Friday, January 29, 2010

CRIES AND WHISPERS: "MGA NABABAHALANG EMPLEYADO NG MARELCO"

(Source: kuryentewatch@yahoo.com and forwarded to this blogger by nvmagturo@yahoo.com.)

Marelco cannot possibly escape scrutiny particularly on financial matters, and when concerned employees of the electric cooperative begin to speak about issues familiar to them, then that deserves our full attention. Emailed message addressed to Marelco's Member Consumers follows:

"Para sa Kaalaman ng Mga Member-Consumers ng MARELCO;

Sa darating na February 3 & 4, 2010, sa MARELCO Conference Room itinakda ng Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ang pagdinig (hearing) hinggil sa petisyon ng Marelco na magtaas ng taripa ng kuryente na sisingilin sa ating mga consumers. Isa na namang malaking pasanin para sa ating naghihirap ng mamamayan.

Ang layunin daw ng naturang petisyon ay upang mapunan ang malaking kakulangan na pangtustos sa operasyon ng MARELCO dahil daw sa hindi na sapat ang kasalukuyang taripa, kung kaya ilang beses na napuputulan ng Napocor. Ito ay isang malaking kasinungalingan sapagka’t sapat naman, kung ginagamit lang sa tamang pamamaraan ng paggastos at wastong pangangalaga ng financial operation ng kooperatiba, at tamang pangangasiwa sa pangkalahatan.

Sa madaling salita, MISMANAGEMENT.

Bakit nga baga kinakapos sa pangtustos ng operasyon?

1. Maliban sa power cost o pambayad para sa nakunsumong kuryente mula sa supply ng NAPOCOR, pangalawang malaking porsiyento ay napupunta sa pambayad sa mga pagkakautang sa NEA (National Electrification Administration), na kung saan ang mga ito ay meron ng post-dated checks na pinopondohan ng P17 Milyon kada buwan (ang lahat nag ito ay nakatala sa Marelco News noong September 2007). Kabaliktaran sa ipinahayag sa Pulso noog September 2009. Saan nga ba ginamit ang mga naturang loans na ito?

a. P 15.2Milyong “Working Capital Facility Loan”, na inilaan sa pambayad ng power bill sa NAPOCOR. Ang tanong, saan napunta ang kinolekta sa mga consumers na bahagi ng tinatawag na generation cost?

b. Utang na pinambili ng mga bagong sasakyan kabilang ang isang SUV (Isuzu Crosswinds) na pansariling ginagamit ng ating General Manager.

c. Utang na humigit-kumulang sa P7M na ginastos para sa construction ng tinatawag na inter-looping of lines o pagdugtong ng linya ng primary lines mula Torrijos hanggang Buenavista. Diumano, ito daw ay upang maipababa ang System’s Loss. Subalit halos apat (4) na taon ng tapos ang naturang proyekto hindi bumababa ang systems loss na umaabot ng 18% - 23%, samantalang ang systems loss cap o iyong pinapayagan lamang ng ERC na singilin sa ating konsumidor ay 14% lamang. Ibig sabihin, may nawawalang humigit kumulang sa 4% - 9% revenue o kita na dapat sana’y pambayad sa mga utang na ito.

d. Maliban sa halos P7M na nabanggit, gumugol din ang Marelco ng humigit kumulang P19M na inutang din sa NEA para sa construction naman ng 5MVA substation na itinayo sa Cagpo, Torrijos, upang maibaba din daw ang systems loss. Subali’t, mula ng ito ay matapos, my limang (5) taon ng nakakaraan, ganoon pa din ang systems loss, sa kadahilanang, hindi naman ito ginagamit. Ang nakakabahala, unti-unti na itong kinakalawang, sa kabila ng napakalaking halagang ginugol dito.

e. Ang pinakahuling pagkakautang ay para din daw sa systems loss reduction na humigit-kumulang sa P2M. Ito ay para sa construction ng tinatawag na “grounding transformer” na hindi maunawaan ng karamihang empleyado. Subalit, my ilang buwan na din itong natatapos, pero hindi naman magamit sa kadahilanang ang mga naturang lumang transformers na binili mula sa Elephant Island ay depektibo ayon sa report ng Technical.

Ito ay dulot ng walang tuwirang direksiyon sa pagpapatakbo ng kooperatiba. MISMANAGEMENT nga na masasabi. Walang kaukulang pag-aaral na kung ano talaga ang nararapat na pagkagastusan kagaya ng systems loss na palagi na lamang sinisisi ay Napocor.

2. Mga hindi karapat-dapat na gastusin na dapat sana ay para sa pagsasayos ng serbisyo.

a. Pagbabayad ng mga penalty sa NPC, BIR, ERC, at marami pa, dahil sa kapabayaan ng kasalukuyang management kabilang ang mga Board of Directors.

b. Mga libreng celphone at load ng mga Board of Directors.

c. Mga legal fees, o paggastos sa mga kaso o usapin na kinabibilangan ng 3i power case, labor cases at kung anu ano pa na ang mga kadahilan ay kapabayaan at kapritso ng ilang kawani at Board of Directors.

d. Paggugol ng humigit kumulang sa P700,000 para sa Lineman’s Training Course na kung saan ang my kontrata o trainors ay mga dating kawani ng NEA. Isang malaking katanungan at pagtataka kung bakit gumastos ng ganoong kalaking halaga ng wala naming pakinabang ang kooperatiba. Sa loob ng napakahabang panahon simula ng itinatag ang Marelco, ang naturang gawain ay isinisagawa ng Marelco sa pangangasiwa at pangangalaga ng Technical Dept. Ano nga ba ang tunay na motibo? Kung tutuusin, wala naming pinagkaiba. At sa katunayan, napakarami ng mga Marelco-trained Lineman ang nagkaroon ng magandang buhay sa pagtatrabaho sa abroad.

3. Lumalaking pagkakautang sa NPC na ang ugat lamang ay maling disposisyon sa paghawak ng usapin tungkol sa orihinal na P1.2M na FCA sinisingil ng NPCna umaabot na sa ngayon ng mahigit P10 Milyon. Isang kapalpakan! Na kung tutuusin, ang halagang ito naman ay nakolekta na mula sa mg consumers

4. Ang usapin hinggil sa hindi maipaliwanag na pag gamit ng P47M VAT na diumano ay ginamit sa pagsasaayos ng linya na sinalanta ng bagyong Reming. Isang napakalaking kasinungalingan, sapagka’t nagbigay ang NEA ng P32M grant para dito.

5. At sa kasalukuyan, ang Reorganization ng Marelco, na kung saan ito ay manangahulugan na naman ng karagdagang gastusin para sa Marelco. May mga pagbabago sapagka’t tataas ang sweldo ng mga empleyado. Subalit ang higit na nakababahala ay ito’y wala naming tuwirang epekto upang maisaayos ang sistema. Bagkus, nagdulot pa ng demoralisasyon sa nakararami. Isang programang layunin lamang ay magpasok ang mga Board of Directors ng kani-kanilang tao sa mga bakanteng posisyon, kahit na hindi kuwalipikado at walang karanasan.

Sa kasalukuyan, marami ng empleyado ang nagretiro subalit hindi pa nakakatanggap ng kaukulang retirement pay.



Mga minamahal naming mga member-consumers. Ang mga nabanggit ay ilan lamang sa mga bagay-bagay na nais naming iparating sa inyo. Ang pagtataas ng taripa ng kuryente ay napakalaking pasanin para sa ating lahat.

PAPAYAGAN BA NATIN NA ANG KAPABAYAAN AT MISMANGEMENT NG MARELCO AY TAYO ANG MAGPASAN at MAGHIRAP? Kung nagawa po ng mga concerned member-consumers na mag-rally dahil sa nangyaring brownout ng nakaraang taon, mas nararapat na TUTULAN ANG GANITONG PANGMATAGALANG PAGHIHIRAP DULOT NG MATAAS NA KURYENTE. Atin pong labanan ang anumang baluktot at di makatwirang pagtataas ng taripa na hinahangad ng management. Magtungo po kayo sa Pebrero 3 at 4, 2010 sa Marelco upang tutulan ang nakaambang pagpapahirap na ito.

Sa mga kinauukulan lalo na sa Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), inyo pong busisiin mabuti ang naturang petisyon lalo na ang my kinalaman sa katatayuang pinansiyal at technical. Makatwiran ba na tayong mga consumers ang maghirap dahil sa kanilang kapabayaan? Sapat lamang po ang kasalukuyang taripa kung maayos lamang ang pamamahala ng Marelco.

MGA NABABAHALANG EMPLEYADO NG MARELCO"

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Power Crisis: Where do we go from here?

(Rally in Boac: loud and clear message for all the world to see - photo: dan pagulayan)

Should it be cause for concern? “Generation deficiency” was cited by Manila Electric Company (Meralco) as behind the rolling power outages the other day in Metro Manila and other areas in the Luzon grid. The rotating brownouts were reportedly triggered by the forced outage of the 1,200 MW Sual coal-fired power facilities in Pangasinan.

Normal power situation is back in the areas that were affected, but Manila Bulletin reports, thus:

“The power supply situation in the Luzon grid could face “more critical condition” in the coming days with the scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya facility. Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) confirmed in a text message that Malampaya will be shut down for 30 days starting February 10.

“The reduced contribution of the coal plants is being exacerbated by low availability of electricity from hydroelectric plants because of the El Nino phenomenon.

With the critical power situation, industry players are calling on the government, particularly the Department of Energy, to draw up precautionary measures before the situation gets out of hand.”
(Myrna M. Velasco,1.25.2010 mb.com.ph)

Hmm. Maintenance shutdown. El Nino. What next, then?

Reprise:

As regards Marinduque and to refresh one's memory, the critical power situation here has been repeatedly taken up over a period of two years in many official hearings called by the provincial council, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, that even included an “energy summit”. By mid-September last year the local power institutions have decided as temporary measure to ship to Marinduque from Palawan surplus gensets covered by an unexpired lease agreement between Napocor and a power supplier.

The people’s cry culminated in a church-initiated “truth and transparency” rally headed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Boac, triggered by massive power outages that worsened over a three-month period.

With the arrival of the gensets on October 25, 2009, came publicity stunts staged by grandstanding politicians claiming “final solution”, mum about the short-lived lease-agreement that was set to expire by January 7 or ten weeks later.

(Talk-talk-talk at the NPC Diesel Power Plant in Boac)

With power generation somehow stabilized during the brief Christmas period, even the loud warnings and explanation by SP board member Jose Alvarez, that "everything’s temporary" was largely watered down as expected. Relative calm and peace followed, it was holiday season, let's just say.

With our short memories, quite a few within the power institutions have become even more emboldened now to maintain the electric coop’s “don’t touch us” policy, returning to the cycle of mouthing the same old stories. Their political patrons must be chuckling tounge in cheek.

Needless to say, recommendations and agreements concluded during official meetings have come to naught, it appears.

(The power plant in Balogo as it looks today - single word repeated on yellow ribbon)

Bankcrupt NPP - As admitted by 3i Powergen before the SP body, supported by Marelco, and accepted by SP, said New Power Provider (NPP) is no longer in a capacity to pursue the project due to bankruptcy. How long will the contract rescission process take?

Registration with Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) – Registration with CDA would ensure Marelco’s independence and freedom from control by any agency or political entity, and would exempt it from payment of taxes (VAT, real estate, etc). The provincial government and the local Church have openly espoused Marelco’s registration with CDA. (Marelco admitted that its contract with 3i Powergen was not known to consumers until after signing and was made known to the public only when problems began to surface).

Marelco is also not registered with SEC, therefore not a stock cooperative nor does it operate like one. Hearings revealed that involvement of consumers is limited to attending raffles disguised as “annual meetings” and paying bills.

Officials and Marelco management apparently have it so good at present, they’re not bent on the idea of Marelco registration with CDA and will thwart efforts along this line more defiantly if need be. The issue is control at public expense.

Interim Power Supply Agreement - The signing of an Interim Power Supply Agreement between Marelco and Napocor covering a specific period, one year, two years, three years, whatever, that would ensure uninterrupted power supply, should already be in place by now.

After which, the energy stakeholders could entertain NPP’s, and there are several, who have expressed willingness to offer solutions to the Marinduque situation. To see new power providers in place could take two more years, we must not forget.

(Some names in the Marinduque power saga)

Yes, indeed, there are moves being undertaken by those wishing to lead us to the light at the end of the tunnel, but decidedly at an extremely slow pace. A situation only made worse by smaller fries bent only in keeping their positions intact as they play along with the same power wielders, in the same old rotten way of wheeling and dealing in Marinduque - handed down from one generation to another.

Something really rotten. Endlessly talked about but often hushed by the application of pressure or the color of money or a piece of the pie or all of these.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Bokal Jojo's Plea

Even with NPC and Marelco assurances, 30 min to 1-2 hour power outages still strike any given town of Marinduque without wwarning, and this has been the case during the last couple of weeks. Some electric coop directors have been overheard mouthing the same old lines and lies as before. What happened to their promise to rescind the power contract with the power supplier that simply failed to deliver based on the 2005 contract? They apparently have it so good as directors or managers for as long as Marelco remains unregistered as a duly registered cooperative under CDA or SEC. In this video Alvarez stresses that Marelcos current status has resulted in power rate increases, which has made its power rates "one of the highest in the country", with more increases in the offing. It cannot be said that Marinduque consumers are only happy to pay those increases nor do they believe that cash gifts received during elections are actual reimbursements for those taxes not turned over to tax authorities.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Philippine Segment of Pacific Ring of Fire Roaring!

Earlier Warning

In March 2006, a geology professor in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic actually warned that the said country must be prepared in the short term for a strong earthquake that could even generate a tidal wave in the country’s North and South zones. Prof. Orlando Franco affirmed serious indications “which have occurred in nature leading us to forecast a possible earthquake with fatal consequences.”

He made reference to tremors which have taken place in the country’s North region, which could be a prelude to something stronger. He then cautioned that there was a danger when a concentration of energy occurs, causing an earthquake of dangerous magnitude. (dominicantoday.com 3.14.2006)

Haiti, where an intensity 7.0 earthquake that resulted in the loss of thousands of human lives recently occured, is Dominican Republic’s next door neighbor, sharing the same island in the Western Hemisphere. Human lives lost is expected to reach 150,000 in this quake that occurred just five days ago. Among the victims were officials of the U.N. and a senior archbishop of Port-au-Prince according to a CNN report.

2006 Warning

In June of the same year (2006), Philvocs warned that an earthquake with a magnitude 7.2 on the Richter Scale “is overdue” and could hit the Philippines soon affecting at least 38 percent of all residential buildings in Metro Manila. “The last strong quake to hit us was in 1994. With time, the possibility of being hit by a strong earthquake is increasing”. 90 strong quakes had been recorded here over the last 400 years, or a statistical average of one major quake every four to five years. (manilastandardtoday.com 6.27.2006)

But no strong quake has been recorded for a decade after the 1994 quake in Mindoro that killed at least 78 people and caused panic in Gasan when hit by a minor tidal wave after the quake.

(Markers show epicenter of recent earthquakes)

Marinduque quake

On October 20, 2006, Philvocs reported a 5.3 magnitude earthquake in Marinduque around 10:30 p.m. with tremors reaching as far as Tagaytay and Quezon City.

A second earthquake struck around 1:27 a.m. the next day with the epicenter located 35 kilometers south and 89 degrees west of Boac, Marinduque. The Lubang and Marinduque faults were identified as the sources of the earthquake. (pinoyexchange.com/forums)

Philvocs Director Renato Solidum,Jr. then reported that the Marinduque quake’s epicenter was traced to the eastern segment of the Lubang Fault located offshore between Mindoro island and Marinduque. Five major aftershocks and more than 700 minor aftershocks were recorded.

The quake caused no damage to property but sent many residents in Marinduque to panic. Solidum then said that despite the earthquake at the Lubang Fault, people should remain alert against "the big quake." He said there is no way to predict where or when the big quake will occur.

"Lubang Fault does not generate that powerful a quake. But the Philippine Fault Zone is one of the longest, and some faults had already moved, like the one in Central Luzon in 1990 and the one in Masbate in 2003," he said. (gmanews.com 10.26.06)

(USGS Maps)

Series of Earthquakes in the Philippines Now

Interestingly, a series of recent earthquakes have also been monitored around the world by United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Just yesterday morning in the Philippines, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake was felt in southern Luzon at 3.53 a.m., the epicenter of which was located 30 kilometers southwest of Batangas, 35 kilometers west-northwest of Calapan, Mindoro.

A second 2.2 magnitude quake was also felt in parts of Negros Occidental in the VIsayas region. Philvocs reported that the epicenter was 26 km west of Canlaon City. The two earthquakes were of tectonic origin. (Inquirer.net (01.17.2010)

Early last Friday, another earthquake jolted some parts of Mindanao less than 72 hours after an earthquake struck off Sultan Kudarat province on Tuesday.

The Friday quake, which was traced some 32 kilometers southeast of Tagum City, was felt in areas of Davao City, General Santos City and several towns in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato. The said earthquake which struck at 8:02 a.m. quake was registered at magnitude 5.3.

One of the strongest earthquakes in the country struck on Aug. 16, 1976, when the Mindanao Fault moved violently and triggered an Intensity 7.2 quake.

That earthquake in 1976 also triggered a tsunami that flattened several areas in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Central Mindanao, which include the Cotabato provinces, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. The 1976 quake killed between 5,000 to 8,000 people. (PDI, 01.16.2010)

The Baguio Quake

At 4:26 p.m. on July 16, 1990, a killer earthquake hit and extensively devastated the City of Baguio. As reported, the temblor measured 7.7 in the Richter scale and lasted for 45 seconds, with numerous aftershocks, the strongest being recorded on July 18, measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale, lasting for 8 seconds.

The Philippine archipelago sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activities.

Magnitude 8 Next?

Yesterday, Philvocs North Cotabato director Hermis Daquipa issued a statement that “the Mindanao Fault, which has been restive the past few months could trigger up to a magnitude 8 earthquake”. He made the statement in the wake of observations that earthquakes have become more frequent since November in parts of Mindanao. (PDI 1.17.2010)

Among these earthquakes were the Nov. 4 tremor that had a magnitude of 5.6 and struck 105 kilometers east of Davao City. On Nov. 17, two mild quakes also hit Southern Mindanao and adjacent areas. Another 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mati, Davao Oriental, on Dec. 11.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Developing Buenavista Agri-Tourism

Yook (population: 3,600), is one of the 15 barangays of Buenavista in southern Marinduque and one of the poorest barangays in the province. Its main economic activities are farming, livestock raising and fishing. Farmers are engaged in copra-making, and corn production.

It is also one of many places where due to years of slash and burn farming method the land has been degraded. Through the Technology and Livelihood Center Management Committee chaired by Gov. Jose Antonio Carrion, a community-based agri-tourism and eco-park project has now been conceptualized that aims to create additional livelihood opportunities for the villagers.

The project involves rehabilitation of some 100 hectares of land through the planting of endemic tree species as well as high value fruit trees such as lanzones, rambutan, pomelo and mangosteen. Some 200 farmers and marginal fisherfolks are expected to benefit from the project.
























Partners in this pilot project being undertaken with Manila Bulletin includes the municipal government of Buenavista under Mayor Madrigal, Barangay Yook through its farmers cooperative, and the government of Marinduque through the TLDC. A similar project has also been eyed for nearby Barangay Lipata.

Dr. Emilio T. Yap, chair of Manila Bulletin recently turned over to the provincial government of Marinduque the amount of P 1-million for this project. Seen in the above photo are Gov. Carrion, retired Gen. Recaredo Sarmiento II who co-chairs TLDC and project coordinator, Ms. Marian Cunanan of the Provincial Planning & Development Office.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

NPC's Boac Diesel Power Plant Clarifies

Engr. Nelson Molina, Superintendent of NPC's power plant in Boac stated, in a meeting held this morning at the Capitol Session Hall, that Aggreko's lease contract with NPC for the 3MW generating sets that expired on January 7, 2010, will now be renewed on a monthly basis, pending the deployment of the new gensets from the new winning bidder, Cummins Sales and Services Phils. Inc. (see previous post).

It will be recalled that Aggreko's 3MW modular generators from Palawan restored the supply of electricity in Marinduque on October 25, 2009, on the basis of a prior lease agreement with Aggreko that expired recently. Molina also stated that the validity of the new lease agreement with Cummins will take effect on the date it receives NPC's notice to proceed and as soon as the test and commissioning are completed, a process that could take about a month, he said.

In view of this development, NPC says its dependable capability is still 8.5MW at present, correcting an earlier issued written statement made by the said power company that from January 7, 2010"NPC's capability is only 5.5 MW against prevailing demand of 7 MW or a power shortage of 1.5MW", a statement further supported by a detailed Grid Capability Report.

As expected, 1-5 hour power outages did occur in various parts of the province from January 6 as scheduled by Marelco. As of today, however, the situation appears to have stabilized.

The meeting was called by the Committee on Public Utilities of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and was presided by board member, Jose F. Alvarez. It chiefly tackled a separate issue on the full settlement of an outstanding balance of Marelco to Napocor that has balooned to over P100 million, a large part of which is being hotly contested by the electric cooperative.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Marelco, NPC, SP, MSC, Marinduque Chamber of Commerce and Industry and media.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Rolling Blackouts in Progress

It's all go since January 6th for a new wave of brownouts and rolling blackouts, or deliberate power cuts designed to reduce the load on NPC's electricity generation system at Bantad Power Plant. “Rolling” because they roll from section to section of the system, so that mass power cuts do not happen.

This confirms that contrary to earlier loud pronouncements made by certain personalities, Marinduque will now struggle anew with the untold effects of such power cuts.

Grid Capability

We have gotten hold of NPC'c Marinduque Grid Capability Report sent to the local electric coop, Marelco. Said report states that the recorded maximum demand for Marinduque is 8,280 kW, the prevailing maximum demand is 7,000 kW and that the grid dependable capacity at present is only 5,500 kW.

NPC's power plant in Boac has current dependable capacity of only 2,500 kW, the power plant in Torrijos with 400 kW, and the power barge 120 in Balanacan with 3,000 kW.

This reflects a power shortage of 1,800 kW. Six-hour(6)power interruptions will occur in various areas in Marinduque with the implementation of a "rotational load curtailment" of 1.5MW supposedly during peak load.

Rolling Blackout Schedule

Marelco, meanwhile, has scheduled the following power interruptions. However, based on past episodes it is evident that unscheduled power outages will still occur anytime without notice:

January 7 and 10 from 5:00pm to 11:00 pm:
Affected areas: From Barangay Mangyan (Mogpog) to Sta. Cruz and Torrijos backbone line & lateral lines.

January 8 and 11 from 5:00pm to 11:00pm:Affected areas: From Brangay Ihatub (Boac) to Gasan and Buenavista backbone line & lateral lines.

January 9 and 12 from 5:00pm to 11:00pm:
Affected areas:
a. Lateral line to Boac Riverside
b. Lateral line to Boac Ilaya.
c. Lateral line to Nepomuceno St. Boac.
d. Lateral line from Brgy. Tampus to Phase portion of Boac Poblacion.
e. Lateral line to Brgy. Capayang to Bintakay, Mogpog.
f. Lateral line to Nangka 1 & 2, Mogpog to Maligaya, Boac.
g. Lateral line to Hightown, Dulong Bayan, Danao, Mampaitan, Mogpog.
h. Phase portion of Mogpog Poblacion.

(An unscheduled outage in Boac occured from 9-12am today. Marelco (through its Irma Los Banos) responded to an inquiry made at around 11am by Ms. Joyce of the Governor's Office, by saying "we don't know what caused it and we don't know how long it will last!)

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Brownout again; Ferry to Cawit Port strayed off; and...who lied?

Last night, "M/V VERONICA", an old roro vessel plying the route Dalahican-Cawit strayed off its normal course near the western shores of Marinduque for about an hour as it headed towards Cawit port. An unscheduled brownout struck at 7:30 pm. The sea was almost pitch black save for illumination from fishermen's bancas who went out to sea after learning that the waters teemed with karis-karis, fry and dulong this time, a week after full moon.

It turned out that there was no way the ferry could have anchored while the port was enveloped in total darkness, thus the captain's decision to wait for electricity to return before docking.

But why M/V VERONICA"? "M/V REBECCA" that regularly plied this route is currently drydocked for maintenance.

And while posting this blog, something came up. Through the grapevine, this blogger was informed that the rental for the much ballyhooed Aggreko gensets shipped to Marinduque last October, and bruited about by grandstanding politicians as the final solution to the power crisis, ends today, January 7th.

Breathtaking audacity

We recall that someone had the breathtaking audacity to be photographed for media benefit as the gensets arrived, directing the photographers, also towing a Catholic priest around to bless the gensets with Holy Water and "so the people may know" that the final solution to the power crisis that has befallen this island-province has been achieved, then said, "sobra-sobra pa sa kakailangan natin" (we have more than enough).

Local cable-TV had a field day based on instructions to air the video over and over again daily for at least a couple of weeks, but the better informed raised eyebrows, many more simply amused.

Expect a new wave of brownouts in Marinduque now. The new Cummins gensets yet to arrive also have yet to undergo local testing before they become fully operational (see previous post).

Prevailing demand for Marinduque is 7MW, and from today Napocor capability is ony 5.5MW, a power shortage of 1.5MW.



I suppose all of us Marinduqueno Christians will realize that the Cummins gensets need not be blessed this time as there's no evil in 'em gensets. It's in the mind of those that deceive the powerless.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Marinduque Power Situation: So what happens when the campaign starts?

Note the following item on mb.com.ph (Manila Bulletin).

Power consumers, should perhaps be prepared as to what could eventually happen after the three-month lease contract stated therein between Napocor and Cummins Sales and Service Phils. Inc. on a modular genset for the 4.0MW Plant in Bantad, Boac, said lease contract having commenced in December 2009.

Are we going to experience continued power interruptions becoming more pronounced at the start of the campaign period and all throughout the election period as load shedding is perfectly timed and controlled by the Napocor-Marelco tandem?

"NPC bids out modular ‘genset’ requirements for various Luzon plants (By Myrna M. Velasco, December 31, 2009)

State-run National Power Corporation (NPC) has auctioned off to prospective suppliers its proposed lease of modular gensets for various power plants in Luzon.

The company has categorized the lease transaction in three schedules – with Schedule I set for the 17-megawatt Calapan diesel power plant; Schedule II for the 5.0-MW Irawan facility and Schedule III will be for the 10-MW Masbate diesel power plant.

The transaction’s approved budget cost was P621.677 million; broken down as follows: P305.122 million for Calapan; P98.169 million for Irawan and P218.385 million for Masbate facilities.

The bid opening date was concluded December, however, the award process will only be undertaken after evaluation of the submitted tenders.

In the company’s list of pre-qualified bidders were Aggreko, Cummins Sales, Monark, Apac Energy Rental and Fabmik.

In the tender notice, NPC indicated that the scope of works to be completed by the successful bidder shall be on: the lease of modular diesel generating units, testing and commissioning as well as site development, when required.

The additional task set for the selected supplier will be on the operation and maintenance of the units, mobilization/transportation, supply of spare parts, installation and tapping of the existing transmission lines and other plant appurtenances and other related work activities as stipulated in the technical specifications.

The NPC auction terms provide that “bidders must have completed a similar contract with a value of at least 15-percent of the ABC within the last 15 years.”

The state-run power firm just recently awarded to Cummins Sales and Service Phils Inc., through negotiated procurement, a lease contract on another modular genset for the 4.0-MW Boac diesel power plant in Marinduque.

The winner’s bid cost was P13.075 million for duration of three months starting December 2009.

NPC noted that the lease of the genset is highly necessary “to augment the present capacity of NPC’s aging plants in Marinduque and to avoid daily load shedding due to power shortage.”


It further noted that it opted to enter into a negotiated procurement in accordance with the revised implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Law."

Monday, January 4, 2010

Social, Moral Crises and Sinister Plots

Consistent with the Pope's message on the need for a "profound cultural renewal" in the light of our present crises – be they economic, food-related, environmental or social that are "ultimately also moral crises, and all of them are interrelated" and the need "to rethink the path which we are travelling together", is the Diocese of Boac, the local Church's call for "Truth and Transparency". This culminated in a Church-backed mass rally last October in front of the Marinduque capitol building and at Marelco in Ihatub. Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista, leading that rally in a black shirt emotionally cried out "pumalpak na kontrata", (failed 2005 contract with 31 Powergen) and "mismanagement of Marelco" as the causes behind the energy crisis in Marinduque. A temporary solution to the problem that saw Napocor (National Power Corporation) commissioning surplus power generators from Palawan to supply Marinduque's power needs hushed the church leaders, silenced the Marinduque residents, and largely kept the real causes under wraps. But the power outages appear poised now to make a chilling comeback. From 10 minute intervals, to 1-2 hour power interruptions, the gullible island residents are again slowly experiencing daily surprise outages during the holidays. Once again, the same confused explanations are being spread around by the power institutions (read Marinduque Power Outages). All these come amid persistent talk of sinister plots related to the forthcoming elections in May where power failures and mental conditioning are purportedly part of, especially in poverty-stricken areas where the color of money for votes has proven its intrinsic value for decades. Not inconsistent with the Pope's above message and the local Church's emotional call for Truth and Transparency is board member, Jose F. Alvarez' (Sangguniang Panlalawigan), more pointed remarks and urgent plea, posted in the following video.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Of Pope Benedict's Message and Marinduque Crises

Watched the live feed on NBN of Pope Benedict's New Year's Mass, also marking the Catholic Church's 43rd World Peace Day. In his homily underlying the theme "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation" the Pope urged people to adopt new lifestyles "marked by sobriety and solidarity with new rules and forms of engagement, one which focuses on strategies that actually work, while decisively rejecting those that have failed." "If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation," the Pope said. "It is becoming more and more evident that the issue of environmental degradation challenges us to examine our lifestyle and the prevailing models of consumption and production.” "Yet no less troubling are the threats arising from the neglect – if not downright misuse – of the Earth and the natural goods that God has given us", he added. Humanity needed a profound cultural renewal, the Pope said. "Our present crises – be they economic, food-related, environmental or social – are ultimately also moral crises, and all of them are interrelated. They require us to rethink the path which we are travelling together." The Pope also underlined what Pope John II in 1990 spoke of as an “environmental crisis”, an appeal all the more pressing today, “in the face of signs of a growing crisis which it would be irresponsible not to take seriously”, he said. “Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions?” Marinduque Crises “Solidarity”; “new rules and forms of engagement”; “focus on strategies that work; refection of those that have failed”; “environmental, social crises that are also moral crises”...”the need to rethink the path we are travelling together”. With such words, the good Pope may well have fortuitously spoken of a certain small island in the tropics where such things are similarly spoken of but not heeded even by those who religiously utter them. The Holy Father even touched on the power crisis. To be sure, among the problems that should be addressed, he said “is that of energy resources and the development of joint and sustainable strategies to satisfy energy needs... there is a need to encourage research into, and utilization of, forms of energy with lower impact on the environment.” On such issues that have befallen the God-centered island of Marinduque, a member of the provincial council, board member Jose F. Alvarez, put it so succinctly when he, at the height of the energy crisis here, spoke of: “the need to address the more important crises of truth and justice, the current energy crisis merely symptomatic; the need to understand the cause of such crises, for individual freedom and responsibility to be attained, and for economic development (in Marinduque) to usher in.” Video of Alvarez’ remarks in Tagalog to be posted.