Cusi: PHL Aims for 20,000MW RE Capacities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi said today that the Philippines endeavors to add at least 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy (RE) capacities by 2040 to sustain economic gains and continuously elevate the quality of life in the country.

Cusi issued the statement during the launch by the DOE and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) of the Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) for the country at the Energy Center at Bonifacio Global City.

“RRA is a collaboration among the DOE, IRENA and other renewable energy stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. It is vital in our vision towards attaining 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacities by 2040,” said Cusi.

The DOE chief said that with the Philippine governments’ aggressive stance towards building RE capacities, there is a “need to identify and analyze key challenges to further guide our stakeholders in our policies, regulatory and institutional framework.”

He said that formulating RRA involved research, interviews, focus group discussions and several multi-stakeholder consultations.

The goal, he added, is to provide a comprehensive and detailed analyses of the country’s RE profile in order to recommend measures to deal with the pertinent issues in the industry.

Cusi said that the Philippine RRA will also contribute to a database of the status of renewables readiness across member countries of IRENA.

The DOE-Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) also prepared the launching ceremony of the RRA to serve as a forum with industry stakeholders to inform them on its results, solicit their views in carrying out the recommendations and discuss opportunities and challenges of the RE sector.

The launching was graced by DOE Assistant Secretary Roberto Uy, DOE-REMB Director Mario Marasigan, DOE-REMB Assistant Director Marissa Cerezo, National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) Chairperson Atty. Jose Layug Jr., IRENA Senior Programme Officer Gurbuz Gunol and IRENA Regional Programme Officer for Asia-Pacific Yong Chen.

IRENA is an intergovernmental organization that supports countries in transitioning into a sustainable energy future. It serves as the principal platform for international cooperation and an avenue to explore other values of renewable energy as it promotes widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms in the pursuit of sustainable development.

“The DOE is committed to provide a level of playing field among RE developers to assure the country of its indigenous and sustainable energy for the consuming public,” said Cusi.

Cover photo caption: RRAP turnover: Gurbuz Gunol, IRENA Senior Programme Officer (left), turns over a copy of the Renewable Resource Assessment Publication to Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Robert Uy on Friday, 21 April 2017, in Taguig City. With them are NREB Chairman Jose Layug Jr. (2nd from left) and DOE-REMB Director Mario Marasigan (right).         

ASEAN Members Pitch for Nuclear Energy

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A pre-feasibility study unveiled during the recently concluded 7th Annual Meeting of the Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub-Sector Network (NEC-SSN) showed that many member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are in favor of tapping nuclear energy for peaceful or commercial use.

The three-day summit, which ended April 19 at the Sofitel Hotel, was hosted by the Philippines with the Department of Energy headed by Secretary Alfonso Cusi as the lead agency in facilitating the conference chaired by Malaysia.

Nuclear energy is being seen by ASEAN members as a long-term source of power, according to the study conducted by ASEAN Center for Energy (ACE) Canada’s Nuclear and Radiological Program.

In representing Secretary Cusi, DOE Undersecretary Jess Posadas underscored regional and international cooperation to advance the use of civilian nuclear energy (CNE) in the ASEAN region.

The DOE official also highlighted the Secretary’s stance that “the meeting was timely as it afforded the Philippines insights while it tries to develop and formulate its national position on nuclear energy.”

In his speech opening the summit, Posadas said the Philippines will need a kind of energy that will power the economic development resulting from the P8.9 trillion worth of investments in infrastructure in the next five years.

“Pagnakita mo ‘yung golden age of infrastructure, magugulat ka … Train na lang, electric lahat 'yun. Magkakaron pa tayo ng subway,” Posadas said. "If the infrastructure projects will be built, the Philippines will need huge amounts of energy."

Nuclear power has the potential of meeting such huge energy demand, according to Posadas, as he noted that one gram of uranium is equivalent to 1.8 million cubic meters of oil and three million grams of coal.

"Nuclear energy would last longer than other fuels," said Posadas.

“The Philippines has always viewed nuclear energy as a long-term option for power generation that will provide supply security, stability and reliability. Should this be the path that the country will take, nuclear further diversifies our existing generation mix comprised of coal, natural gas, geothermal, hydropower, oil, wind, biomass and solar,” he said.

“Owing to its baseload characteristics, nuclear energy will be in support to the thrust of the Philippine government which is the realization of the Philippine Development Plan’s (PDP) drive for industrialization and urbanization. It is central for a country towards the path of development to have the available and required capacity to meet the nation’s increasing demand requirements,” Posadas added.

“Moreover, nusclear’s pivotal role to augment supply will also aid in accomplishing Ambisyon Natin 2040, a long-term vision that highlights the aspirations, values and principles of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country.”

Posadas also pointed out that the Philippines is “privileged to have a President that personifies strong political will which is essentially one decisive factor if a country is to embark on a nuclear power program (NPP).”

The DOE official emphasized that discussions on nuclear energy as well as radioactive sources tend to attract issues on security. “We are cognizant of this and must admit that this issue cannot be discounted as people and the environment must always be protected. As you would note, security and physical protection is just one of the 19 infrastructure issues identified by the IAEA for countries pursuing nuclear power development. When we talk about radioactive sources, there is also emphasis on security. There must be a security culture practiced and a system well in place,” he told the forum.

Many of the resource persons emphasized that to realize the full potential of nuclear energy, ASEAN governments must come up with clear cut policies, legal and regulatory framework, infrastructure and unstinting support for it through capacity build-up.

Malaysia presented its efforts for public acceptance of nuclear energy as the power source carries with it some stigma because of nuclear accidents like Japan’s Fukushima Incident.

Malaysia was represented by Mr. Song Wong Tin with the Philippines, being represented by Ms. Carmencita Bariso of the Department of Energy (DOE) as vice-chair.

In attendance were NEC-SSN focal persons from ASEAN member states of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE).

Also those who joined were representatives from the China Nuclear Engineering Group Corporation (CNEC), Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Union Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation (EU CBRN) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNCRI) Centres of Excellence (COE).

Teofilo Leonin of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), 2017 chairperson of the ASEAN Network of Regulatory Bodies on Atomic Energy (ASEANTOM), discussed potential areas of cooperation with AMS on nuclear regulatory.

Shi Boxuan of the CNEC, on the other hand, led the contract signing for the Clean Energy Project between ACE and CNEC, and expressed interests in future collaborations with AMS.

The NEC-SSN also welcomed and duly noted the initiatives of the EU CBRN UNCRI COE on nuclear protection in the ASEAN region. Ms. Reina Matsuzawa of ISCN/JAEA and Dr. Kusnanto of ACE discussed the productive outcome of the Seminar on Nuclear Security and the Capacity Building on Nuclear Material Transport.

Teatro Tomasino Jolts Out the Stage with Bob Ong’s Kapitan Sino

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Teatro Tomasino, the official university-wide theater guild of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), culminates their 39th season: Let Thy Art Illuminate with a smash hit comedy-drama play, Kapitan Sino based on Bob Ong’s novel and adapted for stage by playwright Cyrene Mendoza on May 3-6, 2017 at the Albertus Magnus Auditorium, UST. The renowned advertising practitioner and former Teatro Tomasino Artistic Director, Franny Omampo directs the play as his energizing theatrical comeback. 

Not Just Super Powers

Illuminating the current socio-political climate of the country, Kapitan Sino is a tale of Rogelio who possesses lightning superpower which he uses to rescue those in need. More than a battle of good vs. evil, Kapitan Sino examines Rogelio’s response to heroism at the expense of his happiness and family, the consequence of people's overdependence on a hero, and their inherent nature of being abusive and selfish.

On Comebacks, Passion and Pseudo Heroes

Director Franny Omampo’s excitement is mobilized with the socially relevant contemporary play’s visual delight and core lessons on pseudo heroes, sacrifices, and change-seeking people. Omampo is also excited about collaborating with friends from the industry, and the fresh talents from Teatro Tomasino.

When asked about what keeps the production together, “Innate talent from each one of us who share the same vision for the play, and who share the same passion for our arts, ‘yun ‘yung nagpapagalaw sa amin (those are the things that move us)”, Omampo shared.

The production features the comeback of members who have been with the organization for the past 15 to 20 years, including one of the country’s comedy icons, John Lapus.

Show Details

Catch Kapitan Sino on the following play dates:

May 3 at 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm;

May 4 to 5 at 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm;

May 6 at 7pm.

For more information and ticket inquiries, contact Patricia at 0905 421 5255 or Maureen at 0906 693 7681.