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April 23, 2012
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Hydro’s potential to negate dry spells in Mindanao By Mike Baños Contrary to popular belief, Mindanao could still have undeveloped hydroelectric power potentials which can negate the effects of climate change, more specifically the El Niño phenomenon. Engr. David A. Tauli, spokesperson of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers, said the experience of other coun-
Oil firms push back prices anew OIL firms on Sunday implemented a sweeping price cut on their petroleum products. Major players Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell and small player Seaoil Philippines slashed 65 centavos per liter for premium gasoline (including unleaded); 50 centavos per liter on regular gas, 40 centavos per liter on diesel; and 25 centavos per liter off on kerosene effective at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. Big player Total Philippines also cut prices of the same set of petroleum products, except kerosene, at 6 a.m. Flying V, another small oil firm, cut 60 centavos per liter on premium gasoline prices and 50 centavos per liter on regular, diesel, and kerosene, also at 6 a.m. “This (adjustment) is to reflect the movements in the international oil market,” Petron said in a text advisory. Other oil companies have yet to announce a price tweak as of press time. A report from the Philippine News Agency
tries which have a large hydroelectric power component are contrary to the Department of Energy and the Asian Development Bank’s opinion that further development of Mindanao’s hydropower potential is not advisable given their inherent vulnerability to drought, citing the recent 2010 power crisis ostensibly due to the El Niño phenomenon. “Ninety percent of Nor-
way and Brazil’s electricity are sourced from hydropower plants while New Zealand has 60%,” said Mr. Tauli. “They also have among the lowest rates internationally for power generation.” Even granting how Norway and New Zealand both have temperate climate patterns. Mr. Tauli said recent weather patterns in Mindanao demonstrate how energy planners can
actually take advantage of these location specific climate patterns. “The historical weather patterns in Mindanao show it is wet in the east side when the west side is dry, and vice versa,” he explained. “This means that construction of a judicious balance of hydro plants on the east and west sides would mean a virtually weather-independent total dependable capacity
of hydro power plants. “In other words, hydro plants on both east and west sides would act as the base-load power plants so their combined dependable capacity would be available 24/7.” Hydro power plants on the West Side include 600 MW of large hydro on the Pulangi River and around 500 MW on the Cagayan River and its tributaries. The East Side includes around
250 MW of large hydro on the Agusan River at least 200 MW of small hydro in various places, and 400 MW of pumped storage hydro on Lake Mainit. “Hydro plants are supposed to be not operated as base-load,” said Gonzalo B. Julian, Jr., Electricity Sourcing, Business Development Manager, Holcim Philippines, Inc. “Usually MINDANAO/PAGE 7
Cops scratch heads over missing Chinese By PAT SAMONTE, Regional Editor-Caraga with AL JACINTO, Regional Editor-Zamboanga
BUTUAN City––Police authorities are still facing a blank wall on the whereabouts of a Chinese national who went missing since April 11. Authorities said 40-yraold Rui Lei, an employee of Shengzhou Mining Corporation in Claver, Surigao del Norte, allegedly went to Surigao City on board a passenger van. His friends tried to get in tough with him through his mobile phone but got no positive information, police said. Jochrys Real, Shenzhou Mining liaison officer, told police Lei contacted him through his cellphone on Friday at around 9 a.m. but the Chinaman did not divulge his whereabouts. “Lei merely said ‘I’m alright and I’ll contact you
WEATHER UPDATE INTERTROPICAL Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Mindanao. Frontal system affecting Batanes group of island. Palawan, Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds blowing from the East to Northeast will prevail over Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and coming from the East to Southeast over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.
source: pagasa
later.’” Real said. Lei was born in Jianxi, China on July 18, 1971, more or less 5 feet and 5 inches tall, weighs 60-70 kilos, of medium built, white complexion and black hair. He was wearing eye glasses, green polo shirt and blue pants when last seen. Claver police request the public to report to them information on the whereabouts of the missing Lei. In October last year, three South Korean nationals––Woo Shu Bong, Kim Nam Dou and Choi––who were reported missing were actually kidnapped in Lanao.
FRIEND OR FOE? Misamis Oriental second district Rep. Yevgeny “Bambi” Emano and 1st District Rep. Peter M. Unabia look to Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona as they confer in an earlier event they attended. While Emano and Unabia belong to the Padayon Pilipino party, Guingona is with the Liberal Party and political analysts say Unabia will be going against Guingona in the next elections. Photo by Gerry L. Gorit
NPA, govt troops clash in B’non By AL JACINTO PAGADIAN City––Communist insurgents killed a government militia in a clash Saturday with security forces in the southern Phil-
ippine city of Malaybalay, officials said. Officials said the fighting erupted in the village of Dalwangan when patrolling troops ran into a largely group of New People’s Army
rebels. “There is one casualty, a government militia, and we still don’t know if there were rebels killed or wounded in the clash,” said Major CLASH/PAGE 9
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