Big Brother’ Project Begins Value of Meralco by Amy Mosura CONTROVERSIAL
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August 2005 The first issue of ‘Bridges,’ a publication of the Lopez Group Foundation, is now available...p.9 For more information, call Vanessa Suquila at 449-6026 The ‘Big Brother’ project begins Value of Meralco By Amy Mosura CONTROVERSIAL. That is what “Pinoy Big Brother” is. Never have highlighted in people been put to the test in this man- ner. The show has all the ingredients of TV spots ...p.2 intense television. It is innovative, ex- citing and dramatic. At the same time, it is human, recognizable and touching. For approximately 100 days, the viewer will sympathize with 12 housemates- MNTC crying, laughing and falling in love with them. communication ABS-CBN has put on some big pro- program jects in its more than 50 years on television. But for a regular The "Pinoy Big Brother" house show, there is arguably no (top) on Eugenio Lopez Drive worth commitment more in- has tubes for microphones and tensive and challeng- cameras; ABS-CBN chairman & emulating CEO Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez ing than “Pinoy Big III, Endemol's Anuska Ban, ABS- ...p.4 Brother,” the upcom- CBN president Cito Alejandro, ing reality series that ABS-CBN EVP for entertainment takes 12 ordinary peo- Charo Santos-Concio and Ende- ple and locks them up in- mol's Ed Sharples at the ground- breaking ceremonies for the side a house for 100 days, "Pinoy Big Brother" house with a housemate taken out of the game until only one winner remains to win P1,000,000 cash, a house and lot and a new car. With the housemates competing for the favor of both their fellow competi- tors and the viewing public in the weekly eviction ceremonies-which determine the housemate who will be taken out of the game-the show is an addictive drama that mines the contestants’ interpersonal relationships for its storylines. No won- der it’s a hit all over the world-from Hol- land, where the very first “Big Brother” series made its appearance in 1999, to ABS-CBN invades England, the US, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Australia, the USA ...p.7 Turn to page 6 2 LOPEZLINK August 2005 NLE traffic improvement MANILA North Tollways Corpora- traffic in the North Luzon Express- tion (MNTC) chairman Oscar M. way (NLE) interchanges. Lopez and Bocaue Mayor Serafin The MOA is a tri-sectoral agreement dela Cruz recently signed a memo- to develop and implement a traffic en- randum of agreement aimed to ease gineering and management program, including the establishment of a Traffic Management Zone along the periphery and immediate areas surrounding the Bocaue interchange and local roads. The other parties to the agree- ment include Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Un- dersecretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Sta. Maria Mayor Jesus R. Mateo, MNTCpresident Jose P. de Jesus MNTC chairman Oscar M. Lopez and TMC president & CEO Anthony Mabasa (6th and 7th from left) and of- MNTC chair Oscar M. Lopez (right) and Bocaue councilor Dennis C. ficers of public transport groups with copies of the "New NLE Motorist's Handbook," a guide for drivers trav- and Mayor Jesus R. Mateo Carpio. (Kit Ventura) eling along the new expressway developed by the MNTC and the Tollways Management Corporation (TMC). The 114-page handbook is a first in the expressway business Meralco set to implement SC issues 4th round of refunds TRO on Safety campaign starts in THE Manila Electric Com- schedule for Phase IVB," pany (Meralco) has commu- Mabale added. nicated with Bureau of Inter- To avail of the refund, EVAT nal Revenue (BIR) officer- customers must indicate their MERALCO is closely North Luzon Expressway in-charge Atty. Jose Mario preferred refund option-post- following developments Bunag to facilitate the re- dated checks or credit-to-fu- on the expanded value THE safety of the motorists along the new North tive in the expressway business. It features gen- lease of the revenue memo- ture bills with cash option. added tax or EVAT after Luzon Expressway (NLE) received a big boost as eral tips for driving in the NLE, handling emer- randum order (RMO) that They will then be asked to the Supreme Court is- the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) gencies, road signs and signals, and traffic rules will spell out the BIR's im- submit certain documents, sued a temporary re- took the initial steps to promote a safety cam- and regulations. plementing guidelines on the one of which is the BIR Cer- straining order (TRO) withholding tax for Phase IV tificate of Registration, which on its implementation paign among users of the tollway. MNTCchairman Oscar M. Lopez gave copies customers. indicates the customer's tax on July 1, 2005. The campaign kicked off with the launching of the of the handbook to officers of public transport "Once we have incorpo- identification number (TIN). Consequently, the "New NLE Motorist's Handbook" by MNTCand groups, including the Sto. Niño Jeepney Opera- rated the RMO guidelines in Since the average refund company's energy sales the refund process, we can amount under Phase IV is Tollways Management Corporation (TMC) to guide tors and Drivers Association plying the Mey- start releasing the letters to much bigger than those un- and other charges will drivers while traveling along the new expressway. cauayan-Monumento route, and FX operators our customers in August for der Phases I to III, Meralco not reflect any VAT un- The 114-page handbook is a full-color travel and drivers traveling the Malolos-Tutuban route. Phase IVA and in September has to ensure that the refund til further notice. manual and companion and the first such initia- (Kit Ventura) for Phase IVB," Meralco Re- will be given to the person or Meralco task force fund Management task force entity entitled to it. chairman on VAT im- head Leonardo Mabale said. Meralco is also set to pro- plementation Atty. An- "Some pre-processing is pose to the Energy Regulatory thony Rosete had earlier necessary, but should the ac- Commission (ERC) alternative said: "In the case of tual implementation be de- options on how to inform cus- electricity, if a billing Value of Meralco highlighted in TV spots layed, the refund is assuredly tomers with terminated ac- period covers power retroactive to July 2005 for counts of their unclaimed re- consumption for the pe- MERALCO recently launched a campaign those belonging to Phase fund as publishing such in the riod before and after Ju- dubbed "Value of Meralco" to clarify its vital role IVA. We hope to be on newspapers will be very costly. ly 1, 2005, 10% VAT in the Philippine power industry. shall be applied only to The campaign is composed of three TV com- electricity consumption mercials entitled "Hamburger," "Taho" and on or after July 1, "Weights," and a radio commercial called "Mar- 2005." vin the Lion"-all conveying the message that only Consumption includ- ed in Meralco's July a small portion of the total electric bill goes to billing cycle varies de- Meralco and that the company delivers services pending on the cus- that uplift the Filipino consumer's life. tomers' meter reading While the movement of rates and prices are be- schedule. yond Meralco's control, the company is deter- The Energy Regula- mined to help its customers by providing energy tory Commission (ERC) is in the process of con- ‘Taho’ ducting public hearings on its guidelines, while ‘Hamburger’ savings information that could help in managing the Bureau of Internal Skycable inks deal with Revenue (BIR) is still their electricity bill. finalizing its revenue "Value of Meralco" is a continuing effort from new Hyatt Hotel memorandum circular 2004's multimedia energy management cam- Skycable, the country's leading cable service provider, has on the implementation paign where Meralco's publication of energy sav- been chosen to provide comprehensive in-room entertainment of the expanded VAT ing tips were seen as a genuine concern for the to guests of the new Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila in law in the power indus- consumer and has resulted in a lot of goodwill in Malate, Manila. A contract signing was recently held in one try. of the 378-room hotel's five presidential suites. In photo Meralco will issue a the eyes of the public. (standing from left): Eugene Tamesis, Hyatt director of mar- statement when the As proof of the impact created by the hilarious keting; Jinky Areola, Skycable corporate account specialist; High Court resolves the but message-laden TVCs, "Hamburger" was Elpidio Beloso Jr., Hyatt director of rooms; and Hoyle Raul matter and the ERCand spoofed by actors Michael V (as the one explain- Disuanco, Skycable sales and marketing senior vice-presi- the BIR announce the dent. Seated are Gottfried Bogensperger, Hyatt general man- ing the Meralco bill by taking bites of the burger) guidelines and circulars. and Ogie Alcasid (as the confused customer) in a ager, and Carlo Katigbak, Skycable chief operating officer. (M. Bueno) (Karen Zabaljauregui) recent episode of the gag show "Bubble Gang." LOPEZLINK August 2005 3 Septage transformed into fertilizer Low IDD rates MAYNILAD Water Services Inc. (MWSI) and the Sugar RegulatoryAd- with Sky ministration (SRA) recentlyconducted an experiment that converted sludge into an alternative for chemical fertilizer in culti- Internet VoIP vating crops. BAYANTEL, a leading provider of affordable and According to Maynilad environmental reliable telephone services, is now at the forefront of management head Francisco Arellano, the offering low IDD rates with the launch of SkyIn- ternet VoIP. experiment involved the use of septage and SkyInternet VoIP runs on the new technology biosolids as fertilizers in a sugarcane plan- of voice-over-Internet-protocol, which transmits tation in Pampanga.