October 2009 Available online at www.Lopezlink.ph How to help typhoon victims...pages 7 and 8 Typhoon spurs ‘bayanihan’ WHEN Jane woke up on the morning of September 26, she other: “It’s flooded everywhere, a lot of people are stranded. Don’t thought it was just another rainy Saturday, like most weekends in go out, floodwaters are rising fast.” They were from a friend who Meralco on track the past month or so had been. She wasn’t going to let the rain stop lived two streets away. When she checked online, she realized just with restoration her from spending the day at the nearest mall 15 minutes away, her how serious the situation in Manila was. way of unwinding from a long, crazy week at work. A flurry of posts from her Facebook contacts told of being stuck ...page 3 Then the first text message came: “Where are you? The flood is in cars or homes, and shared traffic advisories, hotline numbers, already waist-deep here, even the pedicabs are useless.” And an- Turn to page 6 ‘Kapamilya’ talents, among them Zanjoe Marudo and Shaina Magdayao, went to different evacuation centers and flood-ravaged areas to help distribute relief goods and bring comfort to the victims of typhoon Ondoy. EL Center safe after typhoon...page 3 Are you ready? Tips on page 10 A T IS T BENJIE BAU PHOTO BY: 2 3 Lopezlink October 2009 Lopezlink October 2009 OML: ‘Corporate governance is about being world- class’ EDC bags Palinpinon, Tongonan plants OSCAR M. Lopez (OML) was one understand that to compete globally for playing field, where the rules of en- the Institute of Corporate Directors; ENERGY Development Cor- cilities. Green Core is a wholly Steam from EDC’s geo- EDC is a subsidiary of First of the panelists at the recent 10th markets for our products, and for fund- gagement are clear and impartially Amando Tetangco Jr., governor of poration (EDC) won the gov- owned subsidiary of First Lu- thermal production fields Gen Corporation, the holding Organization for Economic Coop- ing for our businesses, we must meet apply to everyone. But we all know Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; Fe Barin, ernment bidding on September zon Geothermal Energy Cor- serves as fuel to run several company of the Lopez Group eration and Development (OECD) the ever increasingly rigorous standards that is often not the case and that we chairperson of the Securities and Ex- 2 for the 192.5-megawatt Pal- poration, which in turn is a geothermal power generation for energy and also the coun- Asian Roundtable held at the Manila of corporate governance… We believe find that we are often pressured to act change Commission; Francisco Lim, inpinon and 112.5-MW Tong- wholly owned subsidiary of facilities, including the Pal- try’s leading clean and renew- Peninsula Hotel in Makati. that corporate governance is much in ways we deem unbecoming. Even president of the Philippine Stock onan geothermal plants with an EDC. inpinon power plant in Va- able energy firm. The Lopez Group chairman spoke more about what we strongly believe in our own home market, the playing Exchange; and Jeremias Paul Jr., un- offer of $220 million for both Psalm will formally hand lencia, Negros Oriental, and First Gen’s thrust is to use in behalf of the Philippine busi- in and about what we are committed field is often not even, where political dersecretary of the Department of facilities. over to Green Core the Pal- the Tongonan power facility clean, renewable and indigenous ness sector in a panel focused on the to observe in all our corporate decisions patronage determines the winners and Finance. EDC, through Green Core inpinon and Tongonan power in Kananga, Leyte. With the fuel to run its power plants. country’s experiences and challenges and actions. It is about being world- the losers, where graft and corruption The forum marked the 10th Geothermal Inc., made the of- plant facilities in the last quar- addition of the 305-MW to- Thus, to date, over 90% of the with corporate governance reforms. class,” OML stressed. constantly lurks below the veneer of anniversary of the Asian Round- fer when state-owned Power ter of the year. tal installed capacity of both 2,582-MW installed capacity of His remarks focused on the need for He also discussed the challenges acceptable governance. To resist, to table on Corporate Governance Sector Assets and Liabilities The losing bidder, the plants, EDC’s installed gen- First Gen power plants run on strengthened principles of corporate facing leaders in private businesses stay faithful to our values and vision (ARCG), which serves as a regional Management Corporation Aboitiz Group, came up with eration capacity went up from clean, renewable and indigenous governance from all sectors in society. who are serious about good corporate can be very costly,” he said. venue for exchanging experiences (Psalm) auctioned off both fa- $200-M offer for both plants. 744 to 1,049 MW. fuel. (Joel Gaborni) Essential for business governance. Panelists and advancing reforms on corpo- “Corporate governance is not just “There is a presumption…that we Joining OML on the panel were rate governance. (Angelo Macabu- Lopez Group chairman Oscar M. Lopez at good, but essential for our business. We should be able to compete in an even Dr. Jesus Estanislao, chairman of hay) athe OECD roundtable. Geothermal plants notch milestone THE Unified Leyte geother- “Considering that we started Last year, EDC’s Bacman tion Field (SNGPF) in Negros Meralco on track in restoration work mal power plants of Energy De- operating the plants only in Geothermal Production Field Oriental; the Mindanao Geother- The Rockwell Business Center in Ortigas Center AS of 8 a.m. on September 28, Meralco external com- thorough inspection of facilities concerns over 0917-5592824 velopment Corporation (EDC) 2006 and 2007, this is indeed (BGPF) in Sorsogon; Northern mal Production Field (MGPF) in only 27 circuits, or 4% of the 683 munications manager Joe in some households that had and 0920-9292824. reached 1,005,706 safe man- another achievement for EDC. Negros Geothermal Production North Cotabato; and the Leyte circuits in the Meralco franchise Zaldarriaga said, “Safety of experienced flooding. These In a related development, hours without lost time accident Our adherence to the highest Field (NNGPF) in Negros Occi- Geothermal Production Field (LTA) as of August 25, 2009. safety standards, the dedication dental; and Upper Mahiao pow- (LGPF) which accounts for al- PHOTO BY: remain without power. residents remains the primary may include meters and sec- Meralco provided 26 genera- Rockwell Business These circuits are mostly lo- concern in restoring power ondary lines, whose integrity tor sets and 50 floodlights in The Unified Leyte plants in- of our safety team in ensuring er plant received the safety award most 60% of the company’s to- cated in flooded areas which to these affected areas. …We and safe use have to be ensured several evacuation centers in clude the 125-megawatt (MW) compliance and making safety from the Safety and Health As- tal installed capacity. The LGPF Center goes green Upper Mahiao plant; the 232- a way of life led to the achieve- sociation of the Philippine En- supplies the steam used by the MARICRIS necessitated the distribution would like to assure our cus- first before power is restored to Metro Manila to assist affected MW Malitbog and 180-MW ment of this milestone,” EDC ergy Sector (SHAPES). Unified Leyte plants and the Na- company to interrupt power tomers that virtually all of our affected households. residents. The company also ARCHITECTURAL design plays a role in how people think and Mahanagdong plants; and the president and COO Richard EDC also operates the South- pocor-owned Tongonan I geo- supply for safety purposes. field personnel have already He added that should cus- provided thousands of relief feel. Studies have shown that various ceiling heights affect creativ- 51-MW optimization plants. Tantoco said. ern Negros Geothermal Produc- thermal plant. (Toni Nieva) A Count of affected Meralco been deployed and have been tomers have any difficulty bags in the affected areas as it ity and focus. Moreover, the concept of green architecture not only VIGUE customers is estimated to be at working round the clock to getting through the Meralco mobilized employees and per- helps sustain the environment, but also positively affects people’s about 132,000 or around 3% restore power.” hotline 16211, they could also sonnel to assist the victims of minds. T ER of the 4.6 million registered Zaldarriaga said that Meral- text flood situations in their ar- typhoon Ondoy. (Meralco Cor- Research shows that green surroundings such as gardens, fields O MMLDC, Siemens affirm partnership Meralco customers. co crews may also have to do a eas and other Meralco-related porate Marketing) or forests and other natural settings have a restorative effect on the Sumulong Highway in Antipolo, Rizal blocked by landslide from slope of mind. These research findings have resulted in better architectural THE Meralco Management the memorandum signing with Meralco’s power transmission and CEO Adrian Wood mean- Eugenio Lopez Center designs in the new developments for business centers. Applied as and Leadership Development Siemens. MMLDC celebrated and distribution requirements while stressed. Mesala offers loans to members innovations, they not only bring forth the well-being of individuals Center (MMLDC) business its 10th anniversary in August. since the 1960s. Of special rel- Also present during the but also help improve productivity. center is now known as the “I believe you’re making a evance to Meralco is Siemens memorandum signing at EL Center safe MERALCO Employees Savings trustees has approved the grant of 24 months via monthly payroll the existing comaker policy.