Make energy conservation a way of life - DOE-Visayas
CEBU CITY, March 26 (PIA) -- Make energy conservation a way of life and help combat climate change, appealed the energy chief in the Visayas.
Engineer Antonio Labios, regional director of the Department of Energy (DOE) – Visayas Field Office said climate change is a real global threat and that we need to take action no matter how small it may be to reduce greenhouse emissions.
Greenhouse gases are the main culprit behind global warming that leads to climate change.
The Philippines meanwhile, has been dubbed as the third riskiest country in the world when it comes to disaster risks and natural hazards due to its vulnerability and susceptibility to typhoons, floods and earthquakes. This is contained in the UN University Institute for Environment and Human Security studies published in 2011.
Engr. Ed Amante, chief of the Energy Resource Development of DOE-Visayas said adopting energy efficiency and conservation measures will lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
“If we adopt judicious use of electricity, then less fuel is used resulting to lesser emissions,” Amante declared.
Labios said the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program (NEECP) is a flagship program of the DOE and that their long-term objective is to make energy efficiency and conservation a way of life.
“In 2010, the actual savings generated from the NEECP was 24.8 million barrels of oil equivalent,” Labios said. One of the measures under the NEECP was the 10 percent mandatory energy savings among national government offices.
To promote massive awareness on the NEECP, the DOE, in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), is conducting seminars throughout the country largely targeting households and students.
In Cebu, the seminar is set tomorrow with 300 participants from various sectors including academe, households, barangays, local government units, NGO and the business community.
“All sectors are included in the advocacy campaign. We are highlighting the households and the academe because for one, students are very enthusiastic to implement what they learn. And we want to inculcate in them the value of conserving energy while at a young age which could be adopted until they become adults,” disclosed Labios.
Labios said since the family is the basic social unit of society then it is practical that households should be the first in adopting such a program that could also lead to a way of life for every family.
Apart from contributing in the battle against climate change, Labios said adopting measures for a judicious use of energy will lead to savings in power costs. (FCR-PIA 7, Cebu)
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Community adopts innovative ways to fight fire
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, Mar. 26 (PIA) -- A community fire brigade in an interior sitio in Mandaue City found innovative ways in immediately putting out fire at its first alarm.
The 50-member Sitio Tambisan Volunteer Fire Brigade in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia, organized in 2010, thought out the simple idea of placing 50 drums filled with water in specific areas so these will come in handy in case fire breaks out in their area. Recently, it installed three dry fire hydrants as well.
Such move was put to the test when fire broke up in a house in the same year or in 2010 and using the water in the drums, the community fire brigade was able to contain the spread of the fire.
The second fire which they were able to put off with the use of buckets full of water occurred last year.
Sitio Tambisan is situated in a very interior portion of the barangay which makes it difficult for fire trucks to gain access when blaze occurs.
“We are always threatened by fire and we have organized ourselves to protect the whole community,” said Farley Macasero, fire chief of the volunteers’ group. Some 160 families live in Sitio Tambisan.
Recently, the group installed and tested dry fire hydrants in three strategic areas.
Supervised by their Barangay Captain Carmelino del Mar Jr. and fire authorities, the volunteer group installed three dry hydrants in the interior portion. Each hydrant is composed of a cabinet with a 100-meter fire hose, nozzle, a fire extinguisher and an ax.
The group tested their skills and capability using the dry fire hydrants.
The hydrant is operated by attaching the hose from a fire truck stationed in the main road to the main reservoir located in the interior portion which in turn is connected to the three dry fire hydrants.
During a testing simulation, the volunteers positioned themselves and using the fire hose put off the “fire.”
The dry hydrant project which costs P160,000 was funded by the Office of Mayor Jonas Cortes, according to del Mar.
Del Mar said the Tambisan Community Fire Brigade’s initiative is worth replication in other sitios especially those that are not that accessible to fire trucks.
“The Tambisan volunteer group has shown a good example and we will duplicate this to other sitios starting with Sambag, Lomboy and Nangka,” said del Mar.
“We are happy about this development. We can now sleep well, although we pray that we cannot use the fire hydrant,” said Racquel Rosal, one of house owners in the area. (FCR/PIA-Cebu with Mandaue News Service)
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Cebuanos urged to join Earth Hour this Saturday, March 31‘move aims to promote awareness on climate change’
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, March 26 (PIA) -- Energy officials urged Cebuanos to go beyond its participation in the conduct of the Earth Hour on Saturday, March 31, but to make electricity conservation a way of life.
Engr. Allan Bacudo, senior science research specialist of the Department of Energy (DOE) said putting out the lights for one hour to support the Earth Hour campaign will mean a huge reduction in greenhouse gases emission.
Coal-fired power plants, which are the major source of electricity in the country, use fuel in its operations. The said plants emit greenhouse gases that harms the Earth’s ozone layer eventually leading to global warming due to climate change.
Earth Hour is a global campaign to promote people’s consciousness to combat climate change through switching off the lights for one hour only. The campaign started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia which the Philippines joined a year after.
Bacudo made the appeal to over 200 students, barangay residents, representatives of local government units, non-government organization and business sector during the recent seminar on Electricity Conservation in Households and Schools here.
“Let us all be united in fighting climate change. And let us support the Earth Hour campaign this coming Saturday,” Bacudo asked the participants.
Marlyn Santiago, communications officer of the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Philippines in the same seminar said that though the Philippines is not a chief contributor of greenhouse gases emissions unlike the United States and Europe, it is however vulnerable to climate change.
“The Philippines has been dubbed as the 3rd riskiest country in the world relative to its vulnerability and susceptibility to disaster risks and natural hazards,” bared Santigao. Such finding is based on the studies published last year by the United Nations University Institute for the Environment and Human Security.
Santiago said Cebu is one of the three sites nationwide that will conduct the simultaneous ceremonial one-hour switch-off campaign from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The other venues are Davao City and Makati City.
The Earth Hour is spearheaded by the WWF-Philippines which the DOE is massively supporting as Bacudo said the campaign has made the Philippines the top participant in terms of the number of people involvement.
“For the past consecutive three years, the Philippines was ranked as the number one participant globally based on the number of Filipinos who joined the campaign. Here you can see the active involvement of public-private participation,” Bacudo disclosed.
Last year, there were over 18 million Filipinos who turned off their lights during the Earth Hour and more than one billion globally as Bacudo expressed optimism that the country will again bag the top participating country worldwide.
DOE-7 Regional Director Antonio Labios earlier said Cebu was able to save around 29MW of power consumption in last year’s Earth Hour.
“Big malls here like the SM City Cebu and the Ayala Cebu and other big business establishments like the Visayan Electric Company are regular participants joining the Earth Hour campaign,” Labios said.
Labios explained the campaign is calling out to only put off the unnecessary lights. “It is not a temporary total power shut-off but only those lights not necessarily in use should be turned off,” the DOE 7 chief declared.
The seminar is a prelude to the conduct of Earth Hour to solicit more support to join the campaign, Labios further said.
This year, households and students have been targeted because everybody belongs to a household and students are enthusiastic partners in any endeavor, Labios said.
A short program will be held at the Plaza Independencia in downtown Cebu City prior to the countdown to the power switch-off at 8:30 p.m. (PIA-Cebu)
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Feature:
Saving the planet starts at home and with women
The growing stash of plastic bags under the kitchen sink. Stacks of styrofoam containers from food take-outs piling up on the pantry. The sacks bulging with plastic bottles hooked outside the back door. These are familiar scenes in households across the country.
In recent years, the global campaign against climate change is targeting households across the world with the message that the solutions to our environmental problems lie closer to home. Earth Hour is an example of a widely successful home-based stand against climate change, that the power to save the world is sourced inside the home by turning off the lights at a certain hour.
With this year’s Women’s Month celebration focusing on climate change, the spotlight is on women and their role on saving the planet. Women, as homemakers, are in-charge of shopping for groceries and their family’s needs, cleaning up the house, and tending to the general upkeep around their homes. They have the final say in which house cleaning products to use or the food that goes into their children’s lunchboxes. They are the first to know which of the household lights are busted, if the faucet is leaking, and if the electric and water bills have increased.
So how can women help reduce climate change inside their homes?
One is to cut down on the use of plastic materials by going natural, says Arlene Delloso-Uypitching, one of the well-known personalities in Dumaguete City’s ecological drives.
“I provide natural (fresh fruits) and home-cooked snacks as often as I can for my kids to bring as their baon for school. This lessens the plastic packaging discarded too often too much that otherwise comes with very convenient store-bought snacks,” Arlene said in her post on Facebook in response to a question on how women can help in protecting the environment.
Arlene also brings and insists on using her own foldable or sturdy shopping bag when doing her groceries.
On the other hand, former Dumaguete City Councilor Atty. Myrish Cadapan-Antonio emphasizes the importance of recycling. “When buying anything except wet goods, I bring my own bag and encourage my kids to do the same,” she said. In their household, even the garbage bags are recycled.
The lady lawyer is also extending her environmental efforts to a new business start-up. “I just recently joined an organic restaurant venture with a client and we will use all recyclable receptacles,” she added.
Dumaguete-based environmental activist Engr. Trelly Marigza shares some of her housekeeping tips to protect the planet:
1. Use energy-efficient lamps such as LED, fluorescent, brightness controlled settings. No incandescent bulbs, please.
2. Use recycled paper or biomass charcoals instead of wood from trees for cooking.
3. Use organic cleansers, detergents and soap. “Launder in bulk when using the washing machines and iron clothes by bulk.”
4. When ironing clothes, iron those requiring higher temperatures first such as denims and linens. Then switch off the flat iron when ironing the lighter ones such as silk, organza, handkerchiefs, and shawls.
5. Make sure to segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes. Compost the biodegradable waste and turn them into organic fertilizers.
6. Avoid burning your trash, especially the non-biodegradables.
7. Plant trees, preferably endemic, in your yards.
8. When shopping, refuse plastic bags and bring your own shopping bag.
9. Support establishments that practice recycling, rebates and use of alternative packaging.
10. Buy in bulk. For example, buy a 180ml bottle of shampoo instead of sachets.
11. Learn more about climate change and environmental sustainability and teach your children the practical ways to protect the planet.
12. Join advocacy groups, and climate change adaptation or mitigation drives in your neighborhood.
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Make energy conservation a habit, says Cebu City mayor
CEBU CITY, March 26 (PIA) -- Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama encouraged the public to regularly conserve electricity and show concern to Mother Earth.
Rama voiced the appeal during the recent seminar on, “Electricity Conservation in Households and Schools,” attended by over 200 participants mostly college students, residents of barangays in Cebu City, public information officers of national government agencies, representatives of local government units, non-government organizations, and business sector.
“Let us all be an instrument of energy conservation and do our part. This way, we can also show concern to our environment,” Rama said.
With the global issue on climate change where the Philippines is highly susceptible to natural hazards such as typhoons, flooding, and landslide, it is imperative for each Filipino to do his share in fighting global warming. “A simple contribution is simply to conserve energy,” bared Rama.
Conserving electricity means lesser fuel is used. And if lesser fuel is consumed by power plant operations, lesser greenhouse gases will thus be emitted into the atmosphere.
Rama also said that with the non-stop increases of fuel prices, one impact would be the possible hike in electricity rates.
“If we practice electricity conservation, not only do we help fight climate change but we also help cut costs on our electric bill,” Rama stressed.
The mayor placed emphasis on the important role households and students play in electricity conservation stressing that, “Everything starts at home," while the educational institution is the second home of the young minds.
“Sa inyoha magsugod ang tanan kung unsay itudlo sa balay og eskulayhan madala sa tanan mga kabatan-onan sa ilang pagdako (everything starts with you and what you were taught at home and in school will forever be inculcated until you grow up into adults) which is why it is important for you to practice this habit of energy conservation,” Rama concluded.
The seminar is just part of the pre - activities lined up in observance of the Earth Hour Global Campaign 2012 set this Saturday, March 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 9: 30 p.m.
Other guests and speakers during the seminar were Regional Director Antonio Labios of the Department of Energy (DOE) 7, Regional Director Minerva Newman of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Marlyn P. Santiago of the World Wide Fund – Philippines communications officer, DOE Senior Science Research Specialist (SRS) Engr. Allan Bacudo, DOE SRS II Engr. Jan Ramos, and Jeffrey Belotindos, key account executive of the Visayan Electric Company.
Topics discussed were on Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation, DOE Energy Plans and Programs, Household Enercon Tips and Know Your Electric Bill and How to Read the Electric Meter.
The seminar was initiated by the PIA - 7 in partnership with the DOE and with the support of the WWF- Philippines. (FCR/AS/PIA 7-CEBU)
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DENR-7 receives IT equipment worth P6M
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, March 26 (PIA) -- Information technology equipment worth P6 million were distributed to various offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 7 including its 12 field units in Central Visayas.
DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso said the equipment will be used in the computerization efforts of the region, particularly land information pertaining to cadastral maps, approved land survey, public land applications, and titles.
DENR Undersecretaries Ernesto Adobo and Demetrio Ignacio Jr. led the turnover and delivery of the said equipment on March 23, 2012 at the DENR-7 Training Hall, Banilad, Mandaue City, in the presence of provincial environment and natural resources officers (PENROs) and community environment and natural resources officers (CENROs).
In his turnover speech, Undersecretary Ignacio pointed out the three-year improvement or upgrading of the IT infrastructure of DENR that will operationalize a national greening program (NGP) website to be managed by cenros, digitize land records, and establish connectivity among field offices.
“This is the initial deployment of IT equipment and by June this year we shall have used a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) all over the regions including its field offices so that we would be able to know the situation on the ground and respond to issues in real time,” Ignacio said.
He added that DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje envisioned that after three years of IT upgrading program, which is considered the most electronically advanced, all permit applications would be received and released via computer or through the Internet.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Adobo said the equipment will be used to eventually drumbeat the “big ticket” programs of DENR such as the NGP and the cadastral survey.
A total of 133 desktop computers, 5 units of laptop, 22 scanners, and 71 printers were deployed as part of the computerization programs of DENR worth P6,084,675.25.
The DENR central office in Manila procured said equipment and other regional offices also got their share.
To effectively carry out the dissemination of electronic land information to local government units and other users, 51 desktop computers or 38.35 percent out of 133, 29 printers, and 17 scanners were dedicated to the lands management services.
“This is the biggest IT turnover and deployment thus far and I am instructing to our field officers to ensure that these equipment are used to its specified purposes for better public services,” Dichoso added.
As to the distribution of 133 desktop computers with a three-year warranty, Cebu had the most number of units of 77, followed by Bohol and Negros Oriental with 24 units each, and Siquijor with eight. (rmn/PIA-7/HFG/DENR-7)