“Go for E-Buses,” Sec. Almendras tells Cebu City LGU
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, Oct. 6 (PIA) -- Energy Sec. Rene Almendras recommended to Cebu City officials to consider E-buses for its proposed Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) System initially set to be operational in 2013 in order to save on fuel costs and at the same time promote clean air.
“I strongly recommend the use of alternative fuel rather than the diesel-fueled buses for Cebu City’s BRT because it reduces pollution,” Alemendras said.
The BRT is a proposed mass transit system for Cebu City that uses single deck non-articulated buses that can carry 85 to 110 passengers. Its first phase is set to be operational in 2013 and the second phase in 2014 or 2015, this is reported.
The pre-feasibility study showed that in comparison to using jeepneys, the BRT route can save Cebuanos 570 million hours of traveling per year while the BRT vehicles are cheaper to run than the existing jeepneys.
Almendras however said that this early sans the BRT operations yet in full swing, officials of the Cebu City Government should seriously consider alternative use of fuel such as electric-vehicles because of its cheaper costs since no fuel is needed except to recharge the battery.
“Using the E-vehicles is a half-step move in that direction,” according to Almendras.
In 2010, 560 units of E-vehicles were produced and another 623 units for the first half of this year with a total of 1,183 E-vehicles currently running in the country, Almendras disclosed.
“Fuel displacement recorded in 2010 because of the use of the E-vehicles recorded 701,120 liters while in 2011, 391,244 liters of gas displacement was noted,” the DOE chief added.
The DOE secretary further said that in 2013, the United States will be producing 1M E-vehicles per year as he added that the Philippines is also focusing on E-vehicles for public transport.
Meanwhile, a full feasibility study is now being conducted by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on the BRT System for Cebu City after the pre-feasibility study conducted by the World Bank consultants last year concluded the scheme “is deliverable physically, institutionally and financially,” this is reported.
It is also reported that the DOTC is considering running the BRT vehicles on bio-fuel, hybrid, LPG and electricity to further reduce emissions.
Pres. Benigno S. Aquino has placed public mass transit system as among his top 16 Public-Private Partnership projects to pursue as the National Government is financially supporting the BRT System for Cebu City. (PIA-Cebu)
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GSIS members can now receive benefits thru LandBank
By: Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, October 5 (PIA) --- Its more than 1.4 million members of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) already have the choice to have their loan proceeds and other benefits credited to a UMID (Unified Multi-Purpose Identification) eCard issued by the Land Bank of the Philippines.
The partnership with LandBank started last August this year to allow not only members of GSIS but also its pensioners to benefit from the bank’s wide network covering 327 branches and 927 ATMs nationwide.
With a LandBank-issued UMID eCard, members can withdraw their loan proceeds and other benefits in any Expressnet, Bancnet or Megalink ATM nationwide.
The LandBank-issued UMID eCard also serve as a debit card in more than 20,000 accredited merchants nationwide and as a discount card for selected Pfizer medicines and when enrolling your children or relatives in any STI campus nationwide.
The card is free with no maintaining balance required for members transferring to LandBank.
To recall, the GSIS renewed its partnership with LandBank in December last year, to give its more than 300,000 pensioners the choice to receive their monthly pension and other benefits through a LANDBANK ATM or thru their eCard.
“This renewed partnership with LandBank makes it easier for our members and pensioners, especially in the provinces to access their benefits and other loans,” said Robert Vergara, GSIS President and General Manager.
On the other hand, LandBank President and CEO Gilda Pico said, “As a partner of the GSIS in delivering improved service to its members especially in the rural areas, we share the commitment of the new GSIS leadership to provide excellent service for its stakeholders.”
A member may transfer account from UnionBank to LandBank, just email name, date of birth, UMID Common Reference Number or CRN, and preferred LandBank branch to eservices@gsis.gov.ph or visit the GSIS website www.gsis.gov.ph, and log on to the e-Card member transaction page by typing your GSIS ID No. or visit the nearest GSIS Field Office.(PIA-7/HFG/GSIS)
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P-Noy wants 90% of households nationwide to be electrified by 2015
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY , Oct. 5 (PIA) -- By 2015, 90 percent of all households throughout the country should be electrified is the toll order of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III to the Department of Energy (DOE).
Energy Sec. Rene Almendras bared this during the recent Visayas Energy Forum in Cebu as he added that a P2.8B budget has been allocated for this year to go high on the DOE’s Household Electrification Program.
Almendras said that originally, the timeline for at least 90 percent of all households to have access to power is by 2017 but the deadline has been moved earlier by the President knowing that electricity is a very basic necessity.
“Another P2.5B is again allocated for next year in order to meet the deadline of the Household Electrification Program,” according to Almendras.
According to DOE, the Government has also decided to allocate P2.5 Billion per year until 2017 to be poured into rural electrification.
“Never in the history of the Philippines has there been such a huge allocation for electrification,” Almendras said.
Almendras questioned the accomplishment of the previous administration which cited over 90 percent achievement of all barangays in the Philippines having been electrified in a program dubbed ‘Barangay Electrification Program.’
“I cannot believe that 90 percent of barangays throughout the country are electrified because when I came in, I found out that there were still some households that do not have access to power,” Almendras declared.
“I believe that only 65 percent of the total households in the country are electrified which is why the Aquino Administration wants the DOE to go on an aggressive campaign mode in the Household Electrification Program down to the sitio level,” Almendras said
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The DOE secretary also informed stakeholders who attended the Visayas IEC Forum that they have already coordinated with Congress to provide a list for the sitios still needed to be electrified.
He also mentioned in the said forum that the representatives of the Samar I Electric Cooperative who attended the IEC Forum can expect P3.5 million for its five sitios. (PIA-Cebu with DOE release)