comprehensive investigations with detailed, thoughtful annotations. Qualification Qualification(Education, (Education,Experience, Experience,Professional ProfessionalLicense, License, Skills SkillsCertification, Certification,Specialized SpecializedTraining): Training):

Qualification Qualification(Education, (Education,Experience, Experience,Professional ProfessionalLicense, License, Skills SkillsCertification, Certification,Specialized SpecializedTraining): Training): ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢

•• Bachelor's Bachelor's degree degree holder holder •• Proficiency Proficiency in in Microsoft Microsoft Office Office Suite Suite and and related related applications applications Proficient Proficient in in Mandarin Mandarin (reading, (reading, listening, listening,speaking, speaking, and and writing writing in in simplified simplified and/or and/or traditional traditional Chinese Chinese languages) languages) and and English, English, with with an an ability ability to to •• Thai Thai B1+ B1+ (or (or equivalent) equivalent) proficiency proficiency in in verbal verbal and and written written communication communication compose compose grammatically grammatically correct, correct,concise, concise, and and accurate accurate written written responses responses •• English B2+ (or proficiency verbal and English B2+and (or equivalent) equivalent) proficiency in inskills, verbalincluding and written written communication Strong written verbal communication thecommunication ability to comfortably engage with internal and external customers

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to comfortably engage with internal and external customers Ability (SOPs) recommend the Ability to to think think beyond beyond the the Standard Standard Operating Operating Procedures Procedures (SOPs) and and recommend the right right outcome. outcome. •• Leverages Leverages team team knowledge knowledge across across several several Applications Applicationsmay maybe besent sentto: to: specialty issues .. Company specialty areas areas to to help help resolve resolve recurring recurring seller sellerName issuesof Name of Company HR: HR: Ivanka Ivanka Patricia Patricia Quinial Quinial Demonstrate tasks objectives Demonstrate the the ability ability to to self-manage self-manage on on priority priority tasks and andhttps://www.amazon.jobs/en/search objectives Email Emailaddress: address: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search Applications Applications may maybe besent sentto: to: Name of national NamePatricia of foreign foreign national intending intendingto to apply apply for for the the position position Name Quinial Name of of Company Company HR: HR: Ivanka Ivanka Patricia Quinial Email Email address: address: https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search

Company/ Company/Employer Employer Company Company Name: Name:

Name: Name: Chuthamat Chuthamat Injaeng Injaeng

Amazon Amazon Operation Operation Services Services Philippines Philippines Inc Inc (AOSPI) (AOSPI)

Address: City Address: Pasig City national intending to apply for the position Name ofPasig foreign

Complete Complete address: address:

Nationality: Nationality: Thai Thai

Company/ Company/Employer Employer

Name of foreign national intending to apply for the position

Company Company Name: Unit 2C, Unit No. No.Name: 2C, Flr. Flr. no. no. 4th, 4th, One One E-Com E-Com Bldg., Bldg., Ocean Ocean Drive, Drive, Mall Mall of of Asia Asia Complex Complex St., St., Zone Zone 10, 10, Barangay Barangay 076, 076, District District 1, 1, Pasay Pasay City, City, Metro Metro Manila, Manila,

Intended period of two Intended periodJerry of employment: employment: two (2) (2) years years Name: ÊÊ Name: Ngalim Ngalim Jerry

Amazon Services Amazon Operation Services Philippines Philippines Inc Inc (AOSPI) (AOSPI) NCR, 1300 NCR, Operation 1300

Address: Address: Pasay Pasay City City

Complete Complete address: Nature of Nature address: of business: business: AOSPI AOSPI is is aa corporation corporation organized organized under under Philippine Philippine

Nationality: Nationality: Cameroonian Cameroonian

laws. laws. ItIt is is registered registered with with the the Securities Securities and and Exchange Exchange Commission Commission (SEC) (SEC)

9th to Floor, Four Center, 22, Mall 9thunder to 14th 14th Floor, Four E-Com E-Com Center, Blk. Blk. No. 22, Harbor Harbor Drive, Drive, Mall of of Asia Asia SEC Certificate of No. CS201722700. ItIt is to under SEC Certificate of Registration Registration No.No. CS201722700. is authorized authorized to Complex District 1, 076, Pasay City, Metro Manila, 1300 Complex St., District 1, Barangay Barangay 076, Pasay City,to Metro Manila, 1300 provide support services, including but not remote technical support provideSt., support services, including but not limited limited to remote technical support

Intended Intendedperiod period of of employment: employment: two two (2) (2) years. years.

services, services, IT IT development, development, customer customer support, support, customer customer care care services, services,

Nature of AOSPI aa corporation organized under Philippine Nature of business: business: AOSPI is isback-office corporation organized under Philippine business process support (including but limited business process outsourcing, outsourcing, back-office support (including but not not limited laws. Itsystems, with the and Exchange Commission (SEC) laws. It is is registered registered withsoftware, the Securities Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to hardware, financial operations, vendor management, to systems, hardware, software, financial operations, vendor management, under Certificate of ItIt is authorized to under SEC Certificate of Registration Registration No. CS201722700. is authorized to and human resources relating the back-office), other activities andSEC human resources relating to to No. the CS201722700. back-office), and and other activities necessary or useful as provide support including but not limited remote technical support necessary or services, useful thereto, thereto, as well well as marketing support activities, without provide support services, including butas notmarketing limited to tosupport remoteactivities, technicalwithout support engaging in retail trade, the practice of a profession, or acting as an Internet engaging in retail trade, the practice of a profession, or acting as an Internet services, IT development, customer support, customer care services, services, IT development, customer support, customer care services, Service Provider. Service Provider. business business process process outsourcing, outsourcing, back-office back-office support support (including (including but but not not limited limited to hardware, software, financial operations, vendor management, to systems, systems, hardware, software, financial operations, vendor management, Amazon Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI). declares that Amazon Operation Operation Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI). hereby hereby declares that the the above-named above-named foreign foreign national national is is able, able, willing, willing, and and qualified qualified to to perform perform the the and human resources relating to the and activities andservices human resources relating to position. the back-office), back-office), and other activities and job for The has the to services and job description description for this this position. The company company hasother the intention intention to employ employ the the said said foreign foreign national national and and apply apply for for an an Alien Alien Employment Employment Permit Permit necessary or as well as support activities, without necessary or useful useful thereto, thereto, as and wellEmployment as marketing marketing(DOLE) supportCentral activities, without with of Office, DOLE with the the Department Department of Labor Labor and Employment (DOLE) Central Office, DOLE Building, Building, Muralla Muralla Wing Wing corner, corner, General General Luna Luna Street, Street, Intramuros, Intramuros, engaging retail trade, engaging in retailPhilippines trade, the the practice practice of of aa profession, profession, or or acting acting as as an an Internet Internet Manila, 1002, Manila,in 1002, Philippines Manila Manila Service Provider. Service Provider.

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Any Any Filipino Filipino jobseeker jobseeker who who is is competent, competent, able, able, and and willing willing to to perform perform the the services services for for which which the the foreign foreign national national is is intended intended to to be be hired hired may may file file an an objection objection

at Labor Employment (DOLE) Central Office, Building, Muralla Wing Luna Intramuros, Manila, at Department Department of Labor and and Employment (DOLE)hereby Centraldeclares Office, DOLE DOLE Building, Murallaforeign Wing corner, corner, General Luna Street, Street, Intramuros, Manila, Amazon Operation Services Philippines Inc that above-named national is and to the Amazon Operationof Services Philippines Inc (AOSPI). (AOSPI). hereby declares that the the above-named foreign nationalGeneral is able, able, willing, willing, and qualified qualified to perform perform the 1002, Philippines after Please inform Department of and –– NCR ifif you any on criminal 1002, and Philippines after this this publication. Please inform the thehas Department of Labor Labor and Employment Employment NCR you have have any information information onEmployment criminal offenses offenses services job for this The the to the national and for Permit services and job description description forpublication. this position. position. The company company has the intention intention to employ employ the said said foreign foreign national and apply apply for an an Alien Alien Employment Permit committed committed by by the the foreign foreign national. national. with with the the Department Department of of Labor Labor and and Employment Employment (DOLE) (DOLE) Central Central Office, Office, DOLE DOLE Building, Building, Muralla Muralla Wing Wing corner, corner, General General Luna Luna Street, Street, Intramuros, Intramuros, Manila, Manila, 1002, 1002, Philippines Philippines

TODAY

Any Any Filipino Filipino jobseeker jobseeker who who is is competent, competent, able able and and willing willing to to perform perform the the services services for for which which the the foreign foreign national national is is intended intended to to be be hired hired for, for, may may file file an an objection objection at at Department Department of of Labor Labor and and Employment Employment (DOLE) (DOLE) Central Central Office, Office, DOLE DOLE Building, Building, Muralla Muralla Wing Wing corner, corner, General General Luna Luna Street, Street, Intramuros, Intramuros, Manila, Manila, 1002, 1002, Philippines Philippines after after this this publication. publication. Please Please inform inform Department Department of of Labor Labor and and Employment Employment –– NCR, NCR, ifif you you have have any any information information on on criminal criminal offenses offenses committed committed by by the the foreign foreign national. national.

CAREER CAREER OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY IN IN VOION VOION KANE KANE PRINTING PRINTING ECO ECO PACKING PACKING (PHILIPPINES) (PHILIPPINES) INC. INC. Position Position

Printing Printing Machine Machine Technician Technician

Vacancy Vacancy

One One (1) (1)

Job Job Description Description •Ê •Ê Set Set up up and and operate operate 4-color 4-color printing printing machine machine and and 6-color 6-color printing printing machine machine according according to to job job specifications. specifications. 565430658-v1\AP_DMS 11 565430658-v1\AP_DMS •Ê •Ê Monitor Monitor printing printing quality quality and and make make adjustments adjustments as as needed. needed. 583778733-v1\AP_DMS 583778733-v1\AP_DMS •Ê •Ê Perform Perform routine routine maintenance maintenance and and minor minor repairs repairs on on machines. machines. •Ê •Ê Ensure Ensure machine machine safety safety and and proper proper functioning functioning at at all all times. times. •Ê •Ê Troubleshoot Troubleshoot mechanical mechanical or or printing printing issues issues quickly quickly and and efficiently. efficiently. •Ê •Ê Maintain Maintain aa clean clean and and organized organized work work area. area. •Ê •Ê Work Work closely closely with with the the production production team team to to meet meet deadlines deadlines and and quality quality standards. standards. Qualification Qualification and and Expertise Expertise •Ê •Ê Proven Proven experience experience operating operating 4-Color 4-Color Printing Printing Machine Machine and and 6-color 6-color printing printing machine. machine. •Ê •Ê Knowledge Knowledge of of machine machine calibration, calibration, ink ink mixing, mixing, and and print print quality quality control. control. •Ê •Ê Ability Ability to to read read job job orders orders and and follow follow specifications specifications accurately. accurately. •Ê •Ê Strong Strong attention attention to to detail detail and and problem-solving problem-solving skills. skills. •Ê •Ê Willingness Willingness to to work work in in shifts shifts or or extended extended hours hours as as needed. needed. Applications Applications may may be be sent sent to: to: Name: Name: Ms. Ms. Clarisse Clarisse Ong Ong Email: Email: clarisse@voion.com clarisse@voion.com Company/ Name Company/ Employer Employer Name of of foreign foreign national national intending intending to to apply apply for for the the position position Company Name: Company Name: Name: Voion Voion Kane Kane Printing Printing Eco Eco Name: Wen, Wen, Changlong Changlong Packing Address: Packing (Philippines) (Philippines) Inc. Inc. Address: Sto. Sto. Tomas, Tomas, Batangas Batangas Complete Complete Address: Address: Block Block 5, 5, Lot Lot 1, 1, Millenium Millenium Nationality: Nationality: Chinese Chinese Drive, Intended Drive, Light Light Industry Industry and and Science Science Park Park III, III, Intended period period of of employment: employment: Two Two (2) (2) Brgy. years Brgy. San San Rafael, Rafael, Sto. Sto. Tomas, Tomas, Batangas Batangas years Nature Nature of of Business: Business: Manufacturing Manufacturing of of packaging packaging materials materials Voion Voion Kane Kane Printing Printing Eco Eco Packing Packing (Philippines) (Philippines) Inc. Inc. hereby hereby declares declares that that the the above-named above-named foreign foreign national national is is able, able, willing, willing, and and qualified qualified to to perform perform the the services services and and job job description description for for this this position. position. The The Company Company has has the the intention intention to to employ employ the the said said foreign foreign national national and and apply apply for for an an Alien Alien Employment Employment Permit Permit with with the the Department Department of of Labor Labor and and EmploymentEmployment- National National Capital Capital Region Region located located at at 967 967 Maligaya Maligaya Street, Street, Malate, Malate, Manila. Manila. Any Any Filipino Filipino jobseeker jobseeker who who is is competent, competent, able able and and willing willing to to perform perform the the services services for for which which the the foreign foreign national national is is intended intended to to be be hired hired for, for, may may file file an an abjection abjection at at DOLE DOLE Central Central Office Office located located at at 967 967 Maligaya Maligaya Street, Street, Malate, Malate, Manila Manila within within 30 30 days days after after this this publication. publication. Please Please inform inform DOLE DOLE Central Central Office Office ifif you you have have any any information information on on criminal criminal offenses offenses committed committed by by the the foreign foreign national. national.

ble-digit growth in volumes, revenues and new terminals and the discontinued YICT earnings despite a more challenging operoperations, consolidated volume would ating environment. have risen a marginal 0.1 percent. “Recently added terminals contributed Third-quarter net income rose 15 percent to growth across the Group, while our to $308.90 million from $267.72 million. existing operations continued to deliver Quarterly revenue increased 19 percent solid revenue and earnings growth. Our to $984.05 million from $827.74 million, diversified portfolio continues to provide while throughput reached 4 million TEUs, resilience in a more challenging operating up 8 percent from 3.70 million TEUs. environment,” Razon said. Razon said ICTSI remains focused on The company handled 12.11 million integrating its new terminals and investtwenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in ing in capacity and service improvements the nine-month period, up 13 percent from across its global network. 10.69 million TEUs a year ago. ICTSI’s capital expenditure, excludThe increase came from the addition of ing capitalized borrowing costs, reached Durban Gateway Terminal in South Africa, $507.43 million in the first nine months of which took over operations of DCT Pier 2 2026. The company expects full-year capiin January 2026, and Batu Ampar Contain- CYAN tal MAGENTA expenditureYELLOW of $740 million, BLACK mainly er Terminal in Indonesia, which assumed for expansion projects in the Philippines, port operations in September 2025. Mexico, Brazil, the Democratic Republic Higher trade activity in Asia and the of Congo, Honduras, Australia and EcuaAmericas also supported volumes. Dedor. clines at certain terminals in Europe, the It said that in the Philippines, ongoing Middle East and Africa partly offset the investments include expansions at the gains, particularly at Basra Gateway TerManila International Container Terminal, minal in Iraq because of geopolitical tenManila North Harbour Port, Mindanao sions in the Middle East. Container Terminal and South Luzon ConExcluding the contributions of the two tainer Terminal.

ACEN Corp. said Wednesday it posted a consolidated net income of P3.3 billion for the first nine months of 2026, up 84 percent from a year ago, as stronger renewables output and a growing contracted portfolio across retail and bilateral channels lifted results. ACEN said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange its attributable generation rose 23 percent to 5,950 gigawatt-hours (GWh), supported by new assets across its portfolio. “ACEN continues to grow as more projects come into operation, expanding our renewable energy portfolio and generation. As we build on this growth, our focus is increasingly on execution, operational excellence, and profitability. Our priority is to realize the full potential of our platform and deliver sustainable long-term value,” ACEN president and chief executive Eric Francia said. Revenues climbed to P34.77 billion from P22.989 billion as new capacity came online. Depreciation and interest charges, which are no longer capitalized once plants enter operation, tempered earnings, the company said. Core attributable earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), which excludes nonrecurring items, rose 35 percent to P21 billion. Stronger contributions from the Philippines and ACEN Investments drove the growth, partly offset by a weak spot market in Australia. “Our operations continue to deliver, with higher generation and a 35 percent rise in core attributable EBITDA. The gap to recurring earnings primarily reflects depreciation and financing costs that begin well before our plants reach steady-state cash flows. Narrowing that gap through project completion, asset optimization, cost efficiency, and careful capital allocation is central to our financial priorities,” ACEN chief finance officer and chief strategy officer Jonathan Back said. ACEN swung to a net loss of P609 million in the third quarter from a net profit of P1.027 billion a year ago. The company cited provisions and dismantling costs for a turbine at Pagudpud Wind and additional impairments tied to cabling faults at New England Solar in Australia. Third-quarter attributable output grew 19 percent to 1,926 GWh, and core attributable EBITDA rose 23 percent to P6.3 billion. Alena Mae S. Flores

IN BRIEF Shell Pilipinas swung to net loss in 9 months

SHELL Pilipinas Corp. reported a net loss of P929 million in the first nine months of the year, a sharp reversal from the P1.- billion income it booked a year ago, according to a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The company said it posted a core net loss of P1.73 billion for the period, compared with core net income of P2.45 billion in the same period last year. “Core net loss narrowed in 3Q 2026, reflecting earnings recovery following the significant disruption in 2Q 2026, although fuel price volatility and local market pricing tempered earnings recovery in 3Q 2026,” the company said. Shell returned to profit in the third quarter, posting net income of P1.787 billion, up from P342.996 million a year earlier. “The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has intensified the volatility in oil prices and CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK posed risk in fuel oil and lubricants supply both globally and in the domestic market. Since it started in March 2026, it has substantially impacted the company’s financial performance due to the severe fluctuations in fuel prices,” Shell said. Alena Mae S. Flores

GSIS releases over P10b in solar loans THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said it has released P10.12 billion in loans to borrowers under its Ginhawa Solar Energy Loan (GSEL) program, which has drawn 66,233 applications worth P19.81 billion nationwide as of Nov. 11. GSIS said it has granted another P57.17 million, bringing combined credited and granted loans to P10.18 billion. It is processing a further P87.37 million in applications. Some government employees and pensioners have reported monthly electricity bills falling from P5,000 to P7,000 to as low as P300 after installing residential solar panels. For a household that paid P7,000 a month, that amounts to annual savings of P80,400 before loan repayments and other installation costs. “Imagine reducing your monthly electricity bill from P7,000 to just P300. For an ordinary government employee or a pensioner, that represents substantial savings that can instead be spent on food, education, healthcare, and other family needs. Through GSEL, we want to help more government workers and pensioners achieve these savings while contributing to a more sustainable future,” GSIS president and general-manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso said. Thony Rose Lesaca

Vietjet launches Clark-Ho Chi Minh flights

VIETJET has launched direct flights between Clark and Ho Chi Minh City, expanding its presence in the Philippine market. The route is the first nonstop air service between the two cities. It gives travelers from Central and Northern Luzon more convenient access to Vietnam’s leading economic and commercial center. The flights operate three times weekly, or every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. They add to Clark International Airport’s international route network and strengthen tourism and business links between the Philippines and Vietnam. Through Ho Chi Minh City, passengers can connect to other destinations across Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific on Vietjet’s domestic and international network. “Vietjet’s arrival is an important addition to Clark International Airport’s growing roster of international airline partners. We remain committed to attracting more airlines and expanding our route network to serve the travel needs of Central and Northern Luzon,” said Noel Manankil, president and chief executive of LIPAD Corp., the airport’s operator. “Vietjet is proud to further expand its network in the Philippines with the launch of direct flights to Clark, adding an important connection to this high-potential region and creating more travel opportunities for people in both countries,” said Vietjet chief executive Nguyen Thanh Son. Darwin G. Amojelar

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BINONDO

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Filipino tourists in China grew 49% in first semester

PH promoted as English-language study destination By Julie Ann Lope

HILIPPINE Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas promoted the Philippines as a convenient destination for English-language studies at the 2026 BESA–CALA Guangzhou Seminar for Chinese education agents. The Baguio English Schools Association (BESA) and the Cebu Association of Language Academies (CALA) organized the seminar, which highlighted the Philippines’ English-speaking environment, personalized teaching, affordable programs, diverse student community and easy access from Southern China.

Philippine Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas promotes the Philippines as a convenient English-study destination for Chinese students at the 2026 BESA– CALA Guangzhou Seminar.

“Chinese students do not have to travel halfway around the world to receive quality English education. They can find it much closer to home, in the Philippines,” Arribas said. He cited Baguio’s calm, studyfocused setting and Cebu’s lively international community as appealing choices for English as a Second Language (ESL) students. He also underscored student safety and welfare, along with opportunities to experience Filipino culture. Arribas met with Pines International Academy and Cebu Blue Ocean Academy representative Henry Kim and WALES representative Justin Shim. They discussed visa facilitation and strategies to attract more Chinese students. The consulate said it would continue helping Philippine ESL schools reach more students in Southern China and support educational tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

PHILIPPINE tourist travel to China rose 48.9 percent in the first half of 2026, and visa applications increased 66 percent year-on-year in October, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a Facebook post. The embassy said it was working to meet the growing demand for visa services. It advised travelers to plan ahead, submit applications early and avoid peak application periods. It also encouraged Filipino travelers to consider organized tours arranged through duly authorized travel agencies. Eligible tour groups may apply for group visas, which can simplify some steps involved in individual applications, it said. “China warmly welcomes Filipino friends to visit! We look forward to seeing you in China!” the embassy said. Chinese visitor arrivals to the Philippines have also risen sharply. Department of Tourism (DOT) figures show 394,394 arrivals from China from Jan. 1 to Nov. 4, up 69.78 percent from the same period in 2025. China ranked fourth among the Philippines’ source markets. The DOT credited the recovery largely to the Philippines’ 14-day visa-free entry arrangement for eligible Chinese visitors arriving through Manila and Cebu. Tourism Secretary Ma. Bernardita Angara-Mathay said the department has submitted a position paper supporting an extension of the policy for Chinese nationals. She also wants to expand the program, which currently applies to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and MactanCebu International Airport, to more entry points, such as Clark, Caticlan, Bohol and Palawan.

Shenzhen logistics exhibit to mark 20th edition in December By Michael Wong Ho THE 20th Shenzhen International Logistics and Supply Chains Exhibition will run Dec. 2 to 4, 2026, at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, marking 20 years as a major hub for the global logistics sector. The three-day event will occupy 130,000 square meters, host more than 2,500 exhibitors and draw over 300,000 professional trade visits. Shenzhen Great World Exhibition Co., Ltd. organizes the exhibition, UniEx Expo Pte. Ltd. co-organizes it and the Shenzhen Logistics and Supply Chain Management Association supports it. Positioned as a bellwether of China’s logistics industry, the exhibition aims to capitalize on the foreign trade strengths of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The international B2B platform will offer a venue for presentations, business negotiations and technical

exchanges, with an emphasis on integrating intermodal transport across land, sea, air and rail. The exhibition floor will showcase port operations, land, multimodal and air freight solutions, and international express delivery. It will also feature cross-border e-commerce supply chain management, other specialized logistics services, smart logistics equipment and digital logistics technologies. The program includes more than 70 high-level seminars, among them the Shenzhen International Port Chain Strategic Forum and sessions on cross-border e-commerce. The events will facilitate networking and business matching among international delegates, logistics companies, product owners and purchasing managers. Sessions will address optimizing global routes, implementing multimodal transport, mitigating cross-border risks, deploying smart warehouses and advancing green, low-carbon logistics strategies.

The 20th Shenzhen International Logistics and Supply Chains Exhibition runs Dec. 2-4, 2026, with 2,500 exhibitors, 70 seminars and 130,000 square meters of floor space. Source: CILF website

The Philippine Chinese Chamber and Industry Overseas Association holds a photo exhibition and symposium in Binondo, Manila, to mark the 160th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s birth.

Binondo event marks 160th birth anniversary of Sun Yat-sen

THE Philippine Chinese Chamber and Industry Overseas Association Inc. (PCCIOAI) held a photo exhibition and cultural symposium on Nov. 7 at the Federation Building in Binondo, Manila, to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. PCCIOAI president Sharon Tan said preserving cultural heritage requires more than relying on stories passed down

by older generations. She said young people should learn about and embrace their culture, then share it in ways that reflect their own experiences. Tan said honoring Sun is not simply about remembering a revolutionary leader. It is also an opportunity for younger generations to reflect on the struggles of those who came before them, value the present and think about their responsibilities to society.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan said Sun devoted his life to the vision of “a world shared by all” and made significant contributions to the Chinese nation. He called on people to uphold Sun’s patriotism and pursuit of national unity, his dedication to improving people’s well-being and his commitment to peace, friendship and finding common ground while respecting differences. Federation of FilipinoChinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCI) vice-president George Chiu, PCCIOAI honorary president Suen Ming Keung, Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran founding president Teresita Ang See, Lorenzo Ruiz Academy principal Wu Jianhua and Philippine Chen Kuang High School principal Steve Christopher Wong also shared remarks and insights. Michael Wong Ho

SHOWBIZ

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

Jona revisits career milestones in birthday concert ‘Chapters’

SINGER Jona will celebrate her birthday with a concert tracing the milestones of her musical career at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City, on Saturday, Nov. 14. Titled Jona: Chapters, the concert will take audiences through the singer’s journey, from her childhood victories in singing competitions to her rise as one of the country’s most accomplished vocalists and singer-songwriters. Known for her powerful belting and intricate melisma, Jona will revisit the defining moments of her career, including her early success in kiddie singing contests, her dominance in local and international competitions during her teenage years, and her remarkable sweep at the World Championships of Performing Arts in the United States. The concert will also look back on her growth as an

artist and celebrate the achievements that have brought her to her current standing in the Philippine music industry. Produced by Viva Live and A.T. Meyers Entertainment Productions, with mWell as co-presenter, Jona: Chapters will also support animal welfare initiatives. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Animal Welfare Advocacy for Stray Animals Spay and Neuter Program. Tickets are available through TicketNet Online and TicketNation. Prices are P5,800 for SVIP, P4,500 for VIP, P3,500 for Orchestra, P1,200 for Loge, and P900 for Balcony.

Jona’s upcoming birthday concert traces her journey from childhood singing competitions to her achievements as one of the Philippines’ established vocalists and singersongwriters

Putting next generation G-Force founder Teacher Georcelle continues to champion shaping young dancers through The Competition 2026

By Angelica Villanueva

of dancers in leadership roles at annual competition

ROM following choreography to helping create it, young dancers at G-Force Dance Center stepped into new roles as they joined forces with established choreographers for an evening of performances that put their talent, creativity, and leadership to the test. The second edition of The Competition, held Oct. 30 at Proscenium Theatre, gave students in the dance center’s training program the opportunity to work alongside established choreographers, contribute to their teams’ routines, and take on leadership roles in the creative process. Unlike previous competitions that pitted choreographers against one another, this year’s edition focused on collaboration. Five celebrity choreographers, Jeric Given Segui, Janell Pagdilao, Kyle Pabilona, Jerry Julianda, and Arriza Santos, teamed up with trainee leads Aia Barcelona, Marcus Asentista, Johann Alaba, Carl Asentista, and Jhani Santos. For G-Force founder Teacher Georcelle, the new format reflects the dance center’s commitment to developing performers beyond their technical abilities. “The Competition creates a space where students in our Training Program can do more than perform. They can discover what they’re capable of. That’s what More Than Just Dance means to us,” she said. “When young artists lead and create alongside experienced choreographers, they grow as dancers, collaborators, and future leaders,” she added. IN an era when success is often measured in numbers, whether net worth or streaming figures, respected Fil-Am entertainment producer Ted Benito of California offers a different perspective, putting artistic fulfillment and genuine regard for performers ahead of material gain. “Some people, including colleagues and audiences, measure success in monetary terms, asking whether producers made enough money for a production to be financially successful. That perspective is very short-sighted and completely meaningless if producers want to give artists a platform to perform,” said the producer, director, and philanthropist. For Benito, performers should always be the focus of a production. Based in Los Angeles, he has built a reputation for championing Filipino talent across live events, concerts, theater, and television, creating opportunities for artists to reach wider audiences. He clarifies that his position is not an idealistic rejection of profit but a call for productions to treat artists fairly. “Don’t misunderstand me. There is nothing inherently wrong with making money, but I’ve seen far too many instances where artists get the short end of the stick.” He refers to productions where quality is compromised, equipment is substandard, and performers are not properly taken care of. Bridging the gap between mainstream and Filipino acts has long

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Yugel Losorata been Benito’s goal. This has driven him to seek venues and larger multi-ethnic events where he can present artists whose talent deserves recognition. His advocacy also extends to literature and journalism. He offered a more precise definition of success: “I define success through a twofold response: first, from the audience. Did they enjoy the production? Appreciate the talents presented? Would they support the artists in future programs? Second, from the artists. Did they feel the production gave them the right platform to showcase their talents? Did they appreciate the audience’s response? Would they work with me again as a producer or director? If the answer from both is yes, then I consider the event or project successful.” Benito was also a key figure in the campaign to secure Lea Salonga a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His own measure of achievement, however, goes beyond financial rewards. “Personally, I have never measured my success in monetary terms. I consider myself successful in entertainment because I respect artists above all. They are the ones audiences pay to see, whose careers fans support, and who inspire, uplift, and inform. They are vessels of the human soul who create common ground for everyone.”

Filipino-American producer, director and philanthropist Ted Benito (leftmost) has built his career around creating opportunities for Filipino performers in the United States

Deeper meaning of success Benito began producing and directing high-profile community events before venturing into theater with the 2004 production of Songs for a New World. Other plays followed, including Dogeaters, Miracle in Rwanda, Flipzoids, and The Romance of Magno Rubio, all drawing audiences to soldout performances in Los Angeles. His work eventually led to a major collaboration with Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas. When he learned that the Filipino-American rapper was planning a performance at the Hollywood Bowl and needed someone to organize the production, Benito took on the challenge. Apl wanted to showcase Filipino popular music, from harana to hip-hop. The eightmonth production featured what Benito described as “a cross-pollination of Filipino talents.” Benito’s introduction to entertainment was shaped by distinctly American influences. He grew up watching Charlie’s Angels, The Six Million Dollar Man, Dynasty, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and MTV. His interest in theater began when his mother took him to audition for the role of a young royal in a Los Angeles production of The King and I, starring Yul Brynner. His experiences also made him aware of the so-called “crab mentality,” an attitude he strongly opposes. “There is something fundamentally wrong, even abhorrent, about people saying or doing things that prevent artists from reaching their full potential. Such a mentality sabotages everything we have fought so hard to achieve and undermines our credibility in the eyes of non-Filipinos. It hurts even more when these comments come from Filipinos about fellow Filipinos.” Still committed to discovering and championing deserving performers, Benito recently celebrated his birthday, receiving warm wishes from friends and artists whose careers he has helped along the way. His approach to finding talent remains straightforward: “I consistently introduce new talents to the public, regardless of genre. You can’t fake talent. You either have it or you don’t.”

Dancers from five teams perform routines developed in six days for The Competition 2026, G-Force Dance Center’s annual showcase of choreograph

G-Force’s belief that dance is for everyone was also reflected in the range of ages represented in the competition. Georcelle noted that some participants were as young as 5, while a previous competition in Jamaica included dancers aged 65 and 72. The five teams had six days to prepare their routines, combining different dance styles, music, and stage concepts for their respective performances. A seven-member panel evaluated the teams: singer Pops Fernandez, singerdancer Darren Espanto, actress Shaina Magdayao, fashion designer Jeff Albea, communications executive Dan Mejia, and directors Mike Carandang and Rowel Santiago. The performances were scored based on creativity and artistry, stage delivery, audience impact, and how well each team demonstrated G-Force’s inclusive approach to dance. The winning team took home P150,000 in cash. For Darren, who has worked with several G-Force choreographers through television and live performances, the competition offered a chance to see the dancers’ creativity from a different perspective. The evening also allowed the trainees to recognize how much they had grown through the program. Some spoke about learning to lead, working with dancers of different personalities, and discovering abilities they had not previously explored. Team Arriza, led by trainee Jhani, emerged as the grand winner of The Competition 2026, capping an evening that put the spotlight on both established choreographers and the next generation of Filipino dancers.

Pop icons Tiffany (bottom) and The Jets are set to bring their hits to Manila for ‘Two Legends, One Stage,’ a one-night concert on Feb. 16, 2027, at The Theatre at Solaire

Tiffany and The Jets to reunite generations of pop fans in Manila concert POP icon Tiffany and family music group The Jets will share the stage for a onenight concert on Feb. 16, 2027, at 8:00 p.m. at The Theatre at Solaire. Titled Tiffany & The Jets: Live in Manila – Two Legends, One Stage, the concert is presented by NP ASIA INC. and Solaire Resort Entertainment City. Tiffany rose to international fame in the late 1980s with her distinctive voice and pop hits, which continue to resonate with audiences. The Jets gained worldwide recognition for their mix of pop, R&B, and dance music, signature harmonies, and energetic performances. The concert will feature songs from both acts, giving longtime fans a chance to revisit the hits that made them household names and introducing younger audiences to their music. Tickets are available through TicketWorld.

LIFE

C3 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

By Nickie Wang

ISING living costs are forcing many Filipino families to put routine healthcare on hold, with some postponing medical consultations and preventive checkups because of the expense. What may begin as a minor health concern can eventually develop into a more serious condition, potentially resulting in higher medical bills and putting household savings at risk.

Rising living costs are causing many Filipino families to delay medical care, potentially leading to more serious health issues and financial strain

The financial pressure is particularly significant in a country where 44.7 percent of healthcare expenses are paid directly out of pocket, according to data cited by Manulife. Meanwhile, inflation reached 7.2 percent in September 2026, further squeezing household budgets. The Department of Health (DOH) has repeatedly emphasized the importance of regular medical checkups in preventing health conditions from worsening. However, the cost of consultations and the time required to visit healthcare facilities remain obstacles for many families. Addressing these concerns, PLDT Home Life has partnered with mWell, the Philippines’ first all-in-one health and wellness super-app, to introduce mWell Family Plan 399, a digital health subscription designed to make preventive healthcare and wellness services more accessible to households. Available exclusively to PLDT Home Fiber subscribers, the P399 plan provides health monitoring and consultation services for up to four family members. Its central feature is the mWell Fam Dashboard, which allows parents and caregivers to monitor, track, and manage the health information of family members in one online hub. Subscribers also receive unlimited on-demand teleconsultations with licensed general practitioners and certified mental health coaches for up to four family members. The service allows users to seek medical advice without traveling to clinics or paying separate face-to-face consultation fees. The subscription includes unlimited access to mWellness Score, an in-app tracker that monitors steps, physical activity, inactivity, and sleep quality. Its Mind Health Score also helps users track emotional well-being and access mental wellness exercises. Each plan comes with a complimentary mWell Prestige Watch, which connects to the app to monitor health indicators, including heart rate, steps, and sleep quality. The primary subscriber also receives P20,000 in annual, replenishable personal accident insurance. While digital consultations are not a substitute for emergency

Why delaying medical care could put your family at risk medical treatment or hospital care, the services aim to help families address health concerns earlier and keep track of their overall well-being. Promoting wellness at home To introduce the initiative and encourage healthier habits, PLDT Home Life and mWell recently hosted a pickleball wellness event attended by selected members of the media, celebrities, and PLDT Home Fiber customers. The gathering promoted physical activity as an important part of maintaining overall health, alongside regular medical consultations and attention to mental well-being. “In today’s challenging economic environment, embracing one’s physical and mental well-being is essential for every household. In times like these, we cannot afford to wait for illness to strike before paying attention to our health,” said Evert Chris Miranda, PLDT Home vice president and head of Home Digital Services. He said mWell Family Plan 399 strengthens PLDT Home Life’s efforts to make wellness services accessible at home while giving families tools to manage their health without placing additional pressure on their budgets.

Watsons Collection offers practical beauty and wellness gifts at affordable prices, including skincare, hair and bath products, travel essentials, oral care, and health supplements

Make every peso count with these beauty and wellness gifts THE holiday season brings a familiar flurry of activities, from meeting work deadlines and preparing for the coming year to decorating homes, attending parties, planning vacations, and shopping for gifts. With so much on the calendar, finding useful presents that will not stretch the budget can be a challenge. Watsons Collection offers a range of practical gift options, covering beauty, personal care, health and wellness essentials. The in-house brand of Watsons allows shoppers to save up to 80 percent compared with leading brands, with additional Buy 1, Take 1 deals on selected products. Among the everyday essentials worth adding to holiday shopping lists is Watsons Very High Protection Sunscreen, a skincare staple that helps protect skin from sun exposure and supports a daily skincare routine. Hair and bath products also make useful gifts. The Watsons Collection Aloe Vera Lilac Soothe & Hydrate Nourishing Shampoo, Nourish & Repair Jojoba & Shea Butter Conditioner, and Avocado Extract Treatment Wax offer options for a complete hair care routine. Shoppers can also pick up the Goat Milk Scented Cream Body Wash, which helps keep skin soft, smooth, and moisturized, making it a practical addition to anyone’s bath-time essentials. Travel-friendly products are another option, particularly during a season filled with holiday

trips and family visits. The 100% Bamboo Velvet Mini Hankies and Invigorating Wet Wipes, available in Aloe Vera and Lavender variants, are convenient companions for long flights and road trips. Oral care essentials include the Soft Triple Action Toothbrush, Round Thread Dental Floss, and Cool Mint Mouthwash, giving recipients everyday items they can readily use. Health and wellness products also make thoughtful additions to holiday gift baskets. Watsons Collection carries supplements such as Vitamin C + Zinc, Vitamin B Complex, and Gluta + Collagen for shoppers looking to add wellness essentials to their routines. These products should be used according to their labels and individual health needs. Beyond its product range, Watsons Collection offers exclusive discounts and Buy 1, Take 1 promotions on selected items, allowing shoppers to stock up on personal care essentials while keeping expenses manageable. Shoppers can visit more than 1,000 Watsons stores nationwide or purchase through watsons. com.ph and the Watsons app, which provide round-the-clock access to online shopping and home delivery. With practical choices across personal care, beauty, and wellness, Watsons Collection gives holiday shoppers a way to share useful gifts without overspending.

Chaye Cabal-Revilla, mWell president and CEO and MPIC chief finance, risk, and sustainability officer, said a medical emergency could put years of family savings at risk. “Ang kalusugan ang pinakamahalagang puhunan ng bawat pamilya, because our ability to earn a living, care for our loved ones, and build a better future depends on it,” she said. Cabal-Revilla added that combining doctor consultations, mental health support, and family health monitoring in one application encourages households to pay closer attention to their loved ones’ health and seek medical advice when necessary. Meanwhile, Gary Dujali, mWell chief revenue and marketing officer, said the partnership aims to make professional healthcare and monitoring tools more accessible. “Healthcare should be a fundamental right, not an overwhelming financial burden,” he said, noting that the subscription gives an entire family access to medical professionals and wellness services for less than the cost of a single face-to-face consultation. To learn more about mWell Family Plan 399, visit pldthome. com/mwell or download the mWell app through the iOS App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei AppGallery.

ANGELINA Jolie and George Clooney had something in common besides fame: Bell’s palsy. Broadcast journalist Bernadette Sembrano and actresses Ai-Ai delas Alas and Angelu de Leon have also dealt with the condition. Yet while their stories brought it into the spotlight, many still know little about it. According to Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed), Bell’s palsy is the most common cause of acute, one-sided facial paralysis. It results from an inflamed facial nerve, which weakens part of the face. “Bell’s palsy often comes without warning,” explains Donnabelle M. Chu, MD, FPNA, a neurologist. “All of a sudden, a person can wake up unable to smile properly or close one eye.” Bell’s palsy affects the seventh cranial nerve, which controls facial movements, sensory input, and saliva production. When inflamed, it disrupts signals between the brain and facial muscles. Within 48 to 72 hours, symptoms may include facial drooping, difficulty blinking, headaches, changes in taste, and increased sensitivity to sound. Some people also experience dry eyes or excessive tearing on the affected side. While there is no definite cause, Bell’s palsy is believed to be triggered by dormant viruses that become active and cause infections. Stress, lack of sleep, and a weakened immune system may also contribute. “The condition can affect anyone, but certain individuals are more vulnerable to it,” says Dr. Chu. “Pregnant women, especially those in their third trimester or those who have recently given birth, as well as people who are diabetic, have high blood pressure, are obese, or have a family history of Bell’s palsy, have higher susceptibility.” Since its symptoms can resemble those of a stroke, knowing the difference is important. “A stroke, compared to Bell’s palsy, affects not just the person’s face,” Dr. Chu points out. “Individuals experiencing a stroke may have numbness in one arm or leg, slurred speech, or vision problems. Still, medical evaluation is crucial to properly identify the condition.” A physical examination, imaging tests, or nerve studies may be needed to diagnose Bell’s palsy and rule out stroke and other conditions. Fortunately, the condition is usually temporary, with recovery beginning within three weeks to six months. “Corticosteroids, used to reduce inflammation and suppress overactive immune

Bell’s palsy can strike without warning, here’s what you need to know

Bells palsy is the result of an inflamed facial nerve, which weakens a portion of the face

system responses, are most effective when taken within the first 48 to 72 hours after symptoms,” says Dr. Chu. Recovery practices include gentle facial exercises, eating slowly, maintaining oral hygiene, using lubricating eye ointments, and wearing protective eye patches. “The stories of these public figures tell us that Bell’s palsy can affect anyone. However, it is important not to panic, but not ignore the symptoms either,” Dr. Chu reminds. “Early consultation will help rule out stroke and provide immediate care for the best chance at complete recovery.”

LIFE

C4 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer JASPER VALDEZ, Writer

NOW & NEXT

If everyone knows smoking is harmful, why does the habit persist?

President for PMI’s East and Southeast Asia, Pacific, and Global Travel Retail region Vassilis Gkatzelis notes that the company aims to generate at least 67 percent of its revenues from smoke-free products by 2030

By Nickie Wang

From left: Dr. Rogelio Varela Jr., Dr. Tomohiro Shirasaka, Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, Prof. Brad Rodu, and Yvonne Khoo discuss tobacco harm reduction, smoke-free alternatives, and the role of science and innovation in addressing smoking

business transition. More than threequarters of PMI’s net revenues there now come from smoke-free products, roughly a decade after IQOS was introduced. More than 30 markets also generate over half of the company’s revenues from these alternatives. The conference also featured PMFTC president Evgeny Ivanov and PMI vice president for Communications and Engagement Tommaso Di Giovanni, alongside scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and media representatives. Ultimately, smoking’s persistence is not proof that people disregard their health. It demonstrates how difficult nicotine dependence can be to overcome, even when the consequences are understood. Public health efforts must therefore go beyond warnings. Healthcare professionals need to provide effective

NOWING that smoking causes cancer, heart disease, and other serious illnesses should be enough to persuade people to quit. Yet millions around the world continue to smoke, including those who understand the risks and genuinely want to stop. Why does the habit persist when its consequences are well documented? According to medical experts, the answer lies in nicotine dependence, which cannot be overcome through willpower alone. Addressing the problem requires effective treatment, sustained support, and, for adult smokers unable to quit, an examination of alternatives that may reduce exposure to harmful substances. Dr. Tomohiro Shirasaka, a psychiatrist and director of the Psychiatry Department at Teine Keijinkai Medical Center in Japan, discussed the issue during Science at the Center: Understanding Tobacco Harm Reduction, a session at Technovation held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom of Newport World Resorts in Pasay on Nov. 10. Shirasaka explained that nicotine dependence is a clinical condition influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Withdrawal, cravings, stress, and established routines can make quitting difficult, even for smokers who understand the health risks. “Motivation is important, but motivation alone is often insufficient to overcome dependence,” he said. This distinction changes how society approaches smoking cessation. Rather than treating continued smoking as a failure of discipline, healthcare professionals need to recognize addiction and provide appropriate treatment.

Simply telling someone to quit is rarely enough. Shirasaka advocated evidence-based interventions, including motivational interviewing and a nonjudgmental approach that allows patients to consider changing without feeling blamed or pressured. Complete cessation of tobacco and nicotine remains the preferred outcome, he stressed, but support should continue even when patients are not ready or able to quit. The effectiveness of conventional cessation treatments also came under scrutiny. Professor Brad Rodu, professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Louisville, cited US studies that he said showed an approximately 7 percent success rate across populations. Rodu, an oral pathologist specializing in mouth, head, and neck cancers, argued that smoke-free tobacco products should also be considered in discussions about reducing smoking-related harm. He cited research associating cigarette smoking with a tenfold increase in oral cancer risk compared with nonsmoking. Sustained heavy alcohol consumption is another major risk factor. This raises the question of how alternatives that heat tobacco without burning it compare with conventional cigarettes. Japan’s experience provided one example. Shirasaka reported that cigarette sales declined by 50 percent between

PMI vice president for Communications and Engagement Tommaso Di Giovanni talks about the company’s smoke-free transformation and its efforts to expand smoke-free alternatives 2011 and 2023, while heated tobacco product sales increased substantially. Cigarette sales had already been falling before these alternatives became widely available, although the decline accelerated afterward. The figures formed part of a broader discussion on how research, product development, and regulation could influence the transition away from combustible cigarettes. Technovation, organized by Philip Morris International (PMI), showcased the company’s transformation toward smoke-free alternatives and technological innovation. Its Philippine affiliate, PMFTC Inc., participated in discussions on tobacco harm reduction and the future of smoke-free products.

Visitors explore an interactive exhibition tracing developments in smoke-free technology and product innovation at Technovation

The panel brought together Shirasaka, urologist and Healthway QualiMed Hospital Surgery Department Chair Dr. Rogelio Varela Jr., Rodu, and retired National University of Malaysia public health professor Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh. Yvonne Khoo, PMI senior manager for Scientific Engagement, moderated the discussion. Beyond medical interventions, the transition also involves product innovation, regulation, and industry commitments. Vassilis Gkatzelis, president for PMI’s East and Southeast Asia, Pacific, and Global Travel Retail region, said the company aims to generate at least 67 percent of its revenues from smoke-free products by 2030, up from more than 40 percent based on its latest third-quarter results. Japan illustrates the scale of this

The everyday challenges of living with diabetes

Watsons offers health services and pharmacist guidance as part of its efforts to support people living with diabetes

By Jasper Valdez MANAGING diabetes involves a series of decisions that continue long after a doctor’s appointment. From choosing what to eat and finding time to exercise to taking medication and checking blood sugar levels, people living with the condition must make adjustments that become part of their daily routines. During Watsons’ No Sugarcoating: Living with Diabetes and the Support that Matters event at SM Mall of Asia on Nov. 6, Diabetes Philippines Inc. president Fatma Tiu discussed the practical challenges of managing the condition and why patients need to understand their treatment. One of the difficulties, she explained, is maintaining healthier habits, particularly when it comes to food. “You know, it’s easy to say. It’s hard to do. But it’s possible. It’s not impossible,” Tiu said. She noted that dietary recommendations should consider individual preferences and needs, rather than expecting everyone to follow the same eating plan. Physical activity presents another challenge, especially for people who spend much of their day sitting at work. Tiu recalled advising a patient whose office was on the 27th floor to

start incorporating movement into his routine. Instead of climbing all the stairs, she suggested taking the elevator to a lower floor and walking the remaining one or two flights. “There is no single exercise that I can say is suitable for all of you. It will depend on your capacity,” she explained. Beyond food and exercise, Tiu

treatment and counseling, researchers must continue examining the health effects of nicotine products, and policymakers must protect public health while preventing young people and nonsmokers from taking up tobacco or nicotine. Innovation and smoke-free products also have a place in this evolving discussion. While complete cessation of tobacco and nicotine remains the best health outcome, continued research into alternatives that eliminate combustion could provide additional options for adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking. Ultimately, tackling smoking requires more than convincing people that cigarettes are harmful. It calls for accessible cessation support, scientific progress, responsible innovation, and policies that put public health first. “Beyond the physical demands, worry, frustration, and moments of uncertainty may also come up, and others don’t always see them,” Co said. Watsons Health business unit director Cecille Uy likewise emphasized that patients need encouragement alongside access to treatment. “Because while access to treatment is essential, people living with diabetes also need understanding, encouragement, and support for their mental and emotional well-being,” Uy said. Tiu encouraged families to recognize patients’ efforts, including improvements in blood sugar management. Acknowledging their progress, she explained, can help patients feel supported as they work toward their health goals. The event also highlighted the importance of early detection. Tiu warned that diabetes may develop without noticeable symptoms for years, making appropriate screening important for people at risk. Watsons offers pharmacist

Regular blood glucose monitoring helps people with diabetes and their doctors understand how treatment, food choices and daily activities affect blood sugar levels

Diabetes Philippines Inc. president Fatma Tiu emphasizes the importance of early detection and helping patients understand how to manage their condition

emphasized the importance of taking prescribed medication and regularly checking blood glucose levels. Monitoring helps patients and their

Watsons Health business unit director Cecile Uy notes that patients with diabetes need encouragement and support for their mental and emotional well-being

doctors understand how treatment and daily activities affect their condition. “Monitoring is part of treatment,” she said. But managing diabetes can also become emotionally demanding, particularly when patients must maintain these routines over many years. Darcy Co, Watsons’ group category manager for health business, acknowledged that the daily responsibilities of diabetes management can sometimes become overwhelming.

guidance, blood glucose monitoring supplies, and health services. Its six-month Diabetes Educator Program trains pharmacists in patient counseling and diabetes care, while doctors remain responsible for treatment decisions. For Tiu, managing the condition requires patients to stay informed and actively participate in their care. “We have to empower, we have to be proactive, we have to continue helping,” she said.