New Policy on Renewable Energy (RE) to Help Rural Communities

In the continuing effort to increase consumer access to clean and sustainable energy, the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) is conducting a series of public consultations to promulgate a new policy on renewable energy (RE) utilization in the off-grid areas, or for consumers in remote areas like islands, mountains and far-away villages.

The consultations focus on the rules and guidelines for the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) for Off-grid areas, a policy mechanism requiring electric power industry participants such as generators, distribution utilities, and suppliers to source or produce a specified fraction of the electricity they generate from eligible RE resources.

The consultations are being held with the support of the Department of Energy and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability Project.

“The proposed RPS rules for off-grid areas will contribute to the growth of the renewable energy industry through increased development and utilization of RE resources in the countryside where significant percentage are using expensive fuels. Thus we will be able to diversify energy supply,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.

“Ultimately, we see this to spur socio-economic development and help address environmental concerns,” he added.

The Luzon leg of the public consultations for RPS was conducted on 5 October in Puerto Princesa City and on 12 October in Pastor Village, Batangas City.

In the Visayas, the public consultation is scheduled Thursday (26 October) in Lahug, Cebu City.

On the other hand, the fourth and last leg of the public consultation will be on 6 November in Cagayan de Oro City.

Among the issues discussed during the earlier consultations include roles and responsibilities, pricing, competitive selection process and public bidding, monitoring and transparency, academic participation, long term plans and programs, technology, transmission, permitting, relevant RE policies and even international commitments on greenhouse gas emission reduction.

The public consultations were attended by participants from national government agencies, RE proponents and developers, distribution utilities, electric cooperatives and the academe, among other energy stakeholders.

Led by NREB RPS Off-grid Committee Chair Urbano Mendiola and NREB Chairman Atty. Jose Layug Jr., the public consultations provided a venue to present the latest draft of the RPS Off-grid guidelines and to gather comments and suggestions from stakeholders before its implementation.

The DOE also welcomes additional recommendations on the NREB proposed policy from the public, especially from the primary RE stakeholders. All interested stakeholders may send comments until 10 November 2017 at email: techsec.nreb@gmail.com. An electronic copy of the NREB proposed policy is downloadable at the DOE official website: www.doe.gov.ph.

The issuance of the RPS guidelines is based on Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which aims to increase the utilization of RE by enhancing national and local capabilities.

Form Out of Material. Material Out of Form

Delgado, Pérez, Yamagata
November 11 – December 29, 2017

Opening reception:
November 11, Saturday at 4pm
Galleria Duemila
210 Loring St. 1300 Pasay City

Galleria Duemila proudly presents a three-woman exhibit of Visual Artists Monica Delgado, Michelle Pérez and Atsuko Yamagata. Closing the year with an exhibit on form and material, the three artists delve on the physicality of paint and the utilization of material eventually composed into processual emotions and intimate intentions.

Monica Delgado, stretching the boundaries of painting, has been practicing the medium through various processes such as squeezed, dripped and spreaded out resulting into collaged, stacked and layered works that blur the lines between mere painting, sculpture and object.

Participating in different international art fairs and exhibiting in different galleries in the Philippines, Singapore, Mexico and the U.S, Monica Delgado is bringing her expertise in non-traditional painting to different continents alike.

Michelle Pérez, is continuously developing the idea of paint. The new works composed are bursts of hues, rallying away from the bold, singular colors of works from old. Holes, a recent element in her pieces, inhabit and intrigued a set of her art. Her process of handling paint is an experimental play on the capability of the medium and how it all comes together.



Trained in drawing, mixed media and courses in impressionist painting in the Kuring-gai Art Centre in Sydney, Australia, Michelle Perez has been bringing light emotions into diffused colors using ubiquitous media.

Atsuko Yamagata, utilizing organic materials such as handmade paper and ink, is deeply inspired into the movement of nature, an elegance drawn in the history of her home country and influenced with the Filipino contemporaries she is surrounded by.

Exhibiting between Japan and the Philippines, Atsuko Yamagata has been true to her roots and is currently expanding her practice in the country.



Form Out of Material. Material Out of Form runs from November 11 - December 29, 2017.

Opening reception will be on November 11, Saturday at 4pm at Galleria Duemila located at 210 Loring St. 1300 Pasay City. Like our Facebook Page at facebook.com/galleriaduemila and
follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @galleriaduemila.

Philippines’ Urban Crew Brought the House Down with their Dance Choreography

Philippines’ Urban Crew (#FlyersoftheSouth) owned the stage with a high-octane mix of mind-blowing spins, flips and tosses in last night’s episode of Asia’s Got Talent. 

The audience and judges were blown away with their boundless energy and professional choreography.

“That was so amazing!” David declared, “And in 50, 100 years from now when you leave this planet, you’re going to leave the Philippines in a better place because of what you’re doing.”

“You guys definitely blow all the other acrobatic teams out of the water with what you guys just did. Wow! That was amazing,” Jay said.

“I am in awe! It’s almost like we are celebrating what a body can do when you push that hard. It was really impressive!” Anggun added.

Back in the Philippines, members of Urban Crew teach dancing to kids in hopes of instilling good habits and take them away from vices. They are hoping to use Asia’s Got Talent as a platform to inspire kids back in the Philippines to follow their dreams, and use the prize money of US$100,000 to give back to their community.

Urban Crew received three yeses and they are now in the running to appear in the Semi-Finals.

For more exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, subscribe to Asia’s Got Talent Official YouTube Channel at www.YouTube.com/AsiasGotTalent. For a full recap of past episodes, visit www.AXN-Asia.com/AsiasGotTalent/Episodes. 

A new episode of Asia’s Got Talent airs every Thursday at 8:30pm on AXN. To follow the journey of this season’s acts, check out #AXNAsia and #AsiasGotTalent.

Asia’s Got Talent is the 67th adaptation of the Guinness-World-Record-breaking hit “Got Talent” format, which was created by Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and is co-produced by FremantleMedia. The “Got Talent” format is officially the most successful reality TV format in history and currently airs in 186 countries.

Asia’s Got Talent is supported by presenting sponsor Traveloka, the leading travel booking app for all flight and hotel needs; sponsoring partner Great Eastern Life, the market leader in the conventional life insurance business and the largest life insurer in Malaysia by asset size; and GoDaddy, the world's largest cloud platform dedicated to small, independent ventures.

In the Philippines, Asia’s Got Talent is brought to you by Cherifer, Tangkad Sagad, KFC Delivery and Vivo Smart Phone.

Marina Bay Sands, Asia’s leading business, leisure and entertainment destination, is the official venue partner of Asia’s Got Talent.

@AsiasGotTalent / #AXNAsia / #AsiasGotTalent / #AsiasGotTalentAuditions
www.AXN-Asia.com/AsiasGotTalent

AXN is available on Cablelink Channel 38, Cignal Channel 121, Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Satellite TV Channel 20, G Sat Channel 51, and SKYCable Channel 49. AXN HD is available on SKYCable Channel 247.

[Editors’ note: Hi-res images, judges’ information and press releases are available to download via www.AXN-Asia.com/AGT2Press]