Cusi: DOE to Contain Mindoro Oil Spill

The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving fast to contain the oil spill that occurred on November 6 within the vicinity of the DMCI Power Plant in Brgy. Sta. Isabel, Calapan City.

According to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the DOE is closely coordinating with concerned government agencies, such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), to contain the damage brought about by the oil spill in the area.

"The DOE is primarily concerned with the safety of the people in the vicinity,” Cusi said as he directed the DOE to coordinate with concerned industry players for regular updates on the containment activities, and information on the cause of the oil spill.             

The DOE is also working on how to secure the oil and power supply requirements to protect the welfare of consumers in the area following the disruption caused by the oil spill, he added.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, specifically its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), will look into possible violations of environmental standards.

The DOE will conduct with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and National Power Corp. (NPC), in coordination with local officials, a comprehensive performance assessment and audit of the entire power sector system and facilities in Mindoro this week to address the issue.

The DOE emphasized that during incidents like this, protocols to be followed should be in accordance with Department Circular No. ‎‎98-02-003 directing all operations of oil rigs or platforms, power plants, oil tankers and barges carrying, producing and/or utilizing crude oil-based products to report all oil spills or environmental incidents to the Department of Energy within 8 hours for verbal/preliminary report and 48 hours for written report.

Asia’s Songbird Leads the Star-Studded Performances at Love Gala

Get ready for an unforgettable night of performance, artistry, and charity to raise HIV awareness
and honor the movers in the advocacy.

Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid leads the popular and phenomenal artists who will be showcasing their talents in a night of special performances at the Love Gala charity and awards fundraiser.

A staunch supporter of the HIV-AIDS advocacy, Regine appeared alongside other celebrity-advocates in an awareness campaign video that went viral online earlier this year.

She continues her advocacy this December 1 on World AIDS Day by performing at the Love Gala, Asia’s Premier Charity and Awards event, at the BGC Arts Center.

Aside from Regine, the other artists performing at the Love Gala include Asia's Phoenix Diva Morissette Amon, Hanggang singer Wency Cornejo, and respected theater actor Audie Gemora.

Also lending their beautiful voices to the Love Gala are Radha Cuadrado, Shiela Valderrama, Nicole Asensio, Phi Palmos, and Polly Cabrera.

In between these star-studded performances, the Love Gala will also honor the first-ever Ripple Awards winners, 10 brave individuals who have made a significant impact in spreading HIV-AIDS awareness, stopping the spread of the virus, and helping to fight the stigma suffered by their communities.

Tickets to Love Gala can be bought at lovegala.org/tickets, with 10% of ticket prices going to HIV-AIDS organizations to help fund their life-saving health programs.

The Love Gala is a collaboration among private and public institutions and youth-oriented organizations that want their HIV-AIDS advocacy efforts to reach a larger mainstream audience. According to the latest data from then Department of Health, around 30 incidences of HIV infection are observed every day in the country.

Institutions and organizations coming together for Love Gala are the following: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Better Together Initiative, Black Maria Pictures, Castro Communications, Decent Image of South Signal Association (DIOSSA), Dentsu Jayme Syfu, Nectar Nightclub, Philippine National AIDS Council, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., Pinoy Plus Association Incorporated, Positibong Marino Philippines, Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP), Taguig City Government, The Red Whistle, The LoveYourself Incorporated, UNAIDS, the US Embassy and World Health Organization-Philippines.

DOE Asks NAPOCOR to Work for Total Electrification

LEVEL UP: Speaking on behalf of DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi during the National Power Corporation’s (NAPOCOR) 81st Anniversary, Usec. William Felix Fuentebella challenged the power firm to further raise the bar of excellence, stepping up their performance to ensure the delivery of quality, reliable and affordable electricity services, especially to far-flung off-grid areas.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi urged the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) on Monday to work for a more stable and affordable power supply as the government moves for the total electrification of the country, specially the far-flung communities.

Cusi made the exhortation through Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella who represented the DOE chief on the occasion of NAPOCOR’s 81st anniversary celebration held at the NPC building in Quezon City.

Cusi stressed that the Duterte administration wants to provide power to all of the remote, underserved or unserved areas in the Philippines.

“In serving the country’s peripheries, the NPC must double its efforts to lower electricity prices, achieve stable power supply and enhance the resilience of electric power infrastructures to ensure continued growth,” Fuentebella said.

During the NAPOCOR anniversary program, the Missionary Electrification Development Plan (MEDP) was highlighted as the DOE’s vision and ‎‎2016-2020 roadmap for off-grid power development projects.

With the National Electrification Administration (NEA), NAPOCOR will move to provide resilient, reliable and high-quality electricity services to off-grid provinces in the country.

“All these require the re-thinking of our current electric power infrastructure,” said Fuentebella, who batted for the introduction of innovative and emerging technologies.

During the celebration, NAPOCOR President Pio J. Benavidez turned over to the DOE a copy of ‎‎‎‎2018-2022 National Power Corporation Missionary Electrification Plan (MEP ‎‎‎2018-2022) which forms a major part of the MEDP.

The rationalization of the Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification (UC-ME) should make the power industry in off-grid areas more self-reliant and less dependent on subsidies in the long run, said the DOE official.

“I understand that there is so much to be done. But looking ahead, all this would mean that the country’s rural communities would be in a far better position than they are today,” Fuentebella said.
       
The DOE underscored the role NAPOCOR plays in the energy sector’s total electrification goal as mandated under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001.

Due to the influx of new economic activities and eco-tourism in off-grid provinces, additional power supply is needed to be consistent with the government’s objective of bringing economic development in these areas, the DOE concluded.