Subic bay news vol 12 no 49 20.00Php Tapas Bar and Restaurant 2nd Floor Subic Gas Bldg 724, Dewey Avenue, Subic Bay Freeport Zone 2020 Brings New Hope, New Beginning Branch: 1677 Rizal Ave., West Tapinac,Olongapo City Industry leaders push for Cleanergy The Philippine energy sector has come a long way in the last 10 years, ushering in an era of landmark policies and initiatives geared towards industry competitiveness and environmental sustainability. Over the past decade, the power sector has shifted from being highly de- pendent on fossil fuel to employing a more balanced energy mix with various compa- nies taking a more active role in utilizing clean and renewable energy. In 2013, renewable energy con- tributed around 26 percent of the coun- First Sunrise of 2020. The day breaks for the first time this year in the bustling business community of Subic Bay and Olongapo try’s total power consumption. This has City. Residents and locators, alike, have expressed in various ways their hope for a more fruitful and peaceful year. since increased to over 30 percent by the SubicBayNews photo by Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr. end of 2018 mainly due to the national government’s campaign to increase its use, as well as the growing appetite of consum- ers for more sustainable sources of power. The government has committed to making sure that renewables contribute at least 50 percent of the country’s total en- ergy consumption by 2030. This is an opti- mistic goal given the growing awareness of companies towards the impact of renew- able energy on their operations as well as the communities they serve. Long before the trend on "green" and sustainable practices took shape, green office developer and operator NEO Property Management, Inc. (NEO) had al- ready been at the forefront of clean and renewable energy. In 2013, NEO partnered with AboitizPower for Cleanergy, the lat- ter’s brand for clean and renewable ener- gy. In January 2019, NEO renewed its from the management and staff of partnership with AboitizPower for the sup- ply of 13.5 megawatts (MW) to its facilities in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Subic Bay News “We want to give our customers an overall ‘green’ experience, from the design and architecture of our buildings, up to the power supply we use,” NEO Chief Executive Officer Raymond Rufino earlier said. The use of renewable resources like geothermal reduces 90 percent of car- bon emissions from power generation. Power of choice Under the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA), bulk electricity consumers or contestable customers are empowered to choose their own electricity supplier, giving them the opportunity to save on their electricity costs and choose from di- verse sources of power supply. Food and beverage industry lead- er Nestlé Philippines made the switch to Cleanergy in 2017, partnering with Aboitiz- Power for the supply of clean and renew- able energy to its manufacturing facility in Lipa, Batangas. Following this switch, more Nestle facilities have been powered by Cleanergy - factories in Cabuyao, Laguna and Tanuan, Batangas, as well as its corpo- rate administrative office in Makati City. The 17-MW aggregated energy de- mand of the Nestlé facilities comes from AboitizPower’s MakBan geothermal power San Carlos Sun Power, Inc.’s (SacaSun) 59-megawatt peak (MWp) utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plant in San Carlos plant in the provinces of Laguna and Batan- City, Negros Occidental, forms part of AboitizPower’s renewable energy portfolio, which also includes geothermal, run-of-riv- er hydro, and large hydropower facilities all over the country. see Industry leader, page 02 Subic Bay News www.subicbaynews.com 02 Industry leader......................................from page 01 Monitor and Prepare, Don’t Panic – Gordon gas. Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa in Cebu, one of advises amid China Mystery Disease the country’s top resort destinations, also chose Aboitiz- Power’s Cleanergy to power their operations and support While advising the public that there is no need for they have travelled to Wuhan and if so, be requested their environmental sustainability initiatives. Shangri-La’s undue panic or anxiety amid the reported mystery to be subjected to screening and a temperature check other facilities in the country powered by Cleanergy are disease from China as there has been no reported hu- with minimum inconvenience as they enter the coun- Shangri-La at The Fort, Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, man-to-human transmission, Senator Richard J. Gor- try,” he added. and Hotel Jen Manila by Shangri-La, to which AboitizPow- don, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross, The DOH earlier ordered strict monitoring of er supplies a total of 10.4 MW. AboitizPower also supplies a total of 15.7 MW of nevertheless called on the government to monitor the all incoming travelers amid reports of a mysterious dis- Cleanergy to Asian Development Bank, Draka Philippines, situation in Wuhan, China and take necessary prepara- ease from China that has sparked fears of a return of Eton Properties, and Unionbank, among others. tions in the event the disease spreads. the dreaded severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). AboitizPower has a total of 32 Cleanergy custom- “The cause of the “mystery” disease from Wu- Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III assured ers in Luzon and Visayas, which accounts for a total of 203 han, China has not been determined and thus far, there the public that the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) is on MW of renewable supply. has been no reported human-to-human transmission. alert and is closely watching all seaports and airports in The push for Cleanergy is not only driven by large Until the cause is known, there is no need for undue response to reports of the mysterious disease. Duque industry players. For local cooperatives and private dis- panic or anxiety. Meanwhile, the situation needs to be instructed the BOQ to intensify the checking of all in- tribution utilities, the value of AboitizPower's renewable monitored and preparations should be in place in the coming travelers especially those manifesting fever or energy brand is ever more apparent. event that the disease spreads,” he said. signs of respiratory infection. Gordon also commended the Department of It has been reported lately that an outbreak of Sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective power Health for ordering the Bureau of Quarantine to be on a mysterious illness has affected 44 individuals in China. alert and ordering tightened screening of all incoming According to reports, the disease is similar to a “viral Siargao Island’s power distributor, Siargao Electric travellers, given the significant number of workers from pneumonia of unknown origin.” Many of the infected Cooperative (Siarelco), sources at least one MW of power China. individuals were stall holders at Wuhan’s Huanan Sea- from AboitizPower’s Manolo Fortich hydropower plant in “However, given the significant number of food Wholesale Market, which health authorities have Bukidnon. workers from China, including those involved in POGO closed until further notice, according to the South Chi- “Siargao is one of the top tourist destinations. (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) - it is prudent na Morning Post. While we welcome more guests, local and foreign alike, for the Philippines to ask these travelers to declare if we wanted to ensure that we continue to do our part in taking care of our island,” Siarelco General Manager Ser- gio Dagooc has said. In the last two years, electric cooperatives in Zam- boanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Bukidnon, and Mis- Zero Casualty During New Year amis Occidental have shifted to a more balanced energy mix as well. Ten municipalities of Nueva Ecija now also power revelry In Central Luzon their homes and businesses with clean and renewable en- ergy after Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc. signed a CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga -- The Police Regional Office ers and stores; as well as the massive information drive 33-MW power supply deal with AboitizPower earlier this 3 (PRO-3) disclosed on Wednesday that there were no and campaign initiated by the PNP, together with the year. reported casualties due to firecracker and stray bullets different government agencies, on the need to regulate MORE Electric and Power Corp., Iloilo City’s pow- in the welcoming of the new year in Central Luzon. or avoid the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic er distributor, signed an interim power supply agreement PRO-3 regional director, Brig. Gen. Rhodel devices along with the widest dissemination of the des- in May with AboitizPower for 10 MW of Cleanergy from Sermonia attributed this development to the 77 op- ignated firecracker zones imposed by the local govern- its Tiwi and MakBan geothermal plants in the provinces of erations conducted by police authorities in the region ment units,” he said. Albay and Laguna and Batangas, respectively. from Dec. 16, 2019 to Jan. 1, 2020. Sermonia further said the deployment of some Batangas II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC Sermonia said although there were 60 fire- 6,000 police personnel throughout the region also con- II) also recently signed up with AboitizPower for a 3-MW cracker-related injuries recorded during the period, it tributed to the decrease of incidents during the entire Cleanergy supply, as well as a 20-MW emergency power is lower compared to the 90 reported incidents during festivities. supply for a period of one year from December 26, 2019 the same period last year. He said no firearm of police personnel was in- to December 25, 2020. He said the series of operations resulted in the volved in indiscriminate firing during the celebration of Through its Cleanergy portfolio, AboitizPower and arrest of 10 persons in the region for violating Republic New Year.