EOC to public: Step up compliance during Misa de Gallo in preparation for Sinulog 2021
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is urging the public to be more compliant during the Misa De Gallo 2020, especially those who are attending the masses at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño. This as the city government is studying the movement of the crowd at the Basilica in […] The post EOC to public: Step up compliance during Misa de Gallo in preparation for Sinulog 2021 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Eco group warns vs toxic lead spray paints
An environmental group on Wednesday has urged authorities to look into the sale of five lead-containing spray paints being sold in Metro Cebu cities. According to the EcoWaste Coalition, the spray paint brands — the yellow Bad Axe Spray Paint which contains 23,080 ppm lead, canary yellow, jade green, Gongcheng orange yellow and deep yellow variants — had 21,610 ppm, 21,500 ppm, 20,040 ppm and 15,700 ppm. It added that it discovered these spray paints are being sold in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue. “Our discovery of five more lead-containing aerosol paints in Cebu indicates the need for improved compliance monitoring, particularly outside Metro Manila and Luzon, to protect the health of children and adults from this continuing source lead exposure,” said EcoWaste Coalition’s Manny Calonzo. These five Bad Axe brand spray paints are being sold each for less than P100 per 400 ml can. As indicated on the label, Bad Axe can be used for coating the interior and exterior wood, steel and other metal surfaces of household appliances, equipment, furniture, bicycles and the like. “The product has no manufacturer’s markings and its country of manufacture is unknown. It provides no information or warning about the paint’s lead content,” said the group. However, the product’s date of manufacture is indicated at the bottom of the can and all variants of Bad Axe were manufactured between 2021 to 2023, or after the completion of the national phase-out deadline for lead-containing decorative paints in December 2016. The World Health Organization, which co-manages the Secretariat of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint or the Lead Paint Alliance, has warned that lead exposure can have serious consequences for the health of children. EcoWaste Coalition added that exposure to lead is known to result in adverse health effects such as damage to the brain and central nervous system, slowed growth and development, hearing and speech problems, learning difficulties and behavioral problems, which can cause reduced ability to pay attention, underperformance in school, and lower intelligence quotient. The country’s lead paint regulation is stipulated under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 2013-24, which established a maximum limit of 90 ppm for total lead in paint. This landmark chemical policy phased out leaded decorative and industrial paints in December 2016 and December 2019, respectively. The post Eco group warns vs toxic lead spray paints appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t confident as IMSA audit starts
The International Maritime Organization, or IMO, started its Member State Audit Scheme or IMSAS from 2 to 9 October 2023, to scrutinize the Philippines’ implementation and enforcement of treaty instruments. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has guaranteed that the country has fully complied with international maritime conventions. A statement of the Department of Transportation, the mother agency of the Maritime Industry Authority that is preparing for this year’s IMSAS, said Bautista ensured that the Philippines had upheld maritime safety and protection of the marine environment by adhering to international rules and regulations. “I affirm our commitment to ensure the safety of life and property at sea and prevention of maritime pollution through full and effective implementation and enforcement of all laws, regulations, and recommendations, in adherence to our international responsibilities and obligations,” Bautista told IMO auditors during the kick-off of the IMSAS audit. Adhering to global norms Bautista said that through the audit, which assists member-states in improving their capacity for implementing international conventions, the Philippines promotes uniformity and effectiveness in the implementation of IMO instruments. “Having these mechanisms, we were able to champion our legislative agenda and ensure the continuous advancement of maritime interest in the country,” Bautista said. According to the Marina, the audit, conducted by three experienced IMO auditors, is conducted in accordance with the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Philippines and the IMO. This cooperation encompasses a series of vital IMO instruments, including SOLAS 1974, SOLAS PROT 1988, MARPOL 73/78, MARPOL PROTOCOL 1997, STCW 1978, LOAD LINES 1966, LOAD LINE PROT 1988, TONNAGE 1969, and COLREG 1972. IMSAS primary focus lies in assessing several key areas — Compliance with Audit Standards: Evaluating the extent to which the Philippines adheres to audit standards and the overall strategy; Legislation Enactment: Reviewing the enactment of legislation related to safety and environmental aspects associated with ratified IMO instruments; Administration and Implementation: Scrutinizing the administration, implementation, and enforcement of applicable laws and legislation; and Performance Evaluation: Assessing the performance concerning the implementation and enforcement of ratified IMO instruments in the roles of flag, port and coastal State. Originally, the IMSAS was set for 2020 to 2021, but since a state of emergency was still in effect due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled to 2022 to 2023. To prepare for the audit, Marina and the IMSAS Technical Working Group, and other concerned maritime stakeholders conducted gap analysis scoping exercises, inter-agency meetings, mock audits, and capacity-building activities in preparation for this year’s audit. The post Gov’t confident as IMSA audit starts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US slaps TV provider with first-ever space debris fine
US authorities said they have issued a "breakthrough" first-ever fine over space debris, slapping a $150,000 penalty on a TV company that failed to properly dispose of a satellite. On Monday the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) came down on Dish for "failure to properly deorbit" a satellite called EchoStar-7, in orbit since 2002. "This marks a first in space debris enforcement by the Commission, which has stepped up its satellite policy efforts," the FCC, which authorizes space-based telecom services, said in a statement. As the geostationary satellite came to the end of its operational life, Dish had moved it to an altitude lower than the two parties had agreed on, where it "could pose orbital debris concerns," the FCC said. The commission said Dish, a US satellite television provider, pledged in 2012 to elevate the satellite to 300 kilometers (190 miles) above its operational arc. But with fuel running low, it retired the satellite at an altitude just over 120 kilometers above the original arc. "As satellite operations become more prevalent and the space economy accelerates, we must be certain that operators comply with their commitments," said FCC enforcement bureau chief Loyaan Egal. "This is a breakthrough settlement, making very clear the FCC has strong enforcement authority and capability to enforce its vitally important space debris rules." The FCC said the settlement "includes an admission of liability from the company and an agreement to adhere to a compliance plan and pay a penalty of $150,000." In a statement Tuesday, Dish appeared to counter the FCC over disposal requirements, and argued that the commission's enforcement arm made "no specific findings that EchoStar-7 poses any orbital debris safety concerns." "As the Enforcement Bureau recognizes in the settlement, the EchoStar-7 satellite was an older spacecraft that had been explicitly exempted from the FCC's rule requiring a minimum disposal orbit," a Dish spokesperson said in a statement. "DISH has a long track record of safely flying a large satellite fleet and takes seriously its responsibilities as an FCC licensee." Collision risks The US aviation regulator, FAA, recently announced its intention to reduce space debris by requiring private companies to dispose of the upper stages of rocket launch vehicles by, for example, returning them to the Earth's atmosphere or moving them to a less congested "graveyard orbit." The new regulation, which has yet to be definitively adopted, already exists for government space missions. "If left unchecked, the accumulation of orbital debris will increase the risk of collisions and clutter orbits used for human spaceflight and for satellites," the Federal Aviation Administration said. The European Space Agency estimates that around one million pieces of debris larger than a centimeter -- big enough to "disable a spacecraft" -- are in Earth's orbit. They are already causing problems, from a near-miss in January last year involving a Chinese satellite, to a five-millimetre hole knocked into a robotic arm on the International Space Station in 2021. With satellites now crucial for GPS, broadband and banking data, collisions pose significant risks on Earth. The post US slaps TV provider with first-ever space debris fine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DENR suspends Socorro Bayanihan’s protected area agreement
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday said it ordered the suspension of the Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement of the controversial organization Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated. DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga issued a Letter of Suspension to SBSI pending further investigation into its alleged gross violations of the terms and conditions of the PACBRMA. Based on DENR records, the SBSI originated from the “Tinabangay” group of Socorro, Surigao del Norte who were organized as early as 1974 by the late Don Albino Taruc. The group was incorporated and registered as a People’s Organization with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 20 December 1980. SBSI applied and was subsequently awarded a PACBRMA by virtue of the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, implemented by DENR Administrative Order 2004-32, issued on 31 August 2004. The agreement, signed on 15 June 2004, covers 353 hectares of land located in the northeast part of Barangay Sering, overlooking the northeast portion of Bucas Grande Island. A PACBRMA is a legal instrument between the DENR and tenured migrant groups to develop and conserve a portion of a Protected Area for a 25-year period. Under the provisions of the PACBRMA, SBSI was granted certain rights and privileges over the awarded area within its established Multiple-Use Zone. Together with the DENR, SBSI developed its Community-Based Resource Management Plan, which was affirmed in 2013. In 2019, the DENR began its investigation of alleged SBSI activities that violated the PACBRMA, including restriction of entry into the area; establishment of checkpoints and military-like training; the resignation of teachers, uniformed personnel and barangay officials; and establishment of structures within the PACBRMA area. Inter-governmental efforts were also made to address the concerns raised against SBSI and to get them to comply with the terms of the PACBRMA. In 2019, SBSI submitted its updated CBRMP but was disapproved by the DENR due to non-compliance with certain provisions under the agreement. SBSI has not been able to resubmit its CBRMP. In 2021 and 2022, the DENR called the attention of SBSI on recurring violations. In both instances, there was no response from SBSI, triggered the issuance of a Letter of Suspension on Friday, 29 September 2023. Loyzaga said the DENR will work with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte and other authorities to ensure the smooth and peaceful enforcement of the suspension notice and the possible resettlement of the occupants. The post DENR suspends Socorro Bayanihan’s protected area agreement appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan will continue transparency about ALPS treated water release
The Daily Tribune recently published the opinion entitled “Releasing Fukushima water amid protests?” by Mr. Bernie V. Lopez, which worsens the misperception of Japan’s discharge plan. Therefore, I would like to provide explanations based on scientific evidence and facts as well as Japan’s efforts to take the measure in the most accountable and transparent manner. First of all, the water to be discharged is NOT “nuclear wastewater”.” It is “ALPS (advanced liquid processing system) treated water,” which has been sufficiently purified until the concentration of radioactive materials other than tritium is below the regulatory standard and then is further diluted before it is discharged. Tritium is a radioactive material that exists in nature, and can be found in rainwater and also in our bodies, but does not accumulate in the body. The reason for the discharge of ALPS-treated water is not a fear of the dangers of storing large amounts of nuclear wastewater but to restore life in Fukushima and achieve reconstruction. The Subcommittee on Handling ALPS Treated Water considered five options: geosphere injection, discharge into the sea, vapor release, hydrogen release, and underground burial. Of those methods, discharge into the sea was determined to be the best from a risk management perspective, because it has a proven track record in domestic and international nuclear facilities and is easy to monitor. Discharge of ALPS-treated water is an issue that cannot be postponed to construct new facilities to safely proceed with the decommissioning work, which will be more fully underway in the future. On 4 July 2023, The International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA, the world’s authority on nuclear-related issues, published the Comprehensive Report on the Safety Review of the ALPS Treated Water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which presents the findings of a nearly two-year review conducted by the IAEA and independent international experts based on scientific evidence. The report states that Japan’s plans to discharge the ALPS-treated water into the sea and associated activities are consistent with relevant international safety standards, and the discharge will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment. On 24 August 2023, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, or FDNPS, initiated the discharge of ALPS-treated water to promote the reconstruction of Fukushima. Since the start of the discharge, it has been confirmed that the concentration of nuclides including tritium in seawater and marine products is far below the standards, which indicates that the discharge is safe as planned. Specifically, Japan is implementing three types of monitoring (monitoring of treated water in tanks, real-time monitoring of a wide range of nuclides, mainly tritium) with the involvement of the IAEA. If a problem is detected during this monitoring process such as detecting radioactivity levels exceeding standards, appropriate measures will be taken, including immediate suspension of the discharge. In more detail, we will manage the annual discharge volume of tritium so it will not exceed 22 trillion Bq, which is equivalent to the target discharge management value for the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station before the accident. It is worth noting that other countries also discharge tritium into the sea in compliance with their domestic laws and regulations; for instance, according to the China Nuclear Energy Association website, China, discharging 112 trillion Bequerel, or Bq, from Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant , 102 trillion Bq from Ningde NPP, 90 trillion Bq from Hongyanhe NPP in 2021. The amount of tritium in the ALPS-treated water is far smaller than the amount of tritium discharged from many nuclear power plants and other facilities in other countries. Consultations with stakeholders Furthermore, the aforementioned article states that “Japan planned the release unilaterally — no transparency, no consensus. They never made an effort for international awareness and inspection.” However, the fact is that Japan has provided information and has engaged in consultations with the interested parties including both international and domestic ones in a transparent manner based on scientific evidence, with an emphasis on providing sufficient data. In addition, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has emphasized that every possible measure would be taken to ensure the safety of discharge and that any emission that would harm the health of citizens or the marine environment would not occur. He also explained Japan’s efforts regarding the discharge of ALPS-treated water at ASEAN-related Summit Meetings in Jakarta on September 6 and 7 and the G20 New Delhi Summit on September 9 and 10, which led to a wider and deeper understanding of our approach. The positive recognition and support in the international community for Japan’s efforts and its commitments are currently spreading. Many countries including the U.S., Australia, and NZ officially welcomed the IAEA’s Comprehensive Report, and also Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) acknowledged Japan’s efforts. Recently, on the margin of the Japan-ASEAN Summit Meetings, H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia expressed his understanding of Japan’s position. In addition, on the margin of the G20 New Delhi Summit, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN, President of the Republic of Türkiye said that he is aware of Japan’s sincere efforts, and H.E. Mr. Mark RUTTE, Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands expressed his full support to Japan’s approach. Therefore, the author’s claim that Japan had “no transparency, no consensus” is inaccurate. As the author correctly stated, “Secrecy will be Japan’s enemy” and Japan has been and will prioritize our transparency. At the end of the day, all the questions should be left to scientists and experts on nuclear issues, to draw a conclusion that can stand the test of scientific evidence and facts. Having gone through unprecedented hardships since the Great East Japan Earthquake, we remain committed to facing the most difficult challenges with complete transparency in close collaboration with the IAEA. After the start of discharge into the sea, Japan will continue to conduct three types of monitoring in a multilayered manner with the involvement of the IAEA. We hope to gain the understanding and support of the international community. The government of Japan will continue to provide the necessary information transparently based on the conclusion of the comprehensive report and will continue efforts to gain further understanding from the international community, while scientifically refuting politically motivated opinions. 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Ombudsman vindicates (2)
The Ombudsman was correct in his unsolicited recommendation that Audit Observation Memorandum or AOMs should not be published to prevent prejudging those involved. But AOMs with biased, political undertones and color, if released within a conspired time frame and raising issues as critical as huge Department of Health or DoH money intended to combat Covid-19 being stolen, can cause a rebellion. More than ever, these justify graft buster Martires’ anger over the publication of AOMs. Amazingly, this scenario reappeared with an almost repeat performance by the same personalities like the lady who poured out her tears over the plea bargaining agreement, Heidi Mendoza, who suddenly appeared from nowhere crying again and asking everyone to pray for the soul of her colleague, UN Auditor, Atty. Jake Cimafranca, who worked hard on the DoH report, died of a heart attack. She posted about it in time for Cimafranca’s burial. Also suddenly appearing was Grace Pulido Tan of the “kahindik-hindik (hideous)” PDAF audit report, echoing the same statement of her tandem Heidi that the release of the DoH audit report was regular and not premature. Astonishing everyone, including CoA state auditors, was the rebuff by no less than CoA Chair Michael Aguinaldo of the directive of President Duterte telling him to audit the Philippine National Red Cross. He said the CoA needed more authority to audit the PNRC. State auditors were shocked by the answer of their chief to a presidential order. Something must be cooking. And there emerged the resounding call for an immediate investigation by the senators of the Republic on the DoH’s P67.32- billion fund intended to fight Covid-19. Soon, the call for an inquiry sounded worldwide. The internet showed news flashes in the world’s capital cities of allegedly massive Department of Health funds of the Philippines intended to protect the people of the archipelago from the onslaught of Covid-19 being stolen. But former fiscal and President Rodrigo Duterte could not be intimidated. “Pure bullshit”: Duterte says CoA-flagged DoH funds not stolen. Duterte tells Cabinet secretaries to ignore CoA reports: “Nothing will happen there.” All probes against DoH “can continue,” Palace says after Duterte scores CoA. In effect, Fiscal Digong was saying, you can go on with your investigation. Catch the crooks, but do not hinder government efforts to provide our people with the supplies they need to protect them from Covid-19. Here is how it all started. The annual audit report on the accounts and financial operations of the Department of Health for the calendar year ending 31 December 2020 disclosed, among other things, the following most significant observations contained in one of the collections of AOM released as an annual audit report on 11 August 2021: “1. Various deficiencies involving some P67,323,186,570.57 worth of public funds and intended for national efforts of combatting the unprecedented scale of the Covid-19 crisis were noted. These deficiencies contributed to the challenges encountered and mixed opportunities by the DoH during the state of calamity and national emergency and cast doubts on the regularity of related transactions. “We requested that the SoH (Secretary of Health) implement the recommendations contained in the Consolidated Management Letter on the audit of Covid-19 funds for the year ending 31 December 2020 and submit a status report on the actions taken on the audit recommendations stated therein.” On 11 August 2021, the preceding observation was reported by a local stream media as a blazing headline: “CoA finds DoH lacking in managing P67.32-B Covid funds.” “The Commission on Audit found deficiencies in how the Department of Health managed the P67.32 billion fund to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that it contributed to challenges that the country faced during the crisis. “CoA’s annual audit report for DoH in 2020 revealed that the deficiencies are caused by non-compliance with pertinent laws and regulations, which led to missed opportunities for the department primarily tasked with managing the pandemic.” (To be continued) The post Ombudsman vindicates (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU hits TikTok with big fine over child data
A European Union regulator hit Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok with a 345-million-euro fine over child data breaches on Friday, in the bloc's latest salvo against the business practices of tech titans. The fine, equivalent to $369 million, is the culmination of a two-year inquiry by Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC). The Irish watchdog, which plays a key role in policing the EU's strict General Data Protection Regulations, gave TikTok three months "to bring its processing into compliance" with its rules. The DPC in September 2021 began examining TikTok's compliance with GDPR in relation to platform settings and personal data processing for users aged under 18 years old. It also looked at TikTok's age verification measures for persons under 13 and found no infringement, but found the platform did not properly assess the risks to younger people registering on the service. The regulator highlighted in its ruling Friday how children signing up had TikTok accounts set to public by default, meaning anyone could view or comment on their content. It also criticised TikTok's "family pairing" mode, which is designed to link parents' accounts to those of their teenage offspring, but the DPC found the company did not verify parent or guardian status. Ireland is at the centre of the GDPR regime because Dublin hosts the European headquarters of TikTok and the likes of Google, Meta and X, formerly Twitter. In May, the DPC fined Meta a record 1.2 billion euros for transferring EU user data to the United States in breach of a previous court ruling. TikTok, a division of Chinese tech giant ByteDance, is extremely popular among young people with 150 million users in the United States and 134 million in the EU. TikTok 'respectfully disagrees' In response to the fine, TikTok said it "respectfully disagrees" with the verdict and was "evaluating" how to proceed. "The DPC's criticisms are focused on features and settings that were in place three years ago, and that we made changes to well before the investigation even began, such as setting all under 16 accounts to private by default," a TikTok spokesperson told AFP. The platform insists that it closely monitors the age of its users and takes action when needed. TikTok says it deleted almost 17 million accounts worldwide in the first three month of this year due to suspicions that they belonged to people under 13 years old. Earlier this month, the social media giant opened a long-promised data centre in Ireland, as it tries to calm fears in Europe over data privacy. GDPR came into force in 2018 and was the EU's toughest and most famous law on tech, ensuring citizens give consent to the ways in which their data is used. Friday's fine comes after the EU last week unveiled a list of digital giants -- including Apple, Facebook owner Meta and ByteDance -- that will face tough new curbs on how they do business. The post EU hits TikTok with big fine over child data appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU fines TikTok 345 million euros over child data
A European Union regulator fined Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok 345 million euros over child data breaches on Friday. Ireland's Data Protection Commission said in a statement that it has handed down the "administrative fine", which is equivalent to $369 million, over the breaches it uncovered in a two-year inquiry. The watchdog gave TikTok three months "to bring its processing into compliance" with its rules. EU member Ireland's DPC plays a key role in policing the bloc's strict General Data Protection Regulations. The watchdog in September 2021 began examining TikTok's compliance with GDPR in relation to platform settings and personal data processing for users aged under 18. It also looked at TikTok's age verification measures for persons under 13 and found no infringement, but found the platform did not properly assess the risks to younger people registering on the service. The DPC highlighted Friday in its ruling how children signing up had TikTok accounts set to public by default, meaning anyone could view or comment on their content. It also criticized TikTok's "family pairing" mode, which is designed to link parents' accounts to those of their teenage offspring, but the DPC found the company did not verify parent or guardian status. Ireland is at the center of the GDPR regime because Dublin hosts the European headquarters of TikTok and the likes of Google, Meta, and X, formerly Twitter. TikTok, a division of Chinese tech giant ByteDance, is extremely popular among young people with 150 million users in the United States and 134 million in the European Union. In response to Friday's fine, TikTok said it "respectfully disagrees" with the verdict and was "evaluating" how to proceed. "The DPC's criticisms are focused on features and settings that were in place three years ago, and that we made changes to well before the investigation even began, such as setting all under 16 accounts to private by default," a TikTok spokesperson told AFP. The post EU fines TikTok 345 million euros over child data appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Heeding Ombudsman, DBM to suspend officials in DepEd laptop mess
The Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management on Monday said it will fully implement the order of the Office of the Ombudsman concerning former and current PS-DBM and DBM officials allegedly involved in the purchase of overpriced laptops for the Department of Education. In a statement, PS-DBM said it will strictly carry out the directive of DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman to issue a suspension order for current PS-DBM officials and employees in compliance with the Ombudsman's mandate. "We assure the public that we will cooperate fully with the Ombudsman and the NBI in their investigations," PS-DBM said. "We are committed to ensuring that the procurement process for DepEd laptops was conducted fairly and in accordance with the law." The Ombudsman earlier this month ordered the preventive suspension of nine officials and employees of the PS-DBM and DBM for their alleged involvement in the purchase of overpriced laptops for DepEd. The issue stemmed from a Commission on Audit audit report showing that DepEd had allegedly purchased expensive laptops that contained low-end processors in 2021, with PS-DBM allegedly facilitating these transactions. COA said P2.4 billion was used to acquire laptops for online teachers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but "the economy and efficiency in procuring laptop computers" was not observed due to the DepEd accepting the price and specification recommendations put forward by PS-DBM, which led to an increase in cost from P35,046.50 as stated in the Agency Procurement Request to P58,300 as specified in the Approved Budget for the Contract. The laptops were equipped with Intel Celeron processors, commonly found in basic personal computers. The PS-DBM said it has already requested the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate investigation into the procurement of DepEd laptops. "We believe that an independent investigation is necessary to ensure that the truth is uncovered and that justice is served," PS-DBM said. The post Heeding Ombudsman, DBM to suspend officials in DepEd laptop mess appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DBM, DepEd respect Ombudsman’s suspension order
The Department of Budget and Management on Saturday said it will adhere to the Office of the Ombudsman’s suspension order against officials involved in the purchase of alleged overpriced laptops for public school teachers in 2021. “The Department of Budget and Management, under the leadership of Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, assures the public of its utmost compliance with the decision set by the Office of the Ombudsman against former Procurement Service and DBM officials due to their alleged involvement in the purchase of reportedly overpriced laptops for the Department of Education,” it said in a statement. It added that Pangandaman has already directed concerned officials to implement the suspension order against former and present PS-DBM officials and employees involved in the controversial procurement deal of DepEd laptops. In a resolution, Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued a six-month preventive suspension without pay against education and budget officials, pending the investigation into the P2.4-billion laptop procurement for the DepEd Computerization Program. Citing reports from the Commission on Audit, the Ombudsman found sufficient grounds to preventively suspend the officials for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and gross neglect of duty. The DBM has already requested an independent investigation from the National Bureau of Investigation in August 2022. The DepEd also assured that the suspension of its officials won’t affect the education services of the department, especially the preparations for the opening of School Year 2023-2024. “DepEd adheres to due process and shall abide by the said Order. Meanwhile, the Department reassures the public of its unhampered services as we prepare for a safe and orderly opening of School Year 2023-2024,” DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said. Among the education officials ordered to be placed under six-month suspensions are former PS-DBM officers-in-charge Lloyd Christopher Lao and Jasonmer Uayan; and procurement management officers Ulysses Mora, Marwin Amil, and Paul Armand Estrada as well as Alec Ladanga, former Executive Assistant IV of the Office of Usec. Sevilla; Marcelo Bragado, Director IV of DepEd’s Procurement Management Service; and Selwyn Briones, DepEd’s Supervising Administrative Officer. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Saturday urged the Ombudsman to go after the contractors involved in the alleged overpriced laptop procurement deals. Pimentel said the anti-corruption body should undertake “vigorous efforts” in reclaiming public funds used in the anomalous purchasing deals. “The Ombudsman’s decision to impose preventive suspension sends a strong signal that any alleged wrongdoing will be treated seriously. It is equally vital to thoroughly examine the role of the contractor in this anomalous transaction, from its background to how it secured the contract,” he said. It is imperative for the Ombudsman “to regain taxpayers’ money, expended on items that did not align with the government’s actual needs.” The PS-DBM awarded the contract to Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., LDLA Marketing and Trading Inc. and VST ECS Philippines Inc. Pimentel earlier authored the Senate Resolution 120, which called for a comprehensive investigation into the laptop procurement carried out by DepEd through PS-DBM. In previous hearings, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee found out that the joint-venture companies failed to meet the technical specifications required for the laptops, rendering them unsuitable for the teachers’ needs. The companies were also unable to complete the delivery within the agreed target dates outlined in the procurement contract. “Our citizens deserve to know the exact circumstances that led to the selection of the joint venture comprising Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., LDLA Marketing and Trading Inc. and VST ECS Philippines Inc. for this significant procurement,” Pimentel said. He criticized the PS-DBM over its failure to promptly blacklist the suppliers involved in the anomalous laptop deals by the recommendation of the Commission on Audit. The Blue Ribbon Committee, he said, will continue to perform its duty and help in seeking out the truth behind the alleged overpriced laptop deal. The post DBM, DepEd respect Ombudsman’s suspension order appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The initiation of the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea
On 22 August, the Government of Japan has decided in the meeting to initiate the discharge of ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System) treated water into the sea and to request TEPCO to promptly prepare for the start of the discharge into the sea. If there are no interference due to weather or sea conditions, the day of the initiation of discharge into the sea is expected to be 24 August. On 4 July 2023, The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published the Comprehensive Report. The report states that Japan’s plans to discharge the ALPS treated water into the sea and associated activities are consistent with relevant international safety standards, and the discharge will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment. Japan has provided information to the international community in a transparent manner based on scientific evidence, with an emphasis on providing sufficient data. Nevertheless, there are some who questioned the IAEA Comprehensive Report. I believe this is evidence of their disregard for science and such moves will only hamper global cooperation in utilizing nuclear energy and jeopardize international cooperation to ensure its safety. A spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China once said that “the study of origins is a scientific matter that should be conducted jointly by scientists all over the globe and should not be politicized” in response to criticism of the WHO-China joint study of the origins of SARS-CoV-2. Japan has exactly done this about ALPS treated water—leave the issue to the scientists to solve. The IAEA also notes that the discharge into the sea is “technically feasible.” In more detail, we will manage the annual discharge volume of tritium so it will not exceed 22 trillion Bq, which is equivalent to the target discharge management value for the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station before the accident. It is worth noting that other countries also discharge tritium into the sea in compliance with their own domestic laws and regulations; for instance, according to China Nuclear Energy Association website, China, discharging 112 trillion Bq from Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in 2021. The amount of tritium in the ALPS treated water is far smaller than the amount of tritium discharged from many nuclear power plants and other facilities in other countries. In addition, Japan will take all possible measures to ensure the safety of the discharge into the sea even after it begins, and will not discharge anything that could adversely affect the health or environment. After the start of discharge into the sea, Japan will continue to conduct three types of monitoring (monitoring of treated water in tanks, real-time monitoring, and sea area monitoring) in a multilayered manner with the involvement of the IAEA, and if some event occurs, such as radioactivity levels exceeding standards, appropriate measures, including not discharging or suspending the discharge, will be taken. The information and experience gained in this long and difficult process of decommissioning nuclear power plant will be shared to help solve similar problems that the world may face in the future. Having gone through unprecedented hardships since the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Government of Japan has been and will continue to provide the necessary information in a transparent manner in close collaboration with the IAEA and will continue efforts to gain further understanding from the international community, while scientifically refuting politically motivated opinions. The post The initiation of the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EV sector needs more infrabuildup
The electric vehicle industry still needs infrastructure support to boom in the coming years, an industry group leader said on Wednesday. In a press briefing for the upcoming 11th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit this October, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines President Edmund Araga said even if more and more car owners are switching to EVs, infrastructure for its development still needs a further push. “Implementation remains a big challenge as it involves extensive output and promotion. The EV industry is still making necessary adjustments in terms of supplies and infrastructure. Transitions are on the way in terms of regulations being set by different government agencies involved,” he said. Based on data from Statista, 1,013 EVs were sold locally in 2022 — higher than the 843 in 2021 and 378 in 2020. Lapsed into law This could mainly be attributed to the implementation of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, or EVIDA, or the Republic Act 11697, which lapsed to become law in April 2022 and was enacted in May 2022 (with implementing rules and regulations taking effect in September 2022). EVIDA incentivizes EV adoption nationwide — by allocating dedicated parking slots in establishments, assigning green routes across cities and municipalities, and exempting vehicles from traffic coding schemes, among other perks. Public and private sectors have also been working to make charging stations more conveniently accessible to EV owners. Gov’t, sectoral support Araga also pointed out that currently, the Department of Energy is setting the pace in the government sector through rolling out necessary programs especially those aligned with the law pertaining to renewable energy so “Such initiatives are related to the development of local EV infrastructures. One I can cite is the e-App program that maps out locations of active EV charging stations across the country,” Araga explained. He also cited the Department of Energy for the ongoing development of the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry, which comes with inter-agency support. Araga stated that the department is also facilitating public consultations regarding the Vehicle Fuel Economy Labeling Program and the Fuel Economy Performance Rating. The Department of Trade and Industry is still preparing its Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy and the Department of Transportation is keeping its focus on public utility vehicles modernization, with EV as the priority. Other government agencies are taking their share by including EVs into their fleets, namely the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH which is leading the pack in terms of compliance to this commitment. For the part of the private sector, it is also actively investing in putting up more charging stations in strategic locations nationwide and using the latest innovative EV charging technology. “Many private companies are also taking the initiative to procure EVs for enhancing their own fleets, highlighting their efforts to lower carbon emissions and lower energy dependency on gasolines,” according to Araga. 11th PEVS EV development is among the highlights of the upcoming Philippine Vehicle Summit, or PEVS 2023. The gathering will push for for wider EV adoption in the country will be its biggest to date—a three-day summit featuring trade exhibitions and a conference to occupy three halls of the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. “Not to be missed is the establishment of the Philippine Battery Consortium, which be launched during PEVS 2023. It is aimed at addressing the important concerns and issues about battery supplies and costs,” Araga concluded. The post EV sector needs more infrabuildup appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kudos, Dr. Eric Olivarez (2)
Yesterday I was asked how sure I was that the resident auditor was true and correct in his conclusions about the accounts and results of the financial operations of Parañaque City as of 31 December 2022. As sure as the rising sun, I said. I explained that the audit covered areas by the instructions of the Assistant Commissioner and the Director of the National Capital Region, both Local Government Sector of the Commission on Audit through the memoranda they issue, in addition to the areas identified during the risk assessment for the audit of the accounts and transactions during the year. The observations presented and discussed in the report are residual issues and addressed after the issuance of the Audit Observation Memorandum together with the recommended courses of action, management’s comments, and the auditor’s rejoinder, where appropriate. It is very clear, therefore, that the audit report is not the product of the audit team alone but of the Commission on Audit and the management. Dr. Eric continues to reap the rewards of his toil, the following significant accomplishments: Major projects completed: Construction of Fisherman’s Wharf; Construction of various school buildings; Construction of various multi-purpose halls; Construction of various child development centers; Construction of daycare centers. Various awards and recognitions the city received: Good Financial Housekeeping Passer for CY 2022; Sixth Place in Top 10 Highest Locally Sourced Revenues among Cities during the National Top Performing Provinces, Cities, and Municipalities in Local Revenue Generation for Fiscal Year 2021; Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence for being Beyond Compliant for garnering a rating of 2.66 in the Gawad Kalasag Seal for Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and Offices Category for CY 2022; Certificate of Recognition for outstanding performance during the Vax Baby Vax Campaign (Routine Catch Up Immunization Activity) by achieving 122.16 percent vaccination coverage of the targeted eligible population; Green Banner Seal of Compliance Award; Special Award for Best Local Government Unit in Nutrition Governance; Special Award on Best Local Government Unit in the Implementation of National Dietary Supplementation Program; Special Award for Best Local Government Unit in the Performance of Nutrition Management Functions; Special Award on Best Local Government Unit in the Implementation of Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition Program; Special Award on Best Local Government Unit in the Implementation of Nutrition Promotion Program for Behavior Change in CY 2022 Regional Nutrition Awards; Certificate of Recognition 1st Place — Most Exemplary in Disaster Response Operations Reporting (Pinakamahusay na Pag-uulat ng mga Operasyong Pangsakuna); Certificate of Recognition 2nd Place in the Most Exemplary in Yearly Accomplishment (Pinakamahusay sa Taonang Pagsasakatuparan) Response Operations Category; Certificate of Recognition 1st Place in Most Exemplary in Advocacy Campaigns (Pinakamahusay sa Adbokasiya); and Certificate of Appreciation for invaluable support during the conduct of Listahan 3rd Round National Household Assessment. There are still 302 lots with Transfer Certificates of Title or TCTs that have not been transferred in the name of the city casting doubt on the existence and ownership by the city. The International Public Sector Accounting Standard or IPSAS 17 on Property, Plant and Equipment provides the guidelines for the measurement of recognition of PPE. With little more hard work on research and dedication by the City Accounting Office and the continued guidance on the enabling law and jurisprudence as bases for transferring land titles in the name of the city, who knows, by next year, there might be another ten billion pesos added to the city’s assets and equity. Section 39 (2) of PD No. 1445 states that in the case of deeds to property purchased by any government agency, the Commission shall require a certificate of title entered in favor of the government or other evidence satisfactory to it that the title is in the government. (To be continued) The post Kudos, Dr. Eric Olivarez (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Exec warns vs. alarming risks fueled by climate change
Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert EA Borje warned the public of the alarming impacts of the climate change crisis, noting that some 40 areas across the country were considered as “most vulnerable” to weather extremes phenomenon. In a media interface held Friday night at Malacañan Compound in San Miguel, Manila, Borje emphasized the need to improve the country’s climate action plans to achieve sustainability and resiliency on the continuing risks brought by climate change. “The climate crisis is alarming not just in the Philippines but in the entire world,” he said. Borje cited that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has already identified the climate change phenomenon “as an existential threat.” “When it's an existential threat, that means that lives are already on the line…But it becomes more alarming for countries like the Philippines because we are a developing country, we are an archipelago and we are situated where we are,” he explained. Recognizing these impacts, Borje the government has devoted an entire chapter in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 to climate change and disaster resiliency. In fact, the Philippines has allocated USD 8.2 billion, or 9 percent of its total national budget, for climate change adaptation and mitigation programs this year. Despite being “on the right path” in addressing climate change, Borje said the Philippines “can always do better” to reduce and mitigate the impacts of “historic, global and systemic” phenomenon. “The government is implementing various programs, but it needs to boost and strengthen its efforts because of the shifts in the nature of challenges brought about by climate change),” he said, partly in the vernacular. “We can always do better. Always. I'm not saying that it is not enough. We can always do better. Because I think, whenever we've done something, it is automatic that the benchmark for the government and the people become higher,” he further stressed. Borje bared that the CCC is in close coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to assist the 40 areas that are at risk of climate disaster. Of the total, 35 of these are “for assessment.” Borje did not identify the 40 highly-vulnerable areas but noted that the DILG was in charge of identifying them and that they are now focusing on the whole-of-government approach to mitigate the risks of the climate change phenomenon. “The CCC and the DILG aim to make sure that 100 percent of the local government units nationwide are implementing their respective Local Climate Change Action Plans,” he said. Based on the CCC data, the LCCAP submissions increased by 95 percent from 715 submissions in 2021 to 1,397 as of 31 December 2022. The Commission targets 100 percent compliance from 1,715 LGUs by Fiscal Year 2024. The LCCAP, which serves as the LGU’s plan for enhancing local climate resilience, includes information on fit-for-purpose climate actions anchored on site-specific risks and vulnerabilities. The post Exec warns vs. alarming risks fueled by climate change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CoA flags Heart Center’s missed reimbursements
State auditors expressed alarm over the Philippine Heart Center’s P110.062 million worth of denied or returned to hospital or RTH claims for reimbursement in 2022 from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. According to the Commission on Audit, the Heart Center had 949 claims for reimbursement from PhilHealth. While the number was lower compared to the 4,214 claims denied in 2021, it still did not sit well with the CoA. The auditors maintained the amount represented a “material loss of income for the PHC.” “This is a reiteration of previous audit observations embodied in the prior years’ Annual Audit Reports of the PHC,” CoA said. The audit report showed that the loss stemmed from discrepancies in data, as well as non-compliance with the documentary requirements outlined in the National Health Insurance Act of 1995. CoA stressed that the P110.062 million could have been utilized to supplement the Heart Center’s operations and improve hospital facilities. The post CoA flags Heart Center’s missed reimbursements appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SEC penalizes NOW Corp. over ‘misleading’ public info
The Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC has fined NOW Corporation and its chief executive officer Mel Velarde P1 million each for allegedly “misleading disclosures” about the P2.6-billion unpaid obligation of affiliate company NOW Telecom to the government. In a seven-page order dated 15 June 2023, the SEC affirmed that NOW Corp. and Velarde were administratively liable for violating the Securities Regulation Code or SRC for disclosing misleading information to the public. The disclosure in question was the one posted on 10 November 2021, which stated that NOW Corp. was unaware of the details surrounding the motions filed by the National Telecommunications Commission or NTC with the Supreme Court. The NTC sought a resolution regarding NOW Telecom’s P2.6 billion liability representing unpaid supervision and regulation fees or SRF and spectrum user fees or SUF. With this, the SEC, through its Enforcement and Investment Protection Department, found no merit in the justifications provided by NOW Corp. and Velarde that their disclosure contained truthful and accurate statements. The regulator explained that it is “duty-bound to ensure that full and fair disclosure about securities is steadfastly complied with by listed companies” to protect the interest of the investing public. “Such disclosure is misleading as NOW and Mr. Velarde are fully aware of the specific details surrounding the motion, that is, the unpaid SUF and SRF of [NOW Telecom] with NTC,” the SEC said. “Accordingly, in this case, there is a failure to make a full, accurate, and timely disclosure of a material fact or information about securities as mandated compliance prescribed to a listed company constitutes a violation of Section 24.1(d) of the SRC,” it added. The SEC pointed out that as one of the concurrent key officials of both NOW Corp. and NOW Telecom, Velarde is “considered to have ipso facto participated in the transactions” relating to the unpaid SRF and SUF liability of NOW Telecom. “Considering the magnitude of the unpaid fees of [NOW Telecom] vis-a-vis the investment of [NOW Corp. in NOW Telecom], it is logical to say that said unpaid fees were factored in by NOW in entering into the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and in the valuation of the shares as consideration for the agreement,” the SEC said. The MOA was entered into by NOW Corp. with then Next Mobile Inc., now NOW Telecom, along with five other companies regarding swap or exchange of shares of stocks. NOW Corp. reported the move as an “investment in shares of stocks” as reflected in its 2006 financial statement. The SEC order came five months after NOW Telecom secured a $2.15-million grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency to fund financial assistance for its 5G pilot network launch. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, NOW Corp. confirmed that it received the SEC order. However, the company reiterated that it “disagrees with the Order of the EIPD and shall file a motion for reconsideration.” The post SEC penalizes NOW Corp. over ‘misleading’ public info appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoE touts P6.8B in energy efficiency outlays
The Energy Utilization Management Bureau of the Department of Energy or DoE has reported P6.8 billion worth of energy efficiency investments from 2021 to 2022. This was based on the Annual Energy Efficiency and Conservation and Annual Energy Consumption Reports submitted by the Designated Establishments or DEs for the compliance period of 2021-2022. Energy efficiency investments include projects that use energy-efficient technologies and practices. “I am very pleased that our DEs are moving forward on energy efficiency and conservation or EEC. These accomplishments bring multiple benefits for companies,” Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla said. “Industry has a crucial role to play in our quest toward achieving a low carbon-intensive economy and, more importantly, integrating this in their business models,” he added. DEs are private entities in the commercial, industrial, transport, power, agriculture, public works and other sectors identified by the DoE as energy-intensive industries based on their annual consumption from the previous year. Type 1 DEs had an annual energy consumption of 500,000 kWh to 4,000,000 kWh in the prior year, while Type 2 DEs had an annual energy consumption of more than 4,000,000 kWh for the previous year. The DoE also recorded increased investments in solar PV, variable frequency drives, cogeneration systems, district cooling systems, pumping systems, HVAC systems, compressed air systems, smart manufacturing systems and building energy management systems. For Type 1 DEs, an investment of around P360 million was recorded, while around P6.1 billion was recorded for Type 2 DES. A total of 4,782 DEs with an annual energy consumption threshold equivalent to more than 100,000 kWh recorded an investment of around P306 million. DEs are mandated to integrate energy management system policies into their business operations based on ISO 50001 or a similar framework. Likewise, they are required to set up programs to develop and design measures that promote energy efficiency, conservation and sufficiency, including installing renewable energy technologies. They also need to conduct an energy audit by engaging a certified energy auditor once every three years and submit energy consumption reports to the DoE. The post DoE touts P6.8B in energy efficiency outlays appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Online trade maintains strong growth last year
Online stock market transactions rose as those using it grew by 8.6 percent in 2022 to 1,258,907 accounts. Despite the muted growth in online accounts compared to previous years, the average value per online transaction rose by 33.2 percent to P46,236.40 from P34,701.80 in 2021. While close to 100,000 online accounts were added last year, its non-online counterpart recorded a decrease of 7,156 accounts to 453,827. Given this, the total number of stock market accounts registered in 2022 was 1,712,734, up by 5.7 percent from 2021’s 1,620,017 accounts. “The growth in accounts may have been subdued in 2022 but I expect an uptick in numbers again with the foray of new stock brokerage firms in the online trading space and the upcoming rollout of stock investing features in finance apps,” PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon, said. “The total number of stock market accounts was also affected by the clean-up of dormant accounts done by the trading participants,” Monzon added. The said cleanup of inactive accounts was done in compliance with Republic Act 9160, the Anti-Money Laundering Act. The accounts were mostly owned by local retail investors as they held a little over 98.0 percent of the total stock market accounts. Institutional investors and foreign investors owned 1.9 percent and 1.7 percent of the total stock market accounts, respectively. Investor profile The Stock Market Investor Profile Report showed that there were slightly more female investors in 2022 at 50.2 percent. For online accounts, 51.0 percent were held by female investors while the rest are owned by their male counterparts. A surge in accounts owned by investors in the 30 to 44 age range was recorded in 2022. About half of the retail accounts were held by investors in the 30 to 44 age group from a 33.9 percent share in 2021. The 45 to 59-year-old investors comprised 20.7 percent of accounts, followed by the 18 to 29-year-olds at 18.7 percent and investors aged 60 and above at 10.8 percent. The ownership by age of online accounts mirrored that of total retail accounts with the 30 to 44 age group taking up the largest share at 55.7 percent of online accounts. The 18 to 29-year-old investors followed registering a 20.8 percent share. Meanwhile, the 45 to 59 age bracket held 18.4 percent of the online accounts and the 60 and above age group owned 5.0 of online accounts. Investors with an annual income of less than P500,000 annually made up 53.5 percent of retail accounts and 72.9 percent of online retail accounts. Those who earned an annual income of P500,000 to P1 million had a 25.6 percent and 13.6 percent share in retail accounts and online retail accounts, respectively. Investors whose annual income is above P1 million comprised 20.9 percent of retail investors and 13.6 percent of online investors. In terms of location, Metro Manila continued to have the biggest number of retail investors at 81.5 percent, trailed by Luzon 10.7 percent, Visayas at 3.7 percent and Mindanao at 2.5 percent. Investors based overseas accounted for 1.7 percent of retail investors. Foreign nationals with investments in the local market were mostly Chinese, American, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese. The post Online trade maintains strong growth last year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC assigns energy conservation officers
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has created posts for so-called Energy Conservation Officers to promote energy and fuel efficiency and conservation. The move was in compliance with Republic Act 11285, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, and in support of the local government’s goal of achieving its Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan from 2021 to 2050. The ECOs will be assigned to the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department, the City Planning and Development Department and the City General Services Department. They will be responsible for ensuring compliance with RA 11285, leading the preparation, implementation, updating, and monitoring of the City’s Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan, issuing memoranda and guidelines on energy and fuel efficiency and conservation, and organizing meetings, workshops, and seminars regarding the implementation and promotion of energy and fuel conservation. The ECOs will also be tasked to develop a system for consolidation of required data and implementation to ensure timely preparation and submission of accomplished monthly electricity and fuel consumption reports and other reportorial documents. In addition to the ECOs, the mayor also created an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Technical Working Group to assist them in their duties and responsibilities. The TWG will be composed of the CCESD, CPDD, and CGSD as lead and the Office of the City Administrator, Department of the Building Official, City Architect Department, City Engineering Department, and Task Force Streetlights as members. Each department will designate one permanent and one alternate officer to attend to all matters related to the TWG. All city departments and offices have been ordered to submit the names of their respective EEC Focal Persons to the CCESD within 15 days following the effectivity of the executive order. “Aside from RA 11285’s goal of enabling local government units to reduce monthly electricity and fuel consumption by at least 10 percent, the formation of the ECOs can help us realize our target of lessening greenhouse gas emissions as laid out in Quezon City’s Climate Change Action Plan,” Belmonte said. The mayor said the city government is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable development. “We believe that energy efficiency and conservation is a key part of the solution,” she said. The post QC assigns energy conservation officers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC designates Energy Conservation Officers
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte over the weekend has designated Energy Conservation Officers to promote energy and fuel efficiency and conservation. Through Executive Order No. 15 Series of 2023, Belmonte assigned the Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department, the City Planning and Development Department, and the City General Services Department as ECOs. The move was in compliance with Republic Act 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act and to support the local government’s goal of achieving its Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan from 2021 to 2050. “Aside from RA 11285’s goal of enabling local government units to reduce monthly electricity and fuel consumption by at least 10 percent the formation of the ECOs can help us realize our target of lessening greenhouse gas emissions as laid out in Quezon City’s Climate Change Action Plan,” Belmonte said. The Mayor said among the duties and responsibilities of ECOs are to ensure compliance with RA 11285, lead the preparation, implementation, updating, and monitoring of the City’s Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan, issue memoranda and guidelines on energy and fuel efficiency, and conservation, and organize meetings, workshops, and seminars regarding the implementation and promotion of energy and fuel conservation. “The ECOs are also tasked to develop a system for consolidation of required data and implementation to ensure timely preparation and submission of accomplished monthly electricity and fuel consumption reports (MECR and MFCR) and other reportorial documents,” Belmonte said. The Executive Order also mandates the creation of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Technical Working Group to assist the ECOs in the performance of their duties and responsibilities. “The TWG will also provide the necessary data and information in compliance with the EE&C Act, the EE&C IRR, and all energy efficiency and conservation issuances,” the Mayor said. It will be composed of CCESD, CPDD, and CGSD as lead and the Office of the City Administrator, Department of the Building Official, City Architect Department, City Engineering Department, and Task Force Streetlights as members. Each department will designate one permanent and one alternate officer to attend to all matters related to the TWG, Belmonte said. All city departments and offices have been ordered to submit the names of their respective EE&C Focal Persons to the CCESD within 15 days following the effectivity of the Executive Order. The post QC designates Energy Conservation Officers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»