Firm files petroleum exploration nomination bid for Cagayan basin

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

billing demand of the previous years.

leads to achieve our desired level of investments over the long time going forward. Just like in any business, the selling job does not stop. Doing investment promotions, selling the country and that effort does not stop it. It’s not a one-time exercise,” Pascual explained.

DTI said the country is now able to attract more foreign investments due to its business-friendly policies such as Public Service Act and the Foreign Investment Act.

Another factor, the agency pointed out, is the country’s inclusion in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

RCEP is a free trade agreement signed by the Asean membercountries, together with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, which cut tariffs on some goods to create common standards for e-commerce, trade, and intellectual property.

“You know, if they are going to cater to the regional market, then the Philippines being part of RCEP will have access to all the member countries of RCEP,” Pascual said.

Kalinga irrigators receive ₧18-M solar-powered irrigation system

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over an P18 million worth of solar-powered irrigation system (SPIS) to a group of farmers in Barangay Calaocan, Rizal, in Kalinga province.

The project was received by members of the Rizal Indigent Farmers Irrigators Association.

The SPIS was provided by DAR as part of the initial wave of support services that the agency will be providing to the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) of Kalinga.

The project has so far been providing them with an eco-friendly and sustainable source of water for their crops.

“We are taking care of the farmers just like what the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. and my grandfather former Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella Sr. did during the previous implementation of the land reform program,” DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella

III said in a news statement.

Estrella said the agency is taking advantage of the opportunities to create projects and adopt appropriate measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change within the agrarian reform areas.

“We need to build and create more projects that will help our farmers combat the negative effects of climate change,” he added.

Adela Damaso, DAR-Kalinga Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer, said the project can irrigate 60 hectares of agricultural lands primarily benefiting 50 ARB households and other neighboring farmers.

Damaso said that the SPIS is a cost-efficient and climate change adaptive technology that does not require the use of fuel. It is not affected by power interruptions, is easy to operate, environmentally friendly, suitable for remote watersheds and rain-fed areas, and requires minimal maintenance.

Jonathan L. Mayuga

THE Department of Energy (DOE) has received a bid nomination for petroleum exploration in Cagayan basin.

The nomination of an area for exploration is one of the two ways by which investors can participate in the DOE’s Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCEP). The other option is choosing an area from the 14 Pre-Determined Areas (PDAs) offered by the DOE. Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd. is applying for one petroleum area located in Cagayan basin. The nominated area is subject to counterchallenge by other prospective bidders. Deadline for the submission of documents by counter-proponents is on September 4, or 60 calendar days from date of publication by the nominating party. The challengers must also pay an application fee of P1 million. The bids will be opened on September 4.

Meanwhile, the DOE is urging government agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local government units (LGUs) to tap solar energy in their buildings to help minimize the country’s exposure to fuel price fluctuations in the international markets.

In a resolution promulgated last July 7 by the Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee (IAEECC), government entities are given three years from the effectivity of the resolution to install an initial supply of at least 20 percent of their electricity requirements from solar photovoltaic (PV) system or any equivalent renewable energy (RE) technology based on the highest monthly kilowatt-hour (kWh)

T he utilization of solar energy is also part of the compliance with the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), which encourages all government entities to reduce their electricity consumption by at least 10 percent.

Under IAEECC Resolution No. 8, a government entity that will install solar PV system or any equivalent RE technology with a capacity not exceeding 100 kilowatts (kW) is allowed to be Qualified End-Users (QEs) and may enter into a net-metering agreement with a distribution utility (DU).

QEs are entities such as a house or office building that generate electric power coming from an eligible RE generating facility that can be connected to the grid for the purpose of entering into a net-metering agreement.

Meanwhile, the net metering program allows customers of DUs, such as house or building, to install an on-grid RE-based system not exceeding 100 kW in capacity so they can generate electricity for their own use. Any electricity generated that is not consumed by the customer is automatically exported to the DU’s distribution system.

The DU then gives a peso credit for the excess electricity received equivalent to the DU’s blended generation cost, excluding other generation adjustments, and deducts the credits earned to the customer’s electric bill.

DOE Secretary and IAEECC chairperson Raphael Lotilla said that the result of the participation of all government entities to this program would pave the way to the reduction of their monthly electricity consumption that the government could re-channel to other services, such as health and education.

DOLE reminds employers on PWD rights in workplace

THE Department of Labor and Employment

(DOLE) reminded employers to ensure the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities (PWD) amid the ongoing commemoration of National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week.

DOLE reiterated that there are laws, policies and programs that protect the rights of PWD in the workplace.

Employers must “provide equal opportunities” for employment with private corporations reserving at least 1 percent of 100 employees for PWD applicants, DOLE said.

Meanwhile, government agencies should research at least 1 percent of all regular and non-regular positions for PWDs, according to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10524.

Employers are also prohibited from discriminating against a qualified PWD with regards to job application, hiring, training, promotion, or discharge of employees, and other terms.

This aligns with the IRR of Republic Act 10524, Rule IV, which states that “no PWD shall be denied access” for suitable employment.

“A qualified employee with disability shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of employment and the same compensation, privileges, benefits, fringe benefits, incentives, or allowances as an employed able-bodied person,” the IRR stated.

PWDs are also entitled to have a secure, barrier-free environment and access to express lanes in all establishments, DOLE added. Patrick V. Miguel