19 April 2024: A successful webinar hosted by ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, in collaboration with the National Environment Agency (NEA) Singapore and the GIZ 3RproMar partnership program, supported by the Singapore Environment Counsil (SEC) shed light on Singapore's private sector strategies for promoting plastic circularity. The event, titled 'Private Sector Initiatives to Reduce Marine Plastics: Toward Plastic Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore,' brought together practitioners from across the public and private sectors, as well as civil society to discuss innovative solutions and best practices in tackling plastic pollution. More than 100 people from ASEAN region and beyond watched the event and participated in the Q&amp;A session.&nbsp;

A successful webinar hosted by ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, supported by the National Environment Agency Singapore and the GIZ 3RproMar partnership program, shed light on Singapore's private sector strategies for promoting plastic circularity. This successful seminar is a testament of the ongoing collaboration between RKC-MPD and NEA, and private sectors in tackling the complex challenge of marine plastic debris. 19 April 2024: A successful webinar hosted by ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, in collaboration with the National Environment Agency (NEA) Singapore and the GIZ 3RproMar partnership program, supported by the Singapore Environment Counsil (SEC) shed light on Singapore's private sector strategies for promoting plastic circularity. The event, titled 'Private Sector Initiatives to Reduce Marine Plastics: Toward Plastic Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore,' brought together practitioners from across the public and private sectors, as well as civil society to discuss innovative solutions and best practices in tackling plastic pollution. More than 100 people from ASEAN region and beyond watched the event and participated in the Q&amp;A session.&nbsp;

Environment / SGDs / Recycling

Politics / Government / Local government

Green technology

Local companies

Government offices / organizations

A successful webinar hosted by ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, supported by the National Environment Agency Singapore and the GIZ 3RproMar partnership program, shed light on Singapore's private sector strategies for promoting plastic circularity. This successful seminar is a testament of the ongoing collaboration between RKC-MPD and NEA, and private sectors in tackling the complex challenge of marine plastic debris. 

Private Sector Strategies to Implement Plastic Circularity

Almost 40% of the annual CO2 emissions comes from the building and construction world and, out of this, 70% comes from building operations.

As an architect, I worked for the past 18 years designing projects across the globe and very rarely I have encountered sustainable buildings that pursue sustainability beyond the building itself. I mean, you can have a theoretically net-zero building, but if the community that uses it doesn’t have a sustainable approach to living, part of your efforts as designer and builder will be wasted.

In 2007, in my early days as an architect, I visited the BedZed in the UK, one of the first and most successful sustainable communities ever developed. BedZed, acronym for Beddington - its location - and Zero Emission Development, is a residential project in the British countryside, not too far from London. I went there riding my Vespa with no GPS and surprisingly it took me quite some time to find it, as the site was not advertised despite its famous pioneeristic approach. Upon entering the development, I noticed how much the architecture of BedZed was inspired by its sustainable approach: wind chimneys to promote natural ventilation, PV panels, green roofs, big windows (that compromised privacy a bit), sustainable materials and appliances. While sneaking around the private development, I was lucky enough to be invited by James, one of the residents, to visit the inside of his unit. James was a BedZed enthusiast. He proudly showed me his planters full of vegetables that he cultivated together with his next door neighbors. James explained to me that the BedZed community had a direct and effective sustainable approach to its daily life. For example, the use of cars was highly discouraged among residents, and James was riding his bicycle to London. Each house displayed a clear metering system to help residents monitor their utilities. Residents could benchmark their own consumption against the rest of the community, and no one wanted to be the one consuming the most. James told me that this benchmarking approach was particularly effective as he really felt the pressure to be among the “good residents” and was also a good reason to compete and have fun in BedZed. When it came the time to leave BedZed and James saw me on my Vespa, he scolded me, saying that next time I should have used public transport, because the bus stop is just conveniently right next to BedZed.

Since we started Woke Coliving in 2018, we set our goals to play a role within the SDGs framework, to impact the environment and to help the local communities to improve their living standards. By managing coliving communities, we really have the opportunity to bring sustainability up from the building to the community level. Our locations and proximity to the CBDs (Central Business Districts) promote walk-to-office culture and reduce the dependency from vehicular transportation. This directly reduces the individual's carbon footprint. Our newly built project in Mandaluyong was designed to maximize natural light and ventilation in all living areas, thus reducing dependency from the energy providers that, similarly to BedZed, are metered individually and are paid per use. Finally, moving from a sustainable approach to a design perspective, in the end I am still an architect, our building almost triples the occupancy of a traditional residential building, reducing the square meter per person from 24 to 8. Less buildings, more room for green and public spaces.&nbsp;

Coliving delivers tangible benefits to the people and the way they live, work and play. As operators and community managers, we have the responsibility to create awareness about wellness and influence sustainable living. Stepping forward with simple choices and small sacrifices creates a positive impact on our lives and the world we live in.&nbsp;

Since we started Woke Coliving in 2018, we set our goals to play a role within the SDGs framework, to impact the environment and to help the local communities to improve their living standards. By managing coliving communities, we really have the opportunity to bring sustainability up from the building to the community level. Almost 40% of the annual CO2 emissions comes from the building and construction world and, out of this, 70% comes from building operations.As an architect, I worked for the past 18 years designing projects across the globe and very rarely I have encountered sustainable buildings that pursue sustainability beyond the building itself. I mean, you can have a theoretically net-zero building, but if the community that uses it doesn’t have a sustainable approach to living, part of your efforts as designer and builder will be wasted.In 2007, in my early days as an architect, I visited the BedZed in the UK, one of the first and most successful sustainable communities ever developed. BedZed, acronym for Beddington - its location - and Zero Emission Development, is a residential project in the British countryside, not too far from London. I went there riding my Vespa with no GPS and surprisingly it took me quite some time to find it, as the site was not advertised despite its famous pioneeristic approach. Upon entering the development, I noticed how much the architecture of BedZed was inspired by its sustainable approach: wind chimneys to promote natural ventilation, PV panels, green roofs, big windows (that compromised privacy a bit), sustainable materials and appliances. While sneaking around the private development, I was lucky enough to be invited by James, one of the residents, to visit the inside of his unit. James was a BedZed enthusiast. He proudly showed me his planters full of vegetables that he cultivated together with his next door neighbors. James explained to me that the BedZed community had a direct and effective sustainable approach to its daily life. For example, the use of cars was highly discouraged among residents, and James was riding his bicycle to London. Each house displayed a clear metering system to help residents monitor their utilities. Residents could benchmark their own consumption against the rest of the community, and no one wanted to be the one consuming the most. James told me that this benchmarking approach was particularly effective as he really felt the pressure to be among the “good residents” and was also a good reason to compete and have fun in BedZed. When it came the time to leave BedZed and James saw me on my Vespa, he scolded me, saying that next time I should have used public transport, because the bus stop is just conveniently right next to BedZed.Since we started Woke Coliving in 2018, we set our goals to play a role within the SDGs framework, to impact the environment and to help the local communities to improve their living standards. By managing coliving communities, we really have the opportunity to bring sustainability up from the building to the community level. Our locations and proximity to the CBDs (Central Business Districts) promote walk-to-office culture and reduce the dependency from vehicular transportation. This directly reduces the individual's carbon footprint. Our newly built project in Mandaluyong was designed to maximize natural light and ventilation in all living areas, thus reducing dependency from the energy providers that, similarly to BedZed, are metered individually and are paid per use. Finally, moving from a sustainable approach to a design perspective, in the end I am still an architect, our building almost triples the occupancy of a traditional residential building, reducing the square meter per person from 24 to 8. Less buildings, more room for green and public spaces.&nbsp;Coliving delivers tangible benefits to the people and the way they live, work and play. As operators and community managers, we have the responsibility to create awareness about wellness and influence sustainable living. Stepping forward with simple choices and small sacrifices creates a positive impact on our lives and the world we live in.&nbsp;

Residential / Condominium

Architecture / Space design

Think tank

Real Estate / Architecture / Construction

Since we started Woke Coliving in 2018, we set our goals to play a role within the SDGs framework, to impact the environment and to help the local communities to improve their living standards. By managing coliving communities, we really have the opportunity to bring sustainability up from the building to the community level. 

Paradigm Shift: From Sustainable Buildings to Sustainable Communities

ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre
for Marine Plastic Debris invites you to a webinar titled "Toward Plastic
Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore". Save the date:

Time: 10:00 AM – 12:15 PM (GMT+8)

The event will feature presentations from leading
Singaporean private companies pioneering in plastic circularity and waste
reduction:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Reo Kawamura, Director of ERIA's Regional
Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Santhosh Manivannan, Director, Policy
Division, National Environment Agency, Singapore 

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Michikazu Kojima, Senior Research Fellow at
ERIA

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Roy Andy Panjaitan, Economic Cooperation and
Private Sector Development Advisor at GIZ Indonesia

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Jeryl Yep, Co-Founder and Innovation Lead of
Semula Pte Ltd

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Jerid Soo, Assistant General Manager at
Pacific International Lines (PTE)

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ms Huileng Tan, Executive Director at Zero Waste
SG

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ms Yee Shien Su, Partnerships Manager at Zero
Waste SG

E-certificate is
provided for all participants! Register now via bit.ly/8thPSP

Don't miss out on "Toward Plastic Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore" webinar. E-certificate is provided for all participants! Register now via bit.ly/8thPSPERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre
for Marine Plastic Debris invites you to a webinar titled "Toward Plastic
Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore". Save the date:Date: April 18th, 2024Time: 10:00 AM – 12:15 PM (GMT+8)The event will feature presentations from leading
Singaporean private companies pioneering in plastic circularity and waste
reduction:Opening
Remarks:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Reo Kawamura, Director of ERIA's Regional
Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Santhosh Manivannan, Director, Policy
Division, National Environment Agency, Singapore Panelists:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Michikazu Kojima, Senior Research Fellow at
ERIA·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Roy Andy Panjaitan, Economic Cooperation and
Private Sector Development Advisor at GIZ Indonesia·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Jeryl Yep, Co-Founder and Innovation Lead of
Semula Pte Ltd·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mr Jerid Soo, Assistant General Manager at
Pacific International Lines (PTE)·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ms Huileng Tan, Executive Director at Zero Waste
SG·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Ms Yee Shien Su, Partnerships Manager at Zero
Waste SGE-certificate is
provided for all participants! Register now via bit.ly/8thPSP

Don't miss out on "Toward Plastic Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore" webinar. E-certificate is provided for all participants! Register now via bit.ly/8thPSP

ERIA Unveils Singapore's Innovative Strategies for Plastic Circularity at Upcoming Webinar

The Regional Knowledge Centre for
Marine Plastic Debris will unpack the Singapore’s strategy to promote resource
circularity, with a focus on plastics. Especially in the context of new laws
and regulations aiming to improve plastic circularity in Singapore, highlighted
in the application of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes for plastics,
the webinar will be an occasion to discuss the many ways private companies are
contributing to combatting plastic waste and marine plastic debris.

Webinar: "Toward Plastic
Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore.” 

Date and Time: April 18, 2024,
10:00 AM to 12:15 PM (GMT+8) 

- Singapore's strategy and
progress on marine plastic waste management. 

- The role of private companies
in combating plastic waste and marine pollution. 

- ERIA’s role in promoting
innovative approaches undertaken by the private sector in the ASEAN+3 region.

Join us to explore Singapore's innovative strategies, private sector contributions, and ERIA's role in combating plastic waste. Don't miss out on "Toward Plastic Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore".The Regional Knowledge Centre for
Marine Plastic Debris will unpack the Singapore’s strategy to promote resource
circularity, with a focus on plastics. Especially in the context of new laws
and regulations aiming to improve plastic circularity in Singapore, highlighted
in the application of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes for plastics,
the webinar will be an occasion to discuss the many ways private companies are
contributing to combatting plastic waste and marine plastic debris.Save the date!Webinar: "Toward Plastic
Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore.” Date and Time: April 18, 2024,
10:00 AM to 12:15 PM (GMT+8) Platform: ZoomRegistration: bit.ly/8thPSP What You Can Learn: - Singapore's strategy and
progress on marine plastic waste management. - The role of private companies
in combating plastic waste and marine pollution. - ERIA’s role in promoting
innovative approaches undertaken by the private sector in the ASEAN+3 region.

Join us to explore Singapore's innovative strategies, private sector contributions, and ERIA's role in combating plastic waste. Don't miss out on "Toward Plastic Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore".

Registration Open for Webinar on Private Sector Initiatives to Reduce Marine Plastics “Toward Plastic Circularity: Good Practices from Singapore”

During its annual stockholders’ meeting on 8 June, the company said it aims to break ground later this year on its Nueva Ecija solar expansion project with a total planned capacity of 4GW which will be controlled by the company. This would make it the largest solar farm in the world, according to SPNEC.

The project expansion will be located in the same region as its 500MW solar plant already under construction in the northern region of Luzon. The entire project – including the 500MW portion already under construction – comprises over 3,500 hectares of land acquired or being acquired.

The solar farm will begin commercial operation in 2026. It will contribute to the Philippines’ increased solar capacity in the coming years. PV Tech reported that the Philippines boasted 13GW of solar projects in the pipelines as of March 2022, a tenfold increase from the 1.3GW registered in March 2021.

“We have ongoing discussions on shareholding arrangements in certain of our projects, to find solutions that will benefit all parties,” said SPNEC’s CEO Leandro Leviste, adding: “Out of deference for these discussions and respect to our partners, we will not yet elaborate, other than to say that: We believe that it is in SPNEC’s interest to invest in projects where it has a controlling stake, and that SPNEC is best served by allocating its capital to projects where this is the case.”

Moreover, the majority of the proceeds of its capital raises have been invested towards the project, as the company has been consolidating land and permits for it since 2016, when SPNEC applied for the first Department of Energy solar energy service contract.

The project will also support the development of over 60km of transmission line to connect to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’s substations which supplies the Greater Manila Area.

Overall, the project’s total capacity would reach 4GW of solar power, nearly doubling the current solar farm, Bhadla Solar Park in the region of Rajasthan, India with a 2.2GW capacity. The project will also nearly treble the Philippines’ current installed solar capacity of 1.4GW at the end of 2022, according to SPNEC.

<h1>Solar Philippines to break ground on world’s ‘largest’ solar farm this year</h1>Solar Philippines Neva Ecija Corporation (SPNEC) has planned to start constructing a 3.5GW solar farm in the Philippines later this year.During its annual stockholders’ meeting on 8 June, the company said it aims to break ground later this year on its Nueva Ecija solar expansion project with a total planned capacity of 4GW which will be controlled by the company. This would make it the largest solar farm in the world, according to SPNEC.The project expansion will be located in the same region as its 500MW solar plant already under construction in the northern region of Luzon. The entire project – including the 500MW portion already under construction – comprises over 3,500 hectares of land acquired or being acquired.The solar farm will begin commercial operation in 2026. It will contribute to the Philippines’ increased solar capacity in the coming years. PV Tech reported that the Philippines boasted 13GW of solar projects in the pipelines as of March 2022, a tenfold increase from the 1.3GW registered in March 2021.“We have ongoing discussions on shareholding arrangements in certain of our projects, to find solutions that will benefit all parties,” said SPNEC’s CEO Leandro Leviste, adding: “Out of deference for these discussions and respect to our partners, we will not yet elaborate, other than to say that: We believe that it is in SPNEC’s interest to invest in projects where it has a controlling stake, and that SPNEC is best served by allocating its capital to projects where this is the case.”Moreover, the majority of the proceeds of its capital raises have been invested towards the project, as the company has been consolidating land and permits for it since 2016, when SPNEC applied for the first Department of Energy solar energy service contract.The project will also support the development of over 60km of transmission line to connect to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’s substations which supplies the Greater Manila Area.Overall, the project’s total capacity would reach 4GW of solar power, nearly doubling the current solar farm, Bhadla Solar Park in the region of Rajasthan, India with a 2.2GW capacity. The project will also nearly treble the Philippines’ current installed solar capacity of 1.4GW at the end of 2022, according to SPNEC.We believe in powering the future with solar which is on its way to dominating the energy mix in the Philippines. We are optimistic that shifting to solar will save this country billions of pesos a year, and we at SP New Energy Corporation are poised to reap the rewards of disrupting fossil fuels.0998 562 1251
inquiries@spnec.ph

Nature / Weather

Solar Philippines Neva Ecija Corporation (SPNEC) has planned to start constructing a 3.5GW solar farm in the Philippines later this year.

Solar Philippines to break ground on world’s ‘largest’ solar farm this year

LUNGOD QUEZON, (PIA) --&nbsp;Upang mas palakasin ang community-based drug rehabilitation (CBDR) anti-illegal drug program na Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan (BIDA) ng pamahalaan, &nbsp;nagsanib-puwersa ang Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-RenewHealth.

“As we continue to roll out the BIDA program in various sectors nationwide, I am very pleased to have the support of international agencies such as USAID. We thank USAID for sharing our vision and helping in our efforts to rehabilitate persons who use drugs (PWUDs) and combatting illegal drugs in the communities,” (Sa patuloy na implementasyon ng BIDA program sa iba’t ibang sector sa buong bansa,ko’y nagagalak sa suporta ng mga international agencies tulad ng USAID. Nagpapaalamat kami a USAID sapakikiia sa aming layunin at pagtulong aaming pagsisikap na marehabilitate ang mga taong gumagamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot at tapusin ang suliranin laban sa iligal na droga sa mga komunidad),” ani DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr.

Opisyal na inilunsad ang partnership ‪ Miyerkules ng hapon sa pamamagitan ng paglagda ng Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sa pagitan ng DILG at USAID.

Kasama rin dito ang turnover ng iba't ibang CBDR materials at learning modules ng RenewHealth sa DILG bilang bahagi ng BIDA program na ipapakalat sa mga pamahalaang lokal.

Ayon kay Abalos, ang kolaborasyon ay naglalayong maisakatuparan ang iba't ibang drug-demand activities tulad ng pagtiyak ng access sa evidence-based at culturally appropriate tools na sumusuporta sa pagpapatupad ng CBDR; pagpapakalat ng research at best practices ng CBDR, substance use prevention at re-integration program; at capacity-building para sa mga CBDR program managers at service providers ng local government units (LGUs).

Sa ilalim ng MOU, magkakaloob ang USAID ng tools at materials ukol sa social behavior change communication (SBCC) at CBDR; capacity building at information management platforms para sa CBDR; advocacy events para itampok ang mga best practice ng CBDR; at evidence-based na mga polisiya at batayan ukol sa CBDR.

Samantala, ang DILG ang siyang mangunguna sa pagpapakalat at co-branding ng mga SBCC at CBDR material ng USAID bilang bahagi ng BIDA Program at ICAD websites; pangunguna sa mga forum at advocacy event bilang bahagi ng BIDA Program; at pagkakaloob ng CBDR capacity building sa mga LGU at iba pa.

Ang RenewHealth ng USAID ay isang proyekto na nagsimula noong 2019 na nagtataguyod ng social integration at nagpapataas ng accessibility ng drug treatment at rehabilitasyon sa loob ng komunidad.

Ang BIDA program, ang multi-sectoral at holistic na drug campaign ng pamahalaan, ay nakatuon sa pagpapaigting ng mga hakbangin upang bawasan ang demand at supply ng iligal na droga sa pamamagitan ng multi-sectoral approach kasabay ng law enforcerment efforts ng mga awtoridad.&nbsp;(DILG/PIA-NCR)

<h1>DILG, USAID nagsanib-puwersa, community-based drug rehabilitation, mas pinalakas</h1>LUNGOD QUEZON, (PIA) --&nbsp;Upang mas palakasin ang community-based drug rehabilitation (CBDR) anti-illegal drug program na Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan (BIDA) ng pamahalaan, &nbsp;nagsanib-puwersa ang Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-RenewHealth.“As we continue to roll out the BIDA program in various sectors nationwide, I am very pleased to have the support of international agencies such as USAID. We thank USAID for sharing our vision and helping in our efforts to rehabilitate persons who use drugs (PWUDs) and combatting illegal drugs in the communities,” (Sa patuloy na implementasyon ng BIDA program sa iba’t ibang sector sa buong bansa,ko’y nagagalak sa suporta ng mga international agencies tulad ng USAID. Nagpapaalamat kami a USAID sapakikiia sa aming layunin at pagtulong aaming pagsisikap na marehabilitate ang mga taong gumagamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot at tapusin ang suliranin laban sa iligal na droga sa mga komunidad),” ani DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr.<img style="max-width:100%;height:auto;" src="https://vritimes-public.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/production/es84c24n.png" alt="Image"/>Opisyal na inilunsad ang partnership ‪ Miyerkules ng hapon sa pamamagitan ng paglagda ng Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sa pagitan ng DILG at USAID.Kasama rin dito ang turnover ng iba't ibang CBDR materials at learning modules ng RenewHealth sa DILG bilang bahagi ng BIDA program na ipapakalat sa mga pamahalaang lokal.Ayon kay Abalos, ang kolaborasyon ay naglalayong maisakatuparan ang iba't ibang drug-demand activities tulad ng pagtiyak ng access sa evidence-based at culturally appropriate tools na sumusuporta sa pagpapatupad ng CBDR; pagpapakalat ng research at best practices ng CBDR, substance use prevention at re-integration program; at capacity-building para sa mga CBDR program managers at service providers ng local government units (LGUs).Sa ilalim ng MOU, magkakaloob ang USAID ng tools at materials ukol sa social behavior change communication (SBCC) at CBDR; capacity building at information management platforms para sa CBDR; advocacy events para itampok ang mga best practice ng CBDR; at evidence-based na mga polisiya at batayan ukol sa CBDR.Samantala, ang DILG ang siyang mangunguna sa pagpapakalat at co-branding ng mga SBCC at CBDR material ng USAID bilang bahagi ng BIDA Program at ICAD websites; pangunguna sa mga forum at advocacy event bilang bahagi ng BIDA Program; at pagkakaloob ng CBDR capacity building sa mga LGU at iba pa.Ang RenewHealth ng USAID ay isang proyekto na nagsimula noong 2019 na nagtataguyod ng social integration at nagpapataas ng accessibility ng drug treatment at rehabilitasyon sa loob ng komunidad.Ang BIDA program, ang multi-sectoral at holistic na drug campaign ng pamahalaan, ay nakatuon sa pagpapaigting ng mga hakbangin upang bawasan ang demand at supply ng iligal na droga sa pamamagitan ng multi-sectoral approach kasabay ng law enforcerment efforts ng mga awtoridad.&nbsp;(DILG/PIA-NCR)

DILG, USAID nagsanib-puwersa, community-based drug rehabilitation, mas pinalakas

MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines braces for the return of El Niño and the dry spells and droughts it could bring, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed an executive order creating an office that will ensure the availability and sustainable management of water resources in the country.&nbsp;

Marcos on Thursday signed Executive Order 22 creating the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

WRMO was created to address the challenges affecting the management of water resources in the country such as the fragmented water and sanitation sector, increasing demand for water due to population and economic growth, impacts of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of infrastructure, and inconsistent government regulations.

The office will serve as a transitory body pending the creation of the Department of Water—among the pieces of legislation that Marcos has identified as a priority.

WRMO is mandated to ensure the immediate implementation of the Integrated Water Resources Management in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and formulate a corresponding Water Resources Master Plan, the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.&nbsp;

The office is directed to integrate into the IWMP the development plans of other agencies, including the following:

Philippine Development PlanPhilippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master PlanNational Water Resources Board Security Master Plan

WRMO is also tasked to generate and maintain credible and timely water and sanitation data to aid in evidence-based policy-making, regulations, planning, and implementation.&nbsp;

It will also "shepherd and champion"&nbsp;the passage of the proposed Department of Water as well as a&nbsp;regulatory commission on water.&nbsp;

WRMO will be headed by an undersecretary to be appointed by the president upon the recommendation of Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga.

Loyzaga told media in February that the yet to be named undersecretary will be "an expert [who] has a scientific background in terms of water resource management" and who understands climate change and its implications on water security.

The DENR also has an attached agency that coordinates and regulates water resource development activities of the country—the National Water Resources Board. It issues water permits for the appropriation and use of water resources, and reviews water resource development plans of other agencies.

State weather bureau PAGASA earlier said there was a good chance El Niño would develop in July to September. It may persist until 2024.

<h1>New Water Resources Management Office created: What will it do?</h1>MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines braces for the return of El Niño and the dry spells and droughts it could bring, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed an executive order creating an office that will ensure the availability and sustainable management of water resources in the country.&nbsp;Marcos on Thursday signed Executive Order 22 creating the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.WRMO was created to address the challenges affecting the management of water resources in the country such as the fragmented water and sanitation sector, increasing demand for water due to population and economic growth, impacts of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of infrastructure, and inconsistent government regulations.The office will serve as a transitory body pending the creation of the Department of Water—among the pieces of legislation that Marcos has identified as a priority.<h2>Mandate</h2>WRMO is mandated to ensure the immediate implementation of the Integrated Water Resources Management in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and formulate a corresponding Water Resources Master Plan, the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.&nbsp;The office is directed to integrate into the IWMP the development plans of other agencies, including the following:Philippine Development PlanPhilippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master PlanNational Water Resources Board Security Master PlanWRMO is also tasked to generate and maintain credible and timely water and sanitation data to aid in evidence-based policy-making, regulations, planning, and implementation.&nbsp;It will also "shepherd and champion"&nbsp;the passage of the proposed Department of Water as well as a&nbsp;regulatory commission on water.&nbsp;WRMO will be headed by an undersecretary to be appointed by the president upon the recommendation of Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga.Loyzaga told media in February that the yet to be named undersecretary will be "an expert [who] has a scientific background in terms of water resource management" and who understands climate change and its implications on water security.The DENR also has an attached agency that coordinates and regulates water resource development activities of the country—the National Water Resources Board. It issues water permits for the appropriation and use of water resources, and reviews water resource development plans of other agencies.State weather bureau PAGASA earlier said there was a good chance El Niño would develop in July to September. It may persist until 2024.

Electricity / Gas / Resources / Energy

New Water Resources Management Office created: What will it do?

Power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has secured additional 56 megawatt capacity commitments from Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC), which will be utilizing its own generating assets for its power needs when necessary.

In a statement to the media, Meralco said it has gotten pledges of additional 56MW of capacity that can be shaved off from its system demand as APMC will be utilizing its own generating assets.

The additional new commitment has brought the real estate firm "within-the-fence electricity generation"&nbsp; to 144MW from what it previously promised at 88MW.

The APMC commitment falls under the interruptible load program (ILP), which, in turn, helps shore up supply within its network when grid supply would run tight within the stretch of the summer months.

The ILP is an initiative backed by the Department of Energy (DOE), so the utilities can have added measure on building up their supply buffer, in case available power supply would turn extremely strained as demand would peak during the summer period.

Meralco, the country’s biggest power utility, further reported that at this stage, it has already gotten the nod of at least 117 ILP participants with estimated 616 megawatts of capacity that can be reduced from Meralco’s network when warranted.

The company expounded that “the ILP is an energy demand-side management program through which large-load customers are asked to use their generator sets or reduce their operations, instead of drawing power from the grid.”

Such measure, according to Meralco, will “spare households from power interruptions during instances of red alert or when supply is insufficient to meet the demand.”

The supply-demand outlook presented by the DOE is not projecting occurrences of ‘red alert’ that could plunge Luzon grid into rotational brownouts, although the agency has not discounted probabilities of power service interruptions if major power plants would suddenly conk out.

But as asserted by Michael Magpusao, chief engineer and chief operating officer of APMC, “participation in the ILP is a win-win for both companies and communities,” adding that such initiative “exemplifies the spirit of bayanihan because while the national government prepares the grid for a more reliable supply, we, in the load side, are doing our part to help communities.”

That business segment of Ayala Land has been managing over 200 properties nationwide ranging from residential buildings to malls and estates.

Abraham Uy, chairman of WalterMart, similarly vouched on the benefits of the ILP program – primarily on lowering the chances of power service interruptions, as he stated that “Meralco’s management of the ILP program benefits companies which no longer need to worry about (demand) surges.”

Beyond the ILP as a stop-gap measure to thin supply dilemmas in the Luzon grid, Meralco Vice President Joe Zaldarriaga reiterated that “electricity consumption historically rises during the dry months because of the increased use of cooling appliances. That’s why we, in Meralco, continue to share a wealth of energy efficiency tips, not only to help our customers better manage their power consumption, but also to encourage its adoption as a way of life."

<h1>Meralco secures addl’l capacity commitment from Ayala</h1>- ILP participants will help reduce rotational brownout probabilities when demand would peak. during the summer months
- Participating big-ticket customers will be asked to de-load from the grid and will instead switch on their respective generating assetsPower utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has secured additional 56 megawatt capacity commitments from Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC), which will be utilizing its own generating assets for its power needs when necessary.In a statement to the media, Meralco said it has gotten pledges of additional 56MW of capacity that can be shaved off from its system demand as APMC will be utilizing its own generating assets.The additional new commitment has brought the real estate firm "within-the-fence electricity generation"&nbsp; to 144MW from what it previously promised at 88MW.The APMC commitment falls under the interruptible load program (ILP), which, in turn, helps shore up supply within its network when grid supply would run tight within the stretch of the summer months.The ILP is an initiative backed by the Department of Energy (DOE), so the utilities can have added measure on building up their supply buffer, in case available power supply would turn extremely strained as demand would peak during the summer period.Meralco, the country’s biggest power utility, further reported that at this stage, it has already gotten the nod of at least 117 ILP participants with estimated 616 megawatts of capacity that can be reduced from Meralco’s network when warranted.The company expounded that “the ILP is an energy demand-side management program through which large-load customers are asked to use their generator sets or reduce their operations, instead of drawing power from the grid.”Such measure, according to Meralco, will “spare households from power interruptions during instances of red alert or when supply is insufficient to meet the demand.”The supply-demand outlook presented by the DOE is not projecting occurrences of ‘red alert’ that could plunge Luzon grid into rotational brownouts, although the agency has not discounted probabilities of power service interruptions if major power plants would suddenly conk out.But as asserted by Michael Magpusao, chief engineer and chief operating officer of APMC, “participation in the ILP is a win-win for both companies and communities,” adding that such initiative “exemplifies the spirit of bayanihan because while the national government prepares the grid for a more reliable supply, we, in the load side, are doing our part to help communities.”That business segment of Ayala Land has been managing over 200 properties nationwide ranging from residential buildings to malls and estates.Abraham Uy, chairman of WalterMart, similarly vouched on the benefits of the ILP program – primarily on lowering the chances of power service interruptions, as he stated that “Meralco’s management of the ILP program benefits companies which no longer need to worry about (demand) surges.”Beyond the ILP as a stop-gap measure to thin supply dilemmas in the Luzon grid, Meralco Vice President Joe Zaldarriaga reiterated that “electricity consumption historically rises during the dry months because of the increased use of cooling appliances. That’s why we, in Meralco, continue to share a wealth of energy efficiency tips, not only to help our customers better manage their power consumption, but also to encourage its adoption as a way of life."

- ILP participants will help reduce rotational brownout probabilities when demand would peak. during the summer months
- Participating big-ticket customers will be asked to de-load from the grid and will instead switch on their respective generating assets