MGB-7 issues features advisory on major landslides and flooding
By: Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, October 13 (PIA) --- Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 regional director Loreto Alburo issued today features that might be observed before a major land sliding and flooding.
Springs, seeps, or saturated ground in areas that have not typically been wet before; new cracks or unusual bulges in the ground, street pavements or sidewalks; and soil moving away from foundations.
Ancillary structures such as decks and patios tilting or moving relative to the main house; and tilting or cracking of concrete floors and foundations are some of the indications.
Broken water lines and other underground utilities; and leaning telephone poles, trees, retaining walls or fences must also be noticed.
MGB-7 also reminded residents on what to do during flooding such as to listen to a battery-operated radio for the latest storm information, if local authorities instruct you to do so, turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the gas valve, if the waters start to rise inside your house before you have evacuated, retreat to the second floor, the attic, and if necessary, the roof.
Floodwaters may carry raw sewage, chemical waste and other disease-spreading substances and if you've come in contact with floodwaters, wash your hands with soap and disinfected water, if told to evacuate your home, do so immediately, avoid walking through floodwaters.
As little as six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet; avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas, do not attempt to cross flowing streams, electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines & electrical wires, look out for animals -- especially snakes. Animals lose their homes in floods, too.(PIA-7/HFG/DENR-7)
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DENR-7 urges local officials to use the geohazard maps
By: Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, October 13 (PIA) -- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) regional executive director Maximo Dichoso urged local mayors and other officials to make use of the geohazard maps in their respectiver areas.
He also encouraged the local officials to implement the appropriate measures as indicated in the geohazards threat advisory to reduce the impact of landslides and flooding within their areas of responsibility.
Dichoso made the call in the wake of reports by the weather bureau that heavier or Ondoy-like rains are still expected for the coming days.
“Areas which have been declared as “highly susceptible” to flooding and landslides by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau should be carefully monitored by the local government officials,” Dichoso said.
Meanwhile, MGB-7 will conduct a field investigation within this week in Barangay Angilan, Duero, Bohol as the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Council (MDRCC) reported today a ground cracking and active slide in Sitio Laca.
Nine barangays in Duero have been rated by MGB-7 as high landslide susceptibility and these are Angilan, Bangwalog, Danao, Imelda, Lobogon, San Antonio, San Pedro, Cansuhay, and Anibongan.(PIA-7/HFG & DENR-7)
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Cebu has potential for RE sources, DOE says
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY October 13 (PIA) -- The Department of Energy (DOE) tagged Cebu province as a potential source for renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass.
DOE - Biofuel Energy Management Division Senior Science and Research Specialist Andy Ulgado said that developers are still conducting ongoing studies on the potential of wind and solar for power use in some areas in Cebu.
“Tapping solar and wind as energy sources takes time because critical factors need to be taken in such as the time of the day when the sun is at its hottest and how many times in a year does the certain area can supply solar heat and the same thing applies with wind to make sure that the energy tapped from these renewable sources are sustainable,” Ulgado said.
For biomass, Ulgado cited northern Cebu as a potential source because of the sugar plantations located in the area of which the agricultural wastes can be converted into biomass energy.
Sources for biomass energy are taken from plant or animal matter which can be converted into major energy "carriers" such as heat, electricity, liquid and gas, this is learned.
In the island of Bantayan dubbed as the egg basket of the province, the wastes from poultry and pig farms have been converted into biomass energy but can merely produces two kilowatts or enough for the farm owner’s energy requirement.
The town of Badian in southern Cebu on the other hand, is said to have two solar power sites that produce a total of 750 kilowatts, this is reported.
Currently, the DOE has awarded a service contract for a developer in Bogo City located in northern Cebu to tap a natural gas found abundant in the area that could provide 1.3 MW power but this will take five to six years before full blast operations can be maximized, this is said.
Sixty percent of the power source in the Visayas Region meanwhile, including Cebu is taken from geothermal which is a renewable source, DOE-7 Regional Director Antonio Labios bared. (FCR/AS/PIA-Cebu)
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DOE targets 20T e-trikes in operation by end of 2012
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, Oct. 13 (PIA) – Twenty thousand electric tricycles (e-trikes) in operation is what the Department of Energy (DOE) wants to see by the end of 2012 as it aggressively pushes for environment-friendly mode of transport for cleaner emissions as well as lessen the country’s dependence on imported petroleum
“The e-trikes is part of our Alternative Fuel Transport Program of the DOE,” according to
Lilibeth Capit, senior science research specialist of the DOE - Alternative Fuels and Technology Development Division during a recent PIA Kapihan that discussed on energy development updates and initiatives of the agency.
In April, this year, Pres. Aquino launched the 20 first e-trikes in the country turning over the motorized tricycles to the City of Mandaluyong, the pilot area. This marked a significant shift from a petroleum-dependent tricycle to a more sustainable and energy-efficient transport.
Capili said the e-trikes is a project of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to present energy-efficient transport and promote green technology which reduces air pollution and helps combat climate change.
Energy Sec. Rene Almendras who was in Cebu last week for the Visayas Energy Forum also promoted the use of e-trikes and declared that “it is also in compliance with the Clean Air Act” which calls for concrete measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
There are more than 3.5M motorized tricycles presently operating in the country which produce more than 10M tons of carbon dioxide and consume almost $5B of imported petroleum a year, this is reported.
“The e-trikes also addresses the rising prices of fuel in the world market” which impacts the most to public transport drivers, Capili added.
Capili said the nine-seater e-trike may initially have higher costs but that more savings will be made in the long run as drivers no longer need to buy fuel and thus, have bigger take-home income. “What is needed is just the refueling station to recharge the batteries of the e-trike,” Capili disclosed.
The DOE in its bid to aggressively fast track the country’s goal to attain energy self-sufficiency, stability and sustainability is pushing for the e-trikes as it continues to hold dialogues to tricycle operator associations nationwide on the ADB-funded project.
Capili said the DOE wants to see 20,000 e-trikes operating by end of next year and that it aims to have 100,000 e-trikes within a span of five years or until 2016.
The ADB is currently in talks with the government and other development partners on the e-trikes project to fast track the production of the e-trikes for Metro Manila and other urban areas like Cebu by early next year, this is learned. (PIA-Cebu)