About Marinduque: "Playing with Water"

Described as one of the most reclusive of British literary exiles who shares his time between Austria, Italy and extensive periods over the last 30 years in the Philippines, is poet and novelist, James Hamilton-Paterson.

He is generally known as a commentator on the Philippine scene, where he has lived on and off. His novels on the Philippines include “Ghosts of Manila”, and “America’s Boy” (1998), the latter setting the Marcos regime into the geopolitical context of the time.

One of his books, “Playing with Water”, sold more than 4 million copies, described in a book review by New York Times as “a work of such genuine commitment, balanced perception and responsive passion that it will certainly be condemned to become a classic.”


James Hamilton-Paterson (Basso Cannarsa)

A reader, M. Mcloughlin wrote of Hamilton-Paterson's work: “…I was deeply moved and submerged by this simple book of a man living on a small island in the Philippines. The descriptions, the aura of peacefulness, the coming and goings of the people and associates he grew to cherish…

"A great book to delve into, and the final pages, where he explains how easy it was to accomplish travel with little more than want and initiative,… how these things will slowly change with the world trying to grasp for control, I feel quite envious for the time he lived in, and what he did in his life… if you wish to be away, into the unknown and away from the modern world, this is something you’d enjoy.”

“Unforgettable. The Philippine landscape and these remote islanders are crystalline and at the same time mysterious; the writing itself superb. (Ronald Blythe)



It's Hamilton-Paterson's account of the time he quietly spent here in a hamlet in Boac.

“Playing with Water” is about Hamilton-Paterson’s life in the island of Marinduque. The book “gives an account of life in that class-bound country as a whole. For it is in places like this rather than Manila of the international news reports that the underlying political and cultural reality of the Philippines may be seen”. (Amazon)

Children playing with water at Amoingon beach.

Datum Station Balanacan claims

Gerry Jamilla's slide pics from 'Overview of Marinduque Tourism Industry, 2008'



"Nanay Carmencita Reyes": "You have to note that the original photo was taken around 3 years ago. There was no plan to rehabilitate or even put a marker on the area that would make it a significant national landmark then..." (Her Fb comment)

The hardest tumble a man can make is to fall over his own bluff. ~Ambrose Bierce

But I sayeth that:

It would perhaps be more accurate to state that not once during the entire regime of Gov. Carmencita Reyes from the time she was Interim and Regular Assemblywoman from 1978 to 1986, then Congress Representative from 1987 to 1998, then governor from 1998 to 2004, then Congressman again from 2004 to 2007, that covers a span of more than three decades, did she ever talk about or ever expressed if she knew anything about Datum Station Balanacan, the origin of Luzon Datum of 1911. That would have been an item in any of the tourism brochures or features she may have caused to be printed or presented within that era, don't you think?

Ton Monteagudo's poster, 'Journey to the Center of the Philippines' (Luzon Datum of 1911, The Geodetic Center of the Philippines (2009).

“Marinduque: pinaka-gitna ng 'Pinas" published in the The Weekly Marinduque” (issue of Nov. 16-22, 2007), dealt with the said subject that this blogger first wrote about. Surely, before that date in 2007, none about that this datum thing had ever been published in any local or national newspaper, nor any photograph of it had ever appeared in any Marinduque website nor in any tourist brochure.

I have blogged about this subject before, but must go back to that said post (reproduced below in full), in the light of Gov. Reyes' claim that "there was no plan to rehabilitate or even put a marker on the area that would make it a significant national landmark.."



Former Gov. Carrion with officials of DENR and NAMRIA. Plans for Luzon Datum of 1911 National Landmark and Eco-tourism Site Development.

After publication of my article, the idea to turn the site into an eco-tourism site was, in fact, hatched, that by June 2008, the National Mapping and Resource Information authority in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources paid a courtesy visit to former Gov. Bong Carrion to recognize this mother of all surveys in the Philippines as an important national landmark.


Task Group Balanacan was created by NAMRIA in the same month to undertake further research and gather available records and maps, undertake coordination meetings with concerned agencies and hold information campaign activities.

Then provincial administrator, now Cong. Allan Velasco during his trek to the datum site with barangay officials of Argao and Hinanggayon, 2008.

The plan for the Luzon Datum of 1911 National landmark and Eco-tourism Site Development was finalized by DENR, NAMRIA and the provincial government, with special meetings called by the SP committee on tourism (chaired by BM Querubin), with the barangay officials of the surrounding villages in attendance. Securing the necessary construction permits from concerned authorities for the civil works to be undertaken came next.

Part of the provincial tourism office’s information campaign activities was an invitation to ABS-CBN’s “Trip na Trip” that did a first-ever feature on the datum station marker. “Marinduque Center of the Philippines” was Gerry Jamilla’s theme for the Marinduque trade and tourism exhibit at WOW Philippines in July 2009, graced by Gov. Carrion and now Cong. Allan Velasco.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (formerly National Historical Institute), eventually issued a certification declaring the national significance of Datum Station Balanacan.

As far as the “original photo… taken around 3 years ago”, that’s precisely the photo produced for the provincial website in 2008 as part of the awareness campaign.

WHY MARINDUQUE IS THE CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES (repost)

(Heart-shaped island of Marinduque)

“Heart-shaped” has long been used in local folklore to romanticize the island of Marinduque because as the island map will show, it does reveal the outline of an imperfect heart. That was enough to inspire early students of the old Marinduque High School, the first secondary school in the province, to adopt “The Heart” as the name of their official school organ, followed until today.

“The Heart of the Philippines” as a tourism slogan was, therefore, also a natural choice by travel writers for the same reason. In a 1995 brochure this blogger was commissioned by then governor Bong Carrion to draft the text of brochure for distribution in connection with the Moriones Festival and there used the phrase "smack center of the Philippine archipelago".

I was dismayed to later find that at least two other provinces, namely, Romblon and Masbate were using the term “center of the Philippines” in describing the geographical location of said provinces and for purposes of touristic distinction, obviously so vital in promoting a destination. One of the two had become more aggressive in repeated claims as evidenced by glossy travel brochures that I had gotten hold of.

And that was a ‘puzzlement’. But, thanks to the Internet information highway, it became fairly easy to have access to data that could shed light on the matter and settle the issue once and for all. So it surfaced by surfing on the net that in 1901, when the Philippines was under American rule, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS), started the process of identifying specific points in the ellipsoid, the mathematical model of the distance and shape of the earth, through the use of latitude and longitude. A painstaking process, called datum, that identified specific geodetic points in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao was then undertaken by USC&GS.

(Seascape view from Datum Station Balanacan)

It also surfaced, that the vastness of land and sea from Luzon to Mindanao became such a tough and ambitious challenge for the geodetic engineers. This necessitated the identification of a new datum to serve as the origin of all surveys. The formed triangulation network spanned vast distances with datum stations that were located in high mountain peaks and far across straits and channels.

(Hole drilled on diorite rock that had been there for a hundred years)

The result of trigonometric surveys from North to South and East and West of the Philippine Archipelago were consolidated until a single datum was pinpointed – the Luzon Datum of 1911, the primary geodetic reference of all surveys in the country. The origin of this particular Datum was then defined by Datum Station Balanacan located 13°33'41"N, 121°52'3"E. Consequently, all surveys in the entire country were corrected and based on the position of this station.

(Reference marker on one cubic meter of boulder)

A boulder of a rock marker, long forgotten and hidden in a snake-infested area on the mountain top of what is locally called Mataas na Bundok near Balanacan harbor was apparently still intact. It is located where the boarders of Brgy. Silangan, Brgy. Argao and Brgy. Hinanggayon nearly meet. A hole appeared to have been drilled in a cubic meter of diorite rock marker, accompanied by a boulder of another rock some 10 feet away that as a reference marker.

“Marinduque: Pinakagitna ng ‘Pinas” by this blogger describing the research find was published in “The Weekly Marinduque” issue of Nov. 19-22, 2007. By June 2008, a technical team from the National Mapping Resource Authority (NAMRIA), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), had paid a courtesy visit to then governor, Bong Carrion. It was to recognize this mother of all surveys in the Philippines as an important national landmark that had to be preserved.

(NAMRIA and DENR team shows map to Gov. Carrion and briefs him on the plans of the task group)

Task Group Balanacan was created by NAMRIA in the same month to undertake further research and gather available records and maps, undertake coordination meetings with concerned agencies and hold information campaign activities.

(NAMRIA's marker at the site)

The NAMRIA team headed by mapping department assistant director, Randolf Vicente then conducted a reconnaissance survey of the vicinity of the” mother of all surveys” together with the provincial tourism team of Gerry Jamilla and Joven Lilles. Lilles, who took up geodetic engineering was already familiar with the site and had taken earlier photos for the provincial website.

(NAMRIA's Task Force Balanacan with DENR provincial director)

A plan for the Luzon Datum of 1911 National Landmark and Eco-tourism Site Development was eventually hatched. Preparation of plans and securing the necessary construction permits from concerned authorities for the civil works to be undertaken came next.

To spread information about the existence of such an important landmark in their midst and to create awareness on the potential of the site’s future development as an eco-tourism site, barangay captains from the areas north of Balanacan were gathered by the tourism committee of the provincial board, then headed by board member, Yolando Querubin. The news was welcomed by the barangay officials who saw its potential to, indeed, spur interest and progress in their less-visited barangay cluster.

("Trip na Trip" crew at the site. Franzen, the show host interviewing Joven Lilles)

Soon came the technical team of ABS-CBN’s popular TV-show “Trip na Trip” that did a special feature on Marinduque with a visit to the datum station marker atop Mataas na Bundok. By July 2009, “Marinduque: Center of the Philippines” billboards were installed by Jamilla in the WOW Philippines festivities in Intramuros, featuring a special “Marinduque Day” cultural show with Carrion and provincial administrator, now Congressman, Lord Allan Q. Velasco gracing the opening ceremonies.

(Popular photographic view of Balanacan Harbor. Datum Station Balanacan is atop Mataas na Bundok, the mountain in the background)

The task group composed of NAMRIA and DENR has since worked closely with the Provincial Government of Marinduque and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), formerly National Historical Institute. The NHCP eventually issued a certification declaring the national significance of Datum Station Balanacan. To reserve a parcel of public land as the site of the Luzon Datum origin national historical landmark, a presidential proclamation continues to be worked out by the task group.

Literature on the Geography of the Philippines - such as one by Wikipedia – was eventually updated by said Internet organization referring to Marinduque now as the center of the Philippines (sourced from a write-up of this blogger), based on the Luzon Datum origin. More significantly, the previous claims made by the other concerned entities appear to have slowly and grudgingly quieted by now, and it is such great pleasure.

"Marinduque: Pinaka-gitna ng 'Pinas"

Marinduque: pinaka-gitna ng ‘Pinas
ni Eli J. Obligacion, Reprinted mula sa “The Weekly Marinduque”, November 16-22, 2007.


Noong 1995, inatasan ako ni Gov. Bong Carrion na gumawa ng tourist brochure para maipamahagi sa mga bisitang dumarating dito. Sa paglalarawan ng lokasyon ng Marinduque ginamit ko ang phrase na “it’s right at the very center of the Philippine archipelago”. Nabasa ito noon ng kaibigan kong si Charlotte Schoneman, isang PCV, at minungkahi niyang palitan ko ng “smack center of the Philippine archipelago” para raw mas descriptive. Kaya iyon na nga ang ginamit namin.

Sa promosyon ng turismo siyempre, dapat ilahad kung ano ang mga bagay na kakaiba sa isang lugar na hindi maaangkin ng iba. Ang claim ng pagiging sentro ng lalawigan noong mga panahong iyon ay dala lamang talaga ng hangarin na mailagay ang Marinduque sa gitna ng mga usaping pangturismo.

Subalit makaraan ang higit sa isang dekada, makaraang pumaimbabaw na nga sa bawat sulok ng daigdig ang mga makabagong teknolohiya, mas mabilis na komunikasyon, impormasyon, at dito ay Internet nga ang pinaka-kamangha-manghang imbensyon ay ito ang biglang lumitaw:

Ang pag-ako na ang pagiging pinaka-gitna ng Marinduque sa mapa ng Pilipinas ay may siyentipikong basehan. Higit sa lahat, dokumentado ang katotohanang ito sa makakapal na opisyal na research documents, at scientific papers na nakatago sa mga aklatang pandaigdig!

May marker pa.

Lumitaw din na halos isang-daang taon na ang nakakaraan ay natuldukan na kung saan mismong lugar sa Marinduque ito matatagpuan; na noon pang 1911, ay tinayuan pa ito ng marker ng mga banyagang geologists! At naroron pa rin ang marker hanggang ngayon, napaglimutan na sa mahabang panahon, at natabunan na ng mga elemento at higanteng mga damo! Pero naroon!

Alam naman natin na sa loob ng kung ilang siglo, gamit ang mga sinaunang compass o galaw ng mga tala at bituin sa langit, nakarating sa Pilipinas ang mga Tsino noong ika-10 siglo, ang mga Muslim noong ika-15 siglo sa katimugang bahagi, at nadiskubre nga ni Magellan ito noong 1521. Sinakop ito ng mga Amerikano noong 1898, at sa usapin ng geodetic surveys, mahalaga sa sino mang mananakop, ay dito na nga nagsimula ang mahabang proseso ng pagmamapa sa bawat sulok ng Pilipinas – at ang pag-identify sa sentro ng Pilipinas.

Kaugnay pa ring marker sa Datum Station Balanacan.


USC&GS

Sistematikong trabaho ang isinagawa ng U.S. Coast ang Geodetic Survey (USC&GS), mula 1901-1942. ‘Datum’ ang tawag sa sistema ng pagtatalaga ng specific points sa ellipsoid (matematikong modelo ng sukat at hugis ng mundo), sa pamamagitan ng pag-gamit ng latitude at longitude. Ibat-ibang datum ang itinayo ng mga siyentipiko sa ibat-ibang lugar sa Pilipinas (‘Astro stations’): Bancalan Island, Cagayan Sulu Island, Davao, Iligan, Misamis Oriental at Zamboanga sa Mindanao; Legaspi at Vigan sa Luzon; Ormoc, tacloban sa Leyte Island, at Iloilo sa Bisaya. Ilan lamang ito sa halos sabay-sabay na datum na isinagawa ng mga Amerikano, subalit dahilan sa lawak ng kalupaan at karagatan mula Luzon, kalagitnaan ng Pilipinas, hanggang Mindanao ay kinailangang gumawa ng bagong datum, ina ng mga datum.

Ang resulta ng mga trigonometric surveys mula sa lahat ng mga datum ay pinagsama-sama nila hanggang nabuo ang tinatawag na Luzon Datum of 1911.

Luzon Datum of 1911

Ang origin, simula o pinakagitna ng Luzon Datum of 1911, ay malapit sa San Andres Point na nasa Datum Station Balanacan. Ang longitude at latitude nito ayon sa orihinal na tala ay: “F o = 13 degrees 33’ 41.000” North, D o = 121 degrees 52’ 03.000” East of Greenwich, and the geoid/spheroid separation H o – h o = 0.34 meters”

Ang Luzon Datum of 1911 ang malawakang ginagamit na datum sa Pilipinas. Ito ang ginagamit sa lahat ng mapa na nalilimbag ng National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA), at ang origin ng lahat ng ito ay tumuturo ngani sa nabanggit nang lugar sa may Balanacan.

Latter-day marker na inilagay ng DENR na nagsasabi ng latitude at longitude.

Zooming out

‘Balanacan’ at ‘San Andres Point’ naman ang ginagamit sa mga teksto sapagkat ito ang mga pangalang makikita sa mapa. Subalit kung talagang gugustuhin na mapuntahan ang ‘gitna ng Pilipinas’, ay makikita ito sa pagitan ng San Andres Point at Balanacan Port. Nasa bulubunduking kagubatan ito na kung saan ang mga bahagi ng Silangan, Argao at Hinanggayon ay nagsasalubong (isa pa ngang curiosity ito), subalit matatanaw kapag ikaw ay nakasakay sa barko at malapit nang dumaong sa Balanacan.

Si Joven Lilles ng provincial assessor’s office ang unang nakapagsabi na mayroon ngang marker na itinayo doon ang mga Amerikano noong 1911, at ito ay napuntahan na niya. Kinumpirma din sa akin ng barangay captain ng Argao (Bonifacio Subil). May kahirapan nga lamang daw mapuntahan ang lugar dahil sa sukal at mga ahas na naglipana dito.

Kapag tumigil na ang tag-ulan marahil ay mainam itong mabisita kasama si Jov at ang kapitan. Ideya ni Jov na magbukas papunta doon ng isang trail at maglagay ng malaking karatula: “You are now at the Center of the Philippines”. Masisiyahan ang mga mahilig sa ecotourism, mga boy scouts at girl scouts, mga adventure seekers, at mahiligin sa souvenir shots!

NAMRIA ay naglagay din ng kanilang sariling marker sa site.

Pero kung tutuusin, parang masaya ang pakiramdam na malaman mo na ikaw ay nakatira sa sentro ng Pilipinas, hindi ba? Hindi lamang pala pang-tula at awit lamang ang mga katagang “puso ng Pilipinas” kapag Marinduque ang pinag-uusapan, na kung saan daw, ayon sa mga mistiko, magsisimula ang pagbabago ng Pilipinas. Pero saka na, ibang kuwento na ‘yun…

Power double talk

Timeline:

Sept. 27, 2005 – Power supply agreement signed with Marelco, NPC and 3i Powergen under the administration of Gov. Carmencita Reyes.
Feb. 2007 – Commercial operation was to commence (still under the administration of Gov. Reyes). This did not happen.
June 2007 – Extension of contract requested by 3i from Marelco expired.
Sept. 11, 2009 – Resolution purportedly rescinding the power supply agreement was issued by Marelco.
Oct. 12, 2009 – Rally spearheaded by the Bishop of Boac for “Truth and Transparency”.
October 25, 2009, “Final solution” with arrival of gensets from Palawan but with lease agreement between NPC and Agrekko expiring on January 7, 2010.
Jan.- Feb. 2011 - Power outages due to diesel fuel shortage directly related to the NPC's technical bancruptcy. 39 electric cooperatives in NPC-SPUG areas in the country experienced recurrent brown-outs.
June 20, 2011 – Receipt of bids from new bidders.
July 8, 2011 – Opening of bids. No official public announcement appears to have been made on bidding result.
July 20, 2011 - Power outages due to diesel fuel shortage and defective unit/s at Power Barge 12o in Balanacan.

She says, others say:

Quotes from Gov. Carmencita Reyes from her official Fb page:

"…I have already given specific instructions on what course of action we are going to take. The MARELCO problem has blown out of proportion. The provincial government has received reliable information that the perennial cause of the electricity supply problem in Marinduque is due to the gross incompetence and negligence of the management of MARELCO. Sources told that MARELCO owes around P69M for VAT payments alone. This amount is relatively small compared to how much MARELCO owes NAPOCOR. From all indications, MARELCO has been grossly mismanaged.

“I am personally not enthusiastic about tapping independent power producers/investors as a means to solve this problem. It might do us some good at the onset because normal electricity flow can be restored in a shorter period of time. However, the risk that is not clearly visible in this scenario is that after some time, there is a strong possibility that this independent power producer/investor can and may exploit us by exorbitant and unreasonable electricity bills and unnecessary fees… (Aug. 2, 2011)

“Ang MARELCO ay isang "kooperatiba" na napapasailalim ng patnubay ng National Electrification Administration (NEA). Walang autoridad ang Provincial Government sa pamamalakad ng MARELCO…”

“3i Power Gen did not go bankrupt…”

From a Sangguniang Panlalawigan media release after meeting with Marelco and NPC July 25, 2011:

"...Bagaman at alam ng buong kapulungan na ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan maging ang Gobernador o sinumang opisyal ng pamahalaang lokal ay walang papel na batayan upang makontrol o pakialaman ang anumang desisyon at pamamalakad ng MARELCO, kooperatiba, ang tunay na nagmamay-ari ay ang taong bayan na konsumidor ng kuryente.

"Gayundin ang mga local na opisyal ng pamahalaan ay walang pananagutan sa estratehiya o programa ng NEA, Department of Energy at ng NAPOCOR na may layuning missionary electrification na unti-unti na ring pinuputol ng pamahalaang nasyunal, hindi maiwasan ng SP bilang boses ng taong bayan na kundenahin ang mga namumumuno dito. Gayon pa man lahat ng paraan ay ginagawa ng SP upang makatulong at maibsan ang suliranin sa kuryente..."

Rewind to 2009:


Board member Jose Alvarez, an ally of Gov. Bong Carrion also referred to ‘mga pulitiko’, but politicians, he said, who were those "behind 3i Powergen and Marelco" (watch this video taken after the rally of Oct. 12, 2009:

Excerpts from the video:

“...Hindi po ba natin alam na kaya po naging ganyan, sinabi na rin po ni Bishop, na nasa likod ang mga pulitiko sa likod ng 3i Powergen… sino po ang nasa likod niyan, sino po ang nasa likod ng Marelco? Yan po ang dapat nating alamin, tingnan po natin kng paano natin mabubuwag ang mga pulitikong nasa likod ng 3i Powergen, nasa likod ng Marelco at nasa likod ng maraming kasinungalingang nagaganap dito sa ating lalawigan...

“Tingnan po natin kung sino talaga ang totoong nang-aapi dito sa atin sa napakatagal na panahong walang pag-angat dito sa ating lalawigan…”

Rewind further back to 2006.

In 2006, Manila-based newspapers like Malaya, Aug. 6, 2006, Manila Bulletin, Aug. 6, 2006 and Manila Standard Today, Aug. 7, 2006, ran similar articles stating:

“...The Board of Investments granted incentives to the three hybrid wind-diesel plants of 3i Powergen Inc. (in Marinduque and Romblon), with combined investments of P1.448 billion. ...

“...All three plants will start commercial operations by February 2007.”

Came February 2007, (with both mother and son team of Reyes sitting as congressman and governor), such commercial operations did not commence anywhere in the islands mentioned.

Came July 2007, there was still no 3i-produced power in Marinduque. By this time a new administration under Gov. Carrion won the election in May 2007, ran the capitol, while the older Reyes sat as Marinduque congress representative.

On 3i’s failure to deliver, 3i vice-president Lagundi reasoned thus: “Ang nangyari.... ay ang pagkakaantala ng pagpapalabas ng loan mula sa mga imbestor dahil sa nararanasang global financial crisis…" (Aug.11, 2008, SP)

One year later, 2009:

“Marelco general manager, Eduardo Bueno said: “Hindi naging makatotohanan ang 3I Powergen, hindi sila nakapag deliver. Iyang 12.48 na iyan kung saan itatayo ang power plant sa Balogo Sta. Cruz. Kung sino man po ang taga Sta. Cruz kung mapapasyal kayo doon makikita natin ay puro hukay. Hinukay nila noong October 2006. Hanggang ngayon po hindi ko alam ang kanilang natapos doon sa proyekto na iyon.” (Jul 6, 2009, SP)

Board member Eleuterio Raza, Jr. said, on the other hand: “...noong pinatawag po natin ang (vice) president ng 3I Powergen si Atty. Domingo Lagundi... he admitted in the session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan that they are financially incapable to construct the facilities in compliance with the requirements of the obligation. In my view that would send a signal for Marelco’s board to finally decide to rescind or not to rescind the contract...” (July 6, 2009)

Board member Jose Alvarez: “...sinasabi na ni Atty. Lagundi na wala po talaga silang kakayahan at halos magmakaawa at umiyak dito. Actually ang nangyari po parang nag-speculate lang sila na may papasok. Iyon naman po ay practice na tinatanggap natin dahil meron naman silang kaugnayan sa ibat-iba pang mga negosyante subalit hindi katanggap-tanggap iyong katagalan ng proseso.” (July 6, 2009)


SP board member Querubin talked of conspiracy and economic sabotage: “...maaring may sabwatan sa pagitan ng Marelco at 3i Powergen dahil sa kabila ng katotohanan na walang kapasidad ang huli na magsuplay ng kuryente patuloy pa rin ang kontrata... kaya maituturing na economic sabotage ang ginagawa ng Marelco at 3i Powergen dahil apektado ang ekonomiya ng lalawigan”. (Sept. 30,2009)








Amoingon sunset and a silhouette dream.

Biomass Energy

Jatropha

Biomass Energy


GRARADO

Grarado Green Energy, Inc. has been inspired by small scale rural based factory producing non-food energy products based on models developed and executed in Holland and Honduras.

Studies in certain areas in Mindanao and Marinduque have been conducted by the company’s CEO, Ger Groeneveld, who is equipped with technical knowledge of the cultivation and processing of energy crops from seed to tank. Farmers are willing to plant and deliver high value energy crop with fairly cheap labor, he said. Also said to be present are an excess of other bio-waste, skills and materials for producing the needed equipment. Design, engineering and production of equipment have been found to be similar to economically comparable country like Honduras, plus the availability of land and growing conditions for the intended energy crop, Jatropha.

The jatropha tree produces seeds containing 27-40% inedible oil, which is easily convertible into bio-diesel.Widespread use of the seeds as oil has been considered in Nicaragua and other Central and South American locations as well as more distant places like Tanzania.

Initially, Grarado has tied up with FOMMCO, a local farmers cooperative in Marinduque for the production of high energy content biomass products for export to Europe and is also now eyeing his company’s potential to be part of the solution to Marinduque’s perennial power supply problem.

Biomass has achieved global acceptance as a long term renewable replacement for fossil fuels, it is a highly efficient form of energy conversion (especially relative to coal) and its use for power production contributes towards the reduction of greenhouse gasses due to its “carbon neutral” status, which due to the fossil fuel displacement, generates positive carbon emissions credits.

CLENERGEN

Recently, Clenergen Philippines Corporation, a subsidiary of Clenergen Corporation (USA) announced that it had signed a strategic partnership with PowerSource Philippines, Inc. to accelerate the installation of up to 30MW of rural “off grid “renewable electricity to both island communities over the next three years, with projected income in excess of $35 million per annum.

According to Clenergen, the majority of island communities are supplied with electricity from diesel generators at a cost of around 32 cents per KWh and continue to face up to 12 hour black outs due to inconsistent supplies of diesel. PowerSource has been granted a 15 year exclusive franchise to generate and distribute power to specified rural areas, and is reportedly the first Qualified Third Party (“QTP”) to be certified under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

The strategic partnership will combine Clenergen’s proprietary plant science for the cultivation of energy crops to supply small biomass power plants that will be financed by PowerSource and then distributed though PowerSource’s transmission network. Both parties will proportionally share in the revenues generated from the cultivation of biomass and each party’s sale of electricity to both captive end users and the Philippine Government.

From a wide variety of plants that can be converted into electricity in an environmentally friendly and sustainable matter, the potential of bamboo and melia dubia as high value energy crops are eyed by Clenergen Philippines.

Bamboo

The species of bamboo selected for energy crops is from the Bambusa Balcooa family of grasses. After 10 years of breeding and fertilization programs, this species bamboo is now cultivated from tissue culture and then micro propagated. As a result, each tissue culture sapling is identical, asexual, non evasive, non flowering and has a density of 5 times greater than any other species of bamboo. It can be cultivated in all types of soil where there is sufficient water availability or where climatic conditions such as in the equatorial regions offer a natural environment for cultivation. The bamboo has the potential as an energy crop of yielding 20 tonnes per acre year three and 35 tonnes per acre year three. By year four, the bamboo can be mechanically harvested and produce on average, up to 65 tonnes per acre per annum, with a lifespan of up to 50 years.

Melia dubia

Melia dubia originates from the Meliaceae family and is an indigenous species of tree to India, South East Asia and Australia, where it has been cultivated as a source of firewood. The tree can be cultivated in all types of soil and requiring a low supply of water on a daily basis. Melia dubia has the unique feature of growing to 40 feet within 2 years from planting and can be mechanically pruned and harvested. As an energy crop, Melia dubia has the potential of yielding in excess 40 tonnes of biomass on average per acre per annum over a 10 year period (before replanting is required). it’s high calorific value makes it a viable source of feedstock for biomass power plants.

Neighboring Romblon is 'in'.

NPC has signed memorandum of agreements (MOA's) with two foreign power firms, Clenergen and Enertine in developing biomass power. Clenergen in particular is undertaking biomass feasibility studies for the off-grid areas of Romblon, Kalinga and Apayao under a cooperation program with NPC. It was also reported that Clenergen "is also assessing possibilities in providing electricity to the mining, coconut sectors through their respective industry organizations."

At least 42 MW of power are being eyed to be generated from the proposed biomass projects in the pipeline.

Ulirang Nakatatanda 2011

Recognizing our senior citizens for their contributions to the society and their families.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSD) IV-B is calling on all local senior citizens groups to submit their nominees for the Ulirang Nakatatanda Awards 2011, a regional search for outstanding individual senior citizens and organizations.

Any individual aged 60 and above, of good moral standing in his or her community and a member of a local senior citizens group for at least six months, endorsed by his or her organization is eligible for the individual category.







For the group category, they must be a duly recognized senior citizens organization with at least 30 active members. They should also be a member of their provincial/regional Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines.(FSCAP).

The regional group grand winner will receive P 25,000 cash, 1st runner up will receive P 12,000 and P 8,000 for the second runner-up. On the other hand, the individual grand winner will receive P 8,000 cash, P 5,000 for the 1st runner up and P 3,000 for the second runner up.

For more information, contact your local Social Welfare and Development Office.

Marinduque boat trip schedule

This is what appears on the bulletin board at the Passengers Terminal at the Port of Lucena (Dalahican Port to many), pic taken last night. Arrivals at and departures from said port are reflected here. Departures from Cawit port are actually at 4:00 pm and 12:00 am (that's midnight, ha), not "4:00 pm and 12:00 pm" as stated here. It is probably just an accidental mistake, but one which must have caused some confusion, just the same, among travelers to and from Marinduque.

Now Marelco's talking

It has taken nearly a decade for Marelco to state in black and white that its overdue accounts with NPC "stemmed from non-payment of Fuel and Purchased Power Adjustment (FPCA) in 2002". This, according to Marelco, resulted to NPC's withholding of Marelco's entitlement to Automatic Prompt Payment Discount (APPD).

This occurs after years of secrecy, non-transparency and a lot of hogwash have been fed to all Marinduque power consumers, it may not even be right to repeat the lies here.

In a resolution dated July 12, 2011, No. 2011-48 A, Marelco sought the support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Marelco's appeal with the National Power Corporation for the condonation of interest on its power bill. Marelco also stated in their resolution that NPC has imposed interest charges on overdue accounts amounting to Php 12,787.750.97 as of Dec. 31, 2009.

But the above-mentioned admission is only one part of how the electric cooperative got embroiled into its current financial mess. But that's the fate of some type of electric cooperatives.

There are a lot more that our "impressionable" public should know that should be stated in black and white. For example, it appears that there hasn't been an instance when Marelco ever turned over the millions of pesos it has collected in value added taxes (VAT) to any collection agency. That's scandalous enough. But an amount of more than P 40-million from the VAT collection was unilaterally spent by Marelco as a "judgment call" for the rehabilitation of its lines and facilities damaged by super-typhoon "Reming" in 2006. Some Marelco employees insist, however, that NEA provided a grant in the amount of P 32-million for that purpose.

Now that the Marelco board is beginning to talk, they should be encouraged to tell us more, tell us more, for a much-deserved breakthrough in truth-telling to Marinduque power consumers. Will there ever arise an heroic whistle-blower from Marinduque?

"Normal power supply" for a week from August 8


Meanwhile, Marelco informs that normal power supply shall be temporarily restored for one (1) week starting Monday, August 8, 2011 due to "change in schedule of expected date of arrival of fuel from August 5, 2011 to August 7, 2011".

Role of NPC-SPUG

NPC”s Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) is mandated by law to undertake the electrification of areas, called “missionary areas” in the Philippines not connected to the main transmission grid. SPUG is supposed to be committed to bring power “as a catalyst for development to the farthest, smallest and remotest areas and islands in furtherance of its mandate”.

Currently SPUG operates 317 generating units with total rated capacity of 147.675 megawatt in 86 areas. The operation serves 78 island grids and eight isolated grids catering to 3,330 barangays in 192 municipalities across the country.

NPC-SPUG currently supplies electricity to mainland Marinduque through the Boac Diesel Power Plant, Torrijos Diesel Power Plant and Power Barge 120 in Balanacan. There are also mini grids operating in the islands of Mongpong, Polo and Maniwaya under SPUG.

In January this year, NPC-SPUG’s mandate under the EPIRA for missionary electrification in the SPUG or off-grid areas faced a serious impediment with the government's decision to cut NPC’s corporate operating budget. It was slashed to more than half of the proposed Php 18.296 Billion, thus amounting to only Php 7.575 Billion. NPC reported that of the said amount Php 3.333 Billion was allocated to fuel and lube oil requirements which is Php 4.354 Billion shorter of the actual requirement amounting to Php 7.687 Billion.

NPC’s President Tampingco stated that based on such approved budget level, they will not be able to meet the funding requirement for fuel and lube oil supply for the year, and the amount would only ensure a five month supply until May or until June this year but with brownouts implemented in SPUG areas.