MANILA-On September 9 and 10, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), handed over a mobile storage unit and mobile energy systems worth more than P11.6 million ($208,000) to boost Cagayan province’s disaster risk reduction capacity.

USAID Mission Director Ryan Washburn handed over a mobile storage unit that can store 50,000 food packs to Cagayan Provincial Administrator Atty. Maria Rosario Mamba-Villaflor.
The mobile storage unit will allow the provincial government to store food and non-food items so they can rapidly deliver life-saving assistance in the immediate aftermath of disasters.

“For many years, USAID has dispatched teams to Cagayan and other provinces in Northern Luzon to support local government units in providing life-saving assistance during calamities,” said Mission Director Washburn.

“As your friend, partner, and ally, the U.S. government remains committed to strengthening our partnerships and working with the Philippine government to rebuild and restore lives following disasters.”

During the turnover, USAID also formalized a partnership with Cagayan province and the World Food Programme to strengthen Cagayan’s emergency response efforts through the Preparedness and Response Excellence in the Philippines, or PREP, project.

This project will help reduce disaster risks by improving irrigation canals, water systems, and water-harvesting facilities; set up community flood-control dikes; introduce climate-resilient crops; construct community evacuation centers; and provide cash-for-work training so communities can bounce back from natural disasters.

“People’s empowerment is at the heart of the disaster preparedness and good governance program of the governor,” said Provincial Administrator Mamba-Villaflor. “The governor extends his gratitude on behalf of the people of Cagayan.”

USAID also handed over mobile energy systems (MES) to the municipalities of Lal-Lo and Santa Ana.

The MES units will provide clean and reliable power to support relief operations and essential services in the aftermath of disasters, as well as help restart the power grid.

Because the systems are mobile, they can be deployed anywhere they are needed, particularly in remote and off-grid areas. Unlike traditional generator sets, they only require sunlight to recharge.

While in Northern Luzon, Mission Director Washburn also discussed USAID’s work to support Tuguegarao City’s solid waste management system with OIC City Administrator Juanito Calubaquib and city councilors.

He also spoke with Cagayan Vice Governor Melvin Vargas Jr. about USAID’s programs in the region and visited Santa Teresita municipality to see the Emergency Operations Center that USAID helped construct more than a decade ago.

Since 2010, the U.S. government, through USAID, has provided around P19.6 billion ($344 million) in disaster relief and recovery aid, as well as boosted the disaster risk reduction capacity of over 100 cities and municipalities in the Philippines. (PR)

Globe has renewed its strategic partnership with First Gen Corporation, a leading power generation company supplying renewable and clean energy in the Philippines, to further its commitment to attaining net-zero emissions by 2050.

The partnership will contribute to expanding Globe’s Renewable Energy (RE) sites through Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) under Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) and the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP).

Globe plans to increase the number of facilities powered by renewable energy from the current 29 to nearly 70 within the next two years, more than doubling its clean energy use. First Gen, a key collaborator since 2020, is one of its partners in this endeavor.

“Globe and First Gen share the same vision of a decarbonized and regenerative future where sustainability is ingrained into the organization and operations. We are pleased to continue our partnership and are committed to supporting Globe as it journeys towards greater efficiency and reduced environmental impact,” said Carlos Lorenzo Vega, Vice President for Power Marketing, Economics, and Trading of First Gen. Raymond Martin Aguilar, Globe’s Vice President for Risk and Property Management, added: “At Globe, sustainability and risk management are core strategies for building business resilience. This partnership with First Gen is a testament to our dedication to these principles.”
To seal the alliance, a ceremonial signing was held recently among Globe, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) Philippines, and First Gen. The collaboration involves RE adoption not only for Globe’s high energy utilization facilities but also for STT GDC Philippines’ data centers in Cavite.

The telecom industry, with its substantial energy consumption, especially within core sites, plays a pivotal role in today’s digital age. Globe’s Scope 2 emissions, derived from electricity consumption, have historically accounted for an average of 30% of its total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

To realize its net-zero ambition, Globe took the bold step of transitioning its sites to RE beginning in 2019 despite RE being limited and costlier than fossil fuels. By year end 2023, approximately 18% of the total energy consumption of Globe, is now powered by RE, avoiding an estimated 77,000 tonnes of GHG emissions.

“As the first publicly-listed company in the Philippines to have approved near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), this partnership fuels us in our pursuit of our net zero ambitions by greening the network and partnering with sustainability-driven companies,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

Globe remains at the forefront of environmental sustainability in the Philippine telecom sector, actively engaging stakeholders and championing industry practices that advance sustainability. (PR)

International environmental organization Oceana commends Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan for the determination to adopt the science-based approach to managing the fisheries of the province and for his positive response to address the critical issue of post-harvest fish losses, the dire state of the locals’ nutrition and pervasive poverty in the province as articulated in the Oceana study covering Samar and Northern Samar.

The findings of Oceana’s study showing market losses that are as high as 38.39 percent of the province’s total catch from harvesting to marketing stages was presented by Oceana’s Campaign and Research Director, Lawyer Rhea Yray-Frossard during the Provincial Development Council meeting recently.

The comprehensive and pioneering study focused on the towns of Allen, Victoria, San Isidro, as well as Capul, San Antonio, and San Vicente – all part of the San Bernardino Local Government Unit Alliance of Northern Samar (SaBeLANS).

Among the key observations, San Vicente reported the highest physical losses during the fishing stage, especially during the glut season for tuna and sardines.

Because of a lack of cold storage and processing facilities, 85 percent of the quality of fish is lost. Allen also experienced predominant quality losses due to reduced freshness, physical damage, and substandard sizes of export species.

“In Victoria, the situation is even worse. The local fishers catch is undervalued by up to 75 percent during peak seasons due to market pressures. This loss means less money for families who largely rely on these fish to feed their children and support their households and loss of food for the communities as municipal catch is largely for domestic consumption,” Yray-Frossard explained.

Oceana worked with the Center for Sustainable Aquaculture and Agri-based Innovations (CENSAAI) led by Dr. Ronelie Salvador, fisheries expert in producing the report that was done in 2023. During the meeting, Salvador shared the following recommendations to curb post-harvest fish losses: quantify losses at each stage in the distribution chain; improve and institutionalize reporting and monitoring systems; improvide livelihood support to mobile vendors and women, train them on postharvest handling and preservation; through local government units, set limitations on the fish catch volume of species reported to have high losses during peak seasons to reduce waste; and establish postharvest facilities such as cold storage facilities for the processing and preservation of catch with participation by stakeholders

Oceana has been working with Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 7 that covers the San Bernardino Strait of Northern Samar to address these critical issues through the Fisheries Management 7 Plan to promote sustainable fisheries and reduce postharvest losses.(PR)

The Commanding General Philippine Army Lt., Gen. Roy M. Galido engaged the Australian, New Zealand, and Republic of Korean Armies to strengthen military cooperation during the Chief of Army Symposium at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia on September 10, 2024.

Lt. Gen. Galido and Australian Army Chief Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart discussed 15 planned cooperation programs to enhance joint training complexity and interoperability between their armies, aligning with the strategic priorities of both nations.

With New Zealand Army Chief Maj. Gen. Rose King, Lt. Gen. Galido explored elevating PA-NZ Army cooperation in New Zealand-led multinational disaster response exercises.

Meanwhile, his engagement with Republic of Korea Army Chief of Policy, Maj. Gen. Heung Jun Kim Kye-Hwan focused on potential engagements, including Strategic and Security Dialogues, Defense Exhibitions, and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges.

The Philippine Army continues to forge stronger defense bilateral partnerships with allied nations, demonstrating its commitment to regional peace and security. (PR)