PIA-10 News

Issuance of Circular results to improved power situation in Mindanao

Fewer electric cooperatives are experiencing power outages now after the issuance of a Department Circular which aims to rationalize the power supply in the region.

The Department of Energy stresses that not all areas in Mindanao have power outages such as the areas of Cotabato, Panabo, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Davao. With the issuance of the Circular, areas not experiencing interruptions now include Malaybalay, Dipolog, Dapitan, Valencia, Camiguin, Panabo, Digos, Tagum, Mati, Cotabato, Surigao, Butuan, and Cabadbaran.

This is a result of the issuance of a stop-gap measure last month, DC 2012–03-0004, which directs electric cooperatives to nominate their needed power to supply their demands. This now results to less power outage for provinces in Mindanao and current power supply deficit of 100-160 MW from 360 MW during the previous months. However, the DOE continues to monitor its implementation to ensure strict compliance to the Circular among stakeholders.

Alongside this measure, the DOE is also evaluating other solutions such as the operation of the Iligan Diesel Power Plant (IDPP), which will be able to produce an initial power of 15-20 MW and may increase upon rehabilitation, and the improvements of the Agus and Pulangui hydropower plants. The Pulangui plant will be rehabilitated this month and DOE is already studying ways on how to mitigate its effect on the power supply. Agus Plant, meanwhile, will be rehabilitated in June.

Power situation in Mindanao is also expected to improve as electric cooperatives get provisional authorities for the bilateral power service by the Energy Regulatory Commission. To date, electric cooperatives have already contracted an aggregate total of 192 MW of which around 20 MW is still subject for ERC's issuance of provisional authority.

“We hope that electric cooperatives, power generators, and all other stakeholders will continue to cooperate to temporarily address the power situation in Mindanao and this will be a good start towards a long-term measure needed to provide a stable power supply in the region.” Secretary Almendras said.

The DOE will conduct a Stakeholders’ Meeting on 3 April 2012 (today) to address the local concerns of the people in Mindanao. The meeting will be held at Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City.


MinDA: All systems go for Mindanao Power Summit

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) today announced that preparations are being firmed up for scheduled largest gathering of power industry stakeholders from all across Mindanao on Friday in Davao.

Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, chair of MinDA which is organizing the summit in collaboration with the Department of Energy (DOE), said that based on latest confirmations around 300 to 350 delegates are expected to attend the event.

“The Power Summit accords us the opportunity to discuss the real Mindanao power situation and the specific short to long term measures that stakeholders wanted acted on jointly by the government and the industry players,”Antonino said.

Antonino stressed that no less than President Aquino has sought that proposed measures for resolving the Mindanao power problem and putting in place of long term action plan should form part of the shared consensus of the Mindanao stakeholders.

“This is being done for and by the Mindanawons who have a direct stake on the Mindanao power issue and what needs to be done, and the President will be there to see to it that the proposed measures are thoroughly studied and doables carried through,” she added.

Among those expected to take part in the one-day summit are heads and representatives of all electric cooperatives in Mindanao, distribution utilities, generation companies, governors and city mayors, Mindanao lawmakers, business and industry sectors, non-government organizations, civil society groups and consumer advocates.

Antonino said the Summit format was designed to provide opportunity for the key sectors and stakeholder representatives to present their respective issues and recommendations for way forward actions.

The President is expected to respond with specific policy directives. (MinDA)


MOELCI II hopes government intervention will stop power interruptions
By: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, April 12 (PIA) – The Misamis Occidental Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MOELCI) II, here, is hopeful that the power interruptions will stop once the government will implement measures to solve the present power crisis in Mindanao.

This optimism is shared by Jemilo L. Pelimer, General Manager of MOELCI II, who said they have continued to implement the daily rotational brown-out in their service/ franchise areas, starting last March 1 up to April 15, this year, as reflected in the copies they have distributed to the consumers.

“These power interruption was based on the Mindanao System Operation (MSO) Load Curtailment implemented to all customers of the National Grid of the Philippines (NGCP) grid-wide at 240MW, from 9:30a.m. to 5:30p.m. and 300MW, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.,” Pelimer said.

Thus, the rotational power interruptions have been observed, during the period from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the following service/franchise areas of MOELCI II:

Panaon, Jimenez, Sinacaban, Tudela, Clarin, Bonifacio, Ozamiz North, Ozamiz South and Tangub City.

“Although the power interruptions are scheduled for a minimum of four (4) hours, MOELCI II has been scheduling a 2-hour daily load curtailment of two (2) hours in each of their power service feeder stations,” Pelimer said.

He also said that no increase in power rates have been implemented by MOELCI II, as of the moment, but that this might change when the power barges from the Visayas will come or when the power is generated from the thermo-marine stations.

In a related development, Pelimer said all the 253 or 100 percent of the potential barangays in MOELCI II’s service/franchise area have been energized, as of February, 2012.

Likewise, 72,801 households or 96 percent of the 76,017 potential households, in these areas, now have electric power connections, the most number of which are in Ozamiz City North with 15,549 followed by Ozamiz City South with 15,510 connections.

Tangub City came next with 10,770 connections, Clarin town with 7,399, Jimenez, 6,319, Tudela, 5,700, Bonifacio, 4,972, Sinacaban, 4,130, Panaon, 2,452.

Pelimer said MOELCI II has now a total of 65,269 members with the most number of 13,080 registered in Ozamiz City North, followed by Ozamiz City South, 12,481.

Next is Tangub City with 9,669, Clarin, 7,013, Jimenez, 5,770, Tudela, 5,464, Bonifacio, 5,396, Sinacaban, 3,979, and Panaon, 2,417 members. (PIA-Mis. Occ.)


MOELCI II malaumon nga ang gobyerno makatabang pag sulbad sa mga brown-out
Ni: Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, Abril 12 (PIA) – Ang Misamis Occidental Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MOELCI) II, dinhi sa siyudad sa Ozamiz, malaumon nga kining mga brown-out nga nasinati karon sa katawhan sa mga lugar nga ilang giserbisyuhan mahimong mahunong na gumikan sa pagtabang nga himoon sa gobyerno.

Kini ang gipahayag ni Jemilo L. Pelimer, ang General Manager sa MOELCI II, kinsa miingon nga padayon nilang gi-patuman ang inadlaw nga puli-puling pagkapalong sa suga nga dagitabnon sa mga lugar nga ilang giserbisyohan sukad pa niadtong petsa uno (1) sa Marso ug molungtad hangtud Abril 15, ning tuiga, segun sa nakatala sa ilang gipanghatag nga schedule ngadto sa konsumante.

“Ang maong pagkapalong sa sugang dagitabnon gi-agad sa Mindanao System Operation kun MSO Load Curtailment nga gipatuman sa tanang cutomer sa NGCP kun National Grid Corporation of the Phil. sulod sa Mindanao Grid nga mokabat sa duha ka gatus ug kwarenta ka megawatt (240MW), gikan sa alas nuybe e media sa buntag ngadto sa alas singko e media sa hapon (9:30a.m. to 5:30p.m.), ingon man tulo ka gatus ka megawatts (300MW), gikan sa alas singko e media sa hapon ngadto sa alas diyes sa gabii (5:30 p.m. to 10:00p.m.),” si Pelimer miingon.

Subay niini, ang MOELCI II mipatuman sa tulo (3) ka mga hut-ong na mga brown-out: gikan sa alas nuybe sa buntag ngadto sa ala una e media sa hapon (9:30a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), gikan sa ala una e media sa hapon ngadto sa alas singko e media usab sa hapon (1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) ug gikan sa alas singko e media sa hapon ngadto sa alas diyes sa gabii (5:30 .m. to 10:00 p.m.) niining mosunod nga mga lugar:

Panaon, Jimenez, Sinacaban, Tudela, Clarin, Bonifacio, Ozamiz North, Ozamiz South and Tangub City.

Matud pa usab ni Pelimer, nga bisan kun ang mga brown-out gipatuman ngadto sa mga customer sulod sa labing menos upat (4) ka oras, ang load curtailment ilang gibutang sa duha (2) lamang ka oras matag power service feeder stations.

Gipasalig usab sa Manager sa MOELCI II nga walay pagsaka sa balayronon sa koryente, sa pagka karon, apan mahimo kining mosaka kun ang koryente adto na paga kuhaon sa mga power barges nga pagadalhon dinhi gikan sa Visayas ug kun adto kini unya pagakuhaon gikan sa mga thermo-marine stations.

Sa laing bahin, si Pelimer miingon nga ang tanan nga duha ka gatus ug tulo (253) ka mga barangay sa lugar nga ilang giserbisyohan o siyento porsento (100%) niini ang aduna nay sugang dagitabnon, sa pagka Pebrero, ning tuig.

Mokabat na usab sa setenta e dos ka libo, walo ka gatus ug usa (72,801) ka panimalay o nuybenta e sayes porsento (96%) sa kinatibuk-an nga setenta e sayes ka libo ug dise siyete (76,017) ka panimalay sa ilang service area ang nakutayan na o aduna nay koneksyon sa koryente.

Ang pinakadaghan niini anaa mahimutang sa Ozamiz City North nga adunay kinse ka libo, lima ka gatus ug kwarenta e nuybe (15,549) ka panimalay, ug gisundan kini sa Ozamiz City South nga adunay kinse ka libo, lima ka gatus ug diyes (15,510) ka panimalay.

Nagsunod niini ang siyudad sa Tangub nga adunay napulo ka libo ug pito ka gatus ug setenta (10,770) ka mga koneksyon, Clarin, pito ka libo, tulo ka gatus ug nuybenta e nuybe (7,339), Jimenez, unom ka libo, tulo ka gatus dise nuybe (6,319) ka mga koneksyon, Tudela, lima ka libo, pito ka gatus (5,700) ka koneksyon, Bonifacio, upat ka libo, siyam ka gatus ug setenta e dos (4,972) ka mga koneksyon, Sinacaban, upat ka libo, usa ka gatus ug traynta (4,130) ka mga koneksyon, ug Panaon, duha ka libo, upat ka gatus ug singkwenta e dos (2,452) ka mga koneksyon. (PIA-Mis. Occ.)


Secondary tech-voc graduates in Mis. Occ. to undergo TESDA assessment

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, April 11 (PIA) -- A total of 726 graduates of secondary technical-vocational education (STVE) schools in Misamis Occidental will undergo skills assessment in the qualifications of industry sectors under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Department of Education (DepEd) Competency Assessment and Certification (TESDEDCAC) program.

The said program provides opportunity for the STVE graduates to be recognized as passers of the TESDA National Competency Certification (NCC) and be able to perform the job specified in the qualification.

“The TESDA NCC will augment the participants of the TESDEDCAC program in engaging income generating activities through recognition of their competent skills,” Provincial Director Leo Velez of TESDA-Mis. Occ. said during the recent program launching at the Ozamiz City School of Arts and Trade (OCSAT) here.

Included in the skills competency assessment are the automotive, construction, electronics, fisheries, furniture, garment trade, health and social services, information and communication technology, tourism, and refrigeration and air conditioning sectors.

Velez said DepEd Memorandum No. 59 s. 2011 emphasized the strengthening of STVE schools and the competency assessment subsidy in the amount of P692,926.37 for the public STVE schools of Misamis Occidental.

The memorandum provides that students of STVE schools in the province can avail of the competency assessment, and acquire Certificate of Competency, National Competency (NC) Levels 1 and 2 certificates from TESDA.

Velez said the development of the career of the secondary school graduates, especially for those that can not afford to pursue higher levels of education, may be sustained with doable employment through skills certification.

The STVE schools will submit to TESDA-Mis. Occ. the required documents of the CAC program and make available the CAC assessment venue, facilities and administrative support required for the conduct of assessment.

TESDA will then conduct the CAC and Trainers Training Methodology Course to all the STVE school teachers to facilitate the delivery of quality tech-voc education and training.

Likewise, TESDA and the public secondary schools will jointly monitor and render documented report of the undertaking, while TESDA-Mis. Occ. will conduct CAC assessment to qualified students and graduates, and issue the corresponding NCC.

The launching was attended by Dr. Rebonfamil F. Baguio, officer-in-charge/superintendent of Ozamis City Schools Division, and TESDA Provincial Training Center Chief Lee R. Catane. (Dr. Cenil G. Cortes/TESDA/PIA-10 Mis. Occ.)


UNFPA conducts consultative confab for Sendong-affected areas

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, April 12 (PIA) -- In natural disasters, women and girls become more vulnerable to sexual- and gender-based violence and exploitation.

With the transition of humanitarian to development approach in addressing sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV) in emergency situations, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) spearheaded a consultative workshop slated April 10 and 11 at the Crystal Inn, Iligan City.

The event is in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the Iligan City Council of Women (ICCW), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 10.

Abdel Jamal Disangcopan of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that the workshop aimed to capacitate the subclusters to continue to improve their actions and interventions on gender issues and women’s rights specifically on SGBV.

It would provide an analysis of the evolving SGBV prevention and response mechanisms in Sendong affected areas.

Also, the participants would formulate a multisectoral SGBV a workplan from April to December 2012.

In the two-day activity, the participants would examine the relevant documents for the implementation of the one-stop shop, and calibrate and functionalize the SGBV referral system in humanitarian setting.

Said consultative workshop is an assessment to what has been done by the subclusters (organizations and agencies), which was organized last January 2011, on their weaknesses and strengths, the gaps, and what needs to be improved in helping solve the current problem caused by tropical storm Sendong particularly on the issue of sexual- and gender-based violence.

Participants involved were from different agencies and organization such as the Committee on Women and Family Relations, Association of Barangay Councils, CSWDO, City Hospital, Iligan City Police Office, Department of Interior and Local Government, City Planning and Development Office, City Prosecutor, the Philippine Information Agency, ICCW and District Coordinators, Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities Training.

These participating organizations and agencies serve as subclusters in the Cluster System that is institutionalized and is made legal as stated by in National Disaster Coordinating Council Circular 2007- 05, Memorandum No.17, series of 2008 – Guidelines in the Coordination of the Delivery of Humanitarian Assistance to Disaster Victims and Internally Displaced persons.

The cluster groupings are composed of health, shelter, food and security, nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene, and camp coordination and camp management.

The cluster approach intends to ensure adequate capacity and predictable leadership across humanitarian sectors in the national, regional, and provincial levels of the country.

"When you save life, it involves the preservation of dignity and self respect of the person. “SGBV is an emergency issue and it needs prevention and response,” Mary Scheree Lynn V. Herrera, one of the resource speakers and SGBV Humanitarian Coordinator for Iligan and CDO said.

Sujata Tuladhar, UNFPA representative and facilitator said, “addressing gender-based violence (GBV) among displaced populations has become an increasingly high priority over the past 20 years, coinciding with the growing worldwide attention to human rights and women’s rights.” ( Christmei Joy Ranido/LVG-PIA 10)


Camiguin set to launch GP program anew
By Jorie Valcorza

MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN, April 12 (PIA) -- Health workers here is preparing for another round of “Garantisadong Pambata” supplement distribution for children 0 to 71 months old, with the massive distribution and provision of health services to all under five years old in the province slated to start on April 16 towards the end of this month.

“Garantisadong Pambata will reach out all the target children in the barangays, we have prepared schedules that are set to cover all towns,” Camiguin Provincial Nutrition Program Coordinator Telesfora G. Madelo said.

Needed supplements such as vitamin A, iron, and deworming tablets from the Department of Health already arrived and are ready for distribution.

Madelo said this program aims on reducing the mortality and morbidity rate among children.

“The distribution of vitamin A is quite important as it concerns the child’s vision and growth, as well as to boost their immune system to help prevent infection,” she explained.

Aside from supplement distribution, Garantisadong Pambata also focuses on public health interventions for pregnant mothers, newborn care, immunization of mothers, child injury prevention and control, birth spacing, and environmental sanitation.

The GP Program is done twice per year, every April and every third week of October. (PIA 10)


Lanao Norte sends biggest contingent to GK Bayani Challenge

Iligan City – In a bid to provide decent homes for the tragic victims of tropical storm Sendong that devastated the city of Iligan last December 16, 2011, the provincial LGU of Lanao del Norte has sent the biggest contingent of volunteers to Iligan City to help in the Gawad Kalinga (GK) – Bayani Challenge.

“Ang galling ng effort ng provincial government of Lanao del Norte. Full force yung provincial government. They are the biggest contingent here in the Bayani Challenge,” said Pilipinas Natin officer Vic Buenaventura.

Pilipinas Natin is a volunteer program under the Communications Office of President Benigno Aquino III.

More than 800 provincial employees will ultimately participate in the Bayani Challenge which started last April 9 to 14, 2012.

“Bayani Challenge is about people coming together and challenging the ‘bayani’ in them and bringing out the hero in every Filipino,” explained GK Volunteer Management Officer Justin Cruz.

The Lanao del Norte group is sending a different batch of provincial employees every day to the Sta. Elena Relocation site for ‘Sendong’ victims now dubbed as ‘Bayanihan’ Village. The Lanao del Norte contingent averages about 200 volunteers daily composed of provincial employees, soldiers, police officers and skilled construction workers.

The provincial government initially committed to build 24 houses in the Bayanihan Village. However, due to limited space, only 23 houses can be built by team Lanao Norte.

For her part, 2nd district Representative Aliah Dimaporo is leading the construction team to help ensure that the 24 houses be built on time.

“The provincial government is donating building materials for these 24 houses. It is really beautiful to see people working together for the good of the Sendong victims,” Congresswoman Dimaporo said.

Since the start of the challenge last Monday, more than 2,600 volunteers have already participated.

“The response we’re getting is very overwhelming. We have the Philippine Army, local government units, barangay officials, muslim organizations, civic organizations, everyone is participating”, Buenaventura added.

In the event that the houses will not be finished by April 14, Lanao del Norte construction team committed to remain at the Bayanihan site until all of the 23 houses will be fully built according to their specifications.

“We are very impressed with the leadership of Governor (Khalid) Dimaporo. We would like to thank the provincial government for going beyond Lanao del Norte. Hindi ninyo talaga iniiwan yung kapwa ninyo ditto,” Cruz noted.

The GK Bayani Challenge started on 2006 in response to the horrific mudslide in Ginsaugon, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte.

Also lending a hand at the Bayanihan Village are several department heads of the provincial LGU and Vice-Governor Irma Umpa-Ali. (VNL/PIO-LDN)