REURASIA supports HDF Energy's Green Hydrogen Initiative in the Philippines

Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) has solidified its partnership with the Department of Energy (DoE) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This pivotal agreement underscores the commitment to advance sustainable energy solutions across the Philippines, particularly through green hydrogen technologies.

Central to this initiative, REURASIA Management Corporation plays a vital role as the local consultant and technical expert, overseeing all critical studies and analyses required for the successful deployment of HDF Energy's projects in the country. With their deep expertise in renewable energy and comprehensive knowledge of the local landscape, REURASIA ensures that the projects align with both technical standards and the unique needs of the Philippine market.

Building on successful collaborations from previous years, the MoU marks a significant milestone in the Philippines' energy transition, emphasizing the decarbonization of its power sector. HDF Energy, in close cooperation with REURASIA, the DoE, and MinDA, aims to foster investments in renewable energy technologies, with a strong focus on hydrogen-based power generation.

As the leading local partner, REURASIA's contributions are instrumental in the realization of these ambitious projects, which are set to bring significant environmental benefits and energy resilience to the Philippines. Through REURASIA’s leadership in conducting technical studies, the initiative is poised to accelerate the deployment of HDF Energy’s Renewstable® multi-megawatt hydrogen power plants, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources.

This MoU signifies a strong commitment to a greener future for the Philippines, with REURASIA at the forefront, guiding the nation’s transition towards sustainable, hydrogen-powered energy solutions.

About Reurasia management corporation

REURASIA is a Filipino company dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions across Southeast Asia. Specializing in renewable energy, REURASIA offers comprehensive services including project management, engineering, and technical consulting. With a strong focus on environmental impact and community development, REURASIA supports industries and local governments in transitioning to clean energy by leveraging innovative technologies and sustainable practices. As a trusted local partner, REURASIA plays a critical role in the deployment of large-scale renewable energy projects, ensuring they align with both international standards and the unique needs of the Philippine market.

Empowering Indigenous Communities Through Media and Information Literacy

This is the third part of the four-part series Empowering Vulnerable Populations through Media and Information Literacy. This article discusses how Media and Information Literacy (MIL) empowers.

Indigenous communities by addressing unique challenges and promoting cultural preservation and digital inclusion.

As encouraged in previous articles, Media and Information Literacy should also be inclusive as much as possible. In a digital space where everyone can claim a web page, each voice deserves to be heard.

For this reason, this article will delve into indigenous people and the challenges and opportunities they face in the realms of the modern digital world.

Vulnerable Populations and the Digital Divide

Indigenous communities face unique challenges in terms of digital inclusion. They have difficulty accessing digital information. This challenge hinders their participation and amplifies the digital divide.

Moreover, they usually live in far-flung places where internet connectivity seems unavailable so aside from the problems of digital information access, they also have problems in digital infrastructure.

Another problem that they face is limited digital literacy due to socio-economic factors that hinder them from availing technology which could enable them to practice MIL.

Subconsciously, this may seem not a problem to them because they may not need them at all due to the culture and way of living they have. However, when the Indigenous community gains access to the digital world, they can further preserve their heritage and empower their communities.

MIL: A Powerful Tool for Indigenous Communities

MIL does not only ensure that a select few people reap the benefits of digital access. It also enables entire communities to thrive in the digital age.

As for the Indigenous populations, MIL offers a pathway to preserve their cultural heritage, promote their languages, and ensure their voices are heard in the media. Since they are deemed as vulnerable communities, they need connections to help them in every single way possible and that is what digital interconnection could offer.

However, this is easier said than done. There are some challenges that need to be addressed:

Key Challenges Faced by Indigenous Communities

•           Digital Divide: They have limited access to the internet and digital devices. This stems from the fact that the community lacks the social capital to convince governments and other stakeholders to invest in their community whether it is basic commodities or more advanced policies.

•           Cultural Barriers: The internet lacks culturally relevant content and resources that could penetrate their psyches. They are usually underserved and understudied. To resolve this issue, their way of life should be documented and uploaded via the internet so they could have a digital space library.

•           Educational Gaps: They also suffer from lower levels of education and digital literacy due to the fact that they lack the social capital to convince stakeholders to invest in their communities.

Tailoring MIL Programs for Indigenous Communities

•           Incorporate Indigenous Languages: Develop MIL resources in native languages.

•           Cultural Sensitivity: Ensure programs reflect and respect Indigenous cultures.

•           Community Involvement: Engage Indigenous leaders and members in development and implementation.

•           Invest in Their Communities: They need financial investments in their basic necessities to more advanced commodities so the economic and digital divide would be minimized.

Conclusion

MIL is essential to empower Indigenous communities. It enhances their ability to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Tailored MIL programs that address their unique challenges are crucial for promoting cultural preservation, community engagement, and social inclusion. Investing in MIL initiatives for Indigenous communities is key to creating a more equitable and inclusive digital future for all.

Quezon City to host C40 Cities Regional Academy in Southeast Asia

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




Mayor Belmonte in a meeting with C40 Executive Director Mark Watts, C40 East Southeast Asia Oceania (ESEAO) Regional Director Milag Ballesteros, ESEAO Deputy Regional Director Alissa Raj, and C40 City Adviser Kessica Bersamin

Quezon City takes the lead in addressing the climate crisis in Southeast Asia, as it is set to host this year’s C40’s Southeast Asia Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP) Climate Action Implementation (CAI) Programme’s Regional Academy next month.

City officials, policymakers, and municipal delegates from Jakarta, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Johannesburg, South Africa; Accra, Ghana; and Quezon City in the Philippines will convene to discuss the mainstreaming of Inclusive Climate Action (ICA) and highlight the urgency of building the capacities of cities to adapt and thrive amidst the climate crisis.

The academy will also serve as a venue for city representatives to share experiences, engage in discussions, and learn from one another to stimulate collaboration and accelerate the implementation of policies.

“Quezon City is committed to being at the forefront of creating a sustainable and liveable environment for all. We are thrilled to share our city’s success stories, case studies, and best practices in implementing inclusive climate action with other academy participants. We are also looking forward to learning about other cities’ experiences and programs that we can adapt and initiate in our barangays,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Milag San Jose-Ballesteros, the C40 Cities regional director for East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, said: “By hosting the C40’s Southeast Asia UCAP CAI Programme’s Regional Academy, Quezon City will provide a pivotal platform for global cities to unite, exchange insights, and develop practical solutions for their respective contexts. Together, cities can accelerate the implementation of inclusive climate action and advance climate justice for all.”

Furthermore, the British Embassy Manila is delighted to be able to support Quezon City and all participating delegates in the Academy this August.

British Embassy Manila Economic and Climate Counsellor Lloyd Cameron explained: “Cities are integral to society. They also play a dual role in the climate change space – requiring increasing adaptation measures as well as innovations to grow sustainably as urbanization increases.

“No one city has all the answers to this intersection of challenges. As such, platforms for knowledge sharing and collaboration, such as the UK-supported CAI Regional Academy, are powerful tools that can help facilitate and drive the urgent action required to make cities safer, more resilient, and more liveable,” he said.

Mayor Belmonte with foreign mayors attending last year’s United Nations Climate Ambition Summit (UNCAS) C40 Press Conference

To showcase Quezon City’s climate programs, delegates will also visit several ICA-related initiatives, offering tangible examples and insights for implementing similar measures in their cities.

The C40 Regional Academy is part of C40’s CAI Southeast Asia Programme, funded by the UK Government’s UCAP. This initiative supports 15 cities across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia in implementing impactful climate actions and integrating climate strategies into their urban plans.

In Southeast Asia, the program collaborates closely with Quezon City, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur in addressing the climate crisis through transformational climate action implementation to enhance energy efficiency and expand the adoption of renewable energy in buildings.

C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors from leading cities worldwide. They are committed to a collaborative, science-based approach to fight the climate crisis and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks while improving the health, well-being, and economic opportunities of urban residents.