Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada, and USec. Mylene C. Capongcol (center) together with power stakeholders during the Power Task Force Election 2016 information, education and communications campaign in preparation for the national and local elections on 09 May 2016.

well-informed consumers make better choices

This issue features the Power Task Force Election 2016, E-Trike Project, Philippine Presidentiables and their Energy Agenda and many more!

(Cagayan de Oro City) The Power Task Force Election (PTFE) 2016 with the Department of Energy (DOE), as lead agency, met with power stakeholders as part of measures and synchronize efforts in preparation for the elections on 09 May 2016.

From Mindanao, Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada said, “We are here to check the Agus 6 and 7 Hydropower plants in Maria Cristina, Iligan City as well as the Power Task Force Election headquarter within the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) – Iligan Regional Disaster Command Center (RDCC) to ensure that the systems are in place, working and ready ten (10) days prior to and after elections.” She emphasized that the Filipino voters deserve a clean and unquestionable elections with the stable provision of electricity during the election period.

PTFE members are scheduled to visit the PTFE Visayas headquarter in Banilad Cebu City on April 15, while for Luzon and National Capital Region to follow. Moreover, there will be a dry run on 21 April 2016 to ensure that all systems of communication will be working well between

assigned NGCP RDCC headquarters in North Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to the Overall Disaster Command Center of NGCP in Diliman.

Note that the activities of the PTFE and its members involving the conduct of information, education, and communication campaign with the local communities are also in compliance with the deputization of the DOE and various energy agencies by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to ensure adequate, stable and reliable power supply before, during and after the national and local elections in the country.

Moreover, power supply updates on Election Day will be published through the DOE’s Twitter account (@DOE_PH), Facebook account (www.facebook.com/doe.gov.ph) and the DOE website (www.doe.gov.ph), as well as in various social networking sites of the Election Power Task Force members at a designated time in the morning, afternoon, and evening.

Furthermore, the DOE continues to encourage all energy consumers to practice efficient and judicious use of electricity in their day-to-day activities.

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(Taguig City) Committed to push for alternative transport, the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the contract for the procurement of electric tricycles under Package 1 of the Market Transformation through Introduction of Energy-Efficient Electric Vehicles (E-Trike Project) Program to Uzushio Electric Company, Limited at the ceremonial signing held on February 15, 2016.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada said “One way of reducing our carbon emissions is through transforming our transportation system, in which we are looking at the E-trike project as a catalyst to encourage entry of more efficient modes of public transport.”

This Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project is also envisioned to revitalize the public transport sector and support the nascent industry by offering energy-efficient electric vehicles in the market.

Following the ideal timeline of the project, the E-trikes will ply the streets of the National Capital Region, and Region IV-A & B on or before May 2016 for the initial roll out of 3,000 e-trikes units.

After the conduct of the international competitive bidding consistent with and after obtaining ADB’s no objection, Uzushio emerged as the lowest evaluated and substantially responsive bid among those who joined the bidding for the E-Trike Project on May 06, 2015. Uzushio, a Japanese firm, is represented locally by BEMAC Electric Transportation Philippines, Incorporated.

The DOE remains open to all local government units as E-trike off-takers of their respective localities to be used in tourism growth areas, mixed-use economic zones, wide swath of campuses as well as residential enclaves.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada (center) together with DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos (third from left) with Uzushio Electric Company, Ltd. Officials.

(Taguig City) The Department of Energy (DOE) together with Task Force Member Agencies is in full force to ensure reliable, stable, and secure during the critical summer period and May local and national elections.

“We have two operational task forces– the Power Task Force Election and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities–in which various national agencies and power stakeholders are conducting preparatory works, maintenance, and monitoring among other tasks just to provide power supply come election period,” said Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada. This follows as the

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government recognizes that the provision of electricity is crucial in striving for clean and un-questionable elections, especially that it is auto-mated.

Upon the deputization of Commission on Elections on the DOE, National Electrification Ad-ministration, National Power Corporation, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the local electric cooperatives, the Power Task Force Election was created for the delivery of adequate, stable and reliable power supply before, during and after the national and local elections on May 9, 2016 by ensuring availability and operation of

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Binay wants to fully implement the Renewable Energy (RE) law and achieve 50% RE in the country’s power supply by 2030. He would promote particularly hydro power as one of the cheapest forms of RE.

He will use political will to protect public utility facilities like NGCP transmission towers in Mindanao.

He also called for the transfer of national departments to the regions, particularly the Department of Energy (DOE) to Mindanao in order for the government to act decisively on the power crisis plaguing the region.

Santaigo wants to fast-track the implementation of the RE law. She also filed a bill to increase the use of RE in the agricultural sector, one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

Lower power rates while boosting power generation with more attention on renewable energy.

Poe said she would prioritize renewable energy as a source of power for the country.

Roxas says he’s committed to fully implementing the Renewable Energy (RE) Act which seeks to increase the share of green energy to 50% of the country’s power supply in 30 years.

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power plants and electricity market, carrying out strategic preventive maintenance of all power facilities, and providing enough technical manpower for emergency response and security of vital power infrastructures, among others.

Likewise, it has to be recalled that President Benigno S. Aquino III has created in February the Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATFSEF) to address the bombing incidents involving the transmission facilities that apparently escalated late last year, and the right-of-way issues faced by NGCP.

Since then, the IATFSEF has restored the compromised Tower No. 25 on March 14 paving the way for Agus Units 1 and 2 to inject clean and cheap power supply to the Mindanao grid. Negotiations for clearing operations are also continuously being undertaken by the IATFSEF with the landowners/claimants to prune/cut/trim the trees, remove structures and prevent any obstructions from being built beneath the transmission highway.

Secretary Monsada emphasized that the reliability of transmission lines is a concern of everyone, citing that even if power plants are generating sufficient electricity, but if it can’t be transmitted due to tripping and toppling of transmission lines and towers, then there will be power shortages in the affected areas. She then calls on, again, the cooperation of landowners/claimants, local government units and individual households for cooperation and vigilance for the integrity of the transmission facilities nationwide.

Due to a number of reported incidents, the Department of Energy (DOE) warns the general public on the dangers of using "LPG-refilled butane canisters" for household consumption. Butane canisters are used only on a “one time” basis and must never be refilled with LPG, which has a higher pressure than butane, and thus may cause accidents (i.e., explosion, fire, etc.) while in use. The DOE emphasized that these butane canis-ters are not intended and designed to be refilled, more so with LPG. Based on existing Philippine National Standards for gas containers, only "welded steel cylinders" are designed for storage, transport and distribution of LPG for domestic consumption. . The DOE would also like to reiterate Department Circular DC2014-01-0001 which outlines the rules and regulations governing the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Industry, especially the sets of standards for compliance of all LPG Industry participants (i.e., refiners, importers, refillers, marketers, and even haulers). The circular also stated that illegal or "backyard refilling" of butane canisters is also strictly prohibited under the DOE rules and regulations, as its unsafe operations and substandard facilities posed danger not only within the area but also on its immediate vicinity. . In Cebu last December 2015, the DOE met with LPG bulk suppliers to agree on measures addressing LPG-related concerns, specifically the issue on LPG-refilled butane canisters. Strengthened information campaign on the safe storage, handling, transport and use of LPG, and conduct of inspections are two of the areas the DOE and the participants are looking into to battle against the proliferation of the LPG-filled butane canisters in the market. . To report any information on "backyard refilling," please call the nearest fire station in your locality or any of the following DOE offices: Oil Industry Management Bureau: (02) 840-2130 Visayas Field Office: (032) 253-3459 Mindanao Field Office : (082) 221-0778

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