Domingo named acting DPWH head President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed former Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers Victor A. Domingo, as acting chief of the Department of Public work and Highways (DPWH) on October 22, 2009. Domingo named acting DPWH head President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed former Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers Victor A. Domingo, as acting chief of the Department of Public work and Highways (DPWH) on October 22, 2009. DOST on lookout for science education champions The search is on for the country's top science educators as the Science Education Institute announces the 2nd Gawad Leadership and Innovations for Development Relevant to Science Education or Gawad LIDER. On its second search, SEI Director Dr. Ester B. Ogena said the Gawad LIDER becomes more prestigious with higher prices at stake. "We want to entice more people to come out and nominate individuals and institutions who have contributed to the betterment of science education in the country," she said. For the 2nd Gawad LIDER, prizes are pegged at P200,000 and a medal for winners in the Exemplary Leadership and Innovation Award Categories. Ogena said the Exemplary Leadership Award is conferred to individuals and institutions/organizations that have consistently demonstrated leadership qualities leading to improvements in the field of education in the sciences, which have generated nationwide impact. On the other hand, the Innovation Award is given to an individual or institution for the introduction of a technology-based innovation that benefits education in the sciences. Awardees of the 1st Gawad LIDER include former Marikina Division School Superintendent Dr. Flordeliza Mayari, now the Valenzuela Division School Superintendent, University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development, and Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology for Exemplary Leadership and Mr. Virgil Samonte for the Innovation Award. Last year's winners received P150,000 and a medal. Any head of an institution, community leaders, organization or individuals may nominate an individual or institution/organization for the Gawad LIDER awards. Ogena said any person or institution/organization who has demonstrated sustained leadership capability through the conduct of a project with significant impact on education in the sciences may be nominated for the Exemplary Leadership- Individual and Institution Category. She said the nominee in the Individual Category of the Exemplary Leadership Award should have led the implementation of a program or project for at least five years. Ogena noted that any individual or organization who has introduced a technology-based innovation and has successfully used or adopted these innovations that contributed to the advancement of education in the sciences may be nominated for the Innovation Award. She said an innovation is operationally defined as the development or enhancement of devices, equipment, gadgets, tools, or products or procedures that resulted in greater effectiveness and higher efficiency in teaching and learning in the sciences. Nomination and application forms may be obtained from the SEI office and at the DOST Regional Offices. (PIA) WWF lauds PGMA initiatives on climate change The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), an international non-government organization with a mission to halt and reverse the destruction of environment, lauded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for calling attention to climate charge and its effects on the environment. In a courtesy call on the President last Sunday night, WWF International Director General James P. Leape described typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng as a horrifying reminder on what destructive forces climate change can unleash on the Philippines and the rest of the world. He said that President Arroyo is adopting policies and initiatives designed to raise public awareness on the issue. During the meeting, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Environment Secretary Lito Atienza joined the discussion on climate change and deliberated on what needs to be done in the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference slated to be held in Copenhagen in December. Leape likewise praised the President for encouraging private sector participation in support of the Coral Triangle Initiatives. The Philippine government is working closely with the Conservation International and WWF to identify priority projects to protect the Ocean. The Coral Triangle is a geographical term that refers to the waters of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste that encompass 75 percent of all species known in the world. President Arroyo, in May this year, signed the Coral Triangle Initiatives with the other five heads of state of Asia-Pacific Nations to address threats to the marine, coastal, and small island ecosystems within the Coral Triangle region. (PIA) SPC acquires Naga LBGT power plant in negotiated sale SPC Power Corporation acquired last Oct 16 the 55-megawatt (MW) Naga Land-Based Gas Turbine (LBGT) Power Plant after concluding negotiations with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation. The Naga facility is the seventh operating power plant successfully sold by PSALM this year. In bagging its third power asset, SPC agreed to match the reserve price of USD1.008 million (USD1,008,000.00) set by the PSALM Board for the Cebu-based power plant. The company's initial offer was USD429,488.00. SPC is also the new owner of the 146.5-MW Panay and 22-MW Bohol diesel power plants, which PSALM bid out in November last year. PSALM will issue a Notice of Award to SPC to formally declare the company as the new owner of the Naga LBGT as soon as the accuracy, authenticity, and completeness of the bid documents it had submitted are verified by PSALM's Privatization Bids and Awards Committee. Prior to its negotiated sale, the Naga LBGT underwent two unsuccessful biddings in April and June 2009. Under its bidding rules, PSALM may opt to enter into negotiations with any interested party after two failed biddings. Formerly known as Salcon Power Corporation, SPC won the Rehabilitation, Operation, Maintenance, and Management contract for the 203.8-MW Naga Power Plant Complex in 1994. With the steady support of its partners, Salcon Philippines, Inc. and Salcon Limited of Singapore, SPC continues to contribute significantly to the country's power sector. Last 25 March 2009, in simple ceremonies, PSALM turned over the Panay and Bohol diesel power plants to SPC after the group paid in full its USD5.86-million (USD5,857,553.34) offer for the packaged power plants. With the success of the Naga LBGT negotiations, PSALM has bid out a total rated capacity of 1,780 MW this year, spread among seven generating plants. These include the 600-MW Batangas (or Calaca) Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant; the Power Barge (PB) 117 and the PB 118 rated at 100 MW each; the 620-MW Limay Combined-Cycle Power Plant; and the packaged 305-MW Palinpinon-Tongonan geothermal power plants. (PIA) |
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