DOE Wants Gasoline Stations Ready for E-Vehicles

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With the emergence of the electric vehicle industry in the Philippines, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has created an ad hoc technical working group to determine the suitability of gasoline stations as charging areas for electric or e-vehicles.

“In preparation for the booming electric vehicle industry, I instructed the DOE's Oil Industry Management Bureau and Energy Utilization Management Bureau to issue the necessary policies that will support the development of infrastructures complementing the e-vehicle industry, such as the availability of charging in gasoline stations,” said Cusi.

“We are currently drafting a policy on the reclassification of gasoline stations according to standards which includes - the parking area, comfort rooms, CCTVs and even convenience stores, among others. We are also exploring the possibility of the integration of an electric vehicle charging area to the existing facilities of gasoline stations,” added Cusi.

Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 8479 or the “Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998,” the Department of Energy (DOE) is empowered to subject all industry participants to provide suitability of facilities for their proposed operation in accordance with existing national and accepted international standards.

Based on existing policies, this provision in the Oil Deregulation Law was reflected in the DOE’s Retail Rules on Liquid Petroleum Products (Department Circular DC2003-11-010), wherein the Philippine National Standards on Petroleum Products, Retail Outlets and Health, Safety and Environment (PNS/DOE FS 1-1:2005) specifies that the building/structures (i.e., gasoline stations) shall have a sales office, toilet facilities and an electrical/mechanical room.

“Apart from readying electric vehicle infrastructures, we also want to strengthen our gasoline stations’ consumer welfare and satisfaction through well-maintained and functional amenities within its premises,” Sec. Cusi concluded.

One Music PH to Hold "Be Discovered" Singing and Song-Writing Competition

Wazzup Pilipinas!

One Music PH is a premium music hub owned by ABS-CBN Corporation for fans across all genres to commune and rave about the latest updates, for up and coming musicians to create and share their music and for established artists to promote their music worldwide. 

Since its inception last year, it has already produced five digital concerts featuring the most sought-after artists such as Yeng Constantino, Ylona, Garcia, The Dawn and Darren Espanto. It has more than 60K followers on Facebook, 25K on Twitter and 15K on Instagram. It is the leading platform for producing digital concerts. Please visit www.onemusic.ph for more information. 

Aside from the digital concerts, One Music PH has partnered with the biggest events in the country such as Paradise, Neverland, Les Miserables, Fun Home, Jersey Boys, Little Mix, Jason Derulo and many more. It also holds a regular live session every Tuesday night dubbed as Stage One featuring both established and aspiring artists. It aims to help budding musicians to promote their music and be discovered. 

This 2017, One Music PH will be having its very first Be Discovered Singing and Song-Writing Competition among colleges and universities and we’d like to invite your school as one of our partners in doing this. As we aim to contribute to the music industry by making music and concert experiences more accessible through the power of digital media, we hope that through this partnership, we get to discover young and aspiring talents from your school. 

MoneyGram Honors Overseas Filipino Workers' Families with a Special Gathering

Wazzup Pilipinas!

MoneyGram launches a campaign to recognize millions of Filipinos working overseas and their families back home as modern day heroes.

“We understand the challenges and emotional stress experienced by families that are set apart. We want to bring them together not only thanks to our reliable and convenient money transfers but also give them a chance to reunite,” says Alex Chan Lim, country manager for the Philippines at MoneyGram.

“MoneyGram Idol Awards” are designed to honor our modern day heroes with one-of-a-kind gathering to take place in May 2017. To participate in this contest, receivers should visit http://global.moneygram.com/ph/en between December 5, 2016 and March 5, 2017 and fill in a simple form. By providing their personal as well as transaction details, participants get the chance to win cash prizes (20 x 5,00 pesos and 10 x 20,000 pesos) as well as an invitation to a special dinner hosted by MoneyGram in May, 2017. Lucky winners will be announced in the 4th week of March 2017.

“Philippines is one of the world’s largest remittance markets, according to the World Bank. In 2015 over $28 billion flowed into the country constituting for 9.6% of its’s GDP. At MoneyGram, we firmly believe that the money OFWs send back home provide not only for everyday needs of their families but also support them in achieving their dreams linked to education and investments,” added Lim.