PLDT-SMART to deploy add'l equipment in areas expected to be afected by 'Ramon'
By: Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, October 12 (PIA) --- PLDT and Smart are willing to deploy additional equipment in the areas expected to be affected by the coming storm to help minimize possible service interruptions.
This is a precautionary measure in anticipation of the arrival of Typhoon Ramon. It includes generator sets and batteries that will support vital telecommunications facilities.
This will enable PLDT to respond quickly to exigencies as they occur. This proactive action will also complement precautions already undertaken by Smart Communications Inc., which has co-located equipment in PLDT’s facilities.
Rest assured that the PLDT Group is exerting all efforts to minimize, if not prevent, interruptions to vital telecommunications services that may be caused by typhoon Ramon.
All mobile phone users, meanwhile, are encouraged to fully charge cell phone batteries and ensure that you have airtime for at least three days.
In the event of power outages, conserve battery power. Make judicious use of voice calls. Text messaging uses less power.
Store emergency numbers in your cell phone -- family members you can call for help, television and radio stations where you can get storm information, and responding relief agencies like the National Disaster Coordinating Council, local government units, local police, local chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross, etc.
Keep a hard copy as well in case you run out of battery and need to use the numbers.
Keep a battery-operated radio handy as well as spare batteries to make sure you stay informed about important news like evacuation warnings, storm updates, rescue developments, etc. in case electric and communication facilities shut down.
Keep your cell phone dry. Wrap it in plastic or use cling-wrap for easy use.
Pack your charger so that you can easily re-charge your cell phone battery once power is restored or made available via other means such at charging stations of Smart Libreng Centers.(PIA-7/HFG/SMART)
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Over 70 barangays in Cebu Province are flood and landslide-prone, DENR 7 says
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY October 12 (PIA) – Over 70 barangays in Cebu Province have been identified as at risk to landslides and flooding as contained in the list of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) in Central Visayas.
There are 12 barangays listed by the DENR-MGB 7 as the most hazardous to flooding of which seven are found in Mandaue City and the remaining five are based in Cebu City.
The seven barangays in Mandaue City are Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-alang, Guizo and Paknaan and the five barangays in Cebu City are Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo and Bonbon.
Breakdown for barangays considered as prone to landslides and flooding in Cebu are 19 areas in Cebu City, six barangays in Naga City, five barangays in Toledo City, all mountain barangays of Talisay City and 31 barangays from the different towns in the province.
The DENR-7 has provided the concerned local government units the copy of the list for them to draft proactive measures to reduce the risk of any calamity and to conduct close monitoring on these identified risk areas as more typhoons are expected to enter the country based on the PAGASA report. (FCR/AS/PIA-Cebu)
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DOE to focus on shift of diesel-engine
to auto-LPG for PUJs amid rising fuel costs
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, Oct. 12 (PIA) -- Shifting diesel-engine to auto-LPG is the next step the Department of Energy (DOE) wants to concentrate on under its Alternative Fuel Transport Program to unburden public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers from rising prices of fuel.
Lilibeth Capit, senior science research specialist of the Department of Energy (DOE) - Alternative Fuels and Technology Development Division disclosed that they have commissioned the University of the Philippines to conduct a testing on the fuel efficiency of this technology.
“They (UP) will do the test this week to determine how much fuel and corresponding costs can be saved if PUJs will shift from diesel-engine to auto-LPG,” Capit said during the weekly PIA Kapihan that featured energy-related projects and programs.
Capit however, admitted that the cost of changing the engine to auto-LPG is costly which is estimated at P250,000 to P370,000.
“The DOE is trying to look into the possibility of an easy payment scheme for five years for PUJ drivers to avail of this technology,” Capit bared.
According to Capit, a 1B funding from the government will be sourced out but that details still needs to be finalized and mechanics have yet to be drafted on how to avail of the soft loan.
Last March 18, the DOE signed a Memorandum of Agreement with a number of PUJ groups on shifting diesel engines to auto-LPG and that they expressed huge interest about this technology which in the long-term will prove beneficial to the public transport sector, the hardest hit when fuel prices escalate.
Capit said this technology is different from the auto-LPG used by taxi vehicles because the former only involves the conversion from gasoline-engine to LPG. Cost of conversion stands at P18,000 to over P30,000, this is learned.
“In order for PUJs to shift from diesel-engine to auto-LPG, this needs a total replacement of the whole diesel engine to auto-LPG which is why this is more expensive,” Capit said.
To make the shift, Capit said certain criteria are required for this new technology such as the type and how old the PUJ is among other factors. (PIA-Cebu)