Reaction Paper for OPEMAN Forum 2014

The topics discussed during the forum dubbed "EmPOWERing Juan: Watts up with the Power Sector" are the following:

1.)  Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Republic Act 9136)

2.)  Position of the Philippines on the upcoming 2015 ASEAN Integration

3.)  Supply-Demand Outlook from 2014 to 2020

Basically the three speakers talked about our country's current position with regards to power sector, the supply & demand outlook of electricity, and the governing rules & regulations which is the Republic Act 9136. These are essential topics because we (not only us students of AGSB, but all entrepreneurs/businessmen as well) must need to know where are we right now, and how can we react & plan for the future to compete with our neighboring countries especially in the upcoming 2015 ASEAN Integration.  These topics are vital to Entrepreneurship; an entrepreneur needs to innovate ideas to differentiate from the existing market, and then translate their ideas into products. During production, electricity plays an important role. Thus managing and allocating well their assets (especially equipment that uses electricity including office equipment) must be consider during strategic planning of the business plan.

One of the striking parts of the forum is that, our country has the most expensive electricity price it's because our government doesn't subsidize portion of the cost or doesn't subsidize at all unlike other countries. Also there's no focused on privatization and competition 6 years ago. To address these issues, I think, government must help other power distributors so it can compete well with Meralco in terms of pricing and quality of distribution. Government must also target the source of power by revising the existing regulations for the power-generating plants so it'll not be limited and can produce more. With a well-crafted regulation for the power-generating plants, investors will be encouraged to invest then source of power will increase thus increase in competition and will result to lower electricity price in the future.

Senica, Carlo Phillip                                                                          

SPENTREP - S09

Dr Norio Usui of ADB asks AGSB masters to change mindset

Ampitheater, APS Building, Rockwell Center, Makati City PHL  | March 13, 2013

Dr. Usui of ADB repeatedly challenged the AGSB masteral candidates audience in the Opeman forum for reviving Manufacturing to change their mindsets about development and industrialization.  He challenged them to do a peat of the BPO. It was not an industry that did not exist 10 years ago, but now it brings in nearly $20 billion in trade to the PHL, and about a million jobs.  It does not have govt fiat or support except location of cyberzones in PEZA.  The mindset (entrepreneurial mindset) has something to do with it.

Think about the banana that sells for PHP 100 each, or fresh mangoes in a nice box that sells for USD l00?  Think about the opportunity here (the product comes from PHL) and there (the market for that high selling price is in NYC or Tokyo)

The businessman must not stick to the traditional knowledge  on economics and business as he pursues his business objectives.  For example, typically, he says that barriers to entry of foreign business in PHL is high power cost.  While this is true for steel smelting or copper refinery, this is not a major factor in other industries where power is minor CGS!

He went at great length to explain the product space theory of Hidalgo and compares PHL with Thailand at various periods in history.

I love this presentation -  it is a strong supporter/advocate of entrepreneurship

He also used the Lego of Development as a metaphor for his speech where the children are the countries, the bricks are the capabilities.  As per my text conversation with Dean Albert of AGSB, he said he liked best Dr. Usui's talk best

Athens Cruz  and JP Molina of Sentrep attended the forum

                                Where is the monkey? Thailand vs PHL in l975

                                Thailand in PHL in 2008 - almost at parity

                                 Entrepreneurship is an important aspect of Usui presentation