33,000 free energy-efficient light bulbs distributed in West Visayas
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Oct 17 (PIA) -- About 33,000 compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) light bulbs were distributed to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in the provinces of Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor to replace incandescent bulbs they commonly used.
The Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), gave out free CFLs to promote “Energy Conservation and Efficient Lighting” as one of the government’s responses to the growing concerns of greenhouse effects and the need to conserve energy.
“Efficient and reliable lighting is a central factor in attaining the basic human needs for education and health,” the very objective of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said during the launch of the bulb distribution in Mindanao.
CFLs distributed to the beneficiaries are energy-efficient light bulb and considered the smaller version of fluorescent lamps, Soliman said.
These bulbs last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use about 80 percent less energy.
The bulb distribution is just one of the activities for DOE’s Philippine Energy Efficient Project (PEEP) and once the CFL reaches its time frame, beneficiaries can exchange their used CFL to a new one within the five-year program.
The DOE called on Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries to help conserve energy by using CFLs which last up to 10,000 hours and save up to 80 percent electricity compared to their incandescent bulbs commonly used in households that generate huge savings on energy as finances for the households, community and eventually with everybody’s cooperation the whole country.
Economic benefits for the country include reducing energy demand, dependency for imported oil which eventually reduces greenhouse effects.
The DSWD Central Visayas distributed 4,400 bulbs in the province of Cebu; 10,400, Bohol; 18,000, Negros Oriental; and 134, Siquijor, prioritizing Poblacion and mountain barangay areas with electricity connection, DSWD-7 Information Officer for 4Ps Aileen Lariba said.
This project demonstrates the benefits the community can get with convergence of services if implemented with a series of efficiency activities, collaborated with the commercial, residential and public sectors, said Lariba. (MBCN/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)
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NegOr schools to vie for stat quiz
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct 17 (PIA) -- Nine colleges and universities in Negros Oriental are expected to compete in the provincial qualifier for the 21st Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ).
Ariel Fortuito, National Statistics Office (NSO)-NegOr, said 27 freshmen college students will participate in the quiz. Each school needs to send three students for the competition.
The provincial elimination will be on November 13 at 1 p.m. at Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) main campus, Dumaguete City.
Foruito said the PSQ is an annual competition designed to test freshmen college students’ knowledge of statistics and promote appreciation of the importance and value of science, particularly statistics in all development-planning activities.
The quiz is open to all first-time college freshmen currently enrolled in the second semester for the school year 2012-2013 in any recognized tertiary academic institution in the province.
Each school can send three participants and three coaches that it must officially endorse. The top three winners will represent the province during the regional elimination tentatively scheduled on Nov. 19.
The regional winner will represent the region and compete with the representatives of the other 16 regions in the National PSQ contest in December in Metro Manila.
This year’s participating schools include Silliman University, Foundation University, St. Paul University, Negros oriental State University, COSCA, Maxino College, Maritime College, Science Technology Institute, and AMA. (mbcn/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)