BY Danny Estacio GENERAL LUNA, Quezon-  Mayor Matt Erwin Florido led the memorable rites along with the members of municipal council and village officials,during  the groundbreaking of a P 13  million water supply system at Barangay Poblacion,Genearal Luna, Quezon, on  September 12. “Hindi po tayo tumitigil upang ang pangarap ng marami nating kababayan na magkaroon ng maayos na daloy ng tubig sa Poblacion Area at San Jose ay magkaroon ng katuparan”. Florido said. The improvement water system aims to supply water service for 24 hours. The fund allocated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Florido’s initiative, in response to the clamour of the residents. ” Lubhang kay palad ng Bayang May Puso dahil tuloy tuloy ang mga biyayang proyekto sa ating minamahal na bayan,”, Florido added.

By Chona C. Bugayong, Orlan Llemos, JP De Vera/PIMRO   LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Gov. Ramon V. Guico III signed a Memorandum of Agreement with San Miguel Global Power (SMGP BESS Power Inc.) for the establishment and administration of trust accounts in accordance with DOE DC2018-08-0021 on the accrued financial benefits from the commercial operations of Battery Energy Storage System Facility at San Manuel Municipality. Enrico dela Torre, Stakeholder Management and Community Relations Manager, represented SMGP BESS Power Inc. in a ceremony held on September 11 at the Urduja Ceremonial Hall here. Vice Gov. Mark Ronald Lambino, Carlo Fernand M. Fabia, and Exequel D. Madrid, both MCC operators for the SMGP, witnessed the signing. As stated in the agreement, on August 7, 2018, DOE issued Department Circular No. DC2018-08-0021 amending the purpose of Rule 29(A) of the EPIRA-IRR to accelerate socio-economic development, have a more effective and efficient utilization of the funds, and enforce the immediate provision of benefits to host communities. Before the signing of the MOA, SMGP, through Dela Torre, presented their project known as Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The AVP presentation showed that SMGP is energizing a sustainable future through BESS. BESS facilities contribute to San Miguel Global Power’s commitment to expanding the country’s energy mix and paving the way for sustainable energy. It further stated that BESS is a safe, clean, and scalable technology that can help support and address energy demand in the country. Quoting what the President said during the inauguration of the 50 MW San Miguel Global Power Battery Energy Storage System Facilities in Limay Bataan, ‘This technology (BESS) is carving a distinct path towards a more energy-secure and sustainable future for the country. Indeed, it promises great rewards for the country; not only will we be able to generate sufficient reliable and clean energy, leading to more affordability of energy and, of course, generating jobs for the people.’ Gov. Guico earlier said Pangasinan is going to play a key role in contributing to the country’s power requirement. Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Baby Ruth Torre was also present during the signing.    

By Danny Estacio   TAYABAS CITY, Quezon -Senator Ronald “Bato” de la  Rosa allocated fund to qualified beneficiaries under Livelihood Assistance for Displaced/Disadvantaged (TUPAD) workers from different barangays following  an orientation and contract signing on Thursday, September 12, 2024, this city. City mayor Lovely Reynoso- Pontioso said that the orientation and contract signing of the ten (100) new batch of TUPAD beneficiaries who will work for 10 days and will receive a salary of P5,200 for community service. The lady mayor personally met the beneficiaries and expressed thank to Senator De La Rosa for allocating the fund and she was with councilor Elsa Rubio Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager-designate Malou Dichoso Montoya, with partner local Department of Labor and Employment -TUPAD coordinator Mark Busar and John Mark R. De Dos facilitated the orientation and contract signing.                            

By: Dante M. Salvaña Subic Bay Freeport – The Bureau of Customs Port of Subic (BOC) and  the Department of Agriculture (DA)  confiscated around P136.58 million worth of smuggled agricultural products and cigarettes on Wednesday September 11 at Subic Port in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The shipment was consigned to the Betron Consumer Goods Trading and arrived here on August 15, 2024 from China. During the presentation to the media on Wednesday at the New Container Terminal (NCT), Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel and BOC Port of Subic Atty. Ricardo Uy Morales II opened seven 40-footer container vans. The two officials presented the first five containers of 86 metric tons of fresh white onions and 58 metric tons of fresh carrots misdeclared as frozen fish egg balls from China; as well as two containers of smuggled cigarettes misdeclared as tissue from Taiwan.   Each of the three shipping containers of white onions is valued at over PHP4.3 million while the two containers of carrots amounted to over PHP4 million each, with a total amount worth at more than PHP21.08 million for all five containers. The two other 40-footer container vans, consigned to the Subic All N1 Corp., was declared to contain 2,153 packages of tissues. The container vans arrived in Subic Freeport on August 13, 2024, with Taiwan as the country of origin. Collector Morales said that the two container vans actually contained 167 packages of tissues, 993 master cases of Bros Premium Class A cigarettes, and 993 master cases of Commando Filter, Kings Finest, and Virginia Blend cigarettes. Morales said that the total fair market value for the smuggled items were priced at P136,592,591.67, adding that the violations committed by the aforementioned consignee include: no valid Certificated of Registration and Tax Exemption from the SBMA; and expired registration/ accreditation from the BOC since March 20, 2020.  

The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), handed over a mobile storage unit and mobile energy systems worth more than P11.6 million ($208,000) to boost Cagayan province’s disaster risk reduction capacity, on September 9 and 10. USAID Mission Director Ryan Washburn handed over a mobile storage unit that can store 50,000 food packs to Cagayan Provincial Administrator Atty. Maria Rosario Mamba-Villaflor. The mobile storage unit will allow the provincial government to store food and non-food items so they can rapidly deliver life-saving assistance in the immediate aftermath of disasters. “For many years, USAID has dispatched teams to Cagayan and other provinces in Northern Luzon to support local government units in providing life-saving assistance during calamities,” said Mission Director Washburn.  “As your friend, partner, and ally, the U.S. government remains committed to strengthening our partnerships and working with the Philippine government to rebuild and restore lives following disasters.” During the turnover, USAID also formalized a partnership with Cagayan province and the World Food Programme to strengthen Cagayan’s emergency response efforts through the Preparedness and Response Excellence in the Philippines, or PREP, project. This project will help reduce disaster risks by improving irrigation canals, water systems, and water-harvesting facilities; set up community flood-control dikes; introduce climate-resilient crops; construct community evacuation centers; and provide cash-for-work training so communities can bounce back from natural disasters. “People’s empowerment is at the heart of the disaster preparedness and good governance program of the governor,” said Provincial Administrator Mamba-Villaflor.  “The governor extends his gratitude on behalf of the people of Cagayan.” USAID also handed over mobile energy systems (MES) to the municipalities of Lal-Lo and Santa Ana.  The MES units will provide clean and reliable power to support relief operations and essential services in the aftermath of disasters, as well as help restart the power grid. Because the systems are mobile, they can be deployed anywhere they are needed, particularly in remote and off-grid areas.  Unlike traditional generator sets, they only require sunlight to recharge. While in Northern Luzon, Mission Director Washburn also discussed USAID’s work to support Tuguegarao City’s solid waste management system with OIC City Administrator Juanito Calubaquib and city councilors.  He also spoke with Cagayan Vice Governor Melvin Vargas Jr. about USAID’s programs in the region and visited Santa Teresita municipality to see the Emergency Operations Center that USAID helped construct more than a decade ago. Since 2010, the U.S. government, through USAID, has provided around Php19.6 billion ($344 million) in disaster relief and recovery aid, as well as boosted the disaster risk reduction capacity of over 100 cities and municipalities in the Philippines.