BIZ BUZZ: ‘Deal-seeking’ undersecretary
MANILA, Philippines — On the surface, the rags-to-riches story of this Cabinet undersecretary is impressive. When he joined this department, hopes were high that such a brilliant young man would bring about positive change. After all, what administration doesn’t dream of enlisting technocrats to make this part of the world a better place?
But lo and behold! We hear that the undersecretary is instead leveraging his position to market deals for his private company—where he should have kept his hands off the first place as soon as he joined the government. An ideal civil servant he is not, several sources told Biz Buzz, lamenting what they describe as a brazen display of self-interest.
In one of those cases, the vending undersecretary tried to coax one company to hop on a project, but only as a dummy. He wants his own enterprise to be the one to execute the project behind the scenes. In other cases, he asked for a “cut”—around a third of the contract amount—from contractors/suppliers.
Will this undersecretary ever care to reverse this ill repute? We’ll keep our ears close to the ground. —Doris Dumlao-Abadilla
Adopting Philippine eagles
Hiraya and Makisig, two Philippine eagles rescued from dire conditions in the wild, found a white knight in a global company that loves “wings.”
We’re talking about aviation giant Boeing, which has adopted these eagles as part of its conservation partnership with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).
Boeing will cover essential funding for the care of these eagles, including veterinary support, nutrition and habitat maintenance.
READ: Philippine Eagle Foundation welcomes ‘Chick #31’
The Philippine eagle is among the world’s most endangered raptors, with less than 400 pairs left in the wild.
“This partnership with Boeing demonstrates how corporations can play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity. Their investment goes beyond financial support—it exemplifies a commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and the preservation of natural heritage,” said PEF chair Edgar Chua.
PEF’s conservation breeding program rehabilitates injured eagles, ensures genetic diversity and reintroduces birds into the wild, making private sector support crucial for long-term conservation.
For its part, Boeing has worked with PEF to enhance conservation efforts, including funding the construction of holding cages for six breeding eagles and supporting the new National Bird Breeding Sanctuary in Davao City, home to the newly hatched eagle chick 31.
“Our commitment to the Philippines goes beyond business; it’s about creating sustainable solutions and empowering local communities to create a better future together. It’s an honor to partner with the PEF to support their important work and protect this national treasure of the Philippines,” said Boeing Southeast Asia president Penny Burtt. —Doris Dumlao-Abadilla
From coal to clean?
South Korea-based Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) is not done yet with the Philippine market as it readies deeper investments in clean energy space.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said he had met with Kepco president Kim Dong-cheol earlier this week to “reaffirm” the group’s commitment to the local power sector.
The Department of Energy even noted that Kepco “aims to accelerate its investments in renewable energy.”
The executives’ discussions were focused on three areas: renewables, nuclear energy and smart grid technology.
“As the Philippines pursues a just and inclusive energy transition, partnerships with experienced and forward-looking companies like Kepco will be instrumental in strengthening our energy security and sustainability,” Lotilla said.
Currently, the South Korean firm operates the 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Cebu. But as the group pursues its carbon neutrality goals, Kepco earlier unveiled the target to unload its coal assets.
It also has a 38-percent stake in Solar Philippines subsidiary Solar Philippines Calatagan Corp., which manages a solar farm in Batangas. —Lisbet K. Esmael
