EU-PH Launches RE Projects for Energization of Remote Areas in Mindanao

Wazzup Pilipinas!

CLEAN ENERGY PROSPECTIVE: As part of the department’s policy in energizing remote areas in the country, the DOE and EU-ASEP delegation meet for the launching of seven renewable energy projects to our kababayans in Mindanao.

In above photo are (L-R) European Union (EU) Project Manager Xavier Canton-Lamousse, EU Head of Development Cooperation Enrico Strampelli; Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Undersecretary Janet M. Lopoz; MiNDA Chief of Staff Bai Norhata Alonto; EU Programme Manager for Energy Willy Hick; DOE Assistant Secretary Redentor E. Delola; and MiNDA Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the European Union (EU), through the Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (ASEP), launched seven renewable energy projects that would provide power to around 40,000 households in remote areas of the Philippines yesterday (30 January).

“Our goal is to provide electricity throughout the entire archipelago by 2020. These projects will bring more progress in Mindanao as thousands of Filipino families, particularly those living in far-flung areas of the region, will have access to power,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.

Sec. Cusi added, “We have partnered with DOTr and the Malay, Aklan LGU in order to improve the public transport system for the tourists and most specially for the Boracaynons as a form of livelihood.”

The launching was led by DOE Assistant Secretary Redentor E. Delola, EU Head of Development Cooperation, Mr. Enrico Strampelli and Mindanao Development Authority Undersecretary Janet M. Lopoz.

According to Mr. Strampelli, the project awardees signed their respective contracts on 13 December 2018, right after the extension of the ASEP implementation period.

“Over the next three years, ASEP will continue to work with the DOE in improving the lives of vulnerable communities in the country,” he added.

EU will contribute €21 million to co-finance up to 80% of the projects which involve energy investments in the following areas: hybridization and income-generating activities through the introduction of productive uses of electricity; innovative provision of basic electricity supply and services for poor, disadvantaged areas; electrification for livelihood generation through the Solar Photovoltaic Home System in the Bangsamoro area; support to decentralized and mini grids; capacity building on rural electrification; energy efficiency measures; and renewable energy management.

The seven projects launched were:

• Strengthening Off-grid Lighting with Appropriate Renewable Energy Solutions (SOLARES): € 5 million grant to Mahintana Foundation, Inc.

• Improving the Lives of People in Off-Grid Communities in Mindanao through the Provision of Sustainable Energy: € 4.5 million grant to Yamog organization

• SolarBnB Microhotel & Island Livelihood Energizer (SMILE) - Platform: € 3.9 million grant to Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas ng Pilipinas, or WWF Philippines

• Renewable energy technology for seaweed value added in Tawi-Tawi (RETS): € 4.2 million grant to United Nations Industrial Development Organization

• Renewable Energy Access for off-grid Communities and Households (REACH): € 3.7 million grant to People in Need

• Renewable Energy for Livelihood and Youth (RELY): € 2.2 million grant to Sequa

• Clean Energy Living Laboratories (CELLs): Ateneo

Around 150 participants from the Philippine energy sector, regional and local government, civil society organizations and the academe attended said event.

BDO Foundation, NU Forge MOU toplo

Wazzup Pilipinas!

BDO Foundation-NU MOU Signing. Officers of BDO 

Foundation and National University sign a Memorandum of Understanding to develop simple accounting and bookkeeping modules for farmers, thereby giving them the opportunity to grow their business and, more importantly, improve their financial literacy.

BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of BDO Unibank, Inc. has partnered with the National University (NU) to further bring financial education to Filipino farmers nationwide.

NU, in a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BDO Foundation, has agreed to develop simple accounting and bookkeeping modules for farmers. NU faculty members will then use these modules to train the farmers in communities to be identified by the Foundation.

"Countless farmers still experience financial hardship partly because they lack financial education. They are skilled in crop production but they are not able to grow their business because they don't know much about the financial side of farming. They do not know how to budget or differentiate between disposable income and what should be plowed back to production. Because of this, they are always in need of fresh funds and become victims of predatory lending,"   BDO Foundation president Mario A. Deriquito said.

"With the help of NU, farmers will learn simple accounting, bookkeeping, and even budgeting and financial planning," Mr. Deriquito added.

Through this partnership, BDO Foundation hopes to give local farmers the opportunity to grow their business, alleviate themselves from poverty, and most of all improve financial literacy and inclusion in the country.

"This collaboration is meant to further develop the education that we provide our students, as it cuts across not just academics, but also research, and community engagement," NU president  Renato Carlos H. Ermita Jr., for his part, said.

Selected senior students from NU's College of Business and Accountancy will likewise be involved in the program, as observers during the training, and as researchers, who will monitor the progress of the farmers and the effectiveness of the training.

"We are very excited with this partnership because it does not only allow us to apply our academic theories in the real world; it also helps us develop our students into well-rounded individuals. It teaches them the value of helping their fellow Filipinos," NU vice president for Academics Rachel Roxas added.

Moving forward, BDO Foundation and NU will also collaborate on other projects such a capacity-building program for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in coordination with BDO subsidiary One Network Bank, a research project to support the Foundation’s financial education for public schools, and other similar initiatives.

SAMUP Proudly Presents Math in Action 2019

Wazzup Pilipinas!

On February 9-10, 2019, the Society of Applied Mathematics of UPLB (SAM-UP), the premier organization of Applied Mathematics students in UPLB, will conduct Math In Action (MIA) 2019 at the Royal Palm Leisure Park, Brgy. Puypuy, Bay, Laguna. Around 300 high school students will be engaged in various fun-filled Mathematics-related activities in order to broaden their understanding and appreciation of Mathematics and its application to the real world.

MIA is a two-day national Mathematics camp open for all high school students from public and private schools across the country. With the theme “Connecting the Dots Between Sustainable Innovation and Mathematics”, this year’s camp will focus on how Mathematics plays a role on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.

INVESTIGATORY PROJECTS

The participants will have a chance to showcase their skills and abilities during the presentations of their investigatory projects on the first day of the camp. The students are required to come up with their most original idea, create a Mathematical project out of it such as games, puzzles and devices, and present it in front of a panel of judges. The judges will evaluate the investigatory projects based on the given criteria to determine the winners.

PARALLEL WORKSHOPS

The parallel workshops will take place after the participants are grouped and the teams are determined. Parallel workshops will entail interactive lectures about the applications of Mathematics in Sustainable Innovation, the enhancement of students’ creativity, and the development of their appreciation for Mathematics. Each team will be on every lecture simultaneously.

SEMINARS

The seminar will be dedicated to the faculty members of the participating schools and will occur on the same time as the parallel workshops. An invited speaker will talk about a particular topic about the given theme that will surely pique the interest of the teachers and coaches. This is also a chance for the faculty members to interact and communicate with each other.

MATHMAZING RACE

The main highlight of MIA 2019 is the Mathmazing Race, where the participants’ mathematical minds will be tested. Formed in groups, the students will battle and encounter various challenges and stations that are based on logic games and puzzles, optimization problems and other brain challenging playoffs that require teamwork. Mathmazing Race aims to develop decision-making and leadership skills while promoting sportsmanship and camaraderie among the participants.

MATH RUMBLE

Math Rumble will be an extension of the Mathmazing Race and will be played by the top teams that gets the highest scores. Pegged against the losing teams, the qualifying teams must compete on a series of activities based on the application of mathematics, on a different and a whole new exciting level. The team who gets the highest score will be declared the winner.

HOW DO I JOIN?

All high school students in the Philippines can join MIA 2019. For registration concerns, just send a private message to MIA 2019’s official Facebook page, “Math Quest SAMUP”, send a text message to 09776882264, or e-mail mathinaction2019@gmail.com. Registration fee is Php 1,500 for students and Php 1,200 for coaches (payment inclusion of food, camping fees and materials, and a MIA shirt for students).