Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Marinduque, Romblon and Tablas: what do they have in common?

In the light of so much finger-pointing and disinformation campaigns that, again, as expected, happens every time so-called Marinduque energy summits are organized for the consumption of the much abused seemingly powerless people of Marinduque, they who must jolt the seats of power with their complaints, it would be necessary to start at the very beginning if we must be fair to those maliciously maligned continuously.

Following is an item from IFC and the sequence of events covering October 2004 to July 2009, on the involvement of a new power provider in Marinduque that failed to deliver the power supply promised.

"Coastal Power Consortium Wins Competitive Bid To Privatize Electricity Supply in Marinduque, Romblon and Tablas"

In Manila:
Karen Villalobos

Manila, September 9, 2005 — The Philippine Department of Energy and the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, today announced that a consortium comprising of Coastal Power Development Corporation and Applied Research Technologies Philippines won a competitive bid to supply power to the Philippine islands of Marinduque, Romblon, and Tablas. The winning bidder proposed a hybrid diesel-wind energy solution that will improve standards and bring the generation into compliance with Philippines environmental standards.

Private sector participation was structured through a concession-type contract between the winning bidder and local electric cooperatives that take the power on these islands. The framework of this concession does not require the private supplier to buy existing generation assets of the National Power Corporation, allowing those assets to be deployed to unserved areas in the Philippines.

The winning bidder’s price will lead to a reduction of about 40% from the current cost (13.8 pesos per kilowatt hour) of generating power in the islands. The Coastal Power Consortium agreed to provide power without interruption all year long, compared with the current average interruption of 196 hours, or eight days, per month. The group bid to provide 25 megawatts of combined electric capacity to the three islands not connected to the national power grid.

IFC was charged with developing the agreements and a regulatory framework to attract private sector capital and expertise to power generation in remote islands. IFC was retained in 2004 by the Philippine government through the Department of Energy, National Power Corporation, and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation to act as transaction advisor.

The Coastal Power consortium will take responsibility for power supply from the Small Power Utilities Group, which is part of the National Power Corporation. SPUG has maintained responsibility for supplying power to 74 remote offgrid islands. The annual subsidy requirement for all these islands amounts to 2.1 billion pesos. Only about 60 percent of that cost is covered by a universal service charge assessed to ongrid customers. The remaining 40 percent is passed on to the national deficit through NPC.

The Private Investor will be able to supply electricity to the 3 islands at a lower cost than the current government-managed operation and thus reduce the annual subsidy for electricity from 458 million pesos to 168 million pesos.

“IFC strategy includes support for power sector reform in the Philippines through increased private sector participation that promotes competition. The interest in this transaction provides tangible results for the ongoing power reform agenda in the Philippines,” said IFC Country Manager Vipul Bhagat.

“This model public-private partnership structure, wherein the investor achieves full cost recovery and profits from the electric cooperatives and partially through government subsidy, can be replicated for other infrastructure transactions in the Philippines and elsewhere,” said IFC Director of Advisory Services Bernie Sheahan.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS RE: 3I POWERGEN ISSUE


PSA with 3i Powergen, Inc. was not MARELCO’s own initiative, but the government’s program of the NPC-SPUG’s privatization of assets by virtue of Republic Act No. 9136 or the EPIRA Law. Pursuant to Rule 13 of the IRR of RA 9136, Department of Energy (DOE) Circular 2004-01-001 prescribed the Rules and Procedures for Private Sector Participation. Marinduque, together with Tablas and Romblon, was selected to be a pilot project for privatization among the so called 14 WAVES ECs under the NPC-SPUG areas.

October 24, 2004 - Marelco signed a Memorandum of Agreement hiring the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as its official Transaction Advisor.

September 9, 2005 - The Competitive Selection Process was launched
and the Coastal Consortium (Incorporated as 3i Powergen, Inc.) was declared winner having offered the lowest TCGR of P7.171/kwh and will supply the power requirements of Marinduque up to 12.480 Kw for a period of fifteen (15)years.

September 27, 2005 - The Power Supply Agreement was signed at the
WESM office in Pasig City. On that same occasion, a Subsidy Agreement with 3i Powergen and NPC was executed.

January 27, 2006 - Effective Date ( four months from the date of the PSA).This was not attained as some Conditions Precedent was not complied with by 3i Powergen, such that the parties agreed to a Joint Declaration of the Realization of the Effective Date following the waiver to secure Government Consents thru the 1st Supplemental Agreement.

March 9, 2006 - 1st Supplemental Agreement was signed by both parties wherein the period to obtain the ECC and other government consents was waived.

March 2007 - The original Target Commercial Operation Date (16 months after the Effective Date –January 2006.

March 14, 2007- 3i Powergen requested for extension for six months of Target Commercial Operation Date on the ground that the PSA has not yet been approved by ERC. In effect Target Commercial Operation was moved to July 7, 2007.

March 23, 2007 - Public Hearing for the approval of Application for Power Supply Agreement (PSA) and NPP TCGR held at Marelco MCIL, Ihatub, Boac, Marinduque.

(Marelco employees submitted a Petition for Further Review of the PSA and consideration of the recommendations thereof prior to approval of the application by the ERC)

June 27, 2007 - The Second Supplemental Agreement to the PSA was
signed regarding Extension of Commercial Operation Period to 12 months or July 7, 2008.

July 2007 - Assumption into office of newly elected Congressman (Carmencita Reyes) and newly elected Governor (Jose Antonio Carrion).

August 17, 2007 - The Board passed Resolution No. 2007-044- Approving to Recall the 2nd Supplemental Agreement to the Power Supply Agreement regarding Extension of Commercial Operation Date due to following reasons:

1. The deployment of generating unit at an aggregate capacity of not less than 12 MW including transformers and necessary accessories to NPC compounds has not been concurred by NPC because of some provisions in the Agreement that are not acceptable to NPC.

2. 3i Powergen has violated Condition No. 2.1a3 of the Agreement because construction of Power Plant at Balogo Sta. Cruz has ceased and therefore Condition 2.1a4 shall now apply regarding denial to grant Extension of the Commencement of the Commercial Operation Period.

This rendered the 12 months extension invalid thereby reverting the Target Commercial Operation Date to its Original date July 7, 2007. Said turn of events gave rise to “SUPPLIER DELAY.” Based on PSA Section 4.4.2 MARELCO may already invoke the right to impose appropriate penalty to be taken from the Performance Bond.

October 3, 2007 - The Board passed Resolution No. 2007-049 - A Resolution Notifying 3i Powergen, New Power Provider for Marinduque of its Delay for the Commercial Operation Date and Approving to Claim Against its Performance Bond.

May 2008 - The Board passed Resolution No. 2008-020 - A Resolution Requiring 3i Powergen to Immediately Submit a Written Progress Report on the Status of Project in Marinduque.

July 7, 2008 - Target Commercial Operation Date:

The Target Commercial Operation Date was not attained due to the following reasons:

1. 3i Powergen was still waiting for the release of funds from their investors before they could start procurement of capital equipment

2. 3i Powergen was waiting for ERC’s approval of the PSA and TCGR in order to protect the interest of their investor.

3. Construction at the plant site has long been stopped.

4. 3i Powergen did not comply with the Government Consents.

July 17, 2009 - The Board passed Resolution No. 2009-039 – A Resolution for the
Board to Exercise its Rights Under Section 10.4 of the PSA Between Marelco and 3i Powergen Inc.

Commercial operations of 3i Powergen in the three NPC-SPUG areas of Marinduque, Romblon and Tablas in accordance with Power Supply Agreements with the relevant electric cooperatives all failed to materialize.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Butterfly by-products from Marinduque

Some imaginative residents from the towns of Mogpog, Boac and Gasan are engaged in handicrafts and souvenir items that make use of dried butterfly specimens. An additional source of income, such items find their way into trade fairs, souvenir shops in the Metro and are often hunted locally by visiting tourists.

Keisha Handicrafts based in Brgy. Ino, Mogpog is only one of the many that produce these butterfly by-products. Some of those unique items are shown here.






Butterfly releases and cruelty issues

Butterfly farming in Marinduque started in the early 60s when a local enthusiast turned his hobby of collecting butterflies as dried specimens into an export-oriented livelihood.

Today, as a leading supplier of butterflies in the country many butterfly by-products are produced on this island. Moreover, live butterfly releases during weddings, debuts, birthdays and special occasions continue to attract many followers who resort to the practice to inject something unique and enchanting into a celebration.

But there is a cruelty issue pala with butterfly releases that may eventually affect one's perception about this practice. I am also aware that many hotels and malls have banned live butterfly releases as the poor creatures are sucked in airconditioning vents and die violent deaths as they go down the ducts, also causing unit malfunctions.

Photo: nedlegs.com










Below is an article from www.helpinganimals.com and it is titled:

What's Wrong With Butterfly Releases? Fatal Flaws

There are at least 35 companies in North America that sell butterflies for releases at special events such as weddings, fairs, and memorials; some experts put the number closer to 60. It is a profitable business, with an average cost of about $10 per butterfly. They are stuffed into envelopes or paper bags, where they remain during shipping, right through to release. The butterfly releases are often sad events with many of the animals struggling to take flight and many already dead inside the packages.

Aside from the cruelty issue, many entomologists, biologists, and environmental experts have reported concern about butterfly releases. Shipping butterflies to areas where they are not native threatens biodiversity and also raises concerns about the spread of disease among strains of butterflies, as well as among the plants that they pollinate. It makes conservation nearly impossible, since an understanding of natural habitats and migratory patterns is essential to saving a species. Finally, the environment where butterflies are released is often not suitable for them, and many end up dying shortly after release.

Photo: Eddy Van 3000

Robert Michael Pyle, founder of the Xerces Society (a society dedicated to the conservation of invertebrates), as well as the author of 15 books, including a field guide to butterflies, says, “Quite apart from questions of disease transmission, mixing genes, and disrupting studies of butterfly distribution (my own particular concern), this activity is seldom any good for the butterflies in question: They end up being released [in] unsuitable times, places, and weather conditions, resulting in death, disorientation, or pointless flight in the absence of nectar, mates, or the right habitat. I feel treating butterflies as if they were mere living balloons is both cruel and degrading. I would far rather have a butterfly be dispatched as a scientific specimen with basic data, for what it can teach us, than to be shipped across the country only to be ‘freed’ into a storm or an otherwise unsuitable setting, all for narcissistic human gratification.”

Sample of Marinduque butterfly by-products. More humane then?


Increasingly, professional wedding planners are discouraging the practice since it is not uncommon to end up “releasing” a box of dead butterflies. PETA has started to receive complaints from horrified people who have participated in such events. One example is the butterfly release at the 2000 Terry Fox Run. When the small bags containing the butterflies were opened, many of them simply fell out and either lay immobile or were trampled by the runners. Thankfully, in response to our letters, the John Wayne Cancer Institute and the Terry Fox Foundation have announced that they will no longer include butterfly releases as a part of the running event.

Many states have restricted or banned commercial butterfly release, including Oregon, Alaska, and Washington.

Tell friends and family members planning weddings or other special events that butterfly releases are inhumane. Remind them that butterflies are sensitive creatures, and shipping problems or small variations in the weather will result in envelopes of dead or dying butterflies, which will certainly ruin a special moment. Suggest environmentally friendly, compassionate alternatives, such as throwing flower petals.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Resurrecting Abaca in Tugos

In the late 19th century Philippine abaca, popularly known as Manila hemp, which was then considered the best material for ropes and cordage, alternated in importance with sugar as the islands’ most important export. Principal regions that produced abaca were the Bicol areas and the eastern portions of the Visayan Islands.

In Marinduque, Luis Hidalgo, a local entrepreneur at that time, was buying abaca and copra in Boac, Mogpog and Gasan for shipment to Manila. Of Marinduque abaca, Marche once wrote boastfully (in 1881), thus: “Abaca, cultivated on the side of the mountains, is the finest, the longest in all of the Philippines."

Somewhere along the way, abaca production here died when it was plagued by the dreaded abaca disease. All Musa textilis in Marinduque were completely wiped out.

In recent years, however, the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), resurrected the abaca development program with components that include the development of genetically modified abaca, development of virus-resistant abaca and alternative livelihood.

Slowly but surely abaca production in Marinduque is making a comeback. In Barangay Tugos, a farmers cooperative, Tanikala ng Pagkakaisa, is engaged in copra-buying, lending and now, the production of abaca products.





In 2009, the Department of Trade (DTI), Marinduque office, knowing that some 8-10 hectares of land have been planted to abaca in a FIDA-assisted project, invited some members of the cooperative to attend a skills-training program for abaca slippers and bags making, together with those from other selected barangays.










The Cottage Industry Technology Center (CITC), together with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and DTI soon came up with a series of workshops on bleaching and dyeing, new products and designs, the making of macramé bags, etc.

The project was also tied up with government efforts to promote the production of biodegradable products.











The various stages of abaca fiber processing.













































































And just look at what some farming families of Tugos are producing now!



















Cool, colorful and trendy abaca slippers for everyone.



















Alongside these slippers are macrame bags and scrunch bags.














As pasalubongs, give-away gifts, souvenir of something from Tugos where Kabugsakan Falls also awaits you...





















Your turn. Buy na agad to promote this livelihood!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Marinduque Buntal making its mark

Buntal fiber comes from the buri palm tree and are turned by loomweavers from Torrijos as export quality placemats, table runners, blinds and lamps.

In Torrijos, the frontrunner in this industry is Julie Anne’s Handicrafts from Bonliw, owned by Julie Ann and Luisito Reginio. The couple started with just five looms and a few weavers in 2007, but now have 25 loom, 25 regular weavers and 20 more weavers who work at home using their own looms.







Buntal bags and coin purses, on the other hand are produced in Napo, Sta. Cruz by Lina Ramos. Most of her products are sent to Bulacan province where she has ready buyers.


The Fiber Industry and Development Authority (FIDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Marinduque Office are at the forefront of fiber-industry development in this island-province. In 2010 FIDA in its annual report stated that baling and trading of buntal stepped up to 15.1% higher than the previous year largely brught about by substantial surplus in the outputs of Palawan and Marinduque.

The favorable situation was attributed to the better demand for the fiber by local fibercraft processors. FIDA reported that Palawan consistently remained as the leading producer of buntal with a share of 71.0% to the annual aggregate output while Marinduque took over Quezon in the second slot with 15.0% contribution. Quezon shared 12.3% while Bohol accounted for 1.7% of the total baling in 2010.







Placemats and table runners from Torrijos















Trade exhibits in Metro Manila and other cities such as Baguio City for the Panagbenga 2010, participated in by DTI Marinduque feature these products alongside other local products produced in Marinduque's six towns.

Sign

This patient guy makes the rounds of neighborhood houses and nearby barangays where people also patiently wait for his arrival to buy his pandesal and other varieties of breads that the kids love.





















Closer look at the sign in front of his tri-bike.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Gasan's 'errecion'

The new St. Joseph Parish Church in Gasan, named after the town's patron saint, that was originally "San Bernardo"

'Errecion del pueblo del San Bernardo de Marinduque'.

The town of what we have always known as 'Gasan' was established in 1609, and was dedicated to San Bernardo whose feast day falls on August 20.

St. Bernard of Clairvoux (1090-1153)

From "ESTADO (Islas Filipinas)Geografico, Topografico, Estadistico Religioso)" by Fr. Feliz de la Huerta, Imprenta de M. Sanchez Y.C., 1865, we find the following entry:

"San Bernardo de Marinduque

"El ano de 1609 fue separada de su matriz monserrat una visita, con la cual se forma este pueblo, teniedo por primer ministro el. R.P. Fr. Juan Rosado.

"Dicho religisioso construyo iglesia bajo la advocacion de San Bernardo, de quien tomo el nombre, y su administracion, como la anfriores fue cedida el ano de 1613 a la Sagrada Mitra." (p. 579).

Today's Patron Saint of Gasan, St. Joseph, Spouse of Mary.

Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus by Guido Reni, 1635


Gasan's Layag Ko 'To

"Layag Ko 'To", this is my sail. This one's a race competition with bancas propelled only by sails. Special awards are given to the most colorful layag.

Normally such layag is of handpainted cloth measuring some 10 feet x 8 feet. Others use multi-colored seda silk. Race is from Bachao-Ibaba or Ubong, Libtangin to Reyes Park, and of course, the fastest banca wins the major prize.


Traditionally, Layag Ko 'to, is held two days before the anniversary date.













Some of Gasan's sail-propelled bancas








Use of paddle strictly not allowed, of course. And there they go!

Notes on underwater achaeological finds in Gasan

View of Gasan. Celebrating its 402nd Founding Anniversary.

Notes on archeological finds in Marinduque:
The beginnings of Philippine archaeology actually began in the island of Marinduque. when the French explorer Alfred Marche came to Marinduque for that purpose, attracted by the island's relative fame in the 19th century as the 'Isle of Grottos', island of caves.

Marinduque archaeological exploration projects were undertaken at the following sites and dates: Bathala Cave, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque: Sept. 9 – Oct. 12, 1983; Pingan, Gasan: April – June 1982 and explored again a couple of years later.

Alongside the National Museum, the cooperating institution was Marine Archaeology Unlimited, Inc. (MAUI). The project was undertaken to establish a systematic and scientific documentation, recording, retrieval, analysis, clearing and chemical treatment of artifacts gathered from the work sites, and to find out the ancient trade routes undertaken by the sunken vessels and trace its relation to our historical background, tracing the origin of the sunken vessels in the process.

A total of 1,186 pieces of artifacts from the wreck site were retrieved during the project. The 1982 project involved National Museum personnel Eduardo Conete, Antonio Malones and Alexander Villaneva. The goals were to locate a documentary recorded wreck of specific importance, to gain an over-all impression of the underwater archaeological potential of Marinduque island.

Also, to study the possible ancient trade routes taken by the cargo vessel. Recovered artifacts were 170 stoneware jars and jar covers, porcelain bowls in various sizes, jarlets, saucers, ballast stone, restorable artifacts (78), shards and fragments (679 pcs.). All of these specimens were deposited at the Chemistry & Conservation Lab of the National Museum for analysis and preservation and is now at the underwater archaeology storage room of the NM.

Conference on Marinduque speakers with now Cong. Allan Velasco

These pieces of information were conveyed by Conete to participants of the first Marinduque Historical Conference conducted in Mogpog in February 2008, and organized by this blogger in connection with "Araw ng Marinduque" celebration.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

"Walang Tamad" and roadside maintenance boys

The “Walang Tamad sa Quezon” billboard in Sariaya installed by media practitioner and publisher Billy Andal many years ago, has inspired the “Walang Tamad sa Bahi” sign and other “Walang Tamad” signs in many towns and barangays in the region to promote the value of industry and self-help.

But this one, I saw in Brgy. Amoingon says something fair and just seemingly in response to those familiar signs, and for all and sundry to know: “WALANG TAMAD NA TAMBAY BASTA’T MAY UPA”.








Small wonder then that just across the street, even as the rain was pouring this morning, men in orange uniforms and caps, the roadside maintenance workers of DPWH Marinduque Office were busy caring for roadside trees to promote healthy trees, and promote unobstructed and aesthetically pleasing highways. The workers also prune the trees to avoid contact with telephone, cable-tv and electric power lines; they clean the roadside canals of mud and debris; and pave road shoulders with surface materials. They do look happy while working, while singing in the rain.

Highway cleared, trees pruned. Taken in the vicinity of Chateau du Mer, Amoingon.










Road shoulders paved with surface material, canals cleaned up.





















DPWH truck collects tree limbs and all pruned material

















Clearing to avoid contact with power lines and other charged wires