Lighting retrofit program to expand to state schools, public hospitals
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 27 (PIA) --- The lighting retrofit program in government buildings implemented by the Department of Energy (DOE) will soon expand to include state schools and public hospitals in the country.
The expansion is seen to boost the national government’s efforts in reducing wasted energy in government offices as well as mitigate the high powers costs in the Philippines.
DOE started implementing the government building retrofit program in 35 national government agencies in Manila early this year.
“We replaced the old, inefficient lights in their buildings with new and efficient ones,” said Rosalie Joan Sotelo, senior science research specialist of DOE during a recent energy forum held in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
Under the program, older-style fluorescent lamps from 40W and 36W and magnetic ballasts are replaced with energy-efficient T5 28W lamps and electronic ballasts.
Sotelo said the savings generated by the agency from their reduced energy consumption can be used for their operating expenses such as bonuses, rice allowance or purchase of office equipment after DOE verifies their savings based on their power bill.
Retrofitted government offices are required to submit to DOE a monthly report of their energy and fuel consumption after which DOE will inspect their energy bill and issue a certification showing how much energy has been saved by the agency.
“Those who saved at least 10%, they can use their savings in full for their operating expenses,” she said.
Malacañang has earlier issued Administrative No. 183 mandating all government departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities on the use of Energy Efficient Lighting Systems (EELs) to reduce power use by a minimum of 10%.
The government building retrofit program is in line with the Public Lighting Retrofit Program, both of which are components of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) spearheaded by DOE.
The Public Lighting Retrofit Program involves replacing street lights using mercury vapor lamps, which consume about 250W to 500W, with 70W high pressure sodium lamps.
Traffic lights using 100W incandescent bulbs are retrofitted with energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LED).
Philippines has been reported to hold the highest electricity rate in Asia with the average retail power rate pegged at 18.1 US centavos per kilowatt-hour, topping Japan where the per kilowatt-hour cost is at 17.9 US centavos. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Farm family congress held in Dumaguete City
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 27 (PIA) --- Farmers from the 30 barangays of Dumaguete City gathered in the capital city of Negros Oriental province for the two-day Farm Family Congress held Oct. 25 to 26, 2011.
The farmers brought their various organically-grown farm products to the Quezon Park which was converted into a Farmers’ Market as the village farmers sold their fresh produce to the public for two days.
The City Agriculture Office, which organized the congress, also recognized the Outstanding Agricultural Achievers in the city, said City Public Information Officer Steve Gabriel.
“The farmers also participated in contests such as minus-one singing contest, poster-making, vegetable seeds identification, quiz bee and extemporaneous speaking,” said Gabriel.
Held annually, the congress is in line with the city government’s efforts to promote organic farming among the local agricultural community. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
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Dumaguete awards Barangay Model Family of the Year
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 27 (PIA) --- A family from Barangay 8 in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental has been recognized as the Barangay Model Family of the Year by the Dumaguete City Council for the Welfare of Children.
The family of Pepito and Almia Marcelino bested the family entrants from five other barangays due to the example they have set in the community and the good scholastic performance of their four children, said Catalina Amasula, chairperson of this year’s Search for Model Family.
Pepito and Almia’s children have all finished their bachelor’s degrees at Silliman University, passed their board examinations and are now working abroad.
Amasula said the couple are active in church work, leading the San Vicente Ferrer chapel in Barangay 8 for 20 years.
The awarding ceremony was held Saturday afternoon at the Robinson Mall.
The winning family received P10,000 in cash and a plaque of recognition along with free meal coupon during the awarding ceremony held October 8, 2011 at Robinson’s Place-Dumaguete.
In his message, Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria said the city government will continue to recognize families in the city who are setting a good example in the community.
Other model family awardees who each received P2,000 and free meals this year were: Artemio and Rosalinda Jimenez of Brgy. Candau-ay; Leo and Alejandria Gequinto of Brgy. Balugo; Rolando and Eleuteria Abiquibil of Brgy. Mangnao; Marion and Sandra Tan of Brgy. Bajumpandan; and Feliciano and Maria Sanita of Brgy. Banilad. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from Syril Repe)
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RAFI holds ‘Moonwalk for breast cancer awareness’by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct 27 (PIA) The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) has intensified its breast cancer advocacy campaign through a ‘walk-for-a-cause’ recently in Cebu City.
Dubbed “Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness” gathered about 3,000 participants wearing pink t-shirts and formed a pink human ribbon on October 18 at 5:00 p.m. at the Aisatown I.T. Park.
The event participated in by cancer patients, women from the barangays, students, professionals, youth, public institutions, and private companies.
According to RAFI Communications Officer Haidee Emmie Palapar the moonwalk is a unique advocacy campaign of RAFI held every full moon of October, aims to promote the importance of observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 and beyond.
“It is also a campaign of RAFI to get more people to be aware on the importance of early cancer detection and prevention. At the same time, it is a tribute to the victims and survivors of breast cancer,” said Palapar.
Program Coordinator Ronald delos Reyes of Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cance Center (EJACC) explained “we always hold the Moonwalk during a full moon and Oct. 12 is when the moon is at its fullest this month, and full moon, because it is symbolically linked to women. However, we have to postpone it to Oct. 18 due to the bad weather.”
Delos Reyes also emphasized the importance of early screening and early detection of cancer of women should undergo breast self-examination at the age of 20, clinical breast examination at the age of 30, and regular yearly mammography screening for women aged 40 years old and above.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI.
From 1998 to 2007, EJACC of RAFI recorded a total of 2,499 reported breast cancer cases in Metro Cebu. EJACC found a continuous increase of breast cancer incidence in Metro Cebu over the past 10 years, caused by lifestyle and health-related factors.
Moonwalk is an initiative of EJACC under the Integrated Development focus area of RAFI, addressing health issues of communities in order to create a better quality of life. (PIA/JCT)
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DOE powers four off-grid areas through solar technology
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, October 26 (PIA) --- The Department of Energy (DOE) is now implementing the solar home system technology to bring light to four off-grid sitios in Visayas and Mindanao.
A total of 233 households are benefiting from the solar power in off-grid sites located in the following areas: Samal Island, Davao; Pandan, Antique; Makato, Aklan; and Manalo, Palawan.
“These areas are not connected to the country’s power grid so they do not have access to electricity,” said Rosalie Joan Sotelo, senior science research specialist of DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Division, in an interview during an energy-related forum held recently in Dumaguete City.
The off-grid residential lighting is implemented under the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) funded by a loan from the Asian Development Bank.
The solar system is composed of a solar panel, a storage battery and three lamps, collectively costing P28,000, said Sotelo.
“DOE also shoulders the installation costs and the maintenance training for the household owners,” she added.
The households are equipped with low-wattage light emitting diodes.
“Solar energy emitted by the panel and stored in the battery is enough to light up the household for the entire night,” she said.
Households benefiting from said project are also enjoying the benefits of having no power bills to pay.
PEEP is implemented by DOE with the key goal of demonstrating the societal benefits of undertaking a series of energy efficiency projects in the commercial, residential and public sectors nationwide. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)