Transportation Heads of Philippines and Germany Sign Accord on Cooperation in Maritime Transport

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade and the German Federal Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (BMVI) State Secretary Michael Odenwald signed today the Letter of Intent (LOI) on Cooperation in Maritime Transport between the Philippines and Germany.

The LOI aims to further strengthen the existing friendly ties between the Philippines and Germany in the field of maritime transport, through the expansion of activities to promote cooperation such as: conducting regular talks to discuss proposals; the development and implementation of certain projects of mutual interest; the organization of training courses in the field of business and maritime transport; exchange of information concerning the investigation of marine accidents; cooperation in marine pollution prevention; cooperation in the field of ports and maritime equipment, research, training, and staff development in the field of maritime transport.

“[This Letter of Intent] will firm the maritime relationship between the Republic of Germany and the Philippines. This document has been pending for a number of years and after that, lo and behold after barely three months we will sign the letter of intent,” DOTr Secretary Tugade said.

Earlier this year, the two leaders met in Germany where they had initial discussions on prospects and possibilities “to develop and implement projects of mutual interests, specifically in the fields of maritime, aviation, road transport, among others”.

Cusi: Let's Get Energy Projects Moving

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The Department of Energy (DOE) today emphasized the need to streamline regulatory processes for energy projects to speed up the provision of stable and affordable energy throughout the country.

Upon his assumption as Energy Chief, Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has been strongly pushing for a sound policy that will ensure energy projects are carried out on time.

Supporting this call, President Rodrigo Duterte issued on 30 June 2017 Executive Order (EO) No. 30, creating an Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC) led by the DOE that will spearhead and coordinate national government efforts to harmonize, integrate and streamline regulatory processes, requirements and forms relevant to the development of energy investments in the country.

The Council will maintain a database of information and a web-based monitoring system for information exchange and updates to uphold transparency and accountability.

“The Council will guide the various agencies in speeding up their regulatory processes for the fast realization of energy projects to be tagged as "Projects of National Significance’ under the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP)," Cusi explained.

“The PEP sets the vision for our energy affairs in order to deliver the objectives of Dutertenomics, particularly in identifying energy projects that need to be built and constructed on schedule,” Cusi pointed out.

Cusi further emphasized, “The longer the processing of energy projects gets, the more expensive it becomes, which could also impact on the delivery of energy services and their affordability.”

The EO provides that government agencies concerned with energy projects should presume other agencies were able to act upon and issue their respective permits within a 30-day period.

“Given that energy investors have complete requirements, cutting down the period of issuance of permits will certainly speed up the realization of energy projects,” Cusi assessed.

The EICC will be chaired by the DOE and shall be composed of representatives from various national government agencies and relevant energy institutions (e.g., Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, National Electrification Administration, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, National Power Corp., National Transmission Corp., Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and other relevant government agencies).

Aleron Wins Top Prize in All-Male Category in International Choir Competition in Germany

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Aleron, the alumni ensemble of the Ateneo de Manila High School Glee Club under the musical direction of Christopher Ong Arceo arrived recently after participating in the 10. Förderkreis Internationale Chortage Mainhausen from June 9-11, 2017 bringing with them the good news !!!!!.

Aleron garnered a Gold Certificate, and placed first in the ALL-MALE CATEGORY, besting choirs from Europe and South America.

According to the judges, what set Aleron apart from its competitors was its stability in sound while presenting something unique with each competition piece, showcasing the group’s versatility. These were most evident in their praises for the interpretation and performance of the compulsory piece “Die Linien des Lebens sind Versheiden” by Heinrich Poos and Philippine National Artist Francisco Feliciano’s “Pamugun.”

The Förderkreis Internationale Chortage Mainhausen is an international event celebrated in Germany, in the villages of the Mainz and Zellhausen regions. Since 1988, the choral community has been meeting in Germany to present and enjoy music of a high caliber. The competitors and the visiting audience enjoy the hospitality of the villages and communities in this region. The competition requires a high degree of musical literature and artistic expression.

Aleron, translated from Latin as "the winged one," is geared towards exploring the male choral soundscape. Through innovative programming and the performance of repertoires across musical styles and genres, the group aims to deliver to its audiences a diverse and unique choral experience.

Aleron first came into existence in 2006 as the alumni ensemble of the Ateneo de Manila High School Glee Club under the musical direction of Christopher Ong Arceo. Today, the group is composed of male choristers from different backgrounds: most of which are from the Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines musical networks.

For further information, please check info@aleronchoir.com.