Paluan, Occidental Mindoro celebrates the completion of Southeast Asia’s largest solar-battery microgrid.

While millions suffer from frequent brownouts, the town of Paluan, Occidental Mindoro is now brownout-free.

In 2018, Solar Para Sa Bayan (SPSB) completed the largest Solar-Battery Microgrid in Southeast Asia at zero cost to the government. With solar panels, Tesla batteries, and backup diesel generators, it serves Paluan 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 50% below the full cost of the local electric coop.

Paluan Mayor Carl Pangilinan attested to the project’s benefits: “Throughout our history, our town was denied service by the electric coop because of lack of supply in the whole Occidental Mindoro. Everything changed when Paluan sought Solar Para Sa Bayan to provide stable, cheap, clean energy. Our municipality now enjoys 24/7 electricity, which has opened new opportunities for Palueños.”

SPSB is now serving 24/7 power in over 12 towns, benefiting over 200,000 Filipinos. It has developed projects in 18 provinces and aims to support the Department of Energy’s (DOE) goal for the Philippines to achieve 100% electrification by 2022.

12 Million Filipinos Without Electricity

According to the DOE, an estimated 12 million Filipinos lack access to electricity. This is despite the fact the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) became law in 2001, with its primary objective “to ensure and accelerate the total electrification of the country”.

The National Electrification Administration says it still needs 25 billion pesos to reach the country’s unenergized sitios. The National Power Corporation spends over 20 billion pesos per year serving missionary areas, mostly for less than 24 hours a day given the difficulties of serving off-grid areas.

For years, billions in government subsidies yielded inadequate results. But thanks to advances in technology and SPSB’s initiative, consumers in underserved areas can finally access cheaper, better service at zero cost to the government.

Necessity for a Microgrid Franchise

Despite all this, Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) has insisted that SPSB cease its operations because Paluan is part of OMECO’s franchise. In a statement, the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association said that its members would defend their “electricity franchise privileges” and “cannot be expected to peacefully yield their jobs anytime soon to the private sector.”

In this light, SPSB applied for its own franchise. House Bill 8179 grants SPSB the non-exclusive right to operate microgrids in “remote and unviable, or unserved or underserved areas in selected provinces of the Philippines.” Unlike the existing Qualified Third Party (QTP) program, which has energized just 3 barangays in 18 years and is highly subsidized, this franchise (1) Enables projects without needing the consent of the existing utility, (2) Covers underserved municipalities, not just unserved barangays, (3) Reduces permitting requirements, (4) Creates an effective alternative, while respecting the rights of existing utilities and paving the way for others to offer better service to consumers.

Heavily Amended Version

House Bill 8179’s final version (1) Limits the scope to “remote and unviable, unserved, or underserved areas,” in selected provinces with less than 2% of the power demand of the Philippines, (2) Requires use of renewable energy, (3) Subjects the grantee to regulation by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and DOE, pursuant to EPIRA, (4) Obligates the grantee to provide reliable service, with financial penalties, (5) Explicitly states the grantee “shall not be entitled to any government subsidy.”

This incorporates inputs of industry stakeholders from extensive congressional hearings, to ensure the franchise is highly regulated and compliant with EPIRA and the constitution, respects existing franchises, and enables DOE and ERC to impose further safeguards. This imposes even greater restrictions on SPSB than existing utilities, limiting it to marginal areas and prohibiting it from receiving any government subsidy.

Overwhelming Consumer Support

Motivating SPSB is the support it has received from consumers in underserved areas. Facebook posts supporting HB 8179 have reached 20 million Filipinos and generated over 2 million likes, comments, shares. Various Local Government Units have attested to the benefits should the bill become a law.

Solar Para Sa Bayan is now operating in over 12 towns, bringing 24/7 power for the first time to over 200,000 Filipinos, at zero cost to the government.

Misamis Occidental Governor and former Tangub City Mayor Philip Tan said: “For several years, Tangubanons experienced extended power outages and exorbitant energy prices. But, with the advent of the Solar Para Sa Bayan Project, these will now become a thing of the past.”

Mayor Shierwin Taay of Dingalan, Aurora said: “We thank Solar Para Sa Bayan for fulfilling the dream of Dingalen?os, by solving our power crisis and reducing the cost of electricity. This is a great help for a town like ours to achieve a stronger economy and better life for our people.”

These sentiments are consistent with the results of a Pulse Asia survey indicating that 82% of Filipinos favor new options for electric service. According to Pulse Asia Director Ana Maria Tabunda, support for new options for electricity is consistent across all demographics in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

100% Electrification by 2022

Should the bill become a law, SPSB’s commitment is clear. In a statement, it said, “We commit our utmost to support this administration’s goal of achieving 100% electrification and ending energy poverty by 2022, and do this without need for government subsidy.”

For decades, Philippine presidents have tried and failed to reach 100% nationwide electrification. Now, we have a solution, with the potential to energize the entire country by 2022 and add to the list of reasons why this administration will be remembered as the one that did the most to improve the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

Source: technology.inquirer.net

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PAMPANGA. Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Noel Manankil observes one of the Aeta students during the launch of the Pagsasarili Family Care Center.

CLARK FREEPORT — The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) launched on Monday, July 22, 2019 the Pagsasarili Family Care Center that will help to provide an early childhood and adult learning program for Indigenous Peoples (IPs) from the nearby areas of this Freeport.

CDC, through its External Affairs Division (EAD), partnered with OB Montessori for the provision of “Aeta Pagsasarili Program” intended for IP communities in the Certificate of Ancestral Domain title (CADT) 025A area.

The said program is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project of CDC and it will cover a total of 50 Aeta children from age 3 to 4. They will be taught useful information on cognitive learning and human and social development in their formative years. Along with this, their parents and other adults will also be taught practical and livelihood skills as they guide their kids during the entire duration of the project.

CDC Chairman Jose “Ping” De Jesus said this project intends to develop the (CADT 025A) area physically and economically and develop its human capital to cultivate a sustainable community for Aetas.

To commence with the learning program, it will temporarily be conducted at the newly constructed building at the Clark Skills and Training Center, formerly Clark Polytechnic Compound, and will initially serve as the Pagsasarili Family Care Center. The facility features an exhibit hall, an auditorium and other amenities like dining area, kitchen and comfort rooms.

Accordingly, the ongoing construction and improvement of the Building 2092 in this Freeport will serve as the permanent learning center for the said program once the said building becomes fully-operational.

Meanwhile, four Katutubo teachers who were trained under OB Montessori will be commissioned to teach the Aeta children and adults.

Their classes will be divided into two sessions where the children will be taught useful information using a non-traditional approach of instruction. These include information on values and human development, proper sanitation, hygiene and basic health care for IPs.

The beneficiaries of the program will also be provided school materials from OB Montessori, meals, vitamins, school uniform and free transportation from CDC. Their parents who are also included in the program will be given livelihood trainings on food preservation, soap making and janitorial and household keeping where raw materials and their meals will also be provided.

To ensure the sustainability of the program, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region III also partnered with CDC and OB Montessori to help the children for further education once they finished the course of the program. Mabalacat City Local Government Unit and Municipality of Bamban, Tarlac also supported the project.

Last April, CDC President and CEO Noel Manankil with OB Montessori Child and Community Foundation Inc. Executive Vice President Sara Francesca Soliven-De Guzman, OB Montessori Child and Community Foundation Inc. officer in charge Beverly Joy Ciencia, DepEd Officer in Charge-Office of the Superintendent Leilani Cunanan, Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo of Pampanga, Bamban Mayor Jose Antonio Feliciano of Tarlac and CDC External Affairs Department Assistant Vice President Rommel Narciso signed a memorandum of agreement for the provision of the said program.

Source: sunstar.com.ph

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Photo Credit: ESPN.com

FANS will have to literally go the extra mile to catch the beach volleyball national team in action at the 30th Southeast Asian Games, which we are hosting from November 30 to December 11.

Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) chief operating officer Tats Suzara announced that the matches will be held at Subic Tennis Courts in Zambales from November 29 to December 6.

Suzara said shuttles will be deployed to take fans to games happening in Clark, Subic, and other venues outside Metro Manila.

“Of course [shuttle service], that’s in the plan already, we are now in the detailed planning already,” said Suzara on Tuesday during the Brodcast and Media Conference at Sofitel Philippine Plaza. “With other Clark and Subic [playing venues] walang problema kasi may shuttle na mag-iikot doon.”

Beach volleyball supporters can likewise take Subic-bound buses to get to those venues on their own. According to ph-commute.com, several bus lines usually ply the three-hour route from terminals in Pasay, Cubao, Caloocan, and Manila.

Meanwhile, fans will have to choose which to watch live as beach and indoor volleyball tournaments are going to be held on the same playdates.

Indoor volleyball games will be held at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City from November 28 to December 10.

Source: spin.ph

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MANILA, Philippines — The 300-hectare shipyard of Hanjin Philippines may be taken over by several shipping companies that would transform it into a major global port, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a chance interview recently.

He said the shipyard could be a sprawling multipurpose mixed-use port facility that would be jointly operated by several players.

This, he said, is one of the proposals received by Hanjin creditors for the development of the shipyard after Hanjin Philippines declared bankruptcy early this year.

“It’s a good masterplan that has been proposed and it is targeted to be implemented this year,” Lopez said.

He declined to name the companies but hinted that these include foreign players.

Another source said creditors are in negotiations with an American and a Japanese company.

Officially, Hanjin has fully shut down just this month, ending the last of its remaining maintenance operations, sources said.

As of this writing, the creditors have not made any official announcement yet regarding the final plans for the shipyard.

Stars and Stripes, a news website that provides news and information to the US military, reported last month that the US Navy is looking to re-establish itself in the Philippines by using the Hanjin shipyard as a maintenance facility.

“The US Navy is exploring the viability of Subic Bay Hanjin Shipyard for use as a potential repair and maintenance facility,” Cmdr. Nate Christensen, the fleet deputy public affairs officer said, as quoted in the article.

“The strategic harbor’s importance has grown amid Chinese efforts to build military facilities on artificial islands and claim sovereignty over territory to the west in the South China Sea,” the article also said.

Ports tycoon Enrique Razon already said he wanted to vie for the shipyard and is now in talks with the creditor banks of Hanjin for the possibility of taking over the shipyard of the bankrupt shipping and construction giant.

In January, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines, the Philippine subsidiary of South Korean shipping giant Hanjin, declared bankruptcy.

It filed for rehabilitation before an Olongapo City court, after being negatively affected by the global economic slowdown, which in turn impacted trade.

It has roughly P21 billion in debts to some of the country’s biggest banks including Sy-owned BDO, Ayala-led BPI, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., George Ty-owned Metrobank and Land Bank of the Philippines.

Source: Philstar

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By Zorayda Tecson

Photo Credit: thhp.co.za

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—The massive infrastructure development projects being undertaken by the Duterte administration under the “Build, Build, Build” program in Central Luzon has created more jobs and sources of livelihood for the residents including the indigenous peoples (IP) in the region.

Topping the list of big-ticket projects in Central Luzon is the New Clark City of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) which will be the first smart, green, and resilient metropolis in the country.

One of the components of the 9,450-hectare New Clark City is the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) which broke ground last January 23.

Phase 1A of NGAC also features the construction of world-class sports facilities to be used for the Southeast Asian Games in November 2019.

Since the start of the construction of the New Clark City, doors of economic opportunities opened to the residents, including the indigenous peoples (IPs) living in the area.

Jaymar Tiglao, a resident of Sitio Kalangitan, Capas, Tarlac, said their living condition has improved since the start of the development project.

Tiglao said his life is better because he now has a more stable job compared in the past when he just planted camote and other crops which did not yield much profit.

He is one of the more than 300 Aetas who are now employed in the construction of Phase 1A of the NGAC.

Tiglao said as a safety crew, he earns PHP15,000 to PHP18,000 per month.

“Mas okay dito. Noon nakapagtrabaho ako dito, nakabili na ako ng dalawang motorcycle (It is better here. When I started working here, I was able to buy two motorcycles),” he said.

Reynaldo Medrano, chieftain of Sitio Kalangitan, added that residents in their village have become productive since the start of the construction of the New Clark City.

“Nagpapasalamat kami dahil wala na yung walang trabaho. Nawala na ang mga tambay sa aming lugar. Nandoon sila sa New Clark City (We are thankful because there are no more jobless residents. There is no one hanging around and doing nothing anymore. They are there in New Clark City),” he said.

Aside from employment, roads being built to and from New Clark City have provided access and connectivity for the residents, farmers and IPs.

“The roads give benefits especially those living in far-flung barangays. Residents, particularly farmers can now easily transport their goods and service going to town,” said Engineer Joshua Bingcang, BCDA senior vice president for Business Development and Operations.

Besides New Clark City, other Build, Build, Build projects such as the Clark International Airport (CIA) Expansion Project, Central Luzon Link Expressway-Phase I, Arterial (Plaridel) By-Pass Road Project Phase II, and Subic-Clark Railway Project (SCRP) among others, also provided vast opportunities to residents in the region.

To meet the high manpower demand for the projects, a job fair initiated by the Build, Build, Build Inter-Agency Committee was held last May 1 where 490 people were hired on the spot.

Likewise, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the region have discussed areas of cooperation to address shortage of employment for ongoing and future “Build, Build, Build” projects.

These are on-site training of workers, assessment and certification of workers in the construction sector and hiring of the graduates of construction trades within the community where the infrastructure projects are located.

Source: pna.gov.ph

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