DOE Hails Success of Malampaya Maintenance‎

Wazzup Pilipinas!

After completing the maintenance works in the Malampaya natural gas field facilities, the Department of Energy (DOE) assures the public that it is still on the watch for its residual effects and maintains Sec. Cusi's policy of "maximizing consumer protection."

“Our mission is to ensure that scheduled Malampaya maintenance shutdown will have a minimal effect to consumers,” announced Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi.

Cusi hailed the Malampaya plant scheduled maintenance shutdown last 28 January to 16 February as a success, saying that it is a spring board for continued close coordination among the energy industry players that guarantees the energy supply reliability, stability and efficiency.

“The preventive measures we’ve put in place relative to the Malampaya shutdown, such as, ensuring availability of the alternative liquid fuel to run the natural gas power plants (NGPP), have averted the possibility of power supply deficiency. We have experienced normal power situation all throughout the course of the maintenance activity,” Sec. Cusi said.

“The maintenance shutdown was also completed by the Malampaya consortium (Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., Chevron Malampaya LLC and PNOC Exploration Corporation) about 15 to 17 hours ahead of schedule,” he added.

He also reported that the DOE is closely coordinating with the concerned power generators and the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) to cushion the impact on electricity prices of the higher liquid fuel cost used in running the NGPP.

According to MERALCO, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has computed an incremental liquid fuel cost at approximately PhP0.66/kilowatt-hour lower than the initial estimation of PhP0.92/kwh. The power company also reported that the ERC has approved its request to stagger the incremental liquid fuel cost over a period of three (3) months starting this March in order to minimize the burden on customers.

“We are still keen on looking for ways on not to pass on to the consumers the incremental cost brought by the shutdown. We are planning to hold a conference among those involved to address a no pass-on policy,” Sec. Cusi underscored.

The Secretary informed that the Malampaya Gas-to-Power Project supplies natural gas to five natural gas power plants located in Batangas, namely, Sta. Rita (1,000 MW), San Lorenzo (500 MW), Ilijan (1,200 MW), Avion (97 MW), and San Gabriel (414 MW).

Meanwhile, echoing the key message of the Fire Prevention Month, the Secretary reminded the public to ensure safety of their electrical wirings and soundness of their electric appliances to reduce the risks of fire during the hot summer months caused by faulty wirings and short circuits.

“Paalala po sa ating mga maybahay at tatay, maaari po nating i-check ang ating mga electrical wiring system at mga appliances para makaiwas sa anumang sakuna dulot ng kuryente,” advised Cusi.

“We also enjoin the public to always adopt energy efficiency and conservation practices, as these can greatly contribute to cushion any adverse effect of any power supply situation,” Sec. Cusi concluded.

It Will Not Be Business As Usual For Our Telcos

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday called for greater accountability and transparency from telecommunications firm Smart Communication Inc. regarding the renewal of its franchise and the nature of its ownership.

Smart Telecommunications, a subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), was awarded its legislative franchise on March 27 1992. This franchise allowed Smart to operate for 25 years and is set to expire on March 27 2017. Republic Act 7925 stipulates that no telecommunications firm can operate without a franchise from Congress and a Certificate of Public Convenience from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). As part of the conditions of the franchise, Smart is also obligated to offer at least 30%of its stock to the public. As of this writing Smart has not complied. For its part, Smart contends that since its parent company is a publicly listed entity it no longer needs to fulfill this condition.

Smart and PLDT have separate registrations under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

There are currently two bills that seek to renew Smart’s franchise for another 25 years, one in the House and one in the Senate. Each of these Bills not only seeks to renew Smart’s franchise but also grants them seemingly favorable terms, specifically on foreign ownership and the ability of a parent company to list itself on behalf of a subsidiary.

The Philippines currently has the slowest internet speed in the Asia-Pacific. Among the reasons cited for the country’s poor internet performance is the lack of other providers and the fact that only one company controls much of the country’s infrastructure.

“It cannot be business as usual for our telcos. We call on Smart to fully comply with the terms of its franchise and to be more transparent about its corporate structure and ownership,” Hontiveros said. “We will not allow Smart’s subscribers to held hostage to inferior service while paying fees that are comparatively higher than many of our Asian neighbors,” Hontiveros said.

#MochaUsonIsOverParty: The Suspension of Mocha Uson's Twitter Account

Wazzup Pilipinas! 

Coffee Ad: How do you like your mocha?

Me: SUSPENDED! 

STOP THE LIES!

Twitter dragged the hell out of Mocha and her ill-informed legion earlier. Well-deserved!
Hey Twitter! Why would you suspend Mocha Uson's account? Where would I get my dose of fake news and Duterte fan-fiction?

But we may be too late for the party as she might just get it activated again soon...and by the time this article comes out, Twitter must have activated it again.

Mocha Uson can be viewed as a symptom of our country's dearth of critical thinking. She is poisonous. Queen of fake news. Leader of red minions.
See, as expected... water will always seek its own level... dito sa twitter, may brain meter. di siya umabot sa quota. She may have mastered and hijacked Facebook but Twitter is a different battleground that one misinformation cannot win easily.

Twitter has been cracking down on terrorists and hate speech lately. Good job, Twitter! Facebook should follow soon. On Facebook, Mocha says she’ll be using the @mochamanager account in the meantime. We can always report her again for targeted harassment, then click on the tweets where she harasses VP Leni. You can do that too.

Twitter is where educated and open-minded people converse. No place for Mocha there. It's disturbing how her followers take her side without even looking at the whole picture.