‘When is the ribbon cutting?’ – PBBM

Just before President Bongbong Marcos got elected president, I wrote an article praising the Laguna Lake Development Authority for undertaking a breakthrough development concept that would add to the energy supply of the Laguna area as well as earn better revenues for LLDA compared to the paltry rentals they collect from polluting fish cages.

That concept was to lease out some areas of the substantially wide territory of Laguna de Bay for floating solar farms to be put up by local and international private firms that had participated in the bidding process. It was a win-win project for LLDA, Laguna de Bay, the environment and aquatic life in the lake and localized electric power supply for nearby towns or barangays. The bidding process was also so spotless that it was categorized as an exemption to the rule.

Moving forward, during President Bongbong Marcos’ recent trip to Singapore, a ceremonial signing reportedly took place between the proponents  and representatives of the floating solar farm projects, foreign investors and witnessed by President Bongbong Marcos, DTI Secretary Pascual, etc. Right after the signing ceremony PBBM was quoted as asking, “When is the ribbon cutting?”

It seems that the “winning bidders” are asking the same question.

The LLDA board during the Duterte administration apparently failed or intentionally chose not to announce who the winning companies were. With the arrival of the PBBM administration, the LLDA GM has his hands tied unless his appointment is renewed and Malacañang gives him authority to announce who won in the bidding.

Meanwhile, foreign investors as well as senior managers and company owners have been breathing down the necks of their executives, lawyers and government liaison officers, not understanding why there should be a prolonged delay, given that even the President of the Philippines was asking “When is the ribbon cutting?”

Aside from the usual impression that the PBBM executives have simply been overly cautious and slow, there is now a growing suspicion that a certain energy firm that participated and lost in the bidding may be influencing matters towards a rebidding. Part of the suspicion lies in the silence of certain energy officials concerning the LLDA solar floating farms and renewable energy in general. They are either frustrating the winners into selling out or giving up due to the extraordinary delay and possibility of a rebidding.

One foreign firm has already started to ask their local partners for risk assessments and contingency plans, while another has been so busy knock-knock-knocking at the DENR, LLDA and the Office of the President to get a straight answer because every day of delay has been causing the winning bidders thousands upon thousands of pesos as they start up their teams.

I found out from the grapevine that legal fees alone for incorporating and setting up the global partnerships run anywhere from P30 million to P40 million in lawyer’s fees.

Having witnessed the signing ceremony in Singapore, I sincerely hope PBBM does not get invited to an international arbitration court regarding the failure of the LLDA to deliver on what was represented in the ceremonial signing in Singapore and shown all over the country, if not many parts of the region.

*      *      *

A recent survey where respondents indicated that their Quality of Life improved in recent months, in my mind is not economic in nature. Most people associate quality of life with material needs, finances and job security but often forget the simple fact that we should be happy to be alive. We dismiss the value that is in time spent with family, the opportunity to pursue a different career or interest, or trading off wealth for better and deeper relationships and building memories with family.

Considering the severe impact of COVID-19 on human lives and productivity, it’s hard to imagine that the traditional quality of life  standards (jobs-money-titles) improved during lockdowns or extended quarantines given the loss of life, loss of jobs and depletion of finances and resources. In fact, in the first year of the pandemic, much of the world was wrapped in an oppressive doom and gloom scenario.

Fortunately, people went from hopelessness to survivor mode. Anywhere I go, people talk about how COVID-19 and the harsh extended quarantine periods in the last two years were directly responsible for making them rethink and change their lifestyles, value system and priorities, thereby improving their quality of life. Many people who lost jobs or had diminished incomes and learned to live with less now live simpler and focus on the essentials or what is necessary.

Full circle, they discovered that they did not have to work 24/7 and “be all you can be” as society dictated. Instead they lowered their requirements and found more rest, that they could be productive at home as well as at work. And, if necessary, take pay cuts for less time at an office. Others were simply forced to do something else, to try alternative livelihoods that they always wanted to do but never had the courage to. Flight attendants became delivery service personnel, entrepreneurs became vegetable vendors in private villages, others turned to home delivery of food, etc.

Many people discovered so much wealth in managing their own time, having extra hours by not having to travel or commute to work, being able to spend more time with their family, children or spouse. Quality of life improved not from having more but from having less; less stress, less materialism, less worries.

Perhaps that is the divine blessing, the silver lining behind the COVID-19 pandemic. It corrected our trajectory by changing our priorities.

Many of us had it all wrong. We were going for QUANTITY in Life not QUALITY of Life.

*      *      *

E-mail: [email protected]