President Aquino encourages investments in
renewable energy
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday
encouraged the energy sector to continue exploring and investing in renewable
energy to sustain the growing demand for energy, which is needed to spur
economic growth.
“It is of absolute importance that we continue
exploring and investing in clean and renewable energy sources,” the President
said in his speech at the Energy Smart Philippines 2014 conference and
exhibition held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The conference
carried the theme, “Clean Energy Solutions for a Sustainable and Competitive
Philippines”.
The President noted that the government is fully
aware of its obligations to future generations of Filipinos.
“This is why, despite our status as a developing
country; despite the need to industrialize further; and despite our
historically low carbon emissions, we are still doing everything in our power
to maintain and improve our low-emission development strategy,” he said.
The government is committed and is doing its part
to ensure that the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), which aims to add
9,931 megawatts of renewable energy-based capacity by 2030, is on track, he
said, adding that the program is already “making early strides.”
He said that Phase 1 of the San Carlos Solar
Energy Facility, once completed, will produce 22 megawatts of solar power.
In addition, the government is looking to
incentivize the entry of 450 megawatts of solar power, with the Department of
Energy (DOE) endorsing to the Energy Regulatory Commission the expansion of the
installation target for solar power under the Feed-in-Tariff System, he said.
The President further said that apart from
diversifying the country’s sources of energy, the government is also reducing
the amount of energy being consumed.
He said that under the Philippine Energy
Efficiency Program (PEEP), the DOE distributed 8.6 million compact fluorescent
lamps to the public, resulting in reduced power demand by as much as 240
megawatts in the evenings, and annual consumption by 306 gigawatt hours.
Through the PEEP, he said, the DOE also replaced
the lighting systems of national and local government offices, and retrofitted
a number of public lighting systems, reducing annual power consumption by 11.05
gigawatt hours and 4.42 gigawatt hours, respectively.
The Chief Executive also said that the government
is looking forward to the first delivery of e-Tricycles for its e-vehicles
project.
“Right now, the DOE is in the process of procuring
3,000 e-Tricycles, which we expect to be completed by next year. This will be
the first step towards our goal of replacing 100,000 gas-fueled tricycles with
electric ones, which will reduce our carbon footprint further, as well as our
dependence on oil,” he said.
He called on the participants of the conference to
seek partnerships and synergies that are still untapped.
“(This is) so that we can move as fast as possible
into a future that is more prosperous, safer, and cleaner, not just for our
country, but for all of humanity,” the President said. PND (ag)
Foreign Affairs Secretary briefed U.S. officials
on Philippines' response to Islamic State threat, Palace says
The Philippines has informed American authorities
of its efforts to respond to the threat posed by the Islamic State, as the
United States and its allies fight the terror group, a Palace official said
Tuesday.
In a media interview in the US last week,
President Benigno S. Aquino III said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del
Rosario would meet officials of the US State Department to discuss possible
Philippine assistance to the ongoing campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq
and Syria (ISIS).
"Ang batid ko lamang diyan ay ang pagkatapos
ng pagpupulong ng Pangulo sa iba’t ibang mga grupo sa Estados Unidos, nag-stay
on si Secretary Albert del Rosario dahil nga sa pakikipagpulong niya sa mga
opisyal ng State Department," Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a press briefing in Malacanang.
"At sa pagpupulong na ito ay nagbigay lang
naman siya ng impormasyon tungkol sa mga nakalap na ng ating military and
intelligence community at kung paano tayo rumeresponde doon sa banta o ‘yung sa
ligalig na nililikha ng ISIS."
Coloma was one of the officials who accompanied
the President in the latter’s official visits to Europe and the US.
It was recently reported that jihadists from
Mindanao have left for Iraq and Syria to join the ISIS, raising concerns that
they might return to the Philippines with knowledge and training to fight the
government.
The US and its allies in the Middle East have
intensified air strikes in different locations in Iraq and Syria targeting ISIS
strongholds. PND (as)
Malacañang says significant achievements have been
made to ease port decongestion
The Palace said on Tuesday that the task force
created to decongest the Port of Manila has made significant accomplishments,
as there is already an equal volume of cargo arriving and exiting the port.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said he has
received reports indicating major developments in the removal of overstaying
cargoes at the Port of Manila.
“Ang pinakahuling ulat na natunghayan natin ay
halos equal na ‘yung volume, kung ano ang naipasok ay nailalabas na within a
given period," he said.
"So this is an indication na napahusay na
‘yung cargo flow na papasok at palabas mula sa Port of Manila at nagbunga na
ang mga iba’t ibang measures to decongest," he added.
Secretary Coloma further said that the
inter-agency committee tasked to handle the issue is scheduled to meet on
Tuesday afternoon. The committee is headed by Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene
Almendras.
He noted that the President regularly receives
updates on the developments at the port.
The government has been carrying out initiatives
to decongest the port as the holiday season approaches.
It said overstaying cargoes have to be moved out
of the port or they will be transferred to Subic, where a special storage fee will
be imposed on importers. PND (as)
Malacañang advises Filipinos in Hong Kong to
refrain from joining protest
Malacañang on Tuesday advised Filipinos in Hong
Kong to refrain from joining the ongoing civil disobedience protest spearheaded
by college students there.
“Pinagpapayuhan po ang ating mga mamamayan na kung
maaaring umiwas sila sa paglahok sa mga aksyon na ‘yan, at mag-focus na lang sa
kanilang gawain sa Hong Kong,” Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters during a press briefing at the
Palace.
He assured the public that the government is
monitoring the protest.
“Tinututukan po ang sitwasyon na ‘yan ng ating
Consulate General sa Hong Kong,” he said.
Hong Kong activists on Sunday launched a mass
civil disobedience rally in its major arterial road to demand electoral reforms
from Beijing.
Anti-riot police have tried to disperse the crowd
with tear gas but the rally has continued, with tens of thousands of protesters
vowing not to end street blockades until Beijing grants their demand. PND (ag)
Palace backs bill on SIM card registration
The Palace said on Tuesday it supports the bill on
the registration of prepaid SIM cards.
“According to NTC (National Telecommunications
Commission) Commissioner (Gamaliel) Cordova, it is preferable that a law be
passed requiring SIM card registration. The Executive branch has manifested its
support to proposed bills that are now being discussed in Congress,”
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.
said during a press briefing in Malacañang.
There have been calls to require the registration
of prepaid SIM cards to preempt and combat criminality.
Authorities have cited the bombing incident in
Cagayan de Oro in 2013, wherein perpetrators built an improvised bomb out of
mortar shell and used a cellphone with a prepaid SIM card as trigger. Eight
were killed and 40 others were injured in the incident.
There is an existing NTC directive that requires
the registration of prepaid SIM cards but this was challenged by
telecommunications companies.
The Supreme Court has favored the
telecommunications companies and has issued a temporary restraining order
against the directive. PND (ag)
President Aquino reassures investors that joint
resolution is only to address power shortage
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday
reassured stakeholders of the energy sector that the government move to ask
Congress for a joint resolution, authorizing it to contract additional
generating capacity, will not disrupt the energy market.
“I am aware that investors in the energy sector are
worried about these measures distorting the market, but let me assure you:
government intervention is meant only to address the shortage,” President
Aquino said in his speech at the Energy Smart Philippines 2014 conference and
exhibition held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
“The sole goal of this initiative is to make sure
our economy does not lose its momentum in the event of an energy shortage,” he
said, acknowledging that the country is facing a possible shortage of 300
megawatts during summer next year.
“Such a situation necessitates steps to ensure
energy supply if a shortfall does arise, which is why we have asked Congress,”
he said.
The President has invoked Section 71 of the Energy
Power Industry (EPIRA) Reform Act of 2001 or Republic Act 9136, which states
that “upon the determination by the President of the Philippines of an imminent
shortage of the supply of electricity, Congress may authorize, through a joint
resolution, the establishment of additional generating capacity under such
terms and conditions as it may approve”.
Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla meanwhile said
“many options” are available besides asking Congress to authorize the
government to contract additional generating capacity.
These options include industry players’ use of
large stand-by generators during the peak hours of the day under the
Interruptible Load Program; making energy savings mandatory in work and in
homes; and setting air conditioning units at 25 degrees Celcius.
“These are just some suggestions that we’ll give
to lawmakers,” said Petilla. PND (ag)
