Update: Asian Development Bank gives Incentives for the Public and Private Sectors to Invest in Renewable Energies

"Asian Development Bank focuses on delivering projects for the Asia and Pacific region that create economic and development impact. The bank had more than $17.5 billion in approved financing in 2010. Its main devices for assistance are loans, grants, technical assistance, equity investments and policy dialogue. To encourage the shift to clean and efficient energy, ADB is expanding the use of renewable energy, facilitating the introduction of new clean energy technologies, identifying and promoting cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, and giving incentives for the public and private sectors to invest in these areas. On the supply side, ADB is emphasizing the expansion of renewable energy and using focusing on access to energy as a priority for economic growth, with a focus on helping the poor and protecting the environment."

'via Blog this'Banks Provide Critical Support for Hydro Project Development:In February 2011, ADB approved a loan of $57.3 million to Papua New Guinea utility PNG Power Ltd. to fund renewable energy projects, including run-of-river hydro. This loan is part of a broader Town Electrification Investment Program approved by ADB in late 2010 that will improve the power supply in provincial urban centers by replacing diesel generation with renewable energy generation. Total cost of the program is estimated to be $150 million. Projects to be implemented under the first tranche of the program include run-of-river hydro plants in the Northern Province and Autonomous Region of Bougainville, as well as a 66 kV transmission line in West New Britain that will provide access to about 1 MW of spare capacity from the 3 MW Lake Hargy hydro plant.

Sri Lanka is using a $120 million loan from ADB to expand and improve its power network, including support for renewable energy that is to add hydropower to the national grid. ADB approved the loan, along with a technical assistance grant for the Sustainable Power Sector Support Project, in January 2011. The project will help the government reduce imports of fossil fuels by providing a credit line of nearly $1.3 million to private developers for about 19 small hydro facilities and by financing the detailed engineering design of the 30 MW Moragolla hydro plant. The government of Sri Lanka will provide about $42 million, for a total project cost of $162 million. This work supports the government's goal of providing nearly 100% of households in the country with electricity by 2016.

And Himachal Pradesh Power Corp. Ltd. in India is developing four run-of-river hydroelectric projects with a total capacity of 856 MW under the $800 million Multi-Tranche Financing Facility Himachal Clean Power Development program funded by ADB. The objective of the work is to help fulfill local demand, especially energy shortages in the winter months of December to February. Outcomes of the program are to include increased production and use of clean energy in a financially sustainable manner through run-of-river hydro schemes, improved state finances from sales revenue earned from power exports, partial offset of project operation expenses due to potential revenues derived from Clean Development Mechanism carbon credit sales, and improved capacity in HPC for better planning, implementation and management of hydro plants.

One of these four projects is 450 MW Shongtong Karcham on the Satluj River, for which the developer was seeking bids in August to supply electromechanical equipment. The remaining projects are 195 MW Integrated Kashang, 100 MW Sainj and 111 MW Sawra Kuddu.

Wellness in Technology: House backed the establishment of the Department of ICT (DICT) - an essential step towards building ICT infrastructure

"House of Representatives approved one version of a bill that lays out the terms to create a new government department charged with overseeing the development of the nation’s ICT sector. In its second reading of the bill, the House backed the establishment of the Department of ICT (DICT), a move seen as an essential step towards building the country’s ICT infrastructure and developing a focused policy for the industry.
A similar bill is currently before the Senate, where it is expected to be approved in the coming weeks. Among its many tasks, the DICT will coordinate and implement the national ICT development agenda, including policies, programs and projects, according to a briefing the National Economic and Development Authority issued earlier this year. The new department will also be tasked with implementing “national e-strategies cutting across other critical sectors such as e-education and e-health, and the country’s representation in international and regional ICT bodies.”"

'via Blog this'ICT agenda for the Philippines | BusinessWorld Online Edition:

Wellness in Business: Philippines is the most cost-effective outsourcing destination in Asia

"Amid financial uncertainty in the US and Europe, the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) industry continues to thrive. The downturn is seen to have spurred global financial institutions to accelerate expansion plans and off-shoring, much to the benefit of the Philippines. The BPO office annual take-up was between 250,000 to 350,000 square meters in the last 5 years. "This year’s projected take up of office space in Manila is anywhere between 330,000 and 360,000 square meters of new take-up which is quite large when compared to Singapore’s 150,000 square meters a year. We see continued expansionary demand from multinational companies as there is good value in the Philippine real estate market," said Rick Santos, CBRE chairman and CEO.

The growth of the BPO industry in the country has fueled office demand in Metro Manila. The existing BPO office supply in Metro Manila has reached almost 3.6 million square meters of leasable area."

'via Blog this'PH is best outsourcing destination in Asia: CBRE | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features: The Philippines is the most cost-effective outsourcing destination in Asia, according to real estate advisory firm CB Richard Ellis.

In a recent study by CBRE comparing 15 central business districts in Asia, the Philippines was ranked the second cheapest with lease rates at $19.1 price per square foot/annum, next to Jakarta's $16.3. This despite an increase in office lease rates in Metro Manila and a decline in vacancy rates this year.

The Philippines also ranked second in terms of office rental yields in Asia, at 10% in the third quarter of 2011, following India's 11%.

Peace Update: Military Officer in charge of Internal Peace & Security in Western Visayas now Appointed as Philippine Army's 54th Commanding General

"Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Major General Emmanuel Bautista’s record has been “exemplary, both in the field and in staff positions.” He is currently the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. He is responsible for Internal Peace and Security Operations in Western Visayas and the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Central Visayas. "Bautista has been decorated seven times in combat. Most notably, in his staffwork, as J3 of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), Major General Bautista was primarily responsible for the formulation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan, ‘Bayanihan,’” said Valte. Bautista is also recognized for developing "Bayanihan" from its conceptualization, development, writing, launching, and implementation. He was able to mobilize the participation of different stakeholders in the planning process. "The plan involves innovative approaches and paradigm shifts and is now the blueprint of the AFP in winning the peace," Valte added."

'via Blog this'Major General Emmanuel Bautista is new Army chief | Sun.Star:

Wellness in Governance: South Cotabato received Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) First Year Maintenance Award

"Dr. Ervin Luntao, chairman of the committee on health of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in behalf of Gov. Arthur Y. Pingoy Jr. and the province of South Cotabato received the award on October 25 from Health Secretary Enrique Ona, chairman of the governing board of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in a ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Uy announced prevalence rate among children below 6 years old in South Cotabato this year has gone down to 8.16 percent as compared to 9.66 percent in 2010 when it got its CROWN award.

Provincial Nutrition Officer Ma. Anna Uy said the province’s supplemental feeding program could not have achieved such success without the help of partners in the private sector. “Among the most active of these private partners are Dole Philippines, Mahintana Foundation, Rotary Clubs of Polomolok and Koronadal, cooperatives under the umbrella of Dolefil, the Philippine Association of Technologist and many other civic organizations,” she said."

'via Blog this'PIA daily news in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Waray, Pangalatok from around the Philippines:

Peace Update: MILF rebels planning to hold a dialogue with three Catholic bishops

MILF rebels mull holding dialogue with critical Catholic bishops - Home » Other Sections » Breaking News: "Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, said the MILF peace panel led by Mohagher Iqbal was seriously considering to invite Bishops Leonardo Medroso of Tagbilaran, Ilagan Bishop Elenito Galido and Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Colin Bagaforo, after they separately expressed critical views on the donation to the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute. "We will reach out to them first through a mutually acceptable go-in-between. We have very reliable line of communication with the Catholic Church," Mantawil said. The government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, handed down in August to the MILF the fund to assist the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute."

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Wellness in Education: Malacanang supports Department of Education’s activities in celebration of National Reading Month this November

“We fully support the Department of Education’s campaign to encourage school children to participate in the month-long reading activities, such as read-a-thons, storytelling sessions, shared readings, and reading camps,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement. The DepEd came up with its declaration on October 25 by virtue of Memorandum No. 244, making November of every year as National Reading Month and November 25, 2011 as Nationwide Araw ng Pagbasa. These particular events are anchored on the 10-point Basic Education Agenda of President Benigno S. Aquino III and the institutionalization of the “Every Child a Reader” Program (ECARP) by the DepEd.
Quoting Secretary Armin Luistro, Valte said the DepEd is initiating programs that would: promote reading and literacy among the pupils and students; motivate our youth to learn from the lives and works of eminent Filipinos; uphold one’s heritage and values; and make reading a shared physical experience, specifically among the youth, thereby increasing its relevance amidst the growing reliance on the internet and inclination to on-line activities."
Philippines - Malacanang supports Department of Education’s activities in celebration of National Reading Month: "
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