Duterte Signs EO 84 Institutionalizing IMSAS Council

Wazzup Pilipinas!

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently signed Executive Order No. 84 institutionalizing the Inter-agency Council on the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS).

This milestone further strengthens the Philippine maritime administration’s performance of its obligations and commitments as a Member State to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The IMSAS Council is composed of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary as Chairperson and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator as Vice-Chairperson. Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and Cebu Port Authority (CPA) act as members. 

EO 84 serves as the legal framework of the IMSAS Council to fulfill its functions relative to the adoption of the provisions of applicable international instruments and conventions, as well as mechanisms to certify that the Philippines fully satisfies its responsibilities as a flag, port, and coastal State. Above all, the IMSAS Council shall ensure that its member agencies fully and effectively implement and enforce the IMO Instruments in an integrated manner.

Moreover, the Council is assisted by a Technical Working Group (TWG) responsible for providing support on specific matters concerning the IMSAS. The group consists of representatives from the DOTr, MARINA, DFA, PCG, PPA, CPA, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Office for Transportation Security (OTS), and Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group.

Meanwhile, as part of its preparation for the IMSAS in 2021, the Council convened on 15 May 2019 to discuss the draft Philippine IMO Strategy which contains the measures that the country will adopt to fully comply with its obligations and commitments as a responsible IMO member state.

The IMSAS seeks to assess the level of implementation and enforcement of the provisions of mandatory IMO instruments pertaining to safety of life at sea, prevention of pollution from ships, standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers, load lines, tonnage, as well as regulations for preventing collisions at sea.

PAL, CebuPac Flight OTP Improve in Just 2 Weeks After Signing Pledge of Commitment

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The On-Time Performance (OTP) of flights of Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific have significantly improved in just two weeks after airlines signed a Pledge of Commitment to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Aviation and Airports Sector.

PAL Vice President for Flight Operations Captain Stanley Ng reported that PAL’s monthly average OTP improved from below 60% in April 2019 to nearly 80% in June. For the month of July, the running average OTP for PAL sits at 82%.

For Cebu Pacific, Chief Operations Officer (COO) Michael Ivan Shau noted that from 60% in June, their flight OTP improved to 77% in July, with peak days reaching 80%.

OTP rating for airports is measured by the number of departures and arrivals that take place in less than 15 minutes after scheduled departure / arrival times, including cancellations.

Both airlines stated that the improvements came on the heels of the signing of the Pledge of Commitment on 26 June 2019, wherein top officials of five local airlines inked their support for initiatives on air sector improvements with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

Under the commitment, airlines pledged to aid in the decongestion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) through improved on-time flight performance, support the development of other gateways including Sangley Airport in Cavite, and improve the travel experience of air passengers.

“I can confirm that our participation in the Pledge of Commitment really helped improve our OTP. At the same time, we will continue to improve our internal processes and collaborate with CAAP, MIAA and CAB to make sure that our passengers will have a better experience when traveling to the Philippines,” PAL’s Ng said.

“Coordinated and concerted efforts from all stakeholders resulted in OTP improvement at the NAIA, and we will remain in cooperation with the government under the Pledge of Commitment to ease the travel of the public,” Shau of CebuPac expressed.

Airline officials added that the daily publication of OTP, which commenced in mid-May as ordered by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, has been helpful in pushing for improved performance and promoting the airlines’ accountability to the air-riding public.

Noting the swift progress, Secretary Tugade commended the airline operators and encouraged them to improve further for the comfort and convenience of travelers.

“I thank PAL and Cebu Pacific for their efforts to improve OTP. It is my hope that this be increased, and that more and more airlines follow suit,” Secretary Tugade said.

For his part, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal welcomed the upward trend of airline OTPs as a sign of effective collaboration and cooperation between the government and the private sector to improve aviation services for the Filipino people.

“I laud the airline operators for doing their part to give Filipinos a comfortable life through improved on-time flight performance. We shall continue in this direction as we work on a number of solutions to decongest the NAIA,” GM Monreal said.

DOE Holds Third Public Consultation on the Green Energy Option Program

Wazzup Pilipinas!

POWER TO CHOOSE GREEN: Participants are all smiles during the photo-op on the Public Consultation on draft Department Circular, "Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Operating Permits to RE Suppliers under Green Energy Option Program," held yesterday (11 July) at Batangas City.

The event aims to discuss the process and requirements for the application and issuance of various RE permits.

The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) on Thursday (11 July) conducted the third leg of public consultations on the draft Department Circular (DC) that would guide the end-users, RE suppliers and network service providers in facilitating the option taken by End-Users to choose RE resources to supply their energy needs. 

Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “The DOE is committed to establish an energy-secure future and bolstering our country’s RE resources is one avenue to achieve this. I am confident that the GEOP will give rise to a reliable market for RE generation and enhance competition among RE and other power suppliers.”

The draft circular providing the “Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Operating Permits to Renewable Energy Suppliers under the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP)", serves as a follow through to the implementation of DOE Circular No. 2018-07-0019 entitled “Promulgating the Rules and Guidelines Governing the Establishment of the Green Energy Option Program Pursuant to the Renewable Energy Act of 2008”.

The public consultation focused on the guidelines and procedures in the issuance, administration and revocation of Operating Permits to RE suppliers.

REMB Director Mylene C. Capongcol and the recently appointed Chairperson of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta headed the discussions which covered relevant sections such as RE supplier qualifications, application requirements, processing and approval procedures, and the revocation or cancellation of operating permits.

On the other hand, Mr. Andresito Ulgado, Division Chief of the Hydro and Ocean Energy Management Division presented the GEOP Supply Agreement, which will guide parties interested to avail the GEOP.

Among those who participated in the discussions of the draft DC were Energy Regulatory Commission, RE developers, private distribution utilities including electric cooperatives and electricity consumers, as well as members of the academe.

Previous public consultations were conducted in Cebu City (18 June) and in Davao City (27 June), while the final leg of public consultations will be held on 25 July in Clark, Pampanga.