DOE Eyes Non-OPEC Oil, Stockpiling as Cushion vs Rising Prices

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) plans to source petroleum products from Russia and other non-OPEC countries to establish a strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) to cushion the impact of the rising price of oil in the international market.

“The government is aware of the country’s vulnerabilities to abrupt changes in the international oil situation and impending threats on the same, hence we are formulating various strategies to address those vulnerabilities to cushion the impact for our consumers,” DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said on Monday as he revealed the two-pronged strategies.

Cusi has tasked the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) to prepare for oil trading and retail to provide competition to existing oil industry players and pacify domestic oil prices. Cusi is ex-officio Chairman of the PNOC-EC.

Through Board Resolution No.5-5, S’ 2018, the PNOC-EC has been directed and authorized to engage in the retail or selling of petroleum products sourced from Russia and non-OPEC members to independent petroleum dealers and to individual public consumers.

Currently, the DOE only requires oil companies to maintain a Minimum lnventory Requirement (MlR) of in-country stocks equivalent to 30 days of crude and products for refiners, 15 days of products for importers/bulk suppliers, and seven days of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stocks for LPG players.

The creation of the SPR is founded on a number of joint international studies, according to the DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau.

In 2003, the Philippines and Thailand had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly study, investigate and assess the possibilities of cooperation, including the identification of strategic locations for oil stockpiling and distribution points.

Another study was conducted in 2004 by the US Department of Energy to assist the country in assessing the options and potentials for strategic oil stockpiles as well as give recommendations to enact legislation pertaining to the oil stockpiling program.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry assistance also came in 2004 to conduct a feasibility study on the development of a master plan and comprehensive scheme for oil stockpiling.

On top of the two mentioned solutions, the DOE continues to advocate exercising “efficient and smart diskarte” on oil consumers’ use of petroleum products, such as managing vehicle trips and its operations.

Say it with PRide

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In celebration of Pride Month, we uncover how CASTRO Communications, from being a startup PR firm to becoming one of the most gender-progressive companies in the industry, has found its ultimate cause.

Representing the PR in Pride—that's what CASTRO Communications has shaped up to be. From a hopeful start-up to a full-fledged communications agency that represents one of the most remarkable gender movements of today, CASTRO is both known for impeccable PR partnerships and its role in pushing the LGBTQ+ agenda in the Philippines.

The brainchild of Martin Castañeda, who spent his early professional years in the Corporate Communications arm of L'Oreal Philippines, CASTRO recognized the opportunity to penetrate the lifestyle PR market as more and more brands clamored for non-traditional and creative ways to communicate with the media and the public. As Managing Director, Martin knew that growing the business wasn't a task he could do alone, so he sought out the services of long-time friend Janlee Dungca, formerly an events professional. Together with the rest of the team, CASTRO slowly built its lifestyle and luxury portfolio, partnering with companies such as Branded Lifestyle Inc., distributor of Ray-Ban and most luxury eyewear brands in the country, and the L'Oreal Philippines flagship, with its lineup of hugely successful brands such as L'Oreal Paris, Kerastase, L'Oreal Professionnel, NYX Cosmetics and Kiehl's. Other well-known brands include Nivea, Levi’s, Guess, SM and Celeteque.

Martin Castaneda

Janlee Dungca

Lui Castaneda

In 2014, Martin and Janlee (the latter named as CASTRO's PR Director) welcomed frequent collaborator Lui Castañeda into the agency fulltime as CASTRO's Accounts Director. This move proved to be a truly auspicious step for the agency, as from there CASTRO grew both in terms of clientele and employee size—two telltale signs of highly competitive and successful startups. Currently, CASTRO has expanded its client portfolio to include household FMCG brands such as Toblerone, Cadbury, Cheez Whiz, Eden Cheese, Oreo, Belvita, Tang and Berocca, and has partnered with the most successful celebrities and content creators in their campaigns and events. The depth of PR services it provides is executed by CASTRO's solid team of hardworking employees, a creative group of individuals who have become both colleagues and friends.

As the Martin-Janlee-Lui trifecta developed CASTRO's commercial success, they also started to be recognized as one of the most progressive, pro-LGBTQ+ companies in the country. The name CASTRO itself was inspired by Castro District in San Francisco, where the yearly LGBTQ+ Pride Parade found its early beginnings. Individually, CASTRO's founders are LGBTQ+ members and advocates themselves, who actively contribute to the cause apart from their full time responsibilities in the agency. Janlee is a member of LoveYourself, a non-profit organization that aims to spread awareness on HIV-AIDS prevention, testing and treatment, especially towards members of the LGBTQ+ community. Martin and Lui also continually push forward the Pride advocacy in their various interviews and features.

But as proud LGBTQ+ individuals, Martin, Janlee and Lui's staunchest act in showing their support for the agenda is choosing to work with and collaborate with members of their community. Throughout CASTRO's seven years in the industry, they have continually hired employees, commissioned suppliers and worked with LGBTQ+ groups and individuals, and consider it as their way of changing the stigma against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in society. Locally, one of CASTRO’s most valued members is Niko Pedro, a proud gay man who does consultancy work for the company and also works as a consultant for a local news network. Outside the Philippines, CASTRO has expanded in Singapore, with an office headed by happily married gay couple Alvin Miranda and Jappy Reyes, both established marketing professionals.

In an interview she did last 2016, Janlee defined CASTRO’S practices as ways of "debunking myths about LGBTQ+ people perceived to always be parloristas or sex workers." As CASTRO built its corporate brand, the trio realized that their pro-LGBTQ+ stand has become an essential part of the company's identity—in fact, it's become the introductory line in their client pitches. The CASTRO directors consider this brand DNA both a privilege and a responsibility, for they now recognize their role as frontliners in the cause to raise awareness on gender equality in the workplace, both locally and internationally.

As Martin works on expanding and starting an office in the US, he explains: "We founded CASTRO in the hopes of introducing a new lifeblood to the Philippine PR and branding industry, which I built with transgender women I trusted for their talents and work ethics. I did not expect that our personal identities would affect and inspire the LGBTQ+ movement both in and outside the country. Now, as CASTRO fully imbibes this spirit in our DNA, I only look forward to how the company can continue to push the Pride agenda through our unique place in the PR industry."

Cusi: Total Electrification Key to a Bright Future

Wazzup Pilipinas!

TOTAL ELECTRIFICATION: Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi addresses the 46th Annual General Membership Assembly of Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NONECO) on Sunday (27 May) during which he vowed to pursue total electrification of its coverage areas.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi reiterated on Sunday (27 May) the government’s plan to provide electricity services to the whole of Northern Negros, as well as all communities across the country so that present and future generations can be empowered.

On the occasion of the 46th annual membership assembly of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NONECO), Cusi asked NONECO to closely coordinate with the National Electrification Authority (NEA) to fully realize its electrification plan.

Cusi said that the Department of Energy (DOE) endeavors to remove the challenges in providing electricity to all communities across the country so that Filipinos are assured of a brighter future.

"We have to act now [on electrification], because our children on areas without power are already in their growing years,” said Cusi.

“We cannot take back the time when they have to read their school lessons at night without having a conducive environment for learning,” he added.

Data from NEA showed that NONECO has electrified 158,629 households as of March 2018, out of its baseline data of 200,000. This means, 21% of NONECO's franchise area, or nearly 41,000 households remain unserved or underserved.

At the same time, Cusi underscored the need to introduce smart grid technologies all over the country because of their proven efficiency in significantly reducing systems losses and other operational inefficiencies.

He also called for the adoption of the Resiliency Compliance Plan (RCP) which aims to make the power industry resilient to both natural and man-made calamities.

The RCP outlines best practices in disaster management that will make the energy sector more sustainable.

According to Cusi, consumers, as members of the Third Party Bids and Awards Committee (TPBAC) under the Competitive Selection Process should also be involved in the process of contracting agreements to ensure transparency.

The committee is involved in reviewing and approving power supply contracts of a certain power distribution utility (DU).

"Once implemented, the consumers can have a representation in the DU's power supply contracts, and will result in a more favorable and lower electricity rates,” said the DOE chief.

Cusi is also asking public support for DOE’s initiative to reflect the unbundled electricity rates under the proposed standard electric bill format across all DUs.

"We find the need for DUs to provide such information to our consumers so that they will know what they are paying up to the last peso. This advocacy [standard electric bill format] is for all of us to become more informed electricity consumers, thereby becoming more empowered."

NONECO is serving nine towns in the region: the cities of San Carlos, Escalante, Sagay, Cadiz, and Victorias; and the municipalities of Calatvara, Taboso, Manapla, and Enrique B. Magalona.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

CUSI WITH NEGRENSES: Member-consumers of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NONECO) listen intently as Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi delivers his keynote address during its 46th Annual General Membership Assembly on Sunday (27 May) where he discussed initiatives of the Department of Energy to address energy security issues.

ENERGY ISSUES: Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi together with National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Edgardo Masongsong tackle energy issues during the radio program of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NONECO), which held its 46th Annual General Membership Assembly on Sunday (27 May).