• Palace assures water sufficiency for Metro Manila
• Malacanang seeks better security cooperation with America
• Palace lauds private sector effort to avert brownouts

“Ayon sa National Water Resources Board na pinangungunahan ni Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary (Babes) Singson, meron naman tayong sapat na tubig para sa Metro Manila,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said in a radio interview.

He pointed out the government had already prepared to mitigate the expected low water levels based on the El Niño preparedness plan.

“Noong umpisa pa man nakapaghanda na itong National Water Resources Board ng isang El Niño preparedness plan na nakapaloob doon ang action plan on water supply for Metro Manila katuwang na sitwasyon sa Angat Dam. Ito ay pinangangasiwaan ng isang El Niño Domestic Supply Management Task Force na binubuo nitong National Water Resources Board, MWSS, National Irrigation Administration, Maynilad at Manila Water,” the Secretary said.

Coloma further said the National Water Resources Board also embarked on water conservation campaigns since last year.

“Sila rin ay simula pa noong isang taon ay nagsasagawa na ng kampanya para mapaalam sa ating mga kababayan ang kahalagahan ng water conservation at nakipag-ugnayan din at patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga Metro Manila local government units hinggil dito,” he added.

For irrigation on the other hand the Palace official said the government released temporary permits to operate shallow tube well and small water impounding facilities.

“Para naman sa irigasyon, sila ay nagbigay ng mga temporary permits para sa operasyon ng mga tinatawag na shallow tube well at small water impounding facilities,” he said.

Coloma also encouraged the public to practice water conservation, adding the agencies will coordinate with local government units to ensure the sufficiency of water supply.

“Tuluy-tuloy ang paghimok sa ating mga mamamayan na mag-ipon at huwag magsayang ng tubig. Tuluy-tuloy din ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at iba’t ibang ahensiya para matiyak na magiging sapat ang ating suplay ng tubig lalo na ang tubig na inumin,” the Secretary stressed.

The Angat Dam supplies around 90 percent of Metro Manila’s water consumption. PND (jd)

“Patuloy na ipinagbubuti ng dalawang bansa ang umiiral na pagtutulungan upang tugunan ang mga common security concerns,” he said in a radio interview.

Coloma stressed both the Philippines and the US seeks freedom of navigation and overflight in the West Philippine Sea, but further said actions that contradict it creates tension and concern.

“Ang malayang nabigasyon at malayang paglalakbay na panghimpapawid o freedom of navigation at freedom of overflight sa West Philippine Sea ay mahahalagang batayang prinsipyo na itinataguyod ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos,” he said, adding “anumang kaganapan na humahadlang o taliwas sa mga prinsipyong ito ay lumilikha ng tensyon at ligalig.”

The Secretary added security infrastructures should be built within the region, while adhering to the international rule of law.

“Kaya’t ang tugon dito ay ang pagpapatatag ng imprastrukturang pangseguridad sa ating rehiyon. Ang pag-iral ng international rule of law ay itinataguyod natin habang higit pang ginagawang matibay ang istratehikong ugnayan ng dalawang bansa,” Coloma pointed out.

The Palace official said the US reiterated its commitment to remain an ally that will strengthen maritime security and maritime domain, including strengthening the country’s humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

“Ipinahayag ng Estados Unidos ang patuloy na commitment nito sa Pilipinas bilang isang mahalagang ally sa pagtataguyod at pagpapatibay ng ating maritime security at maritime domain awareness capabilities at maging ang ating kakayahan sa aspeto ng humanitarian assistance at disaster response alinsunod sa mga nakasaad na probisyon ng Mutual Defense Treaty, Visiting Forces Agreement at Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement,”

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter visited the country this week. PND (jd)

“Nagpalabas ang NGCP ng yellow alert status noong umaga na itinaas pa nila into a red alert status sa bandang tanghali. Ngunit ito ay natugunan kaagad sa pamamagitan ng interruptible load program. Ito ang boluntaryong pagtulong ng pribadong sektor na kung saan ay 121 ILP (Interruptible Load Program) participants ay nagbigay ng kontribusyon na 247 megawatts mula sa generating capacity ng mga gensets nila,” he said in a radio interview.

The ILP participants de-load their consumption from the grid by using their own generator sets. The ILP is an initiative of the Manila Electric Co., participants are compensated for de-loading their power consumption.

He cited the ILP prevented rotating brownouts to over 280,000 Meralco customers from 1-2 p.m and 290,000 customers from 2-3 p.m.

“At dahil dito ang Meralco ay nakakilos para mag-prevent ng rotating brownout na sana ay nakaapekto sa mahigit sa 280,000 customers doon sa one to two p.m. at halos 290,000 customers doon sa 2 to 3 p.m.,” the Palace official said.

He assured the Energy Department is monitoring the rising heat index, planned maintenance shutdowns and forced outage of power plants.

“Batid natin ang nararanasang heightened heat index, talaga naman pong napakainit ng panahon ngayon at tumataas ang temperatura kaya’t talagang lumalakas din ang paggamit ng kuryente.”

“Kasabay din diyan ang mga nakatakdang maintenance schedule para sa mga power plants at meron din namang mga nagaganap na hindi inaasahan o forced outage.”

“Kaya lahat ng iyan ay sinusubaybayang masinsin ng ating Department of Energy.”

Coloma further disclosed the yellow alert for the Visayas grid was lifted due to the export of capacity from the Luzon grid and the return of the Pagbilao power plant.

“Sinabi din ni (DOE) Secretary Monsada na ang Visayas, ay nailagay sa yellow alert noong Biyernes, bandang ika-pito ng gabi. Ito ay naagapan at naibalik sa normal status dahil iyon pong power supply natin sa Luzon ay nai-export po natin sa Visayas Grid sa tulong ‘nung operation ng Pagbilao Plant,” the Palace official said.

He stressed the specific time interval for the red alert proves the power forecast was studied.

“At mapapansin din natin na mayroong specific time interval doon sa pagra-raise ng red alert kaya napaghahandaan ito. Hindi hula-hula, alam ang projected and actual load sa particular na oras kaya’t napapanahon din at nasa tamang oras ang pagtugon sa pangangailangan,” Coloma said.

The Secretary also urged the public to conserve electricity during off-peak hours.

“Pag gabi na, hindi na naman ganung kainit, baka naman makapag-tipid din tayo ng konti sa kuryente at magsagawa na rin ng iba pang energy conservation measures,” he said.

The country’s power demand historically peaks during the summer, specifically on May, as consumers tend to use more cooling appliances. PND (jd)