DOE Urges Government Agencies' Energy Efficiency and Conservation Initiatives

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi today said government is taking the lead and serving as a role model to private companies in achieving energy security.

“Under our Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), the Department of Energy has required 140 government entities to submit their electricity consumption from 2015 to 2016 to assess usage,” Cusi said.

“We are closely monitoring their energy consumption so that we can provide strategies to help them become more energy- efficient in their daily operations,” he pointed out.

As part of GEMP, the DOE has enlisted government agencies with available power generating units that can be enrolled for the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to augment power supply capacity in times of Red Alert Status or when power supply reserves are thin.

"The ILP seeks to convince big load customers of Distribution Utilities and Electric Cooperatives to register so they can run their stand-by generation sets in times of energy supply deficiency to prevent power outages," Cusi explained.

“Based on our GEMP survey, about 100 government buildings have operational gensets and these total to 85 megawatts of power supply capacity,” Cusi said.

Hontiveros Pushes for Better Infant Care in First 1,000 Days

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Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros today called for better infant care during the first 1,000 days of life.

Speaking before a forum at the Senate organized by the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), Hontiveros said that stronger legislation is needed to help address the country’s challenges in malnutrition and child hunger.

“This is the real and silent war that the government must embark on – the war against malnutrition. This is the real war that must be won,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros, who is the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said that under-nutrition remains the underlying killer of children as it makes them vulnerable to bout of infections, low birth weights and wasting.

The senator also said that malnutrition undermines economic development. Citing a 2013 report from the Save the Children International, she said that the country’s economy lost at least P328 billion or the equal of 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to the impact of childhood stunting on workforce productivity and education.

As a response, Hontiveros penned Senate Bill No. 1145, also known as “The Healthy Bulilit Law.” She said that her bill mandates the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to increase nutrition support for all children in the first 1,000 days.

“We are fortunate that we don’t struggle with an inverted population pyramid. But malnutrition and child hunger remain significant challenges. Government must do its part and redouble its efforts to secure a bright future for our nation’s children,” the Senator said.

Aguirre Says Korean Slay Is Indirect Attempt to Destroy Duterte

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"Yeah, like a bunch of cops were sitting around thinking "We've got to find a way to stopDuterte," and one said "I know! Let's kidnap and kill a Korean businessman. That oughtta do him in!" - Tony Ahn

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II says the killing is “only an isolated incident” that was being used to tarnish the reputation of the country and in turn undermine public support for President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Mayroong nagsasabi na ostensibly ang binibira rito ay ating Chief PNP ngunit ang latay nito ay sa ating Pangulong Duterte. Hindi magawang siraan ang pangulo dahil napakalaki ng suporta niya, kaya ang ginagawa ay sirain ang PNP," Aguirre said.

To conclude on something that has not been fully investigated yet is a dangerous behavior for a Justice Secretary.

Aguirre gained wide public attention in 2012 during the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona when he was cited for contempt after he was caught covering his ears while being lectured by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. Now he is allegedly involved in the Chinese gambling tycoon Jack Lam's P50-million bribery scandal involving two Bureau of Immigration (BI) commissioners, namely Al Argosino and Michael Robles. There is also the mention of the names of Charles Calima and Jaime Morente, plus also a retired police general Wally Sombero. Lam is involved in operating illegal online gaming operations without any franchise and permit from PAGCOR.