Malacanang Affirms Vitriolo Dismissal

In a press conference in Malacañan, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella confirmed the position of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in enforcing the dismissal of Former CHED Executive Director Julito D. Vitriolo.

Citing guidance from the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) and the Senior Deputy Executive Secretary (SDES), Secretary Abella stressed that, “the decision or order of the Ombudsman remains executory, notwithstanding any other decision of the Court of Appeals, which has not yet attained finality,” during a Palace news conference yesterday, 28 September.

Abella’s pronouncement also supports the 19 September official communication from Acting Executive Secretary Menardo I. Gueverra to CHED on the matter, Malacañan explained that “[a]s a rule, a judgment, final order, or resolution rendered by the CA may only be executed upon its finality. In the exceptional circumstances where the CA itself orders its decision to be immediately executory, they remain subject to the provisions on discretionary execution.”

The clarification came in light of Vitriolo’s insistence to resume his functions as Executive Director following the Court of Appeals (CA) Decision reinstating him, thereby causing confusion in the agency and delays in its operations.

Meanwhile, in a press conference held last Wednesday, 27 September, CHED Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan clarified that, “at the moment, we do have an Executive Director. He was appointed by the President, he has been there since June, and that is Mr. Karol Mark Yee.”

Licuanan likewise earlier released a Memorandum confirming and reiterating the CHED directive recognizing Yee as the Executive Director of the Commission, stating that all memoranda issued and circulated, documents transmitted, and communication signed by Vitriolo “shall have no legal effect whatsoever and is considered null and void ab initio.”

Vitriolo was dismissed last January 2017 by the Office of the Ombudsman after being found guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, incompetence and inefficiency. However the Court of Appeals (CA) modified the decision of the Ombudsman in August, finding the penalty of dismissal to be harsh and reducing the same to a one month suspension.

Yee, previously the Program Director of the CHED K to 12 Transition Program, was appointed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as Executive Director IV, vice Julito Vitriolo, last July 14, 2017. He assumed the position in July 19, 2017 and has since served as CHED Executive Director.

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DOE to Accelerate Rural Electrification

STUDY TURN-OVER: Philippine Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (L), Chair of the 35th ASEAN Ministers Energy Meeting and Associated Meetings (AMEM35), thanks International Renewable Energy Agency Director General Adnan Amin (R) during the official turn-over of the IRENA study entitled "Accelerating the Deployment of Renewable Energy Mini-Grids for Off-Grid Electrification- A Study on the Philippines.” The turnover of the RE study was held during the concluding press conference of the AMEM35 at the Conrad Manila.

(Manila, Philippines). Filipino households can look forward better to access basic electricity services with the government's thrust towards total electrification.

This was stressed by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi as he received Thursday (28 September) a study conducted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) during the concluding ceremonies of the 35th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM35) at Conrad Manila, Pasay City.

The study is entitled "Accelerating the Deployment of Renewable Energy Mini-Grids for Off-Grid Electrification- A Study on the Philippines".

Cusi said, “The IRENA study supports the country’s total electrification goal for Filipino families to enjoy equal opportunity to access basic electricity services.”

“Electrification of households, particularly n the rural areas, remains a big challenge for us. Thus, we have to take advantage of this study to bridge the residual gaps in our electrification efforts,” the Energy Chief emphasized.

The study explored the issues and barriers to the implementation of mini-grids through a comprehensive review of government legislation and programs and select international studies.

The study entailed a documentary review, focus group discussions and field studies in four sites, which resulted in several key recommendations to accelerate the deployment of energy mini-grids via RE and other emerging technologies for off-grid electrification in the Philippines.

The study came up with five key recommendations:

(1) define roles and responsibilities to remove overlapping roles, functions and accountabilities to acknowledge stakeholders’ roles and to define private-sector boundaries;

(2) undertake comprehensive and strategic planning for total electrification, missionary electrification development, stronger coordination among relevant agencies, grid and off-grid development efforts, and resource utilization, especially renewable energy;

(3) establish a clear policy approach for mini-grids to introduce a graduation policy for the universal charge for missionary electrification entitlement;

(4) revise regulatory approach for mini-grid projects to remove existing barriers and  facilitate smooth entry in the market by streamlining processes, updating procurement rules, and improving tariff determination procedures and

(5) increase project development and execution support for more accessible financing, and promotion and understanding of renewable energy by all stakeholders.

IRENA is an intergovernmental organization that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a center of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.

The international agency also promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.