The United States government, in partnership with the University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI), recently marked the completion of the P76 million Bicol Agri-Water Project (BAWP) during a Farmers’ Summit at the Macagang Business Center in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

(L-R) USAID Executive Office Acting Chief Timothy Marlowe, DA-RFO5 Technical Director Rodell Tornilla, Bicol Agri-Water Project (BAWP) Director Dr. Agnes Rola, Agricultural Training Institute Policy and Planning Division Assistant Head Dr. Vicente Dayanghari Jr., Bicol University Graduate School Dean Dr. Antonio Payonga, and BAWP Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Cely Binoya at the Farmers’ Summit in Nabua, Camarines Sur on July 14, 2017

The five-year program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), introduced local farmers to new technologies and innovative rice farming practices to reduce the impact of natural calamities and improve food security in the region.

As a result of the project’s Climate Field School Program, more than 600 farmers are now using disaster-resilient practices, while local government partners have adopted the use of a seasonal climate forecast. At the Farmers’ Summit, USAID also presented the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) with a training manual for farmers on how natural disasters impact rice production and how they can use different farming techniques to improve harvests.

“USAID is pleased to work with our partners to help rice farmers in the Bicol region gain new knowledge and skills that will help them be prepared and more resilient to the impacts of natural hazards,” said USAID Philippines Executive Office Acting Chief Timothy Marlowe.

The BAWP is implemented by the UPLBFI in partnership with the DA’s Regional Field Office 5 (DA-RFO5), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, International Research Institute – Columbia University, Central Bicol State University, Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry, and the local governments of Camarines Sur, Albay, Nabua, Buhi, and Polangui.

“Preparedness is much better and cheaper than response, and through the Bicol Agri-Water Project, farmers are now better prepared for the future,” DA-RFO5 Regional Executive Director Dr. Elena De Los Santos said.

First Published: subicbaynews.net/

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) decried on Wednesday the filing of complaints by Chairman Martin B. Diño against SBMA officials, calling it a “desperation move” by the latter in a bid to retain his post at the Subic agency.

Diño, who is engaged in a power struggle with SBMA Administrator & CEO Wilma T. Eisma, had reportedly named five SBMA officials in the case he filed before the Office of the Ombudsman for graft, grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority.

However, officials of the SBMA dismissed the charges as just another attempt by the beleaguered official to silence the growing clamor among both private and public sectors in Subic for him to leave the SBMA.

“We have yet to receive a copy of the complaint, but the initial information we have is that Chairman Diño filed a complaint against five of our managers,” Eisma said, adding that the filing “smacks of desperation, a move to make noise.”

Eisma noted that anyone can file a complaint before the Ombudsman, which investigates and prosecutes government officials accused of crimes. “But why resort to that, when as SBMA chairman he can order an investigation and settle this issue within the organization?” Eisma said.

“Chairman Diño often speaks about President Duterte’s supposed order for him to bring Subic to greater heights, but look at what he’s doing. He wants to stay in Subic, but he’s trying to hurt some SBMA officials and in the process destroys the image of the agency and the Subic Bay Freeport, as a whole,” she added.

Diño has named as respondents in the complaint the following SBMA officials: Deputy Administrator for Administration Ruel John Kabigting; Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Marcelino Sangui; Ecology Center manager and Regulatory Group head Amethya dela Llana; Financial Planning and Budget Department manager Editha Marzal; and Internal Audit Service Department manager Joel Ea.

However, Eisma said the respondents still have no idea why Diño would file a case against them.

“My fear is that they are simply collateral damage in the ongoing problem we have with the Chairman,” Eisma added.

Diño and Eisma has been at odds since May after the SBMA chairman issued an administrative order creating an oversight task force under his office that Eisma said encroached upon his power and duties as SBMA administrator. The SBMA board of directors likewise said the order infringed on their own oversight functions and warned Diño not to make unilateral decisions that bypass the collegial policy-making body.

Before this, Diño had also quarreled with the OIC-administrator that Malacañang had appointed before Eisma for the same reason: the chairman had wanted to be administrator at the same time, and tried to wrest control of the SBMA management.

Because of this, members of the Concerned SBMA Employees filed an eight-point complaint against Diño before the Office of the Ombudsman on Dec. 28, 2016 for his “abusive actions and conduct unbecoming of a government official, which proved prejudicial to the agency and to the government, as a whole.”

Meanwhile, seven local government executives around the Subic Bay Freeport had expressed support to Eisma in the ongoing leadership tussle and decried Diño for making “a series of inappropriate, unfitting, baseless and disruptive actions” that adversely affected the SBMA.

SBMA Director Benny Antiporda said Diño’s filing of cases against SBMA officials “is symptomatic of his love-hate relationship with Subic.”

Antiporda explained that the filing of charges is the “hate part”, and noted that just last week, “Diño has been going around the media circuit and raving about how the SBMA has broken revenue records.” He also pointed out that before Diño issued glowing press releases about SBMA financial accomplishments, he had described the agency as “on the verge of financial collapse.”

“So that’s how it is—with him everything is fluid and unstable and baseless. You wouldn’t really know when Chairman Diño would love Subic, or when he would start hating it again,” Antiporda added.

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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AboitizPower celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on July 18, still focused on pursuing its balanced mix strategy while riding on the robust economic growth of the country.

ABOITIZPOWER MARKS 10 YEARS ON THE PSE. (From left) AboitizPower Independent Directors Carlos C. Ejercito and Alfonso A. Uy, AboitizPower President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Antonio R. Moraza, AboitizPower Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Erramon I. Aboitiz, PSE Chairman Jose T. Pardo, PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon, PSE COO Roel A. Refran, and AboitizPower Executive Vice President and COO-Generation Business Group Emmanuel V. Rubio, among other AboitizPower and PSE officials, lead the bell-ringing ceremony at the PSE Plaza during the opening of trades last July 18 in celebration of AboitizPower’s 10th year as a listed company.

AboitizPower CEO Erramon I. Aboitiz said the company is on track to reaching its target of reaching 4,000 MW in attributable capacity by 2020 while maintaining a healthy portfolio of renewable energy facilities.

“We will continue to push our balanced mix strategy because we believe that the long-term energy security of the country can be solved by balancing sustainability, accessibility, and reliability of power,” Aboitiz said.

Around 32-percent of AboitizPower’s 3,955 MW net sellable capacity at present, come from its geothermal, hydro, and solar power plants.

On the power distribution front, the company will ride on the healthy economic growth in areas served by Visayan Electric Co., Davao Light and Power, Cotabato Light and several economic zones it serves. Combined, the distribution utilities serve around 900,000 customers.

From its IPO price of Php5.80 in 2007 it is now six times its initial price or an equivalent of Php 40.05 per share. This translates to a 28 percent total return to our shareholders compounded annually. Its dividend policy of paying out half of the annual net income is one of the highest dividend yields in the PSE.

“We will remain strategic yet disciplined in our approach towards achieving our growth goals, always mindful of our role in nation building,” Aboitiz said.

The Aboitiz Group’s investments in the power industry started in the early 1900s when it invested in small utilities like Jolo Power and Ormoc Power.

It later acquired Davao Light and Power, Cotabato Light and Power, as well as Visayan Electric. It further expanded after the passage of the EPIRA Law in 2001.

The company built its first power plant, the 1.2-MW Irisan 3, in 1990 through subsidiary Hedcor.

In the next 12 months, the company is set to add more capacity to its balanced portfolio, including the 69-MW Manolo Fortich and 8-MW Maris Canal hydro power plants, as well as the 400-MW Pagbilao 3 and 340-MW Therma Visayas thermal power plants.

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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The U.S. government is partnering with the Philippine government in delivering critical health and education services to civilians who have been affected by the ongoing conflict in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

“The United States and the Philippines are longstanding friends, partners and allies,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim. “We will continue to coordinate with the Philippine government on ways to provide relief to families affected by this conflict.”

Water containers donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are distributed to locals affected by the Marawi conflict.

The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provided access to potable water by distributing 12,000 jerry cans (water containers) and 96,000 chlorine tablets to 12,000 families currently staying in evacuation sites in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Iligan City.

USAID is also providing support to help stop the spread of infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis (TB). With the help of local partners and the Philippine Department of Health, USAID facilitated the delivery of much-needed anti-TB drugs and supplies to evacuation centers, allowing patients to continue their strict medical regimen. Patients with confirmed cases receive free medical treatment from the Philippine government.

USAID is also leveraging one of its ongoing education projects to supply at least 6,000 desks in the temporary learning spaces for displaced children.

USAID supports peace and community development in Mindanao through 25 ongoing projects that improve local governance, strengthen the government’s capacity to deliver services, especially in health and education, and promote civic engagement.

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — All appears quiet at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in the past few days, as officials and employees alike await Malacañang’s decision on the leadership row that pits the board chair against its chief executive officer.

Workers at the Subic agency said on Monday that they have no inkling on who is going to stay as top official after business locators and concerned local government units called for President Duterte’s intervention to settle the issue.

“Between Chairman Martin Diño and Administrator Wilma Eisma, we still don’t know who’s going to be chosen by President Digong,” said a female utility worker at Bldg. 229, the agency’s main office along the Waterfront Road here.

“But of course, we want somebody who can manage the SBMA well and really has malasakit for the Subic Freeport, and one who can relate with foreign investors and represent Subic with dignity and pride,” said the employee who asked not to be named.

Still, the management of the SBMA, which prides itself for the high morale and excellent work ethic of its employees, said that the agency is going through its businesses and services as usual.

“We are all awaiting the President’s verdict, whatever it will be, but that doesn’t mean the world has stopped revolving over here,” said Administrator Eisma, a lawyer who started with the SBMA as a volunteer in 1992. “Our employees continue to work hard; we in the management likewise continue to work hard, and it’s a busy schedule for everybody on the ground,” she added.

Eisma herself had been to Taiwan the other week to make a pitch for the Philippine government at the Philippine Investment Promotion Plan (PIPP) Investment Roadshow in Taipei and Taichung City.

“Despite the leadership issue here, the SBMA has, in fact, been doing well,” Eisma said. “So well, perhaps, that even Chairman Diño, who has been criticizing the SBMA and describing it as on the verge of financial collapse, had lately announced to the media our accomplishments in terms of revenue, investments, jobs, exports, and other economic indicators.”

As the Subic Freeport suffers, SBMA Administrator Wilma T. Eisma and Chairman Martin B. Dino are locked in a power struggle first witnessed when Dino resisted the designation by Malacanang in Nov. 2016 of Deputy Administrator Randy B. Escolango as OIC (Officer-in-Charge) Administrator. “We are all awaiting the President’s verdict, whatever it will be, but that doesn’t mean the world has stopped revolving over here,” said Administrator Eisma, a lawyer who started with the SBMA as a volunteer in 1992. “Our employees continue to work hard; we in the management likewise continue to work hard, and it’s a busy schedule for everybody on the ground,” she added.

Eisma also said that despite the uncertainty of retaining her SBMA post, she has faith that whatever President Duterte’s decision will be, it would be for the best of the Subic agency.

“If it’s Chairman Diño who’d be chosen, then I’ll gladly go quietly into the night, so to speak, because after all I’m just here to serve Subic, which is my home and the home of my fellow volunteers,” she said.

“On the other hand, if President Duterte chooses me to stay, then he can be sure that I’d give the best of what I learned and experienced in the private sector to bring the SBMA and the Subic Freeport to their rightful place as catalysts of economic development and inclusive growth in the community,” Eisma added.

The leadership tussle between Diño and Eisma, who are both Duterte appointees, started last May when Diño issued Administrative Order No. 01-2017, which interfered and encroached upon the duties of the Administrator and CEO, as well as on the board’s oversight functions.

Diño had also quarreled with the OIC-administrator Randy B. Escolango (now back as Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs) whom Malacañang designated before Eisma.

The SBMA conflict sparked an investigation by the House of Representative on Executive Order No. 340, which separated the position and functions of the SBMA chairman from that of the SBMA administrator, who was originally the sole appointee under Republic Act 7227, or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992.

Lately, business locators in Subic had asked Malacañang to intervene, and called for the appointment of a capable administrator-chairman to lead the SBMA.

Before this, seven local government executives around the SSubic Bay Freeport had expressed support to Eisma in the ongoing leadership tussle and decried Diño for making “a series of inappropriate, unfitting, baseless and disruptive actions” that adversely affected the SBMA.

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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