Power company offers to venture in Agusan del Sur
By David M. Suyao
PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Nov. 19
(PIA) - Another power company signifies its intention to put up a solar
electric generator initially in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur to address the
predicted increase on power shortage next year.
The GPower Inc. has written a letter of its
intention to Agusan del Sur Gov. Adolph Edward Plaza on September 15, 2014
presenting its capacity and capability in solar generation that would address
part of the power requirements in the province.
According to GPower President Jose Carlos Jr.,
GPower intends to set up a 5 Mega Watts (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant
initially in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur after having subsequent meetings
with the ASELCO Board of Directors regarding the GPower intention to propose a
solar PV plant to augment the requirements of ASELCO.
“As a modest response to the predicted power
shortage increase next year, a 5 MWp Solar Photovoltaic Power Project is being
developed by GPower, Inc. to supply a small part of the power distribution
utility requirements of ASELCO. GPower will have only one market or customer -
ASELCO. All its power production will be committed to ASELCO on a “take and
pay” arrangement,” GPower President Jose Carlos said.
According to Carlos, the Solar Power Plant will
operate as a distributed, or decentralized electric generation facility. It
will be embedded in the local distribution network of ASELCO. The generated
electricity will not pass through the high-voltage national transmission grid.
This avoids transporting electricity over long distances, which would require
energy and reduce the overall efficiency of the system. It also avoids the
transmission charge. Thus, the project achieves two other benefits of
distributed generation namely: Lower carbon emissions and increased energy
security.
“GPower presents a green, renewable,
environmentally-friendly project and proposes to be a socially responsible
member of its host community. The indicative annual PV production output is
equivalent to the reduction of 4,700 metric tons (MT) of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
greenhouse gas released to the atmosphere. Integral to its objective of
providing clean, reliable electric power for the province, the project aims to
be a model in its partnership with the host community and in its role in
improving the quality of life and standard of living of the families,” Carlos
said. (DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
PhilRice Agusan Celebrates 1st “Brown Rice Day”
By Ginalyn V. Arbutante
RTR, Agusan del Norte, Nov. 19 (PIA) - Philippine
Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Agusan Experiment Station and Department of
Agriculture (DA) 13 successfully celebrated the “Brown Rice Day” on November 14
at the Main Atrium, Robinsons Place in Butuan City.
As part of the month-long rice awareness
celebration and with this year’s theme "Be Riceponsible", wherein
Filipino people are encourage to be responsible rice consumers or rice eaters
by avoiding wastage and starting to mix rice with other staple foods available.
The “Brown Rice Day” showcased the unpolished rice
also known as brown rice with its importance and health advantage that people
can benefit at the same time driving them to eat brown rice that would
definitely take them away from health problems especially with concerns to
sugar level.
Part of the advocacy is to raise public awareness
and knowledge on what is the true meaning of brown rice.
PhilRice reiterates that brown rice is not a
variety. In fact, any rice variety can be made as brown when it is half or
unpolished during the milling process.
The “Brown Rice Day” highlights the ceremonial
tasting which was led by the PhilRice administration officer III, Rochelle P.
Bondad with the recitation of the “Panatang Makapalay”.
Students from the participating schools joined the
rice quiz bee and Jelly Mae Sianosa, 4th year high school student from Agusan
Pequeno National High School (APNHS) was declared as the champion who received
cash award, certificate and 1kg of brown rice as token.
“Brown rice (BR) is healthier than white rice
because of its bran which contains minerals, protein, calcium, phosphorus and
other nutrients”, said Retsebeth Laquijon, Nutrition Officer III from the
Department of Health (DOH) Caraga who served as the speaker during the event.
“It facilitates regular body disposal since it also contains fiber” she added.
Studies show that cancer and diabetes may be diminished
by eating brown rice or unpolished rice. It can also reduce the incidence of
cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as hypertension, heart disease, hypercholesterolemia
and stroke.
The said event was actively participated in by the
high school students and teachers from Father Saturnino Urios University
(FSUU), Saint Joseph Institute of Technology (SJIT), Agusan National High
School (ANHS), Butuan City School of Arts and Trade (BCSAT), and Agusan Pequeno
(AP) National High School. Walk-in customers from Robinsons Mall are also
present during the event.
The program starts and ends with a video showing
on the Be Riceponsable Campaign as well as the overview of the National Rice
Awareness Month (NRAM) Celebration. (PhilRice Agusan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
DSWD-13, Winrock International PCCP team up for
“Pangkabuhayan- Tulong sa Pagsulong Program” in Caraga
By Eunice G. Montaos
BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 19 (PIA) - The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga formalized on November 18 at
Almont Hotel and Inland Resort, this city, its partnership for the “Pangkabuhayan-Tulong
sa Pagsulong Program” in Caraga with the Winrock International Institute for
Agricultural Development- Philippine Cold Chain Project (Winrock PCCP).
This was done through a ceremonial signing of the
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which contained the provisions of such
partnership.
The collaboration is geared towards broadening the
resource base of the participants of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP)
through relevant trainings and workshops, and linking them to public and private
institutions that will help expand their livelihood assets.
“This partnership will surely bring about the
vision of helping the Poor families in Caraga to come out from the
inter-generational cycle of poverty,” said Jim L. Oprecio, Winrock Deputy Chief
of Party.
During the event, SLP Regional Project Coordinator
Roy R. SerdeΓ±a provided the staff of the new private partner an orientation
about the convergence strategy used by the Department, and he also underscored
about the shared goals and visions of the DSWD and the Winrock International.
“Our collaboration with the private sector such as
the Winrock International is another milestone for the Department. Finally, we
do something that we once thought was hard and difficult. But this engagement
is for our beneficiaries.“ articulated SerdeΓ±a.
Winrock Chief of Party Daniel J. Gudahl expressed
that he looks forward for a good partnership with DSWD.
“May we have a great and continued partnership in
solving together the problems of poverty in Caraga,” added Gudahl.
Meanwhile, DSWD-XIII Regional Director Minda B.
Brigoli in her message stated that the said MOA signing event is historical
since it manifests the concrete arrangement of two parties who are serious in
its business of alleviating poverty in the region.
“Our beneficiaries deserve the best efforts from
the Government and the private sector. This team up of DSWD and Winrock will
surely provide them with opportunities.” disclosed Brigoli.
The Winrock International PCCP is a project funded
by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that aims to increase
productivity and food safety and expand the market of Caraganons.
The DSWD through the SLP aims to improve the
socio-economic status of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program participants
through capacity-building trainings and accessing them to programs and services
of partners that will increase their productivity and develop their
entrepreneurial skills which will provide them a sustainable income source. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
