VOL. 2 l NO. 5 l February 02, 2012
DOE7 assures Cebu has enough power supply for 2012
By Amor Ganda Saludar February 2 (PIA) -- The Department of Energy (DOE-7) assured that Cebu has enough power supply for this year, brushing off concerns of power shortage due to insufficient power supply. DOE -7 Regional director Antonio Labios said Cebu has enough power reserves for 2012 due to the additional 400MW power supply from newly installed power plants in Cebu including the two100-MW each coal-fired power plants of Salcon-Kepco in the City of Naga and another 100-MW power plant in Toledo City. “Cebu has a total of around 1,600-MW power capacity but actual demand is only about 1,300-MW power. So there is an excess of about 300-MW power,” Labios declared during the recent Kapihan sa PIA. Labios added that “we can assure the public that we still have enough power reserve in Cebu and the region as well and that power shortage is least expected,” Labios clarified. But Labios, however, warned that the critical stage would be in 2015 to 2017 when minimal power shortage would likely be experienced. Any critical power situation that might happen in the future will ,however, depend on investments coming in, Labios said. “This is why the DOE is encouraging investors in the power plant industry to put up power plants here,” Labios said. Meanwhile, the DOE 7 is currently evaluating the performance of the service contractors given permits to explore renewable energy resources in the Visayas. Labios said they have to determine whether the service contractors given permits are actually conducting survey and examination in identified areas spotted to have a possible source of renewable energy. (FCR/AS/PIA-CEBU)
COASTAL CLEAN-UP: Franciscan Youths (YOUFRA) of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor share their time cleaning the coastal areas in barangay Camogao, Erique Villanueva, Siquijor. It’s their way of showing love to the environment in an effort to follow the footsteps of St. Francis, the patron saint of animal and ecology. (Rizalie A. Calibo/PIA-Siquijor)
E-trikes to reduce fuel import, address climate change By Fayyette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, February 2 (PIA) -- Apart from reducing the country’s dependence on imported petroleum, the E-Trike Project of the Department of Energy (DOE) is also an initiative of the national government to mitigate the effects of climate change. DOE-Visayas Field Office Regional Director Antonio Labios bared the government through the DOE is promoting the use of e-trikes because fuel consumption is much less and no smoke emissions that cause air pollution are emitted. “Instead of buying fuel which is quite expensive, e-trike drivers only spend for the recharging of the battery which is less than P100,” Labios said. Labios cited the case of Mandaluyong City, the pilot site of the first e-trikes operating in the country where e-trike drivers only spend P50 per day for recharging their battery. “Imagine the savings e-trike drivers earn because they no longer buy fuel. And if you translate that to the adoption of e-trikes nationwide, then the country will have significant savings on fuel importation,” Labios said. Labios said the incessant rising prices of oil in the global market is making the country captive to costly fuel since we are over 90 percent dependent on imported petroleum. “We need to fast track measures to lessen the dependence of imported fuel and the adoption of e-trikes is one of them,” Labios declared. Labios said promoting the use of e-trikes hopes to see the gradual phase-out of conventional tricycles although he did not disclose a timeline. On top of reducing our dependence on fuel import, e-trikes is also environmentally-friendly because it does not discharge smoke so no carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere, Labios further said. Carbon dioxide is one of the major greenhouse gases that destroy the earth’s ozone layer contributing to global warming and climate change, this is learned. Unlike conventional tricycles with combustion engines that produces smoke, e-trikes produces no noise and zero emissions, Labios said. (PIA-Cebu) FOR MORE REGIONAL STORIES, LOG ON TO: http://pia-7newsservice.blogspot.com
NEGROS ORIENTAL
Solar energy to light up 75 moe houses in off-grid areas in NegOr
ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson (right) symbolically handing over a boxing glove to Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria (left) on Jan. 31, 2012. The boxing association has donated boxing gears to the city to support the local boxing industry in the city and Negros Oriental province. (RMN/ PIA/CPIO)
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 31 (PIA) --- Some 75 houses located in off-grid areas in Negros Oriental are expected to be lighted up using solar energy during the first quarter of this year. Said houses are located in offgrid areas in Vallehermoso, La Libertad and Guihulngan towns which are within the coverage area of Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative I (NORECO I). The solar home system technology will be installed in 25 houses in each of the three towns. Off-grid areas are places situated in remote hinterland areas that are not connected to the power transmission grid. A total of 300 off-grid households covered by NORECO I are already enjoying electricity through solar home system technology last year, according to Lynn Manlalangit, NORECO I institutional services division manager. The solar system units were purchased using a P10.5 million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE). This after NORECO I was chosen as one of six pilot electric cooperatives nationwide to implement DOE’s solar energy project funded by the World Bank. “Our board of directors met last year and during that meeting it was identified which districts in our area will benefit from the 300 solar energy units,” said Manlalangit in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency. The testing districts chosen last year were the towns of Guihulngan, Ayungon and Bindoy. “The money left over from the multi-million grant last year will be used to purchase the additional solar system units for this year,” said Manlalangit. Although installation of the solar system units is free and there are no power bills to pay, consumers still pay a monthly flat rate fee depending on the wattage they availed. “This is to cover the maintenance costs of the solar energy units,” explained Manlalangit. Consumers who availed of solar panels running on a 50-watt peak pay a flat rate of P195 while those with 75-watt peak, P295. The 50-watt peak solar panels can energize up to three electric bulbs at 7 watts each. For 75-watt peak panels, consumers can use four bulbs. The solar panel and batteries are covered by a one-year warranty from the supplier while first time replacement of busted electric bulbs is free, added Manlalangit. NORECO I is one of two electric cooperatives distributing electric power supply in the province. It covers 11 towns and cities in the northern part of Negros Oriental. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
HONEST DRIVER: Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria (left) hands over a P1,000 cash reward to tricycle driver Miller Rio Janayan (center) who returned to TMO a Blackberry cellphone that a passenger left inside his pedicab. The reward was given by the cellphone owner, Acting Deputy Executive Director of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Carminda Arevalo, who was in Dumaguete for the unveiling of the historical marker of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Photo also shows City Tourism Officer Woodrow Maquiling, Jr. (RMN/PIA/CPIO)
Houses for Sendong victims in Sibulan to be constructed By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 4 (PIA) -- Victims of tropical storm Sendong in Brgy. Ajong, Sibulan, Negros Oriental who found themselves homeless after the storm washed away their homes in December last year will soon move into their new dwellings before the end of March this year. The Sibulan municipal government will hold a simultaneous ground breaking of 40 houses for 40 beneficiaries at one of the housing sites in Brgy. Ajong on Feb. 6, 2012. The housing project is made possible by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) which is funded by ADRA Japan, said Sibulan Municipal Information Officer Connie Rosales. Rosales said the project will need 120 carpenters who will be paid P230 per day and 80 laborers who will be paid P150 per day to construct the houses on a build zone. “Areas which are safe and owned or leased to the victims are the ones prioritized,” she said. Sibulan’s engineering team and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) are
assisting ADRA in carrying out the housing project. “The ADRA staff are personally supervising the assessment and evaluation of the beneficiaries,” Rosales added. Sibulan Mayor Marcela Bartoces thanked the ADRA Philippine team who contacted her seeking the LGU’s assistance in implementing said project, which she said is also helping alleviate poverty in her town. Sibulan is one of the hardesthit areas at the height of the floods caused by Sendong on Dec. 17, 2011. Earlier reports show that there were 12 deaths, and 280 totally damaged houses and 322 partially damaged houses due to the storm recorded by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC). (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
BOHOL
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Bohol eyes Marikina strategy in dog control By Rey Anthony Chiu
MARIKINA CITY, Feb 3 (PIA) – A team from Bohol implementing the anti-rabies program of the province had visited Marikina City recently to learn from their experience in Anti-Rabies Elimination program. The Bohol Anti-Rabies campaign won for the province the “Galing Pook” national award for its “purok” system implementation of the program that made Bohola rabies-free province. “Winning a national award for
innovation in its rabies program is not the end of it all,” said Bohol Veterinarian Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz. Lapiz admitted that after listening to Marikina City Veterinarian Dr. Manuel Carlos share their non-contact apprehension as its strategy for stray dog control, Lapiz openly thought it could also work in Bohol. In Marikina City, hailing of violators is just the beginning. And it is a crucial beginning, according to Dr. Carlos.
Feature: Bohol grabs 2 "Galing Pook" awards for innovation By Rey Anthony Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 4 (PIA) – Bohol asserted its position as one of the trailblazers when it grabbed two of the country’s 10 most prestigious innovations in governance called Galing Pook Awards during the awarding ceremony in Malacanang on January 30 presided by no less than president Benigno Simeon Aquino III. The Galing Pook Awards is the pioneering recognition program for innovations and excellence in local governance that started in 1993. It recognized winning programs based on positive results and impact, promotion of people’s participation and empowerment, innovations, transferability and sustainability and program service delivery. Bohol shared the limelight with the President at Rizal Hall in Malacanang Palace with other winning delegates from Sarangani, Limasawa, Southern Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Upi Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Norte, Quezon province, Alimodian Ilo-ilo and Albay. Of the 137 programs up for grabs for the best 10 this year, Bohol got two awards that included the “Rabies Prevention and Elimination Program” and Maribojoc Bohol’s “Local Government Unit-led Cadastral Survey.” Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto and Vice Governor Concepcion Lim led Bohol Galing Pook delegation for the Anti-Rabies program composed of Provincial veterinarian Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio III, Dr. Leonida Daguro, Global Alliance for Rabies Control Coordinator Dr. Mary Elizabeth Miranda, Romy Garcia, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot, Nurse Polizena Rances, Board Member Abeleon Damalerio, EDCOM Chief Augustus Escobia and Philippine Information Agency Center Manager in Bohol. On the other hand, Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr and Vice mayor Fructuoso Redula and the full Sangguniang Bayan complement claimed Maribojoc’s Galing Pook Award for its LGU-led Cadastral Survey program. Visayas sneaked in two more awards -- Limasawa Southern Leyte’s “Poor Municipality can Eliminate Malnutrition” and Alimodian, Ilo-ilo’s “Bringing High School’s Closer to Home,” to seal four Galing Pook Awards for the entire Viisayas area. Mindanao staked the next four slots with Sarangani Province’s Justice on Wheels, Misamis Oriental’s “Turning red to Green,” Upi Maguindanao’s “Rural Community e-Center” and Zamboanga del Norte’s “Empowering the Subanen People.” For Luzon, Albay wedged in “Health Strategy for MDG attainment while Real, Infanta, Gen Nakar and Panukulan in Quezon siddled in “Community-based Menta Health Management to complete the list. This year, of the 137 entries, Luzon put in 55 entries, Visayas had 33 and Mindanao had 49, said Galing Pook Selection Committee Chair Rafael Coscolluela, in his introduction to the ceremonies. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)
Carlos said, getting the program to work was easy when the Marikina City approved a city ordinance plus the strong political will of Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman and the City Legal Office. Dr. Carlos stated that the local ordinance detailed how to impose a mandatory registration of pets and failure to do so would entail stiff penalties. In such a small area, the ordinance and its compliance work well as the program is now briskly collecting revenues for the program and the city, Dr. Carlos shared. “What used to be hard thing, showing proof of violations, is now easy with the new technology,” Dr. Carlos explained to the Bohol team. Amid the complexity of presenting proof beyond reasonable doubt, Marikina City employs cellphones with cameras, digicams and similar video devices to catch violators. The vet added that they urged people to take videos or pictures of dogs in streets and report the same to the City. “Our deputized agents follow these dogs to their homes and they issue citation tickets to owners,” explained the city vet. Three days after receiving the citations, if owners do not settle, the cases are elevated to the City Legal Department that files the case at the Fiscals. “We are lucky we have a judge that could cite any owner for contempt if they are remiss in their responsibilities,” Dr. Carlos said. Bohol provincial Veterinarian Dr. Lapiz said it can enhance the noncontact apprehension scheme of Marikina City. In its rabies control program, Bohol has adopted a paralegal system that has worked, but not quite, Lapiz said. According to Lapiz while a paralegal system in Bohol allows people to bring to the barangay violations such as unregistered, tagged but unleashed dogs, stray dogs posing danger to motorists and biting dogs, very few barangays are fully implementing the it. Lapiz explained that the rabies watchers or Bantay Rabies sa Barangay (BRB) are the ones that summon violators and settle problems and agreements from the problems caused by their pets. Lapiz said the Marikina strategy can be studied and maybe implemented in Bohol. “The province has enough committed individuals that have shown that they can be trusted to work for the program,” Dr. Lapiz concluded. (mbcn/ rahc/PIA-Bohol)
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SIQUIJOR
Siquijor allots 150T for FITS program By Rizalie Anding Calibo SIQUIJOR, Feb 4 (PIA) -- From the 2011budget of P300,000, the Farmers Information and Technology
Services (FITS) consortium in Siquijor services in 2012. is now getting a slashed-up budget of Provincial Planning and P150,000 from the province’s 20 percent Development Officer Gladys Estrellada development fund for its programs and in a recent FITS meeting said "utilization of the 20% development fund is very restrictive." Estrellada added FITS should only plan programs in accordance with the guidelines on appropriation and utilization of the 20 percent of the annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for development projects. These, she said include among other development projects, those that address or respond to natural or man-made disasters and calamities. She said that despite meager budget, the consortium can still provide better services if all agencies pool their resources together. She calls for magnanimous heart from each member to be able to render still good services to the FITS clients. FITS programs planned for this year include Support to Siquijor Banana Producers Livelihood undertaking with P50,000 budget; support to Siquijor Peanut Producers Livelihood at P50,000; support to Mananao Agro-Forestry project at P25,000; and Support to Natural Farming Technology System with P25,000 allocation. The group also agreed to intensify information drives on climate change, organic agriculture and solid waste management this year. Meanwhile, latest report said that FITS operation this year is already transferred to the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) from the Technogabay program of the Department of Science and Techology’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD), this was learned. Estrellada said that per message from ATI Director Asterio Saliot, at least P1 million has been released to the technogabay program in 2012 but no further detail has been given as the ATI is yet to meet all the FITS chairmen for a briefing on the new operation. (mbcn/ rac/PIA-Siquijor)
YOUTH CAMP: The Franciscan Youths (YOUFRA) of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor: Feeling triumphant after giving their share to the community. Tree planting and clean up activities are one of the regular activities of these youth to help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change following their weekly formation at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor. (pia-siqujor/Rizalie A. Calibo)
20 slots for Siquijor residents on free surgical for clef lip patients By Rizalie A. Calibo SIQUIJOR, Feb 4 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Siquijor announced that a team of doctors from the United States of America (USA) will come to Tagbilaran City for a surgical mission for cleft lip, preferably, children patients and 20 slots are reserved for Siquijor patients. DILG OIC-provincial director Kenneth Kilat said the surgical operation will be on February 19 to 24 at Borja Family Hospital, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Accordingly, the surgical mission will take care of the medical related expenses. Kilat said that the provincial government, through Siquijor governor Orlando Fua and other officials, intend to shoulder the boat fare of Siquijorian parties going to the mission and venue, and the board and lodging expense during their stay in Tagbilaran City. Interested parties must arrive in Tagbilaran City on February 18 and must be in good health ( no fever, no coughs and colds), Kilat added. The doctors may also require important patient’s information such as name, residential address, sex, age, birth date, birth place, parents’ name, and contact number, if any. Deadline for submission of the list of patients is on February 6, 2012. For further inquiries, parties are advised to contact the Office of the Provincial Governor, Siquijor Provincial Capitoll Building, Siquijor, Siquijor, or to call through landline numbers (035) 344-2015, and (035) 344-2251. (mbcn/rac/PIASiquijor)