Tuesday, January 16, 2018

DOE campaigns for alternative fuels, energy technologies in Bislig City

BISLIG CITY, Jan. 16 (PIA) – The Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), conducts a Forum on Alternative Fuels and Energy Technology (AFET) to create greater awareness and appreciation of the importance of cleaner alternative energy fuels and technologies and efficient utilization of energy.

The key initiatives under this program are the implementation of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign/consultations and promotion of Energy Sector Innovation. This aims to reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil by providing energy consumers with alternative and advance energy technologies and more environment-friendly fuel options aside from conventional fuels, such as, gasoline and diesel.

In his message, Bislig City Mayor Librado Navarro said that the advocacy campaign of DOE is very timely as the city is fast tracking its goal to be the center of organic agriculture in 2020, hence, the use also of alternative fuels as best resource for a cleaner environment.

“In fact, we are also preparing for the hosting of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM), International Organic Forum, First Declaration of Asian Organic Day, and the Asian Local Government for Organic Agriculture (ALGOA) Summit in September 2018. And this AFET Forum is very relevant in particular to our advocacies,” said Navarro.

Navarro also underscored how its local government helped in the mitigation of climate change/global warming through its programs and projects that are focused on the utilization organic resources.

Meanwhile, Virgilio Arzadon, senior science research specialist of the Department of Energy (DOE) Mindanao Field Office reiterated that the department is mandated by Republic Act (RA) no. 7638, otherwise known as Department of Energy Act of 1992, to prepare, integrate, coordinate, supervise and control all plans, programs, projects and activities of the government relative to energy exploration, development, utilization, distribution and conservation.

Sharing the DOE functions, Arzadon stressed that in partnership with the different stakeholders, the department shall improve the quality of life of the Filipino by formulating and implementing policies and programs to ensure sustainable, stable, secure, sufficient, and accessible energy. He added that in pursuit of this mission, they commit to render efficient service with utmost integrity and professionalism.

“We seek to promote judicious conservation, renewal, and efficient utilization of energy, and also to ensure a continuous, adequate and economic supply of energy,” said Arzadon.

In advancing the Alternative Fuels Program, DOE Senior Science research Specialist Roselle Ibuna also enumerated the AutoLPG for Transport program, locally sourced natural gas as fuel, and electric vehicles program.

“One of our objectives is to create a long term benefit to the people and the environment through the use of alternative fuels. That’s why we are mainstreaming and encouraging the public to apply AFET,” emphasized Ibuna.

On the part of PIA, Dr. Emelyn Libunao, Program and Management Division staff director, briefed the participants on the role of the agency in the DOE's campaign on AFET being the communication arm of the government. She emphasized the importance of advocating alternative fuels, which is contributory to national development.

“When people are aware, informed and have access on the opportunities, programs and services of the government, they become empowered,” underlined Libunao.

Moreover, the AFET roadmap envisions the successful adoption and commercialization of alternative fuels and energy technologies through strong and collaborative partnership with the private sector and full government support in providing enabling mechanism and building-up local capacity for research and development in emerging energy technologies.

The forum was participated by students, representatives from transport/drivers/operators sector, barangay officials, government information officers and local government staff, and personnel from academe. (VLG/JPG/PIA-Caraga)

Friday, January 12, 2018

LGU-Esperanza holds BOSS in the town's Negosyo Center

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Jan. 12 – The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Esperanza, this province has started its Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) on Jan. 8, with a simplified business permit and licensing system (BPLS) at the Negosyo Center (NC) of said municipality.

BOSS aims to provide a venue for easy and fast processing of business permits for both renewing and new business applicants.  This was also done in other LGUs and normally ends on January 20 of every year, unless extended to accommodate more registrants or for other reasons.

John Samson, Business Permit and Licensing Officer (BPLO) of Esperanza led the activity and ensured fast processing of business permits.

Incidentally, Samson is currently the provincial and at the same time regional head of the BPLO network in Agusan del Sur and the Caraga Region, respectively.

Other participating offices in the NC-Esperanza BOSS are the Bureau of Fire (BFP), Municipal Health and Engineering offices and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

NC-Esperanza Charlz Palen is handling the business name registration requirements.

This was the first instance that a BOSS was held at a Negosyo Center in the province and even in the region. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

DTI addresses media queries on effects of new tax reform law

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Jan. 12 – With the signing into law and the effectivity of Republic Act (RA) no. 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), several queries have been made regarding its effect on prices of basic and prime commodities.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Sur Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Brenda Corvera, in two separate interviews with Brigada News and Jay Solis of dxDA, together with DTI-Agusan del Sur Consumer Protection Unit Head Cerila Cheri Inson relayed the official pronouncements of DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez that "the TRAIN law's impact to inflation would be minimal."  

Accordingly, Lopez added during his PTV News interview, that "this is validated by the fact that the increase brought about by excise tax is about 7 to 8 percent and the fuel and transport cost as a percentage of production cost is less than 5 percent.

Thus, the effect would be around 0.4 percent. Manufacturers and retailers should not increase prices."

Corvera quoting Lopez and Secretary Alfonso Cusi of the Department of Energy said that even for goods slapped with new or additional excise taxes (sugar sweetened beverages and petroleum products) increases are not expected until January 16 or the 3rd week of this month as stores and stations are still selling their old inventories.

Meantime, DTI offices, including DTI Agusan del Sur will be monitoring closely price changes and ensuring that they are within suggested retail price (SRP) levels.  

Corvera and Inson reported that the January 4 monitoring yielded no price increases except for a few product groups, such as milk, noodles and canned meat, which prices where observed to be beyond SRP.

The establishments, however, were able to provide SRPs from their distributors/suppliers, which DTI will be referencing with its own records.

The public was enjoined to report any observations on unreasonable pricing and profiteering. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

1st KBP Hour in 2018 calls on AgSur biz owners

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Jan. 12 – The opening salvo of the weekly Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) Hour this 2018 chose the timely discussion on the requirements for business registration and licensing as its first topic

Every year from January 2 to January 20, local government units (LGUs) conduct their respective business one-stop shop (BOSS) to speed up renewal of business permits.  

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Agusan del Sur has made it a point to be part of the LGUs' BOSS activities to respond to first time business name and renewing applicants as well.  

DTI does this through its eight Negosyo Centers (NC) or through mobile/on-site servicing in areas where there were no NCs yet.

The weekly KBP hour is now on its third year and is a collaboration between KBP-Agusan Sur and Surigao Sur Chapter, DTI-Agusan del Sur, Pagpakabana sa Katungod sa Konsumador sa Agusan del Sur (PAKKADS) and the permanent venue host Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative (ASELCO).

The session was attended by LGU San Francisco officials – Juancho Gumahin Vicente, Municipal Assessor; Terencio Cepe- Business Permit & Licensing Officer; Jessie Laulita, LTOO II; and from DTI-Agusan del Sur – Jose Baron, SupTIDS; Cheri Inson, STIDS; and Jardynne Narvasa, TIDS.  Members of the province's consumer group PAKKADS and ASELCO also joined.

Meanwhile, the hosts were from KBP-Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur Chapter in the person of Alfredo Plaza, station manager of dxDA; Alfredo Lobog, station manager of dxAK; and Jordan Pajo Udtojan, station manager of 1FM. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

Japanese investors seek DENR policy on Bio Mass Energy

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 12 – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga officer-in-charge (OIC) regional director Charlie E. Fabre met with a group of Japanese consultants from the CHODAI Company Ltd. on January 10.

The group called on him to seek DENR policy guidelines about a proposed project of the city government of Butuan to put up a 2-Mega-Watt (MW) Bio Mass Energy Project.

The consultants were accompanied by Reynante B. Desiata, Executive Assistant of city mayor Ronievic Lagnada who informed the DENR top official that the bio mass energy project is one of the 12 major projects of the city government lined up under the Integrated Regional Economic Development in Caraga, approved by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The group headed by Masyaki Oura was composed of Odette M. Duban; Deok Soo Lee, Yusuke Fukimura, coordinator of Busineness Development Section; Jun Kaisuka, Social Environment Division; and Aya Asai, Chief Engineer of the Social Environment Division. The group was particular about pollution including noise pollution.

The details of the bio mass project shall be the result of the feasibility study to be done by the Chodai Co. Ltd consultants and services and its operation is expected in 2020. The City Government wants to develop a sustainable power supply from rice husks, coconut husk and other materials from waste to produce a two-megawatt power to augment the power requirement in the city.

Fabre lauded Lagnada's vision to transform Butuan into a mega city in the next five years. He said that waste management is an important component in economic development, which the city government has considered to prioritize.

He likewise announced the DENR is working on the final preparation of constructing a modern sanitary landfill in Siargao in the wake of the booming tourism industry in that area, which is considered the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. He said DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu was able to secure the help of a donor country which will finance the construction of the state-of-the- art dumpsite.

The other major projects approved by President Duterte being implemented in Butuan City are the Asiga River Hydro Power, which is under construction and will be operational in 2018; Taguibo River Hydro Power which is scheduled to begin operations in 2019; Wawa River Hydro Power Plant to begin operations in 2020, Wind Power plant project to begin operation in 2022, and the Development of an industrial park in Taguibo, Butuan City

The other on-going projects in the city and in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte are the Bulk Water Supply project, which began operations in 2016; Eel Farming and Processing plant, Rice farming and milling project, Taguibo, Masao, Nasipit Industrial Project and the Masao and Nasipit Port expansion project. (HFGallego, DENR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

Thursday, January 11, 2018

AgNor town limits karaoke operation

MAGALLANES, Agusan del Norte, Jan. 11 – The Sangguniang Bayan of Magallanes, Agusan del Norte has limited the operation of karaoke and videoke bars and other similar establishments in a particular time in the locality through the Municipal Ordinance No. 011-2017, authored by Sangguniang Bayan Member Mercelita C. Buenaventura.

According to the ordinance, the establishment of videoke and karaoke bars shall be located at least 10 meters radius from the residential houses and 30 meters radius from public institutions like schools, hospitals and churches.

The operations of karaoke and videoke shall be allowed only from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. during special holidays. Minors are only allowed 5:00 p.m. every Saturday, Sunday and shall be accompanied by their mother or any adult of legal age.

The purpose of the said municipal ordinance will promote peace and order, and to protect the social and moral welfare of the community. Penalties will be imposed for its violation.

The municipal ordinance was approved through Sanggunian Resolution No. 329-2017, authored by Provincial Board Member Aquino W. Gambe. (JVLumonsod, LGU-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

DENR 13 takes over management of clonal nursery from ERDB

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 10 – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga has taken over the management of the Macro-somatic Clonal Nursery Facilities at Sitio Bood, in Barangay Pinamanculan, Butuan City from the Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) in a simple turn-over ceremony held at the nursery compound on January 9.

The ERDB representative and head of the Research Cluster Center in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur Forester Conrado B. Marquez handed over the important documents, including responsibilities to the DENR Caraga assistant regional director for Technical Services Maritess M. Ocampo, in behalf of OIC-regional director Charlie E. Fabre.

Also present as witnesses were the DENR Caraga Chief of Planning and Management Division Antonieta Jurado and the Chief of the Conservation and Development Division (CDD) Nilda Ebron, the head of the clonal facility Rustum A. Aguilos and forester Rommel Arbolonio, who was expected to take over the supervision of the operation of the clonal facility.

In his remark, Marquez said the ERDB will continue to back up the new management staff of the facility even after the turn over until such time the DENR Caraga can fully handle the operation on technology development.

Marquez said the ERDB shall always honor the commitment to support the DENR being a primary stakeholder.

The clonal nursery facility can produce 300,000 clonal seedlings at a given time. It has a bamboo development facility developed by the ERDS.

Meanwhile, Ocampo said the DENR shall continue to improve the facility despite its limited budget for the operation. “We can put an additional budget for maintenance and improvement of the clonal nursery," she said.

The Bood Clonal Facilities was established 18 years ago by DENR Caraga through the Ecosystem Research and Development Service and First District Representative Leovigildo Banaag.

The tree seedlings planted by the previous DENR Secretaries such as Bebeth Gozun, Lito Atienza and several members of the Society of Foresters who came to Butuan City are now full-grown trees.

The city government of Butuan headed by former mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. through an approved Sanguniang Panglunsod (SP) resolution, has donated the 7,500 square-meters land where the clonal nursery is situated. (HFGallego, DENR-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)