DOE to Pursue Energy Resiliency Policy

BROTHERHOOD: As part of current resiliency efforts in the energy sector, linemen of electric cooperatives come together through the Task Force Kapatid (TFK) to help affected colleagues to immediately restore impaired power facilities. The draft energy resiliency policy looks at available resiliency models to improve existing operational and maintenance procedures and practices in the sector.


Acknowledging that disasters adversely affect the economy, environment and the people, the Department of Energy (DOE) today vowed to pursue a policy towards a resilient energy sector.

“Being one of the most vulnerable countries to disasters, the Philippines needs to ensure that our energy systems are disaster-resilient and that resiliency is an integral component of our policies and programs,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

“The policy is a priority of the DOE following President Duterte’s pronouncements to improve the disaster preparedness and resiliency of the country,” Cusi explained.

“The policy requires all the energy players to put upfront the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction programs into planning and investment to ensure the continuous delivery and strengthening of the existing energy infrastructure,” Cusi pointed out.

In June, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 29 which renamed the National Disaster Consciousness Month to National Disaster Resiliency Month to emphasize the shift of focus from disaster awareness building to disaster resilience.

The “Adoption of Resiliency Planning and Program in the Energy Industry to Mitigate Adverse Effects Brought About by Disasters” policy has four guiding principles:

1. Acknowledge the need to strengthen the existing energy infrastructure, facilities and systems to prepare/mitigate the impacts of disasters;

2. Implement the build back better principle in terms of reconstruction and rehabilitations of damaged infrastructure;

3. Improve existing operational, maintenance and procedures to ensure continuous operations and energy supply; and

4. Develop resiliency practices, systems and standards that will be used as basis in future construction of energy facilities.

In line with this thrust, the DOE will conduct a series of public consultations on energy resiliency policy starting on 10 October 2017 in Batangas.

This initial consultation will be followed by two other meetings in Leyte and Cagayan de Oro on 13 and 17 October, respectively.

For more information, the public may download a copy of the draft resiliency policy on the DOE's Official website: www.doe.gov.ph.

PRIME: A Discussion on Chronic Illnesses, Hospital Volunteerism, and Child Advocacy

There is perhaps nothing more fulfilling than making someone smile, especially knowing that you might have just made their day a little better. This goes to hospital volunteerism – helping children with chronic illnesses live a more colorful and joyful life. Conversely, hospital volunteers would say that their day has also become brighter after spending just a few hours with children with chronic illnesses through hospital visits and other events and activities.

This is a day in the life of a UP Flyer, one who aims to demonstrate compassion for others and maintain a passion for service—service that is particularly directed towards children with chronic illnesses and their family members.

UP Flyers, a university-wide student organization in the University of the Philippines Diliman, is but one of the many organizations that seek to uphold an advocacy of care and service towards children with chronic illnesses, which involves finding ways through which could help ease their conditions, wherever and whenever possible. Through events and activities, advocacy and awareness talks, participating in day fairs, and mainly, hospital visits, UP Flyers could forward its cause little by little to ensure a happier and friendlier world for the children.

It is, then, one of the objectives of UP Flyers to not be merely aware of chronic illnesses and the stories of the children who experience them, but also to become initiators in spreading said awareness to the rest of the university community. To fulfill this, UP Flyers will be conducting its first-ever Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE) entitled PRIME: A Discussion on Chronic Illnesses, Hospital Volunteerism, and Child Advocacy.

We happily invite you to join UP Flyers in this event on October 12, 2017 (Thursday), 1PM-5PM, at the UPSEAA room, School of Economics, University of the Philippines Diliman. See you all there!

CLASSIFIED ADS Presents Like, Comment, Share: The Rise of Content-Makers in Social Media

The UP Alliance of Development Communication Students (UP ADS) brings you CLASSIFIED ADS, a themed symposium held on October 9, Monday, 1PM to 4PM at the NCAS Auditorium in University of the Philippines Los Baños with the theme, “Like, Comment, Share: The Rise of Content-Makers in Social Media.”

Classified ADS (CLADS) is an annual symposium pioneered by UP ADS which shows different ways an individual or a group of people can contribute to the development of the country. This semester’s theme focuses on the influence of content-makers in social media in relation to development.

Before, ​social media​ ​was used to connect people; now, it has evolved to an avenue for entertainment where humor on daily lives and struggles of people are the common themes. Fast forward, social awareness has been infused in the equation. ​In​ ​hopes​ ​of​ ​encouraging​ ​the audience​ ​to​ ​patronize socially​-​relevant​ ​content​, the symposium​ ​will tackle the rise of content-making in various social media sites.

Three key persons namely Andoyman, Henri Igna, and Aron Garchitorena were invited as resource persons for the symposium.

Andoyman is the digital artist behind the viral artworks condemning extra judicial killings (#StopTheKillings) and the atrocities of the former dictator (#MarcosArtrocities). His talk will focus on the inspiration and motivation behind his thought-provoking artworks.

On the other hand, Henri Igna uses a different form in addressing social issues. He uses spoken word to bring attention to the challenges the country faces today. In 2015, he became a part of Words Anonymous where he performs spoken word about love, LGBT rights, mental health, and social equality. His talk will be about using the power of words to move people into critical thinking.

And to give light on how these content-makers establish relevance in social media, Aron Garchitorena will explain how content-makers manage to get the influence they possess. He is a middle school teacher in Miriam College and is currently pursuing his Master’s Thesis for Philippine Studies in the University of the Philippines Diliman Asian Center, where he specializes on Socio-cultural studies. With a research background on pop culture and social media, his expertise can give light on how content makers in social media raise awareness through their medium.

With the vast reach of social media and the concern of the people using it, social issues faced by the country are now being given the attention they deserve. The information needed by the people to voice out their opinions are delivered to them in the way they can comprehend and appreciate the most. Understand this phenomenon of social media information only at Like, Comment, Share: The Rise of Content-makers in social media, this October 9, 1 - 4 PM, at the NCAS Auditorium, University of the Philippines Los Baños.