Explainer
NGCP told to ‘practice discipline’ to protect consumers
Energy industry regulators are urging utilities, especially monopolies like the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, to charge only reasonable expenses to consumer…
By Elyssa Lopez·February 6, 2024
Explainer
What is the rate reset process?
In 2009, the ERC introduced a regulatory methodology and a process to reset rates for power distribution utilities and the NGCP that follows a “performance-based regulation” (PBR)…
By Elyssa Lopez·February 6, 2024
Data
NGCP’s rate reset: A timeline
The fourth regulatory period review was delayed for almost a decade. The timeline shows the events that led to the petition questioning the rate review proceedings before the…
By Elyssa Lopez·February 6, 2024
Latest
The top 10 PCIJ reports and series of 2023
We have an update on the tax deficiencies of Villar companies in Las Piñas City, analyses of key issues during the first year of the Marcos administration, and more.
By Carmela Fonbuena·December 21, 2023
Energy Transition
In 2023, Marcos Jr.’s administration oversaw the expansion of renewable energy and fossil fuels
Talks at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP 28 in Dubai may influence the government’s energy plan, which is expected to be released before the end of the…
By Elyssa Lopez·December 20, 2023
Environment
Implementation of law requiring PH firms to manage plastic wastes still falls short
As of Dec. 5, 2023, only 798 of the 4,000 enterprises covered by the law have registered their EPR program – which states the mode of recovery and volume of waste to be recovered…
By Elyssa Lopez·December 18, 2023
Explainer
Draft energy plan calls for continued dependence on fossil fuels, dev’t of nuclear power
The draft PEP, as shown in a 2023 Climate Analytics report, presented two energy scenarios: a reference scenario and a clean energy scenario. The reference scenario assumes current…
By Elyssa Lopez·December 1, 2023
Data
Smartmatic bagged election contracts totalling at least P25 billion over the last decade
Comelec announced Smartmatic’s disqualification from ‘all procurement’ after bagging contracts worth at least P25 billion in the country’s last five elections, according to data…
By Cherry Salazar·November 29, 2023
Explainer
Reforming the Grid: ‘Balance NGCP’s financial health with consumer interests’
Infrawatch Philippines convenor Terry Ridon writes: "Since its inception in 2009, the NGCP has amassed P286 billion in earnings, allocating a substantial portion—P208 billion—as…
By Terry Ridon Infrawatch Ph Convenor And Stratbase Adr Institute Non Resident Fellow·November 15, 2023
Latest
Percy Lapid’s brother wants ‘presidential intervention’ on slay case
A court hearing was scheduled on Monday, November 13, but it was postponed. The court last heard the case two months ago.
By Cherry Salazar·November 13, 2023
Latest
How Yolanda devastated lives and villages — in photos
We are publishing images from the PCIJ photo archives to remember one of the worst disasters to hit the Philippines. These decade-old photos were taken by then PCIJ multimedia…
By Julius D Mariveles·November 8, 2023
Explainer
Power grid operator NGCP billed P2.4 billion worth of CSR, PR expenses to consumers
Since January 2023, the Energy Regulatory Commission has held 14 hearings to determine how much the NGCP should charge customers. The result of the investigation could mean refunds…
By Elyssa Lopez·November 6, 2023
In Depth
At least 6 Marcos donors in 2022 polls given gov’t posts
His latest appointee, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., donated P30 million in cash to his political party Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
By Elyssa Lopez·November 3, 2023
In Depth
Votes in 2023 BSKE sold up to P40K; Comelec urged to see prosecution of vote-buying cases through
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is preparing to file vote-buying charges against 46 candidates out of 168 reports it has received so far in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang…
By Cherry Salazar·October 31, 2023
Latest
Big, small, rich, and poor barangays wrap up campaigns — in photos
Photojournalist Edwin Bacasmas goes around Metro Manila on the last day of campaign for the Barangay and SK Elections.
By Edwin Bacasmas For The Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism·October 29, 2023
Investigative
Barangay with 2 residents prepares for elections; it has 210 voters
The two registered residents do not include the barangay chairman and seven councilors. The chairman, Adelino Fausto, is a resident of the neighboring town of Malabon.
By Elyssa Lopez·October 28, 2023
Latest
Q&A: Antonio Carpio says Filipinos should vigorously fight West PH Sea disinformation
Philippine security officials are wary of Chinese disinformation about the South China Sea dispute and of a few outspoken Filipinos echoing the regional superpower’s narratives…
By Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism Pcij·October 26, 2023
Disinformation
Philippines confronts unlikely adversary in SCS row: Filipinos echoing ‘pro-Beijing’ narratives
There's a small but vocal group of Filipinos echoing pro-Beijing narratives. Security officials fear that the public, who like to use social media and have shown vulnerability to…
By Camille Elemia·October 23, 2023
Latest
Q&A: ‘The real face of government in the Philippines is the barangay captain’
“Only in Manila, among the press, and where we are situated are we looking at the president, but that’s not true on the ground. Never has been true on the ground. That’s why local…
By Philippine Center For Investigative Journalism Pcij·October 23, 2023
In Depth
‘Kung hindi ka makakauwi, sino ka?’ There’s no way home for some residents of 4 Marawi villages
The city government says parts of Marawi villages Datu Naga, Datu sa Dansalan, Dansalan, and Sabala a Manao are government property. Residents may not be able to return to what…
By Raizza Bello·October 17, 2023
In Depth
6 years after Marawi siege, water woes and smelly septic tanks
Marawi’s former battle area was finally connected to electricity this year. But there’s still no water, making reconstruction activities difficult and hampering the return of…
By Carmela Fonbuena·October 17, 2023
