TACLOBAN CITY — The Borongan City government is intensifying efforts to strengthen tsunami awareness and disaster preparedness through closer collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST–Phivolcs).

City officials recently met with Phivolcs representatives to plan activities related to World Tsunami Awareness Day and to enhance the city’s strategies for earthquake and tsunami preparedness. The meeting was organized by the city government through its City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

During the meeting, Phivolcs representatives presented proposed programs aimed at strengthening public information campaigns, improving scientific awareness, and boosting community readiness in Borongan.

Among those present were Senior Science Research Specialist Charmaine Villamil and Science Research Specialist Rygin Joy Matias, both involved in the World Tsunami Awareness Day campaign.

Representatives from the capacity development for monitoring and information dissemination of earthquake, tsunami, and volcano project also attended, including deputy team leader Yoko Ota and project staff member Tin Derafera.

The initiative is supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Officials from the DOST in Eastern Samar, led by Provincial Science and Technology Director Arnaldo Amosco, also joined the meeting, along with representatives from Eastern Samar State University in Borongan, local government offices, barangay leaders, and partner agencies.

Representatives from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Army’s 63rd Infantry Battalion, CoPE Inc., and the Workers Association of Borongan City also participated in the discussions.

As part of the initiative, DOST–Phivolcs proposed holding an earthquake and tsunami hazards and community preparedness seminar in the city from July 28 to 30, 2026.
The three-day seminar aims to equip local officials, emergency responders, and community leaders with updated scientific knowledge, hazard assessment tools, and practical response strategies to improve disaster readiness.

Borongan Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda expressed full support for the program, stressing that tsunami threats should be treated as real and recurring risks based on historical records and scientific data.

Agda said the city government is ready to host the proposed activity and encouraged wider participation, particularly from barangay officials, to strengthen disaster preparedness at the grassroots level.

The mayor also thanked DOST–PHIVOLCS and JICA for their continued support, noting that sustained collaboration among national agencies, international partners, and local stakeholders remains vital in strengthening Borongan’s disaster risk reduction and management efforts.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

PASIG CITY– The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) is one with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and other energy stakeholders in seeking immediate relief on the persisting high line rental charges.

Held on 02 March, 2026, PHILRECA, in partnership with the Commission, along with the Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region 8 (Frecor 8 Association, Inc.), Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) , and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), collectively discussed approaches and initiatives to mitigate the effects of high line rental charges under the pricing mechanism of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

FRECOR 8 Representative and Samar I Electric Cooperative, Inc. – Samelco I General Manager, Atty. Edson G. Piczon emphasized the urgency to review and evaluate the WESM pricing mechanism, which affects consumers in the island of Visayas, particularly Regions VI and VIII.

“Since 2023, there have been approximately five unusual spikes in line rental costs—now referred to as Line Loss and Congestion Costs (LLCC). Three of these incidents exceeded P300 million each, all of which were shouldered by the MCOs of Region VIII,” Atty. Piczon remarked.

Likewise, FRECOR 8 extends its gratitude to the Commission for organizing the consultative meeting and discussion, which creates a collaborative environment aimed at safeguarding the welfare and interests of the MCOs.

“FRECOR VIII expresses its appreciation to the Commission and to Chairman Juan that the proposed measures are already under deliberation and are expected to be issued soon,” he added.

During the discussion, IEMOP proposed the further disaggregation of the Total Net Settlement Amount into three distinct components, namely: (1) Net Settlement Surplus (NSS) attributable to losses, (2) NSS attributable to congestion, and (3) NSS attributable to the System Marginal Price (SMP).

Under the proposal, each NSS component shall be allocated using its own dedicated allocation methodology, consistent with established settlement principles, and calibrated according to the corresponding Locational Marginal Price (LMP) elements.

Such an approach ensures that the allocation of surplus is causally aligned with specific market drivers, losses, congestion, and energy price formation, resulting in enhanced transparency, cost reflectivity, and settlement accuracy within the WESM framework.
For its part, PHILRECA welcomes the ERC’s decisive action in reviewing the proposal, applicable regulatory mechanisms, and streamlining measures to cushion the burden of elevated line rental charges. This initiative proactively demonstrates the Commission’s responsiveness to the long-standing concerns raised by ECs and their respective MCOs about cost pressures that directly affect the affordability and sustainability of electric service.

“The Commission’s pursuit of providing relief to affected MCOs is a welcome development for the rural electrification sector. Reducing the adverse effects of high line rental charges will not only ease operational strain on ECs but will ultimately benefit concerned MCOs in the countryside,” PHILRECA affirmed.

The Association expresses its readiness to continue constructive engagement with the ERC and other stakeholders to ensure that reforms are implemented efficiently and transparently. As the voice of ECs nationwide, PHILRECA remains steadfast in advocating policies that uphold the affordability, reliability, and sustainability of electric service in rural communities. (PR)