DOE, PIA to conduct nationwide consultation on renewable energy code of practice

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, April 10 (PIA) -- A series of public consultations for the formulation of a Renewable Energy Code of Practice in the country will be held in April and May. 

Initiated by the Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (REMB-DOE) in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the consultations will be conducted in regions 3, 7, 10 and 4A (Calabarzon).

To be participated in by the several stakeholders of the country’s Renewable Energy (RE) sector development, the activity is pursuant to Rule 2, Section 8 of DOE Circular DC2012-11-0009, also known as the Renewable Energy Safety, Health and Environment Rules and Regulations (RESHERR).

REMB Director IV Mario C. Marasigan said REMB will formulate the Code of Practice of each technology under RE which will serve as the safety, health and environment policy guidelines of the RE operations.

Meanwhile, Dr. Emelyn Q. Libunao, staff director of the Project Management Division (PMD) of PIA said the consultations will be on the following:

The Luzon consultation will be on April 23 in Clark City, Pampanga; the Visayas consultation will be on May 21 in Cebu City and the Mindanao consultation will be on May 23 in Cagayan de Oro City.

Other activities of the project include the writeshop or consolidation of inputs on June 5-7 in the province of Rizal and the final consultation on June 20 in Metro Manila. (RCAguhob/EOR/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

JCIP, UHI launch Tofarm 2013 search in Mindanao

By Francis Jane M. Lumacang

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 10 (PIA) -- The Junior Chamber International Philippines (JCIP) and Universal Harvester Inc. (UHI) are reviving and institutionalizing the Search for The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines (Tofarm).

Tofarm, a search and award program to honor the outstanding Filipino farmers of the year, was started last year by the JCIP and UHI to highlight the potential of the country’s agriculture sector.

The program aims to honor the efforts and sacrifice of Filipino farmers, as well as to recognize the viability of agriculture as an industry and vocation.

It also seeks to push a paradigm shift from the lowly concept of farmers to becoming recognized figures in society.

“Kami ay naniniwala na sa sama-samang pagkilos lamang natin makakamit ang food security at sustainability,” (We believe we can only achieve food security and sustainability if move together as one) Milagros Ong-How, Executive Vice President of UHI said during their launch here on Monday.

“Tofarm reminds me of the valuable opportunities in the agricultural sector. Mayaman ang mga bukid natin. Mayaman sa potentials. Mayaman sa mga possibilities. (Our land is rich, with so much potentials and possibilities to explore.)” Ong-How added.

The launch was highlighted with the turn over of Tofarm plate from 2012 Tofarm finalist Renante Inocando.

“..garbo nato nga tawagon mag-uuma [kay] kita nakabuhi sa ekonomiya (we are proud to be called farmers as we are the ones sustaining the economy),” Inocando said. (FML/JCV/PIA10)

NEDA-10 to hold assessment workshop on regional dev’t plan, investment program

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, April 9 (PIA) -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office 10 will hold a mid-term assessment, updating and revalidation of the Regional Development Plan (RDP) and the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) on April 16.

"It is almost three years since we implemented the RDP and RDIP, hence, it is imperative that we refer back to these documents and assess the agencies/local government units/ and institutions performance in terms of its contributions to regional and national development, " said NEDA Regional Director Leon M. Dacanay Jr. in a statement.

He said the mid-term assessment provides a venue for analysing what have been done and accomplished in terms of the targets set in the RDP and the status of the RDIP implementation. 

Formulated in 2010, the RDP 2011-2016 and its accompanying document RDIP spell out the strategies for improved productivity and sustained growth in the region.

These documents also define the contributions of the region to the attainment of the Philippine Development Plan and the President’s social contract with the Filipino people.

According to NEDA-10, the results of the assessment would serve as inputs to the PDP regional consultation particularly on the priority action areas in the remaining plan period as the region align its thrust and priorities to the national and global agenda.

The said RDP regional consultation is scheduled on April 22 in Pearlmont Inn, this city. (APB/PIA10)

April 15 is last day for application of foreign observers in May polls

By Rutchie C. Aguhob

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental, April 8 (PIA) -- The deadline for application of accreditation for foreigners who may wish to become observers in the upcoming May national and local elections ends on April 15, this year.

Pursuant to Resolution No. 9652 of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), any foreign group, organization, committee or association, representing government or private interests, who may want to observe the May 13, 2013 elections, shall file an application for accreditation with the Comelec through the Education and Information Department (EID).

The documentary requirements for accreditation include the duly accomplished form, two (2) recently taken “2 x 2” colored photographs of the applicant and endorsement by the Ambassador or Consul of the country of the applicant.

Upon approval of the application, the Comelec-EID shall issue Identification Cards to the accredited foreign observers, who shall have the following privileges:

Before election day - Request any official of the Philippine government, representatives of registered political parties, organizations or coalitions, candidates or their representatives, representatives of media, private firms or organizations, any political party or candidate for interview or briefing on the coming exercise and observe the preparatory activities of the Offices of the Election Officers (OEO).

On election day - Observe the conduct of the elections in any locality, conduct brief interviews with the Chairman and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) inside the polling place, and conduct interviews with voters and other persons outside the polling places and document their activities, as well, as the conduct of the elections, by means of radio, visual and audio-visual recordings.

After election - Observe all the proceedings in the precinct until the counting and transmission of voters are over, and keep tract of the Precinct Count Optical Scanning (PCOS) Machines, after voting, counting and transmission of votes. (RCAguhob/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)