PHLPost Launches the Filipino Centenarian Special Stamps

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has launched the Filipino Centenarian Special Stamp to kick-off the issuance of personalized stamps that will be issued to persons who have lived for a century in celebration of its month-long  27^th Corporate Anniversary held at Manila City Hall.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said that this momentous event gives the City’s oldest and most treasured citizens a chance to be recognized and appreciated with a stamp.

“Living to 100 years old is one of life’s greatest achievements, and definitely a milestone worth celebrating with their own picture imprinted on the postage stamp”, PHLPost Chairman Norman Fulgencio said.  

Mayor Estrada and PHLPost Chairman Norman Fulgencio presented the special stamp frames to living Centenarians endorsed by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs of Manila namely; Mrs. Sabina Pelayo Santos of Tondo Manila, Mrs. Neriza Castaneda Reyes of Sta. Ana Manila and Mrs. Encarnacion Vinluan Pedroso of San Miguel Manila.

Chairman Fulgencio added that the presentation of personalized stamps to Filipino Centenarians is part of social responsibility to pay tribute to these important persons who are still alive so that they can enjoy the honor accorded to them by PHLPost. 

The basis for the issuance of the PHLPost personalized stamps to Filipino Centenarians’ is Republic Act. No.10868, otherwise known as the Centenarian Act of 2016 which honors and grants additional benefits and privileges to Filipino Centenarians.

PHLPost will start coordinating with Local Government Units (LGU’s) to include in their program the issuance of the personalized Centenarian stamps. This will be the first leg of a nationwide program honoring our Filipino Centenarians.

PHLPost supports the recognition and incentives to Filipino Centenarians especially in view of the observance of the National Respect for Centenarians’ Day, every First Sunday of October and the Elderly Filipino Week from October 1 to 7 of every year.

 “Their collective wisdom and experience is an inspiration to us all. It is only fitting to treat them with appreciation and respect they truly deserve”. Fulgencio said.

DOE Steers Power Industries to Work Together for the Summer Months

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi met with Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) officials headed by Meralco President and CEO Oscar S. Reyes yesterday (3 April) to discuss the details of the delivery of power to its customers throughout the summer months.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has been closely coordinating with the power industry players to address the growing demand and the thinning of power reserves for the summer months.

“The entire energy family should take a pro-active approach towards securing our power supply, especially since it is both summer and election season,” Sec. Cusi said.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Manila Electric Company (Meralco), and the DOE agreed that the power situation should be closely monitored given supply level adjustments brought about by increasing demand and the forced outages of power plants.

Strategies on how to address thinning power reserves were also discussed during a meeting with Meralco officials. This includes the creation of additional power bypass lines, the efficient utilization of available power plants, as well as the application of demand-side management and accurate information dissemination to consumers.

On the matter of the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) as a measure to help enhance power reserves, Sec. Cusi emphasized that “it shall be implemented as a last resort given the additional costs the ILP would bring to consumers.” The ILP serves as an option for Distribution Utilities (DUs) like MERALCO and electric cooperatives to ask their big load customers to serve their own power needs by using their own generator sets to augment power supply capacity in times of Red Alert Status or when power supply reserves are thin.

“We will not wait for a loss of power to occur. The ILP is there as a final option to help us prevent a supply shortage,” Sec. Cusi added.


YELLOW ALERT MONITORING

According to the report of the NGCP, the yellow alert status issued today has been lifted effective at 4:00pm due to sufficient operating reserve brought about by low actual demand.

Earlier today, the NGCP issued a yellow alert notice issued for 1:00pm to 4:00pm today, due to insufficient operating reserve brought about by the high system demand and forced outage of the following plants:

Malaya Unit 2 (350 MW)
Pagbilao Unit 3 (420 MW)
SLTEC Unit 1 (135MW)
Makban Unit 7 (20 MW)
Tiwi Unit 6 (57 MW)
Tiwi Unit 1 (60 MW)
(Total = 1,042 MW)

De-rated Plants:

Masinloc Unit 2@250 (344MW)
Calaca Unit 2@200 (300MW)
Malaya Unit 1@150 (300MW)
SLPGC Unit 2@100 (150MW)

“The DOE and the energy players are closely monitoring the increases in demand and the power plants that are expected to be in,” Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella emphasized in a press conference earlier at the agency’s headquarters.

The other strategies considered by the power industry players include the management of plant maintenance schedules, the optimization of existing hydroelectric power plants, the upgrading of the electricity facilities, the preparation of available generator sets for unforeseen outages, the participation of big establishments in the Interruptible Load Program, as well as the continued call for an energy efficiency lifestyle for electricity end-users. The DOE also emphasized the improvement of the operations of power plants and through the use of renewable energy (RE) and information technology.


DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

The DOE through its Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB) reiterated the importance of its SAVE SAVE SAVE energy efficiency campaign, not only to incur more savings, but also to ensure uninterrupted electricity services this summer season.

Concert King Martin Nievera to Sing for the HIV Cause

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Martin Nievera, the Philippines’ concert king, will lead the performances at the Love Gala 2019 on May 11, 2019 to sing out more courage for the HIV advocacy.

Being in the music industry more than three decades, Nievera supports Love Gala 2019 to use his influence in further raising awareness of the HIV cause.

With the theme “Courage Amplified,” Love Gala 2019 – the Asia’s Premier charity and gala, provides an opportunity for people to be brave and show support for the HIV advocacy. Miss Universe 2015 and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Asia and the Pacific, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach headlines this year’s charity event to be held at the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent, Vertis North, Quezon City.

The Love Gala 2019 – powered by LoveYourself, Inc. and UNAIDS, will also confers the 2nd Ripple Awards to five (5) outstanding individuals, (3) organizations and one (1) project of the year who have greatly contributed in changing the HIV landscape in their communities.

To join the charity-gala that entails a night of exquisite music, worthwhile fundraising and heartfelt recognition of movers in the cause, tickets are available at www.lovegala.org.ph.

LoveYourself founder and executive director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan envisions Love Gala 2019 as an event that would gather supporters to create an even more powerful platform in furthering the HIV advocacy.

“The fight continues, and now more than ever is the time to help one another in spreading awareness to drive and guide more people to have themselves checked regularly as part of their health and wellness routine. Also for people living with HIV to take their medicines religiously and live a normal healthy life.”

A recent report from the Department of Health - Epidemiology Bureau showed that the numbers of HIV diagnoses have bloated from an average of two (2) persons per day in 2009 to an average of 42 per day in January of 2019.

Love Gala was pioneered on 1 December 2017 during the celebration of World AIDS Day. LoveYourself and UNAIDS will hold Love Gala in time for the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial celebration this May.

Love Gala is supported by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health (Philippines), PhilHealth, Save the Children Philippines, Philippine National AIDS Council, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. and Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO); co-presented by Durex, Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Digital Out-of-Home Ph; and sponsored by Gilead Sciences, Victoria Court, L'Oreal Philippines, SIP, Inspi Philippines, Absolut, Okamoto Philippines, Maquillage Professionnel, Business Mirror with contributions from Mont Albo, Shopee, Cognizant, Rotary International D3780, MASS TV, F1 Hotel Manila.

UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. LoveYourself is the country’s leading non-government organization that provides free HIV education, testing and counseling, and treatment.