THE NEWS DATELINER

Aboitiz now owns Tiwi and MacBan plants

The holding company for the Aboitiz Group's investments in power generation and distribution takes over two geothermal facilities May 26, 2009.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has turned-over to the Aboitiz Power Renewables (APR), the ceremonial keys of Tiwi and Makban Geothermal Plants, after the APR won the bid for the 20-year old facilities of the National Power Corp. (NPC). The ceremony will be held at the Makati office of the Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) which is mandated by law to dispose NPC's assets and liabilities. The APR's total bid price for these assets is $446.9 million.

The Tiwi Geothermal plant in Tiwi, Albay, north of Mayon volcano, has 289 megawatts (MW) capacity while Makban (which stands for Makiling and Banahaw) based in Laguna and Batangas provinces supplies 458.53 megawatts (MW) to the main grid of NPC, said PSALM Chief of Staff Atty. Conrad Tolentino.

Represented by Luis Miguel Aboitiz, president of APR, the company presented to the President a large facsimile check for P8 billion (as downpayment) for the two plants that are now operating at their rated capacities. The Aboitizes bought the plants to become a dominant renewable energy supplier of the country, Tolentino said.

A ceremonial awarding of the geothermal plants to the Aboitiz was earlier held, wherein the power firm has signed P8 billion wire transfer to PSALM, representing the 40 percent down payment for the plant. The PSALM in turn gave the papers of the plants to APR.

PSALM was created in 2001 to dispose the assets and liabilities of NPC. This is the twelfth plant that PSALM has sold even as it also works on the trimming down of NPC's foreign obligations through either bond flotation, power rate increases and other mechanisms, Tolentino said.

Only last week, PSALM was able to generate $1 billion of bond floats the part of which will be used to pay off the debts of NPC (totalling $17 billion) plus interests on these obligations so that consumers will not be burdened with power rate adjustments, Tolentino added.

Under the assets and liabilities management program of PSALM, part of the obligations are being passed to the consumers through either the ICERA (international currency exchange rate adjustments) or the basic fuel GRAM (generation rate adjustment mechanism).

The bidding for these plants began in September 2005 with 15 prospective bidders participating. The bidding date was set for the second semester of 2006, which, however, was delayed because of the non resolution of the issue on the effectivity of the Geothermal Resources Sales Contract (GRSC) between PSALM and Philippine Geothermal Inc. (now Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings Inc.). (PIA V Release)

Consumer groups seek scrap of OATS
By Rey M. Nasol

LEGAZPI CITY - The Albay Consumers Association (Alconas) is urging the office of President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo to intervene in doing away with the Open Access Transmission Service (OATS) as it is feared to have caused difficulties in reducing power rates in the Luzon Grid.

Rafael A. Villar, an engineer and spokesman of the Alconas told the Dateliner that his previous letters to Arroyo have been favorably endorsed to the respective agencies of the power industry of the country.

Villar said the power outages and the problems on high rates of electricity can only be solved by prompt implementation of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquitision - Energy Management System (SCADA-EMS) which modernized the whole sourcing and distribution systems of power within the Luzon Grid.

"Whevever the available surce of connected power load provided for 'Open Access' consumers is not coordinated or included in the 'Load-scheduling program' beign beforehand prepared by Systems Operator designated in any given time Area Control Center-Coverage, most likely and oftentimes will result to disruption, distortion, interference or even cause brownouts in the energy transmission systems or circuits," Villar said adding that the automatic load-shifting operations, under the SCADA-EMS system, for supply-feeders to its repective distribution feeders cannot be realized and, or attained. Hence, he said, energy utilization cannot be maximized. Instead enormous unnecessary 'system loss' is incurred.

"In the case involving Wholesale Spot Market Operations (WESM), our explanation and recommendation therein was to confine or limit operations in only one or two adjoining Area Control Center citing Singapore as successful along this line since Singapore Land coverage area is only 225 square miles, further, as to which source of available connected for cheaper-wholesale pricing is determined knowledgeably by one systems operator singly operating within his area control center-coverage," Villar explained in a mailed reply to a recently received response from the Malacanang.

Records will show that the privatization program of the government have long been overdue and delayed, "Schemes similar to corporate marauding schemes have allegedly been employed in the purchase and sale of NPC's geothermal power plants from NPC to

Chevron and from Chevron to succeeding present-day owners," the Alconas spokesman said.

Villar said that since the issues involved are not only inter-agency (Gov't) related but has reached global-scientific research proportions, with ongoing excessive emission of carbon dioxide released by operating power plants worldwide, it is imperative that very urgent measures should be undertaken such as international regcognition of the people's Republic of China as having succeffully implemented the SCADA-EMS system in the communal electricity supply and distribution in its territory.

Villar said there is also a need to transfor the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) number one transmission firm in southeast Asia, as vowed by Zhang Oiquing, Director for International Cooperation of the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC).

A copy of a position paper submitted to Arroyo and addressed to the United Nation's Secretariat has been sought for endorsement by the Philippine Representative to the U.N. for appropriate action.


Biazon joins ‘Tour of Hope’ cervical cancer awareness campaign

By Rey M. Nasol and Mar S. Arguelles

LEGAZPI CITY -- Health authorities sounded alarm bells on their route to Bicol over the rising incidence of cervical cancer among women, which is now the number two killer disease among women in the country.

Health advocates further cited cervical cancer kills at least 10 women everyday worldwide while some 9,000 Filipinas are suffering from this kind of disease in the country.

For this reason Muntinlupa City Representative Ruffy Biazon, together with Cervical Cancer advocates, joined this year's Tour of Hope, entitled "XXX-Dare to be Bold" to spread his advocacy of cervical cancer prevention to women in Southern Luzon.

The Tour of Hope kicked off in Cong. Biazon's district of Muntinlupa last May 24 and will end in Camarines Sur on Saturday. The tour made stops in Cavite, Tagaytay, Batangas and Quezon.

A joint project of Bravehearts, Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program (CECAP) for the Cancer Institute Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline Philippines, Creative Juice, Campaigns PR Inc., and in strategic partnership with Team David's Salon, the Philippine's first all-women multisport team, this year's tour will cover approximately 500 kilometers of the Southern Luzon and the Metro Manila area.

In each stop, doctors from the Cervical Cancer Prevention (CECAP) Network Program of the Philippines will be holding lay flora on cervical cancer and its prevention spreading the advocacy of cervical cancer prevention to women in these areas. The activity will also aid in promoting tourism and in providing much needed awareness that the Philippines has a lot of scenic biking destinations.

Biazon first partnered with CECAP to raise cervical cancer awareness in his own district. He allocated his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the purchase of a cryotheraphy unit and the training of local health providers in the "Single Visit Approach" for the screening, detection and treatment of the disease.

Through his initiative, the City Health Office of Muntinlupa earned the "Best Practices Award" in the year 2008.

Earlier this year, Rep. Biazon was awarded the title "Honorary Woman" by CECAP and SM Women's Committee for his commitment to the anti-cervical cancer program.

They recognized his efforts in consistently implementing health programs for the welfare of the women in his district.

Aside from the program with CECAP, he consistently conducts free medical missions with pre-natal check-up with ultrasound, CBC, blood typing and hepatitis B screening for expectant mothers.

Refusing to be confined to his own district, Biazon extended his time and effort in spreading the advocacy to other women.

He joined last year's Tour of Hope where more than 200 bikers covered 500 kilometers stretching from the province of Vigan down to Olongapo City.

Lay lectures were conducted on cervical cancer prevention and it was attended by over a thousand people spreading the advocacy up north.


DOT infuses grant to Donsol’s Butanding eco-tourism project
By Mike dela Rama

LEGAZPI CITY - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has completed the second half of its infrastructure and skills development grant to the 'Whaleshark' town of Donsol to help the industry cope up with the needs of visitors, both foreigners and locals.

Bicol DOT regional Director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said in a recent meeting of the Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC) that the last phase of the P2.5-million fund assistance to the province of Sorsogon for the establishment of various infrastructure and other tourism projects, has been released earlier this week.

"The first half of the grant was released first week of April and used for the construction of a Wellness Center in Donsol now being managed by the local government in partnership with the Donsol Therapeutic Association."

The DOT has identified unemployed residents in Donsol who underwent skills training.

"The therapeutic training to unemployed residents in Donsol is part of the livelihood enhancement program in the tourism sector," Ravanilla said.

But Ravanilla also said that other tourist destinations in Bicol region have been identified. "Most of them need additional fund for rehabilitation and construction of tourism related infrastructures."

"We are very strict in terms of tourism development specially when it comes to infrastructure," Ravanilla explained.

She explained that several proposed tourism development projects were submitted by private companies to the DOT but some of those have been denied for some reasons.

Ravanilla cited the decision of the DOT not to allow Globe Telecommunications to undertake a submarine cable project in Dancalan, Donsol.

She said that while the project is meant to upgrade the communication technology, it would put to risk the region's eco-tourism advantage and eventually hurt the livelihood gains being provided by the presence of whale sharks in Donsol.

The Globe project does not guarantee positive or negative effect on the presence of whale sharks in Donsol waters.

The present Donsol Eco-Tourism site is now the model of the Expanded GREET project and a pilot on the Philippine Rural Community-Based Tourism by the DOT.

The Donsol eco-tourism product on Whale Shark interaction has positively changed the income capacity of the local government, the reason that Donsol is now a third class town from being a fifth class municipality.

It has significantly increased the income of the direct private beneficiaries like Butanding interaction officers, Boat Operators, Hostelry and Food Beverages Facilities and Land Transport facilities.

Even Legazpi and Sorsogon cities, Ravanilla said, remarkably benefit in the venture with about 30 percent of the gross revenues from tourists.

Ravanilla also announced that Gayon Bicol Travel and Bath House are now operational. "Portion of the grant to Sorsogon was utilized for the establishment of Travel and Bath House," she noted.

Gayon Bicol Travel and Bath house caters to all travelers with complete amenities.


Farmers rising against Dante’s farm disarray
By Emily B. Bordado, DA-Bicol

Pili, Camarines Sur - Over 170 farmers from this province have enlisted to participate in the season-long (3 months) training on high value commercial vegetables production using the modern technology under the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Program. This program initiated by the SM Foundation Incorporated (SMFI) in collaboration with HARBEST Agribusiness Corporation, the Department of Agriculture regional field office and the local government units.

The program aims to help farmers improve and increase their productivity and income through application of modern technology like the use of plastic green house and mulch, use of organic fertilizers and organic pesticides.

HARBEST Agribusiness Corp. will provide the seeds and other inputs including the technology. The DA will provide technical assistance, the training venue and the techno demo-site of 5,000 square meters located at the Bicol Experiment Station which shall serve as field-school for the participants. The SM Foundation with its chain of hypermart and supermart including the newly opened supermarket inside the SM Mall in Naga City will serve as the market arm for the successful farmer graduates of this training who will venture into commercial vegetable production after the training. It is also hoped that with this program local vegetable farmers would be able to produce quality vegetables for the local markets as substitute for vegetables brought in from other areas which are expensive.

The training program consists of lectures and hand-on training of the participants using the concept of the Farmers Field School, which is a group-based learning process that incorporates concepts and methods from agro-ecology, experiential education and community development. Participants will meet one whole day once a week for a total of 10 sessions or a span over 2 months. Luz Marcelino, superintendent of the BEST will serve as the project manager.

The launching was attended by Cristie Angeles, project director of SMFI, Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA regional executive director, Arsenio Barcelona, president HARBEST, some private agribusiness entrepreneurs of the province, farmers, technicians, researchers and local media representatives.

Barcelona challenged the Bicolano farmers to produce their own vegetables because per their survey the vegetables available in the local market are not produced here but were brought either from North Luzon or from Mindanao that is why they are very costly. A big chunk of the cost being shouldered by the consumers for the vegetables they buy are actually the transport cost.

Ms. Angeles urged the farmers to be dreamers and risk-takers, just as the SM founder Mr. Henry Sy had been. She narrated how Mr. Sy started as an ordinary owner of a sari-sari store but not only dreamt but really worked hard to realize his dream.

Dir. Dayao for his part encourages farmers not only to be content with increasing production but also their income. He said Bicolanos should seize every available opportunity coming our ways such as this noble program.


Sagñay chosen site for global millennium school

SAGÑAY, Camarines Sur - The first global millennium school in Camarines Sur achieved another first with the choice of Nato High School here as the site of the first ever global millennium school of the country.

The millennium school is an offshoot of the Global Millennium School Design competition initiated by the advocates of the "Be Better Build Better" Program which main objective is to devise a school structural design that utilizes indigenous materials like bamboo that could withstand typhoons and rough monsoon weather.

Ground breaking ceremonies for the model school were held last Friday (May 15) at the Nato High School.

Officials of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur officials and municipal government here joined the representatives from the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Private Sector Disaster Management Network (PSDMN), Petron Foundation, ABS CBN Bayan Foundation, Department of Education (DepEd) and various stakeholders attended the milestone event

In his remarks during the ceremony, PSDMN chair Alex Escaño said that the support and cooperation of Governor LRay Villafuerte and the officials of the local government of Sagñay in pursuing the project set a good example to show the world that working together can achieve better result.

Taking the lead for the "Be Better Build Better" Program for the Millennium School are the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC/DND), DepEd, DSWD, DPWH, My Shelter Foundation, UAP and the PSDMN.

ABS-CBN Foundation and Sagip Kapamilya will sponsor the construction of the model school within the compound of Nato High School.

Present during the occasion were former board member Ernie Verdadero, architects Amado Tandoc, Jr. and Francisco Mañosa of UAP, Allan Victorino and Dani Bayani of Petron Foundation, Dr. Orfelina Tuy, ARD of DepEd Bicol and Dr. Emma I. Cornejo of DepEd Camarinees Sur; Aldwin S. Gonzales of ABS CBN Foundation; director Bernardo Alejandro IV, OCD R5; Engr. Nathaniel Mendoza, DepEd; municipal councilor Mariano San Felipe Jr. (DCAbad, PIA Cam. Sur)


BFP push safety drive in schools, dorms

SORSOGON CITY - The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) city station here has slated inspection of all boarding houses and schools in this city in preparation for the opening of classes on June 1.

C/Ins. Renato Marcial, Sorsogon City fire marshal said this is part of the BFP's mandate to ensure the safety of our students especially that we are expecting a great number of them who will troop to the said place this school year 2009-2010.

Marcial has directed his fire safety inspectors to inspect all the schools and dormitories in order to abate hazards.

"There are at least four schools that were inspected and have been issued notice to correct violations, most of these have nor or insufficient firefighting apparatus, such as fire extinguisher, no evacuation plan, padlocked fire exits and no emergency lights," he bared.

"Administrators or owners of these schools as well as boarding houses should comply with the fire safety standards being required to them, since this is for their own as well as for the students' safety," he added, as he appealed to those operators of dormitories to secure necessary permits before they should operate their own business.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Ronaldo Puno earlier ordered all fire bureau offices in the country to intensify fire safety inspection of all schools and dormitories frequented by the students.

He also reminded the BFP officials to be serious in the implementation of the Fire Code of the Philippines.

Since fire safety can not be compromised, Puno issued an order directing all City and Municipal Fire Marshals to issue notice to correct violations to those who are negligent or blatantly violating the provisions of the law. (BFP Sorsogon/PIA)

Aboitiz invests US$150M more to upgrade, rehab Tiwi, Mak-Ban plants

Aboitiz Power Corp. will invest US$ 150 million to rehabilitate and upgrade the two geothermal power plants it acquired from the government. Aboitiz senior vice president Luis Miguel Aboitiz said the amount would upgrade the 289-megawatt (MW) Tiwi geothermal power plant in Tiwi, Albay and the 458.53-MW Makban (Makiling-Banahaw) geothermal plant in Laguna and Batangas province.

Aboitiz Power Renewables, Inc., Aboitiz's subsidiary, acquired the two plants during an auction conducted by the state-owned Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) last July for an offered price of US$ 446.89 million.

"The plants are more than 20 years old so we plan to increase [its capacity] from 462MW to 517MW in the next four years," Aboitiz told reporters shortly after the turnover ceremony of the Tiwi-Makban plant Monday.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed the turn over of the keys to Tiwi-Makban and the payment of the 40 percent down payment by Aboitiz amounting to P8.2 billion.

AP Renewables also paid PSALM another P492 million for land lease.

PSALM, through the National Power Corp. (Napocor), has attached a 400-MW supply contract to the geothermal facilities to attract investors.

Aboitiz said the firm was also looking at more possible acquisitions this year, particularly the contracts for the independent power producers administrators (IPPAs).

He said the company was interested in Casecnan and the San Roque hydroelectric power plants in Luzon.

The company is also interested to bid for the 600-MW Calaca and Limay coal plants.

Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said the successful bidding and turnover of Tiwi-Makban "boosts government's campaign on renewable energy sources."

PSALM president and chief executive officer Jose C. Ibazeta said the privatization of Napocor assets had contributed US$ 1.3 billion to government coffers so far.(PIA-5)


Automate elections in Mindanao and critical areas of concern: Biazon
By Rey M. Nasol

LEGAZPI CITY - In case the automation would not fully push through in the entire country, it is Mindanao and other hot spot areas of concerns that need to be prioritized in a partial implementation of the automated elections this coming 2010.

The original plan of the Commission on Elections (comelec) is the full automation of national and local elections but in case of its failure, and a partial automation would be considered as plan B, the agency should prioritize the perennial areas for previous election frauds particularly the touted 'dagdag bawas' shemes.

Muntinlupa lone district representative Ruffy Biazon said that Comelec still has ample time to implement the automation of the coming 2010 elections "But they must also be ready to go back to the traditional methods in case the automation does not materialized," he said explaining further that there should be no reason for the cancellation of the 2010 national and local elections as the so called 'No-El' and I don't think they (referring to orchestrators of the No-El) can pull off the scenario as they would just be inviting a political upheaval in this country," Biazon said adding his caution that the orchestrators behind the preservation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's seat are adjusting to other plans as manifested by an apparent abandonement of the Charter Change (Chacha) which he believes is just scripted to make people believe that Arroyo is no longer interested to continue in power.

In case of partial automations, Biazon said the Comelec should prioritize for implementation within Mindanao where even though less election related violence were reported, was touted for massive the dagdag-bawas.

Other identified areas of concern for violences in other parts of the country also need to benefit from any partial implementation of the automation in order to avert election cheating activities.

"I am anti Chacha and am against any amendment to the constitution before 2010 because it is not yet the right time," Biazon said.

Although Biazon admitted he sees some need for a charter change but those things need to be done after 2010 elections "I belive there is a need for amendments but it must be done beyond 2010 elections and we can't blame people from having doubts on sicerity of those who pushed chacha and eventually claimed there is no more chance for it this time."