Electricity doesn't fall free from heaven

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Aug 1, 2026 12:05 am

A former Cabinet official likes to remind listeners of an unyielding truth: “Nothing comes free from heaven, and everything is a trade-off.”

It is a principle that populist politics regularly tries to sidestep. For decades, a political culture built on sweeping promises has fed the illusion that basic costs can simply be legislated away. In Congress, pending bills routinely propose consumer relief without ever identifying where the funding will come from.

The latest crowd-pleasing soundbite came during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), when he called for an immediate amendment to the 25-year-old Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to ban utilities from passing “system loss” charges onto consumers.

The logic feels appealing—nobody wants to pay for power they did not use. But recovering the cost of electricity loss is standard practice worldwide, even if calculation methods and billing displays vary by country. Crucially, energy distribution operates under the laws of physics, not legislative decree.

When electricity travels across copper wires, natural resistance converts a portion of that energy into heat. Even ultra-modern power grids in Singapore and South Korea experience these unavoidable “technical losses.” Combine that physical reality with “non-technical losses”—power theft through illegal jumper cables, defective meters, and administrative errors—and you get total system loss. Erasing that loss entirely is a physical impossibility.

Energy stakeholders have voiced support for reviewing EPIRA, but they caution against cutting system loss charges without a clear plan to recover those costs. The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest utility, noted that while it keeps its charges around five percent—well below the Energy Regulatory Commission's (ERC) 5.5 percent cap for private utilities—some level of technical loss remains inherent in operating any grid.

The real crisis looms in the provinces. The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca), representing 121 electric cooperatives, warned that losses on rural networks stem from thermodynamics and sprawling terrain rather than poor management. While the ERC caps co-op losses at 8.25 percent, the Department of Energy (DOE) noted that some inefficient cooperatives suffer losses as high as 16 percent. Outlawing loss recovery without state subsidies, Philreca warned, will simply drive non-profit co-ops into bankruptcy.

If rural distributors fail, state entities like the National Power Corp. will have to step in to keep regional grids running. Taxpayers would ultimately fund government bailouts and loan guarantees, while the treasury forfeits the value-added tax (VAT) revenue currently collected on those billing lines.

Government agencies are now scrambling to figure out how to handle the proposed ban. The ERC emphasized that any reduction in system loss caps must be grounded in technical reality rather than arbitrary mandates, asking whether utilities are actually ready to absorb the hit without compromising operations. Instead of an outright ban, Philreca has urged Congress to adopt a performance-driven transition model with customized, feeder-specific caps, paired with government funding for grid upgrades and anti-pilferage enforcement.

To cushion the policy shift, the DOE noted that the agency and the National Electrification Administration are evaluating soft loans to help co-ops modernize. Yet financing grid upgrades through state-backed loans merely shuffles the bill from one government account to another.

As Meralco's chairman pointed out, nature is commanded only by obeying its laws. Moving electricity creates resistance, resistance creates loss, and someone has to absorb that cost. Shifting tens of billions of pesos in losses onto power producers and distributors threatens the stability of the entire energy sector.

Pretending that technical line loss is merely corporate greed makes for great political theater, but terrible economic policy. Outlawing the laws of physics will not lower the cost of living; it only ensures that citizens pay a much steeper price when the grid goes dark.

Kadayawan sa Davao

The wait is over—Kadayawan Month is finally here!

Come on, let's dance and have fun together!

Because We Are One, KadayaONE! Kada-Kada!

#KadayawanFestival

#Kadayawan2026

#WeAreOneKadayaONE

  · 

See original

  · 

Rate this translation

BARMM ministry cites role of science in disaster preparedness

 

By Keith Bacongco

Published Jul 31, 2026 05:50 pm

DAVAO CITY – The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) underscored the role of science in strengthening its disaster preparedness and response.

In the recent Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (BDRRM) Summit, MOST Minister Baileng Mantawil stressed the urgency of strengthening collaboration as disasters continue to increase in both frequency and complexity.

Mantawil, vice chairman of the Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC), told participants the role of science in advancing innovations and strengthening institutional coordination.

“Science informs us, technology empowers us. But resilience is achieved only when knowledge is transformed into timely action that protects every Bangsamoro community,” said Mantawil, who spoke on behalf of BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.

The summit was attended by representatives and responders from different local government units in BARMM, Bangsamoro ministries, offices, and agencies (BMOAs), development partners, civil society organizations (CSOs), and academe.

During the summit, participants discussed innovations on disaster response and reduction as well as strengthening coordination among key agencies.

The MOST minister acknowledged the need to foster a culture where disaster risk information is understood, trusted, and acted upon to build a safer, more adaptive, and disaster-resilient community.

To protect lives and livelihoods, it requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach anchored in partnership, preparedness, and shared responsibility, Mantawil added.

She underscored that disaster response must be grounded in science, strengthened by technology, and guided by reliable and timely information.

Mantawil said scientific knowledge becomes truly meaningful only when translated into concrete action through early warning systems, hazard mapping, evidence-based planning, and inclusive disaster preparedness that reaches even the most vulnerable sectors.

Manuel L. Quezon,

 On this day in 1944, Manuel L. Quezon, who served as the second president of the Philippines, died of tuberculosis. He was 65 years old.

813

14

102

Girls' Generation member Yuri leaves SM Entertainment after 19 years, stays with group

By Jonathan Hicap

Published Jul 31, 2026 02:07 pm

Yuri of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation will leave SM Entertainment after nearly two decades, ending a partnership that began with her debut in 2007, the agency announced Friday.

SM Entertainment said Yuri, whose real name is Kwon Yuri, will conclude her exclusive contract with the company on Aug. 31 following mutual discussions.

"It has been a precious time for SM Entertainment to be with Kwon Yuri throughout her entire journey, from her debut with Girls' Generation in 2007... and finally shining as an actress," the agency said in a statement.   

The move marks the latest high-profile departure from one of South Korea's biggest entertainment companies as veteran K-pop artists increasingly pursue independent careers while continuing activities with their groups.

That said, SM Entertainment clarified that Yuri will remain a member of Girls' Generation despite leaving the agency.

"Although her exclusive contract with our company has ended, she will continue her activities as a member of Girls' Generation without change," it said.

Debuting in 2007, Girls' Generation became one of K-pop's defining acts, helping drive the genre's global popularity with hits including "Gee," "Genie" and "I Got a Boy."  

Outside music, Yuri has built a successful acting career, starring in dramas such as "Bossam: Steal the Fate," "Good Job" and "Parole Examiner Lee." She has also appeared in variety programs including "The Zone: Survival Mission" and "Business Genius Baeksajang."

Yuri of Girls' Generation (Instagram)

Yuri of Girls' Generation (Instagram)