DepEd Terminates MOA with Rappler

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"My heart dropped to the floor.

They gave no reason. The memo was as damningly bare-bones as it gets. 

We've partnered with DepEd for 5 years straight, with no monetary gain, to train student journalists around the country and cover rarely-reported events like Palarong Pambansa. And then this happens.

Politics is dirtiest when it robs children of opportunities."

The partnership between Rappler and Dept of Education was good because Students and Teachers were trained on News Reporting, and Disaster Preparedness. WHY cancel this partnership? 

Rappler's headline about the termination speaks volume of how Rappler sees itself. Hence, its audacity to shove down our throat its brand of journalism.

The lack of objectivity makes the severance of partnership all the more proper. Rappler doesn't have the legal bandwith to continue its business anyway.

"Why the department would make such a rushed decision that would jeopardize a project that took months of preparation on the part of the NSPC, DepEd, and Rappler merely highlights the unstated reason for DepEd’s action – that they are choosing to sacrifice the ideals of campus journalism to politics." - Rappler

Without stating any reason, last Wednesday February 6, 2018, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones terminated two agreements with Rappler. DepEd’s partnership with them for disaster preparedness & the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC).

"As expected. DepEd is just like any other government agency - subservient to the boss - or they lose a significant chunk of the budget. Takutan lang yan!" Is it true?

"Obviously, political. First, it was SEC. Now, DepEd." Would you agree?

Is Rappler a bad influence to the students that the Department of Education has ended its partnership with them.

"All I can see was Rappler’s generosity. Generosity in providing us opportunities to help awaken our critical thinking to be directly involved with what’s happening with our own community. To never be afraid to take a stand on what we believe in, to be a part of nation building."

But we've seen that some of those people with seemingly noble hearts have in fact hidden agendas. 

The fact that DepEd hasn’t issued a response to Rappler’s “death of campus journalism” claims speaks so much of the quality of socmed training DepEd peeps got from Rappler. For all we know, nagbayad ang DepEd dati for overpriced “training” and Briones was right to sack Rappler.

But there is this:

"Hello, student journalists and teachers in public schools! Your Department of Education is, in effect, telling you this:  

The example of excellent "journalism" is Manila Times' series of reports that was based on innuendos made by a single, anonymous source over cherry-picked parts of some memoranda, twisted to fit the Palace narrative. 

For the record: Rappler didn't make – never intended to make – money out of those trainings and coverages we did for and with you through DepEd in the past 6 years. We spent for those because, to us, YOU and media literacy are not a transaction."

However, according to an articke by Manila Times:

"“WHEREAS, Rappler is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Philippines, operating a social news network that aims to inspire community engagement and digitally-fuelled actions for social change.

Rappler also aims to nurture the next generation of journalists in the country through its civic engagement arm, MovePH,” the agreement stated.

The source of the document noted: “In its appeal before the Court of Appeals, Rappler denies that it is a news organization. How can Rappler now explain this, when they’re doing all these things?”

“In this five-page MoA, three pages cite that it is a social news network and that it is into newsgathering, and that it maintains editorial independence. These terms are exclusive to media practitioners. They should really accept that they made a lapse in judgment, they violated the Constitution. One more thing, if they say that they are not a news organization, then why are they campaigning to defend press freedom?” the source added."

"In the guise "to nurture the next generation of journalists in the country", MARIA RESSA, deceived the Government's Department of Education when it entered into a MoA with ex-DepEd Secretary ARMIN LUISTRO by claiming that her company, Rappler, is an independent social news agency. 

This MoA gave Rappler exclusive media network to cover the Palarong Pambansa and send 3 or more crews with DepEd employees at out of town events free of charge.

This gave Rappler ability to reach our youth's minds with their destabilizing innuendos against the government particularly their false EJK count claims."

We all know that the youth nowadays are too passionate and could easily be motivated to go out of their comfort zones. But they are also easily lured into unwitting submission after a promise a taste of empowerment.

Now why would DepEd allow a foreign funded PR firm to teach our children sedition?

The rule of law will not compromise democracy. The violation compromised Rappler. Rappler should adjust to conform to the law. Not the other way around.

And has Rappler already asked DepEd the reason why it ended the agreements, and why are they quickly concluding that DepEd is not in favor of campus journalism?

"Nothing in Rappler’s roster of values is about excellence. Aside from the usual news angling and fakery that it has always been accused of, plus the bad writing, Rappler now represents circumvention of laws governing companies. Indeed, a bad example."

We might as well ask how beneficial the partnership was and if it served their interests well. 

Having said that, DepEd should have multiple partners this time. And Rappler can and should continue helping campus journos at the local level, at the grassroots where so many stories are left untold. This is a shared mission that should not be lost despite losing the Memorandum of Agreement with DepEd.

"This gradual and sustained erosion of democratic values can only be stopped by a critical mass of citizens who are determined to resist it. Lawyers, constitutionalists, law-abiding citizens, those who believe in the rule of law: where are you?"

"UNBELIEVABLE. 

Campus journalism teaches the students the value of a free and independent press. At a time of heightened attacks on press freedom, we hoped that DepEd, who educates and empowers the youth, would not give in to political pressure. 

We were mistaken. 

It is unfortunate that DepEd gave in to malicious reports regarding our partnership. This robs the students and teachers of another opportunity to learn and practice journalism. 

We will not stop speaking truth to power and empowering communities not only in campus journalism and sports but also in our other advocacies like disaster risk reduction and poverty alleviation. We know we're not alone in this. We will keep fighting."

When an institution we pin our nation's hopes upon crumbles to political pressure. Yes, suffer the children. ...or do they?

The more they defend themselves, the more their credibility erodes. Poor staff of Rappler, after this debacle, I wonder if they'll even be hired in other companies.

Rappler, there are better organizations than you. It's DepEd's and students gain actually because now the agency is open to partner with as many news organization they want, and not binded by an exclusive contract! Campus Journalism will do just fine without Rappler. RIP Rappler. 

Cogsworth (Beauty & the Beast, Animated, 1991): "If it's not Baroque, don't fix it!

Coca-Cola PH to Lay-Off Employees, Blames TRAIN Law

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"The domino effect of the TRAIN law is slowly resurfacing. Is this a positive or a negative progress? Prices for beverages goes up, Sales goes down that will lead to workforce being cut down."

Who do you think is to blame for the laying off of 600 Coca Cola bottler workers, the worsening economy or the people that made the economy worse, choose your pick? Or undeniably the rampaging runaway TRAIN Law that was just recently passed? After its passage, everything went up, except the Filipinos' normal standard height!

“This restructuring has been a very difficult decision. It was carried out only after an exhaustive and conscientious assessment of the evolving regulatory environment, our operational efficiency, and consequent performance in the market,” it added.

This comes shortly after the passage of the Train law in December last year, the first among a series of tax packages. It lowered the personal income tax while increasing consumption taxes, including sugar sweetened beverages.

The Train law imposes a P6/liter tax on beverages using caloric and noncaloric sweeteners and P12/liter on beverages using high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)."

All the sugar/sweetener/fructose user companies impacted by TRAIN will likely  downsize their work force at some point due to top line and bottom lin contraction. Less income taxes and VAT to pay as inflation rises, purchasing power contracts and consumption drops.

What the right hand giveth, the left hand taketh away. A flawed TRAIN will produce blowback and the tax take envisioned could fall below expectations. A domino effect is anticipated. Every link of the business chain will recoil from the blow all the way back to the government.

About 600 workers will lose their jobs. Multiply this by 5 for the average number of members in a family to get the number of lives this TRAIN will run over soon.

We are sad for the workers and what will happen to them and their families, although the reality here is - the soda industry is taxed in other cities because of the health issues. And, they are ‘reinventing’ products because of the lower consumer demand.

It would be better if the laid-off workers just find a new job so they won't be a part of a company that sells junk food, causes obesity and diabetes.

“Everyone will be  given career transition support, as well as separation packages that go beyond what is mandated by law"

Gone are the days when working at big companies provide security of tenure until good old retirement age of 60.

Businesses will always find other places where raw materials and/or labor are cheaper and where the political environment is more friendly and enticing to investors. Businesses will always have to find ways to stay competitive.

Please take note that increasing the taxes of everything is entirely not needed. The government only had to be fiscally responsible. No one asked for this but the politicians.

People are saying lots of people will be unemployed if the siftdrink company eventually runs out if business. But do we keep nuclear weapons facilities going so those working there don’t lose work. Or the tobacco industry which creates lots and lots of jobs.

We have to think about the children who grow up into these bad life shortening habits. The parents can adapt with other work.

The next brave move is to finally STOP the entire jeepney industry as the diesel and fumes are choking our major cities. In this process, jobs will be lost and the commuting public will suffer. Damned if we act, double damned if we don’t. These decisions are tough and surely people will be affected in the process, but we have to think of the greater good for all society.

"Philippines' most vulnerable time (in the hand of ageing cucaracha).

Due to the destructive TRAIN law of the government. The decrease in consumption forced the giant company to reassess its overall operations including its plan of $1 billion expansion until or by the yeat 2022.

The country is on its most vulnerable time ever, more vulnerable than of dictator's regime for the reason that we are in current time literally sharing part of our territories with China.

What else would this government of ageing cucaracha is willing to throw away out of the window to satisfy his fallacious desire?"

Initial Bouts Announced at One: Visions of Victory Set for March 9 in Kuala Lumpur

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced its return to Malaysia’s bustling capital city of Kuala Lumpur. ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY is set to ignite the Axiata Stadium with an evening of authentic martial arts action. While a main event is yet to be announced, ONE Championship has revealed a handful of compelling bouts featuring the absolute best in local and international martial arts talent.

Ticket information for ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY is available at www.onefc.com.

Agilan “Alligator” Thani of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is a 22-year-old martial artist and one of the top welterweights in ONE Championship. Thani’s quick rise through the ranks has seen him amass a stellar 8-1 professional record, including a title shot against former ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren in May of 2017. Although Thani fell short of victory against the American, he gained a great amount of experience as a result and has emerged as a more seasoned combatant. All but one of Thani’s victories have come by exciting finish. The young Malaysian has shown steady improvement in each outing and he will now face Amitesh Chaubey in his next assignment.

Amitesh Chaubey is a martial artist from India and a welterweight newcomer in ONE Championship. He owns a professional record of 8-5 and is a former SFL Welterweight Champion known for his knockout power. Primarily a boxing stylist who stifles opponents with his quick hands and fluid combinations, Chaubey joins a deep ONE Championship welterweight division looking for a new champion. He takes on former welterweight title challenger Agilan Thani in his promotional debut.

19-year-old Christian “The Warrior” Lee, younger brother of reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, began his professional career on an absolute tear, railing off five straight victories by thrilling finish. He has impressed fans with his ability to seek out stoppage wins over top-caliber opponents. A former Pankration World Champion, Lee toppled Japanese veteran and former ONE Lightweight World Champion Kotetsu Boku in his most recent bout, winning by first-round technical knockout to improve his record to 8-1. Known as a creative and fluid striker with unorthodox grappling technique, Lee is now set to face another Japanese veteran in Kazunori Yokota.

39-year-old Kazunori Yokota of Chiba, Japan is a martial arts fixture with over 12 years of professional experience under his belt. A champion of Japanese promotion, DEEP, Yokota is one of the toughest competitors at featherweight as he has constantly punished his opponents and grinded out impressive victories. Yokota made his ONE Championship debut in May of 2016, challenging former ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat Gafurov for the title. Yokota sports a stellar record of 26-7-3 and in his most recent bout, submitted his opponent in another promotion. Now, Yokota is set to take on the surging Christian Lee.

Malaysia’s Gianni Subba is a 25-year old flyweight talent from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. He spends time carefully honing his craft with talented teammates, including brother Keanu, at Bali MMA in Indonesia. A winner of six of his last seven bouts, Subba is a seasoned athlete with a stellar 9-2 clip in his young career. Five of his nine wins have come either by submission or by crowd-pleasing knockout. In his next assignment, the crafty wushu specialist Danny Kingad poses a stern challenge.

Top flyweight talent from the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City, Danny “The King” Kingad is a regional wushu champion with a wushu record of 29-1 and martial artist with a professional record of 8-1. A true warrior from the mountains of the Philippines and one of the top prospects to come out of the country, Kingad is a tremendous striker who possesses well-rounded grappling skills. In his most recent bout, Kingad suffered the first defeat of his career after being submitted by reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes in the first round. Kingad will now return to action against Gianni Subba.

Former amateur standout Muhammad Aiman of Malaysia is one of the country’s fastest rising young martial arts talents. Featuring a well-rounded skill set, Aiman has impressed in his time inside the ONE Championship cage thus far, defeating Hisyam Samsudin by unanimous decision in his first match in the promotion before stopping Brazilian grappler Eduardo Novaes in his second outing. In his most recent contest, Aiman thoroughly dominated Chinese prospect Yang Fei to win a unanimous decision. The 23-year-old is now set to take on his next challenge in Burn Soriano.

Burn “The Hitman” Soriano of Ilocos Sur, Philippines, is coming off a tough contest against China’s Chen Lei last November. The Filipino featherweight features an aggressive style, with solid power and seasoned grappling technique leading to all of his wins to date coming by way of stoppage. His 15-second spinning back fist knockout of Indonesia’s Mario Sitya Wirawan in 2016 was one of the fastest finishes in ONE history. A national kickboxing champion with a kickboxing record of 14-3, Soriano has shown steady improvement over his last few contests and now looks for victory next against Muhammad Aiman.

18-year-old Jihin Radzuan of Johor Bahru, Malaysia is a highly-touted young martial arts prospect making her ONE Championship debut. A well-rounded competitor, Radzuan is a Muay Thai and boxing practitioner with a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A former Southeast Asian Open Gold and Silver Medalist in Muay Thai, Radzuan is known for her varied striking skills and terrific knockout power. Radzuan will step into the ONE Championship cage in Kuala Lumpur to face Puja Tomar.

Flyweight competitor Puja Tomar is a martial artist from India with a professional record of three wins and two losses. With a knack for showcasing her solid striking skills, Tomar has recorded all three of her victories by knockout. Competing largely in her home country of India, the former India wushu champion Tomar now makes her second appearance on the biggest stage in Asian martial arts as she is set to face Jihin Radzuan in the ONE Championship cage.

Hisyam “Zephyrus” Samsudin of Malaysia is a former WBF Asia-Pacific Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion who trains at the highly-regarded Borneo Tribal Squad with former female strawweight talent Ann “Athena” Osman and coach AJ “Pyro” Lias Mansor. Samsudin likes to pepper opponents with heavy handed strikes, utilizing his world-class boxing base to break down opponents. Samsudin’s next assignment is against Jerome S. Paye.

Liberian martial artist Jerome S. Paye made his ONE Championship debut in February 2016 against China’s Li Hao Jie. In the bout, Paye showcased a well-rounded set of techniques, stifling his opponent with an array of striking combinations. With the ability to make bouts difficult for any opponent, Paye has shown incredible heart and determination in his time inside the ONE Championship cage. This time Paye will take on Malaysia’s Hisyam Samsudin.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

UP Junior Executive Society Brings On Fire 2018

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Let us Shoot the Lights Out as UP Junior Executive Society brings On Fire 2018.

UPJES On Fire is an annual sports event that aims to develop the youth’s sportsmanship and harness their skills and interest in the country’s number one sport: Basketball.

The event is to be held this February 13, within the Baker Hall of University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Laguna.

The expected participants are high school students, college students and other participants from different areas in Los Baños who wish to showcase their athletic talents and skills. 

The proceeds of this event will be utilized to conduct a sports clinic and mini sports festival for the beneficiaries of GODUCATE Laguna, a non-profit organization that helps out of school youth.

Through this, the Organization will be able to give back to the community in such a way that the youth will surely enjoy.

Guide for Traveling Around the World

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In this chapter of My World Travel Guides, we look at planning a trip around the world. The world is a big place, and there is more than one way to go around it. Going around the world is a dream for many, but it is often put aside as too lofty to be materialized.

In fact, it is within reach, particular of most people in the developed world, as well as a growing number in the developing world. On this page, we examine practical aspects such as at how much time you would need, how much you have to spend, what places to go, and so on. We look into the planning expected before and after the trip, as well as your expectation during the trip itself.
How much time do you need?

The world is 40,000 kilometers in circumference. If your idea of going around the world is simply to hop from one major airport to another, without ever stepping out into the city, you can go around the world and back in just three days flat. On the other hand, if you intend to explore every country, every city, every town, every village and every sight, one life time might not be enough to see everything. So when we speak of "going around the world," we are referring to something in between those above two.

Where should you go?

This is one of the many-ways-to-skin-a-cat questions. It's entirely up to you how to create your itinerary. You can go to exotic places, where people don't speak English, or to entirely familiar places, such as the biggest cities of the world; you can visit world-famous tourist attractions, including the World Heritage Sites or world greatest sites that are regarded as the Wonders of the World, or you can simply visit all your penpals and people you got to know in Facebook.


When should you go?

If you are planning to get away for a full year, then you are likely to be somewhere away from home across all four seasons. You should plan to be in each of your destinations when it looks best. This means, you should check when it rains, when the temperature is searing hot, and avoid these times for more pleasant weather. On this website, as far as possible, I try to provide you information on when to expect the maximum and minimum temperature, as well as the wettest month.

How much should you spend?

A trip around the world on a shoestring budget will likely set you back US$10,000. On the other end of the scale, the sky's the limit. If you intend to cocoon yourself in luxury, have a personal guide to show you around, and dine in fine restaurants, the total price tag for a round-the-world trip can be US$100,000 and possibly more, depending on the number of destinations you visit.


What should you see/do?

This depends on your interest. Some people prioritize on historical sights, so they visit all the ancient monuments and pay special interest to cover the World Heritage Sites. Some people love culture. They want to see how the people of far, far away live their lives, the clothes or costumes worn over there, the food even, and so on. Some people want their holidays to be eventful; they want to go where specific festivals are being staged. Then there are people who don't care much for foreign culture or heritage, they go for their recreation, to simply laze on a serene beach, with the foot caressed by the gentle waves, and a bright blue cloudless sky hanging over them. And then there are those who want their journey to be full of activities; they want to go rock climbing, whitewater rafting, hang gliding, skiing and all other things ending with -ing.


How should you travel

To go from one continent to the other, you should either take a flight or a cruise. A flight will get you where you want much faster while a cruise is usually packaged as a vacation in itself. If you take a cruise, your experience of each destination will more likely be limited to sights in the proximity of all the ports that your cruise liner visits. If you want to go deeper than that, you should fly in and arrange transportation from there.

Your transportation within each country includes domestic flights, trains, buses, rental vehicles and hitchhiking. Flights help you cover great distances speedily. Trains and buses provide a good way to see a country and experience vistas at ground level and allow you to interact with the locals as well as fellow travelers. Rental vehicles have the advantage of transporting you right to each destination. Depending on your budget (and amount of luggage), you may opt to rent a car or a motorcycle.

Hitchhiking has gone out of style in many countries, and nowadays most motorists in developing countries are reluctant to stop for strangers. As the hitchhiker, you also expose yourself to safety issues that may be beyond your control.

Where to find information on the world

A good place to get information is to go online. Websites such as Wikitravel is an excellent source of recommendation on where to stay, where to do, etc. My World Travel Guides (this website) provides information on all the cities of the world, with emphasis on finding and comparing hotel room rates.

There are plenty of guidebooks available on the market today. My favorite is the DK Eyewitness Travel (maybe I am biased, as I happen to be one of the contributors) because it is the most richly illustrated.

That, however, makes it the most pricey. There are also guidebooks with fewer pictures, among them Lonely Place, Frommers, Rough Guides, Insight Guides and so on.


How to research your trip

In addition to the sources above, you should check the news to find out about political stability in your destination, see if it appears in the papers for all the wrong reasons. On the other hand, if the destination is going to stage a major event, such as the Olympics or a World Expo, you can expect hotel rooms are hard to get and will be at elevated levels.

If you are traveling to a destination where few of the locals speak English (or your native language), you will do well to get a phrasebook to pick up some useful native words that will be useful in your daily communication with them.

How to create your itinerary
You can technically travel without an itinerary, but I bet you would get more from your trip if you create one before you begin your journey.


How to book

The two major items in the book are your flight and your accommodation. For a trip around the world, I would recommend that you seek the help of a reputable travel agent when booking your flight. There may be cost-savings involved if you fly by airlines that form alliances with their partners. Major airline groupings include Star Alliance, Oneworld, and Skyteam. They offer special interline tickets that benefit you substantially as a traveler.


Getting a round-the-world ticket

If you are certain of your destination, you should ask for a round-the-world ticket. These are provided by airline alliance and form a series of consolidated flights with its route eventually circumnavigating the globe. There are specific conditions attached, such as the ticket is valid for one year, you must travel in the same direction either east to west or west to east, you have to determine your start and end date, and so on.

Should you use a low-cost carrier? Another recent development in the airline industry is the low-cost carriers, also called the no-frills, budget or discount airlines. These airlines offer extremely low fares, compensating for this by charging for extras such as on-board meals, seat allocation, baggage, and so on. Most of these airlines require you to book online. You can substantially cut down on your travel budget if you use low-cost carriers.

The disadvantage about low-cost carriers is that they don't operate from major airports, meaning the cost of travel to the city center of your destination has not been included. Moreover, most low-cost carriers observe a point-to-point policy, meaning if you are connecting to another flight (of a different airline), the low-cost carrier may not compensate if its flight is delayed or canceled, resulting in your missing your connection. It will compensate if your fly-through flight is the same carrier, but check their terms and conditions before booking.


Why you should book your hotel room online

Booking hotels can now be done online, and in fact, you stand to save a lot by using this option, bypassing the use of a travel agent. However, there are now many online booking sites, and they offer the same room, in the same hotel, on the date, at a different rate. No booking site offers the lowest rate each time. To determine the site that offers the best rate for your travel, you should use a room search engine. It lists out all the accommodation providers for your destination, based on your travel date, and shows the lowest price for each. Making your choice, you are then redirected to the online booking site.

About the Author: Carol James is an EssayLab writer and senior editor. She has MA degree in social sciences and is an excellent specialist in this field. Moreover, Carol writes articles, reviews on the different subjects interesting to her readers. So, if you have any questions, suggestions on the writing, feel free to ask her!

FIT and Beyond: Pace of Change in Reshaping RE’s Policy Future

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Before delving into the DOE’s policy measures to promote renewable energy, I would like to inform you that the DOE is leading the implementation of Executive Order No. 30. This EO creates an Energy Investment Coordinating Council to speed up the processing of Energy Projects of National Significance.

In essence, this EO directs government agencies to act on the application of qualified and completely documented energy projects within 30 days, otherwise, the application is deemed approved.

The EO will streamline the application process and strengthen inter-agency coordination. The days when bureaucrats will take three years to act on an application hopefully become past.

I am also pleased to inform you that I signed last January 17, 2018 the Department Circular (DC 2018-01-0001) that will guide energy stakeholders in making the sector resilient to disasters. The Circular aims to climate-proof the energy industry, make all energy infrastructure adaptive and resilient to any form of adverse conditions and disruptive events.

Going back to the RE policy mechanisms, I signed last 22 December 2017 the Department Circular (DC 2017-12-0015) which paves the way for the implementation of the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in the main grid. Its significant provisions are mainly creation of the Composite Team to closely monitor compliance and its implementation; and annual review by the DOE, in coordination with the NREB and stakeholders.

This means that starting 2020, the distribution utilities, electric cooperatives and other mandated participants are required to get at least 1% of their supply from RE. The RPS gives RE developers another avenue to market their RE production. However, the contracting for the RPS to be entered into by the mandated participants will be through a competitive selection process (CSP) to ensure that there will be no undue hike in electricity prices that the consumers will ultimately bear.

The DOE will soon conduct an information campaign to help the concerned sectors gain a deeper understanding of the RPS and assist them in calculating the figures on electricity generation they need to comply with under the RPS.

As to the RPS for off-grid areas, the draft circular will be submitted to public consultations, I strongly urge you to provide your inputs. This policy aims to contribute to the growth of the RE industry and rationalize the efficient use of the universal charge for missionary electrification (UC-ME) and improve efficiency in power generation.

Likewise, the Green Energy Option (GEOP) is being presented in various public consultations so that the inputs of the stakeholders can be consolidated in the final version I will sign.

GEOP will give consumers up to the household level the option to choose RE to meet their electricity demand. This is part of our goal to empower consumers to make an informed choice.

As to the status of the feed-in tariff (FIT) mechanism, because of the drastic decrease in the price of both solar and wind technologies, the FIT implementation is under review.

However, the FIT for biomass and run of river hydropower may be given consideration for the extension of two years or upon subscription of the set installation target capacity, whichever comes first. The set target is 250 MW for biomass and 250 MW for hydropower. This is in recognition of the difficulties encountered by the RE developers in securing permits and licenses, which is one of the reasons why EO 30 was promulgated in the first place.

To date, the present Installed Capacity under FIT System for Biomass is 103.56 MW and for hydropower, its 26.6 MW only.

The DOE, with support from development partners, is currently reviewing the effectiveness and efficiency of the FIT implementation. We really want to ascertain its actual impacts and to know if there was welfare gain as a support mechanism.

The Review focuses on the economic and environmental benefits, if any, of FIT system. The emerging recommendation, as a way forward and to ensure welfare gain from the deployment of variable renewable energy (vRe) such as solar and wind, is to ensure their economic and efficient allocation by properly zoning them. This involves the proper techno-economic analysis down to the sub-station (node) level to pinpoint the exact location where the vREs will be of benefit to the power system at large. We would then be able to direct the RE investors where they should put up their RE investments. The vRE would be able to provide operational benefits by making good use of the existing grid infrastructure and avoid causing congestion.

To conclude, let me point out that the economic incentive to RE developers can be provided either through nodal auction or a nodal FIT. In either case, the expectation is that the pricing mechanisms will be based on the maximum savings at the power system level and not just on the least-cost option for vRE power supply.

Thank you very much and salamat po. Mabuhay tayong lahat!"

*Keynote Address of Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi but delivered by Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas at the Asia CEO Forum – Renewable Energy Conference held at Marriott Hotel on February 7, 2018.

Tanduay Athletics Locked In for Grassroots Basketball

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Tanduay Distillers Inc. president Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. is taking his support to grassroots sports a step further as he goes on full offensive for Batangas Tanduay Athletics in the new Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

Tan, whose passion for basketball was cultivated in childhood, believes he saw a formidable ally in MPBL founder Sen. Manuel Pacquiao in providing opportunities for local talents from the regions to advance their basketball dreams.

“When we formed Tanduay Athletics, we had grassroots youth development as one of its major thrusts. We believe we can give equal opportunities to aspiring basketball talents from the cities and the regions through MPBL,” Tan said.

The MPBL features teams that represent a province, city or municipality in a home-and-away set up, where players get to play in front of hometown fans.
Each team is required to have at least three players that are homegrown to the area they represent.

Aside from Batangas Tanduay Athletics, other teams playing for the MPBL include Bataan Defenders, Bulacan Kuyas, Valenzuela Classic, Marikina Athletics, Caloocan Supremos, Navotas Redcore and Muntinlupa.

“We put our hope in the next generation to make better their lives and become useful to society. To give meaning to words, we support avenues that will enable them like the MPBL and Batangas is close to home. That makes this endeavor special and worthwhile,” Tan further explained.

Tanduay Distillers’ alcohol refinery Absolut Distillers Inc. has been operating for 26 years in Lian, Batangas. It is one of the country’s most advanced distilleries that has received multiple local and international awards for operating on zero waste and employing green practices.

“We have a very encouraging start with the strong performance of the team. We hope to continue the momentum. But in every league or sport we support, what’s important is how we are making a difference in the lives of the athletes. How they develop as individuals and how they will continue to inspire a nation as an athlete like Manny Pacquiao is why we are here to support,” Tan concluded.

The Batangas-Tanduay Athletics had an early win during a match with Valenzuela Classic and Bataan Defenders as former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players Val Acuna and Lester Alvarez lead the way for the new team.

MPBL games air every Tuesday, Thursday, and ‪Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m in ABSCBN Sports and Action. ‬‬


Tanduay Distillers Inc. is a member of the LT Group of Companies. Tanduay is the Philippines’ top rhum maker, which is also distributed in Asia and the United States, among other countries in the world. Likewise, the company produces spirits, wines, brandies, gins, and vodka. We are a registered company in the Philippine stock exchange as a subsidiary of Tanduay Holdings Inc.

Tugade wants Collection of Uniform Rental Fee at MARINA Stopped

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“Itigil niyo na ‘yan:” 

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade yesterday ordered a stop to the practice of collecting a uniform rental fee from applicants of a Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) at the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

Secretary Tugade directed MARINA to ensure that there will be no fees collected from the applicants by the MARINA Employees Cooperative (MEC) for borrowing uniforms during the picture-taking session.

The transportation chief reiterated the order after a video posted by a netizen showed applicants are being charged PhP25 each for borrowing the uniforms from MEC. Applicants were not given corresponding receipts for the use of the uniform, the netizen added, hinting that the money collected would be divided among the MEC members.  

The netizen also said the fee charged for the uniform is excluded from the payment for the brown folder and stamp that an applicant would acquire from the MARINA main office on Taft Avenue, Manila.   

If applicants would need to get a Certificate of Proficiency or Certificate of Competency, they would also be required to pay additional PhP25 during picture taking, the netizen added.  

“Itigil niyo na ‘yan. That is an unnecessary financial burden to our people,” said Tugade.

Cease and Desist Order

Heeding Secretary Tugade’s directive, DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Felipe Judan yesterday directed MARINA to issue a Cease and Desist Order to MEC and other entities from engaging in uniform rental services to seafarers.  

A Notice to the Public informing of such order was already posted at MARINA offices since yesterday. It also reiterated a long-standing policy that applicants must bring their own uniform and shoulder board.

Meanwhile, Ma. Soterania Sinel, director of MARINA’s Manpower Development Service, clarified that those involved in the collection of uniform rental fees are neither employees of MARINA nor MDS, but were directly hired by the MEC as staff of the Cooperative.

SM Men Plus Introduces League of Big Men

Wazzup Pilipinas!

SM Men Plus introduces three refreshing ambassadors as the faces of men’s plus-size fashion.

In 2016, SM Men uncovered the many hidden layers of fashion to reveal infinite possibilities in the seemingly limited sphere of men’s clothing. The launch of SM Men Plus was a revolution in local fashion, in that SM Men recognized the much-clamored need for plus-size men to have a wide range of comfortable yet trendy pieces accessible for them.

The brand kicked off by launching Zach Miko as its first-ever ambassador—an international face of body positivity for men, being the first ever plus size male model in the famed IMG models line-up. As it marks one year providing fashion forward clothing for plus-size men, SM Men Plus introduces three unexpected yet perfect new faces for the pioneering brand.

Three achievers in their own fields revolutionize the meaning of “plus-size men”: Philippine Basketball Association star player Greg Slaughter of team Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, chef and restaurateur Luigi Muhlach, and Alexis Deocaris, man behind the wildly successful culinary microblog, ForkSpoon Manila. These three new ambassadors provide a refreshing angle for men’s fashion in the country, as they transcend set notions of what it takes to be a man of style, both in terms of size and in their level of achievements.

“In choosing our new ambassadors, we tried to stay true to what SM Men Plus is all about: proving that men of all sizes, shapes, and interests can be included in the fashion conversation,” says Jeffrey Lo of SM Men. “Coming from a successful launch with the first male plus size model in the international modeling scene, we felt that SM Men Plus’ first anniversary is the right time to introduce real men known locally for their respective fields to serve as an example that whatever your lifestyle is, vertically or horizontally blessed men should enjoy expressing themselves through clothing.”

The three also expressed both their surprise and excitement for being ambassadors of the brand. Luigi puts it into words: “I’m pretty stoked! This is actually the first time I will be representing a clothing brand. My advise for plus-size men is to not be discouraged, as there is a brand available that is both stylish and suited for us.”

Greg expresses his happiness and relief in finding a store locally that cater to his seven-foot frame: “Clothing was always limited to me in the Philippines. It’s like I lived in my basketball clothes because that’s all that ever fit me here. But this new line from SM has given me a whole new range of options.”

Finally, Alexis doles out advice for plus-size men contemplating on a fashion upgrade: “Whatever your size is, there should be no hindrance in terms of expressing yourself through clothing. Happiness is what comes out when you express yourself.”

With its range of on-trend style pieces—from polos, shirts, structured jackets to all kinds of bottoms and layers-on for any occasion, SM Men Plus seems to be acing the job pretty well.

SM Men Plus is available at all branches of The SM Store. Visit facebook.com/SMMensfashion or on Twitter and Instagram at @SM_Men for more details on SM Men Plus.

Declare Your Allegiance, Join an Alliance

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Declare your allegiance. Join your allies and champion your faction's cause."

There's a lot of groups out there that's making it hard to choose which one to join. This is why many join as many groups as possible to get more opportunities. The more groups you'll join, the more choices available.

However, you may catch more, or less, than what you wish when you're fishing in all the seas. As they say, quality is better than quantity. You can catch more fish with a net, but unwanted sea creatures and some other junk may get caught too.

It's like writing about everything instead of having a niche.

There's also what is called loyalty towards a group, that eventually becomes a team, which strengthens a group whose members do not cross borders just to hunt for the biggest prey. Members that have so many group affiliations will mostly be the first ones to leave your group if ever it gets involved in issues they feel will damage them.

Driving your group along for the ride to success is a lot better than hitching a ride on everyone's success. By being focused to collaborate on only one group could elevate your group to high prestige making you more proud to represent it.

The impression that your group projects is also vital especially when you're among the unique reasons why it soared high.

This is why we have to take extra precaution on accepting members as they could also lead to the downfall of a group.

We don't believe that belonging to a group with the biggest members is a sign of credibility since the admins or leaders of the group may just be accepting anybody that comes their way without any criteria or validation imposed.

But also do remember that any gathering of like-minded individuals are great to have. However, it is also more healthy to hear the thoughts of others that would disagree or contradict to the common beliefs since it could be an opportunity to see other ways and solutions that could be better.