2020 DOE Budget Prioritizes Energy Access and Security Programs

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The energy family, led by Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, on Tuesday (27 August) appeared before the House of Representatives to seek support for its proposed 2020 budget of PhP 2.3 billion.

“Our budgetary request will support plans and programs that would help ensure the security of our country’s energy future, increase access to energy services and technologies, further uphold consumer welfare, and facilitate the efficient implementation of new energy policies such as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, the Murang Kuryente Act, and the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop Act,” Secretary Cusi said in his opening remarks.



He also added that a significant portion of the budget (PhP 500 million) will likewise go towards the continued implementation of the government’s Total Electrification Program (TEP), which would see the energization of the remaining underserved and unserved households nationwide, in close partnership with the National Electrification Administration and the National Power Corporation.

Based on allotment class, PhP 1.14 billion, or almost 50% is for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE); PhP 521 million or 23% is for Capital Outlay (CO); PhP 580 million or 25% for Personal Services; and PhP 52 million or 2% for Retirement and Life Insurance Premiums.

With regard to the TEP, PhP 199 million of PhP 1.14 billion of the MOOE will got to the program, while PhP 300 million of the PhP 521 million allocation for CO is earmarked for the procurement of distributed energy generation systems and microgrids for the TEP.

During this critical mid-point of President Duterte’s administration, the DOE remains persistent in pursuing its eight-point priority program comprised of National and Regional Energy Planning, Conventional Energy Development, National Renewable Energy, Downstream Energy Development, Electric Power Industry Development, Total Electrification, National Energy Efficiency and Conservation, and Alternative Fuels and Energy Technologies.

Western Union Money Transfers Worldwide Now Available for Pick-up at BDO

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Receiving money from almost anywhere in the world has gotten more convenient for Filipinos as global money transfer firm Western Union and BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) have expanded their remittance collaboration, which involves the offering of Cash Pick-up of Western Union money transfers at more than 1,100 BDO branches nationwide.

Western Union and BDO initially launched a credit to account service in 2015 allowing remitters to send money straight to BDO accounts from over 70 countries via www.westernunion.com and through Western Union agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. With the expanded collaboration, customers who do not have a BDO account yet may conveniently claim Western Union remittances at BDO and its rural bank subsidiary – BDO Network Bank, which has over 130 branches in countryside Mindanao and the Visayas, and now, continuously expanding across Luzon.

BDO’s presence inside SM Supermalls allows customers to claim Western Union remittances more conveniently as the branches are open up to 7PM including weekends and selected holidays.This serves as a one-top-shop for customers as they may claim remittances and purchase their basic needs, in just one go.

“Our extended collaboration with Western Union is proof of our continuous commitment to make remittances from almost any part of the globe convenient to receive. Western Union has helped us in bridging not only Filipino workers from different parts of the world but also other global senders and their remittance beneficiaries in the Philippines, who can rely on us through our accessible and convenient Cash Pick-up locations. The Western Union-BDO collaboration delivers a kind of service that is reliable given the two institutions’ credibility and trust they’ve both earned through the years”, said Genie Gloria, SVP and Head of BDO Remittance.

“At Western Union, we connect families near and far away and help them move money across borders and currencies. We are excited to extend our service offering with BDO Unibank by building on our strengths to expand our network even further, providing a high-level customer experience,” said Sohini Rajola, Head of Network, Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Western Union.

The Western Union-BDO alliance complements the Philippines’ ranking as the worlds’ fourth largest receiver of remittance in 2018, according to a World Bank report. For its part, BDO remains the leader in OF remittances and said leadership was solidified by a recent award from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as the “Commercial Bank that Generated the Largest Overseas Filipino Remittances” for 2018, a citation that the bank has consistently received since 2008.

Norwegian Encore Emerges from Shipyard for the First Time

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that its latest ship, Norwegian Encore, successfully completed a major construction milestone, when it emerged for the first time from the Meyer Werft ship building dock in Papenburg, Germany.

Norwegian Encore will remain in the shipyard port for the final phase of construction, before her conveyance up the Ems River and towards the North Sea at the end of September. At nearly 1,100 feet long, with a gross tonnage of almost 170,000 and a guest capacity of 3,998, the ship will be delivered to the cruise line on Oct. 30, 2019. She will be christened in Miami on Nov. 21, 2019 and will commence seven-day voyages to the Caribbean on Nov. 24, 2019.

“To see the ship emerge from the shipyard is always one of the most exciting construction milestones,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Our partners at Meyer Werft have been committed to our vision for not only Norwegian Encore, but for this industry leading class of ships, supporting our dedication to delivering our guests the best cruise vacation at sea.”

Taking the brand’s exclusive, stand-out attractions to the next level, Norwegian Encore will feature the world’s longest race track at sea at 1,100 feet with four high-speed curves extending up to 13 feet over the side of the ship; the largest outdoor laser tag arena at nearly 10,000 square feet with the addition of augmented reality elements; and new immersive escape room and interactive theatre experiences in the 10,000-square-foot Galaxy Pavilion.

In addition to featuring many of the highly rated restaurants and lounges that have made the Breakaway Plus class one of the most innovative and successful in the company’s history, Norwegian Encore will debut a new elevated Italian dining experience, Onda by Scarpetta, in collaboration with LDV Hospitality. The Tony Award®-winning musical, “Kinky Boots” will headline the world-class entertainment on board, with returning guest favorites “The Choir of Man,” “Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical” and the rocking Beatles cover band of The Cavern Club.

Launching this fall, Norwegian Encore will offer seven-day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami beginning Nov. 24, 2019; Bermuda, and Canada and New England itineraries from New York City beginning Apr. 22, 2020; voyages to the Western Caribbean from Miami beginning Dec. 12, 2020; and in the spring of 2021 will make her West Coast debut and sail to Alaska from Seattle.

For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line ships and their itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call +65 31 651 680 or visit www.ncl.com.

For a video of Norwegian Encore’s float out, click here.