DOE Flags Illegal LPG-Refilling

Wazzup Pilipinas!

DOE VISAYAS INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAFE USE OF LPG: DOE-OIMB Asst. Dir. Rodela I. Romero leads the discussion with LPG suppliers operating in Visayas during their meeting on Tuesday (11 June) at the Capitol Central Hotel, Cebu City.

Also present during the meeting were DOE-VFO OIC-Director Jose Rey Maleza, representatives from the DOE-Legal Services and DOE-Mindanao Field Office.

The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) and Visayas Field Office (VFO), met with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) suppliers operating in the region last Tuesday (11 June) in a move to further strengthen the Department’s campaign against the proliferation of illegal LPG-refilling activities, particularly LPG-refilled butane canisters.

“Butane canisters that have been refilled with LPG are prohibited primarily because they are extremely dangerous. These are fire and explosive hazards. We would like to appeal to the public, especially to our kababayans in the Visayas where this illegal activity has been rampant – don’t risk your lives and those of your children and loved ones. Do not buy these illegally refilled LPG canisters,” DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi emphasized.

DOE – OIMB Assistant Director Rodela I. Romero and VFO Director Jose Rey Maleza, presided over the meeting, where LPG suppliers were briefed on the continuing joint enforcement activities being undertaken by the DOE with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the various local government units (LGUs) concerned. This includes, among others, the filing of criminal and administrative cases against those who have been found engaging in the unlawful refiling of LPG into non-compliant containers, as well as the LGUs' provision of warehouse space for confiscated illegal items.

Data from the DOE-VFO indicate that since 2017, there have been 72 criminal cases filed by law enforcement agencies against illegal LPG refillers, found mostly in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol. Out of the 72, 42 cases resulted in convictions imposing penalties of either imprisonment, fines, or both.

LPG suppliers and marketers were directed to closely monitor their respective downlines as a measure to block supply sources of illegal refilling, strictly comply with the monthly reporting of LPG distribution, and to transact only with industry players bearing DOE-issued Standard Compliance Certificates.

The DOE continues to assure the public that it is closely coordinating with the PNP in the Visayas and Mindanao regions to find ways to protect our consumers from this illegal and dangerous practice.

Alaska Treats Jakarta-bound Jr. NBA 2019 All Stars to an Alaska Aces Basketball Clinic

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Alaska Milk Corporation hosted a send-off basketball clinic for the 2019 Jr. NBA All-Stars of Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 presented by Alaska on June 12 at the Alaska Aces practice facility, the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.

The All-Stars and the Jr. NBA Coaches of the Year will represent the country in the first-ever Jr. NBA Global Championship Asia Pacific Selection Camp at Universitas Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Alaska Power Camp Director Jeffrey Cariaso and Head Coach Tony dela Cruz headed the short basketball camp, which served as an added preparation for the 10 All-Stars who will compete against other Jr. NBA All-Stars from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. 

The Jakarta camp will culminate with the selection of 10 boys and 10 girls who will represent Asia Pacific in the Jr. NBA Global Championship at Orlando, Florida in August.

Also present at the basketball clinic to share their Jr. NBA stories and tips were Jr. NBA All-Stars Alumni Kenji Duremdes, Echo Laure and Rhayyan Amsali. Alaska Aces Jeron Teng, Sonny Thoss, Simon Enciso, Ping Exciminanio and Chris Banchero also gave their support to the young athletes.

The following is the complete list of Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 All-Stars who will represent the country at the Jr. NBA Global Championship Asia Pacific Selection Camp:

GIRLS ROSTER:

First Name	Last Name	Age	School
Dianne Camille	Nolasco	14	Miriam College
Kyla Marie	Mataga	14	De La Salle Zobel
Mikylla	Taborada	14	Corpus Christi School Cagayan de Oro
Justine Mhyrra	Vibanco	13	Saint Joseph Parish School
Princess BJ Marie	Villarin	13	De La Salle Zobel

BOYS ROSTER:

First Name	Last Name	Age	School
Henjz Gabriel	Demisana	14	Bacolod Tay Tung High School
James Yuan	Ison	14	La Salle Greenhills
Zhan Paolo	Moreno	14	Xavier University Cagayan de Oro
Sebastian Roy	Reyes	14	Nazareth School of National University
Lionel Matthew	Rubico	14	De La Salle Lipa

Jr. NBA Coaches of the Year 2019

Coach Precious Jimenez and Coach Orlando Estrellas

DOTr Agencies Distribute “Malasakit Help Kits” in Transpo Hubs on Father’s Day

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Malasakit Help Desks (MHDs) in major transportation hubs throughout the country up the ante in public service with the distribution of Malasakit Help Kits beginning today on Father’s Day.

For this year’s celebration, frontline agencies will distribute a limited number of Malasakit Help Kits to fathers in various airports, seaports, land terminals and train stations.

These kits may contain drinks and light snacks, battery-operated fan, face towel, foldable fans, wet wipes, hand sanitizer or lotion of permitted volume, and ballpens, among others.

Participating agencies include the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and Office for Transportation Security (OTS) for the Aviation and Airports sector; MRT-3, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and Philippine National Railways (PNR) for the Railways sector; Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) for the Road sector; and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Cebu Ports Authority (CPA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the Maritime sector.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade instructed the distribution of Malasakit Help Kits to passengers as an act of appreciation for their continued patronage of the country’s transportation hubs, as well as an expression of ‘malasakit’ or care beyond duty or requirement especially to women, children, senior citizens, and Persons with Disabilities.

“President Rodrigo Duterte tasked the DOTr to give the Filipinos a comfortable life. While we do our best to enhance mobility and connectivity through transportation infrastructure, we also want to express our ‘malasakit’ to the public through small gestures that will give them additional convenience and comfort in their travels,” Secretary Tugade said.

The distribution of Malasakit Help Kits also serves to strengthen the role of MHDs as a one-stop shop for passenger assistance in airports, seaports, train stations, and land terminals. It serves as a convenient and accessible nexus for various government services in public transport.

As an integrated assistance center, the DOTr Malasakit Help Desk can receive or handle airport/seaport/terminal-related inquiries and complaints, provide road-related assistance (i.e., booking TNVS/taxi rides), facilitate the refund of terminal fees, provide attestation of cause of trip cancellation or delays, deliver emergency medical assistance, accept reports of possible security threats, and extend other forms of assistance to passengers or commuters.

In this regard, Secretary Tugade expressed gratitude to all DOTr attached agencies that are in the front lines of ‘malasakit’ service.

“We are one government and, therefore, one team. I truly feel the unity and collective effort of our sectoral offices and attached agencies in realizing the directive of the President to make the lives of our countrymen comfortable. Maraming salamat sa ating mga ahensya, at isang malugod na pagbati rin ‘ho sa lahat ng mga ama at tumatayong ama ng pamilya. Nawa’y manatili tayong matatag na haligi para sa ating mga minamahal,” Secretary Tugade expressed.

Malasakit Help Kits will also be distributed on other special occasions such as Mother’s Day, International Women’s Day, and Valentine’s Day, as well as during “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos” campaigns in dense transit seasons such as Christmas, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (Undas), Holy Week, and school opening.