DOE Hosts First Forum on the Cleaner Energy Future Initiative for ASEAN

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, and the Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., hosted the inaugural Government-Private Forum on Cleaner Energy Future Initiative for ASEAN (CEFIA) yesterday (27 November) at the Makati Diamond Residences.

The CEFIA seeks to facilitate closer collaboration between the public and private sectors to help accelerate the development and utilization of cleaner energy and low carbon technologies within the ASEAN region.

“Today's event is significant for us in the ASEAN, as it has brought governments and the private sector together in one setting, providing a venue for multi-sectoral discussions on investment opportunities; industry innovations; and energy project financing. Governments cannot stand alone in sustaining a fully vibrant energy sector that is able to actively contribute to a country's robust economic growth. Bilateral and multilateral dialogues are needed,” Secretary Cusi emphasized in his keynote address.

The Energy Chief also took the opportunity to highlight the strides made by the Philippines as it works toward building a sustainable energy future, including the country’s efforts in support of the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Energy Cooperation.

A total of 200 delegates from the ASEAN+3 member countries, national government agencies, local government units, private industry stakeholders, financial institutions, and the academe participated in the first CEFIA Forum.

In addition, a bilateral meeting between the Energy Secretary and Parliamentary Vice-Minister Shuji Miyamoto of METI likewise took place at the sidelines of the CEFIA. Discussions revolved around recent energy sector developments in both countries, and ways to help move private sector initiatives forward. Also present were key officials from the DOE and METI.

Early Holiday Surprises for RedDoorz Guests to Enjoy Family-Friends Bonding

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The air is cooler, the nights are longer. Colored lights flicker in every place you see. Everybody’s easing into a holiday mood and RedDoorz advanced the holiday vibes with surprises for their hotel guests and target market.

In late October, RedDoorz surprised hotel guests nationwide in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao with #RedDoorzKeyMoments. Randomly selected guests were gifted with RedDoorz “keys” as they registered at the front desk of RedDoorz properties in different key cities. The “key” entitled them to one more free stay at selected RedDoorz properties nationwide anytime until November so they can bond and share new memories with family and friends.

Guests loved the special touch that allowed them to share more special times with their chosen companions – from Lolo and Lola to Best Buddy to to Big Bro and Little Sis, to Mom and Dad and the barkada. “This will definitely come in handy when my brother comes back for home leave this month,” said Jennylyn Casitas, whose brother works in Bahrain.

RedDoorz uncorked even more surprises. At the Fablacion Street Party held on Halloween Night at Dulo MNL in Makati, RedDoorz activated its #RedDoorzFunMoments. RedDoorz brand ambassadors went around the party venue to present party goers with more RedDoorz “keys”. Revelers who sported the Most Unique Theme, Best Make-up, Best Joker look, Best Avenger, Best Animé, Best Celebrity Lookalike, Best Drag Queen, Best Maleficent or Disney Character and the Best Family Group were singled out and awarded the surprise “keys” that would let them experience more fun times with their special people.

“At this time of year, everybody is in a holiday mood. It’s time to bond, hold reunions, do impromptu get-togethers and plan for what the family, the barkada and special friends will do together. RedDoorz joins the celebration by providing people with more ways to bond and create more key and fun moments. We have prepared fun activities and promos to enable more and more people to enjoy short or long trips anywhere in the Philippines where our over 200 properties are located,” ssaid Raenald De Jesus, RedDoorz Country Marketing Manager.


For more information on how you too can experience RedDoorz, go to www.reddoorz.com and @RedDoorzPh on Facebook and Instagram

MARINA Conducts ‘Institutional Mechanism Workshop on the Modernization of Passenger Ships’ in Surigao City

Wazzup Pilipinas!

To assist motorboat operators for the modernization program, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) conducted the fourth leg of the Institutional Support Mechanism Workshop on the Modernization of Passenger Ships in Surigao City on 26 to 27 November 2019.

In conjunction with the MARINA Regional Office (MRO) XIII, the workshop oriented various motorboat operators plying Surigao City routes as to how the Philippine government could assist them in upgrading their fleet, technically and financially. Per latest data recorded by MRO XIII, 942 passenger boats are registered under its jurisdiction, and most of them are wooden-hulled.

The MARINA aims to implement a gradual phase-out on wooden-hulled boats to replace them with boats whose hulls are made of durable materials such as fiberglass, steel, and aluminum among many other technologically-improved hull materials.

Currently, there are 34 routes under MRO XIII. Some boat owners and operators have employed fiberglass-hulled boats. According to Atty. Portus, there is a market potential for more boats of this kind in their areas of concern, as water transport remains in demand in Surigao. As such, various boat owners and operators participated in the workshop to raise their issues and concerns as well as to share the safety and commercial advantages of using alternative hull materials for their boats based on their experience.

This initiative, founded by the implementation of MC 2016-02, is further reinforced by "SAFER:" Safe; Advanced; Fast; Environment-friendly; and Resilient modern boats. To help the boat owners and operators in terms of financing and incentives, representatives from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) and Board of Investments (BOI) introduced systems and schemes that they could avail to fund their modernization plans. Various reputable boatbuilding and shipbuilding companies also joined the event to explore collaborative opportunities.

Likewise, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers of the Philippines Inc. (SONAME), through its president Engr. Rizalito S. Lanoy, shared their expertise in ship and boat design, emphasizing the importance of appropriate calculation and the application of engineering principles and/or computer software such as MaxSurf. Also present were the Philippine Ports Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard. The MARINA has already held this workshop in Batangas, Iloilo, and Tacloban.

Meanwhile, representatives from the MARINA including Atty. Portus, Shipyards Regulation Service Director Engr. Ramon C. Hernandez and Franchising Service Director Rizal J. Victoria, also conducted a technical visit onboard Viel’s Liner 1 and 2—FRP boats owned and operated by Viel’s Shipping Lines. The features and durability of the vessels were proudly exhibited as they traversed a short distance amidst the waves of the sea.

The MARINA is optimistic that boat owners and operators will be willing to cooperate in the modernization of the transportation system of the Philippines, if correctly oriented on the dynamics of the program. The next target areas for the conduct of the Institutional Support Mechanism Workshop are Cebu, Albay, and La Union in the first half of 2020.