The Post, March 2010

Vol. I No. 1 MARCH 2010 Official Publication of the AboitizPower Distribution Group

The Allegory of The Post: Do you know the idea behind its conception? Story on pg. 20

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BEZ new substation and admin building completed...………..…….………..……….…………......... 10 MEZ control room expansion completed…...….... 10

Davao Light franchise spared from outages........ 11

VECO assists SEZ on MRS Project.......….........…... 11

AboitizPower DUs converge for goal‐setting workshop….……………………..……...….…..……...……...12 Team leaders from AboitizPower’s distribution utilities gath‐ ered together for a Goal‐Setting workshop on Success Factors.

The seminar was facilitated by AEV VP for Human Resources Nancy Lim, assisted by DLPC HR Manager Champ Yared.

COVER STORY AboitizPower launches Pearl Project….......…...... 14 In partnership with leading software company Oracle, and to improve existing customer care systems of its distribution utili‐ ties, AboitizPower launched the Pearl Project with VECO as its first implementer. Oracle’s CC&B system ties all customer ser‐ vice aspects of the DUs into one unified system, preparatory to the challenges of open access.

CUSTO MER W ELFARE

Davao Light, 2GO ink MOA on receiving electric bill payments………………………………………...……....…….. 16

REGULARS Feedback..…...……...…………….….….....………………….. 6

Aboitiz companies Davao Light and 2GO signed a MOA to re‐ sume the latter firm’s services of receiving electric bill pay‐ ments in behalf of the utility.

Segue..……….………...….………..………….....……………. 34

Davao Light bares more payment option……....... 17

NEWS

VECO’s ILP gains support..…......…………………….…. 17 New CEMEX‐VECO substation to provide additional power to Cebu………………………………………......……… 7

VECO emergency crew gains speed…...………....... 18 To ensure fast and reliable customer service, the company acquired three additional motorcycles for its emergency crew.

The motorbikes will act as a “striker”, or support crew, since they can easily maneuver through congested roads.

The CNP power grid will be given an extra boost with the com‐ pletion of the CEMEX‐VECO substation. The new substation will dispatch 10MW of electricity to help lessen power short‐ ages within the CNP power grid.

MEZ continues improvements….……..…..……...….... 8

F E AT U R E S

MEZ’s projects such as the construction of a new administra‐ tion building, substation perimeter fencing, and the construc‐ tion of the foundation for its Automatic Voltage Regulator are well underway. The last two were already completed last Feb‐ ruary 2010, while the first one is expected to be finished this May 2010.

The allegory of The Post………………………….……….. 20 Our editorial adviser Sebastian Lacson talks about this news magazine, the idea behind it, and why did we choose the name “The Post”.

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Roll Call: Meet the AboitizPower DUs................. 22 A quick overview of the six Aboitiz power distribution utilities represented in The Post—Davao Light, VECO, Cotabato Light, Subic EnerZone, Balamban EnerZone, and Mactan EnerZone.

There are Heroes in our midst….......................... 24 Discover the remarkable true story of brand heroism of Subic EnerZone linemen Edgardo Geronimo and Kyle Credo.

Learning to manage crisis communication….....… 26 AboitizPower DUs’ CorpComm representatives learn crisis management during the 2009 Aboitiz CorpComm Continuing Education Series.

CSR & SUSTAINABILITY SEZ joins “Save My Bay” beach cleanup….…........ 27 Subic EnerZone joined more than 700 people from different companies, schools, and government institutions for a beach cleanup in an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Aboitiz launches Race‐to‐Reduce Challenge…...… 28 To reduce the group’s carbon emissions and to conserve on energy, water and paper resources, Aboitiz launched the sus‐ tainability campaign Race‐to‐Reduce Challenge.

DLCP, city team up in 3 projects for education.…. 30

VECO turns over classrooms to Labangon…….…… 30

DLPC turns over school building in Mahayag…….. 30

CLPC turns over refurbished classrooms……..….... 31 CLPC turned over it’s fourth classroom donation to SKNHS.

DLPC personnel join GK house build volunteers… 32

Rice for lumads from Davao Light…………...……….. 32

Cotabato Light donates computers……………...…… 33

VECO reaches out to Tinago………………………...…… 33

Davao Light turns over 10 computers to Philippine Science………………………...………………….. 33

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Our reader’s page where you have your say, tell us your comments, opinions, insights, and share your ideas AboitizPower officers: Chairman Enrique Aboitiz President & CEO Erramon I. Aboitiz EVP—Power Distribution Group Jaime Jose Aboitiz

The Post staff: Editor in chief /Layout Artist Raymund Tamayo News editor Ruann May Pogado Features editor Dianne Iris Ubasa Customer Welfare editor Ethel Natera CSR & Sustainability editor Donjie Vertuoso Contributing to this issue Ross Luga Vic Sumalinog Jasmine Nikki Paredes Jade Aniceto Kim Khyber Anton Niño Ang Anthony Bueno Gerard Castillon Yolly Cawagas Editorial Consultant Evelyn Paul Editorial Adviser Sebastian Lacson

FIRST STEP. Whether it’s setting up a dream business, starting to learn to walk as a child, or falling in love for the first time, the first step is usually the hardest and most cru‐ cial one. It will be the basis of whether someone is worth something, or in our case, worth reading.

It was early December 2009 when AEV CRO Sebastian Lacson gathered the newsletter editors of all Aboitiz power distribution units to suggest consolidat‐ ing every one of them into one publica‐ tion: the AboitizPower DU magazine.

Although majority was excited and liked the idea, there are still some who are hesitant and many concerns were raised, from the expected communication prob‐ lems to be created by distance, to how are we going to balance each company’s exposure, to who will lead us to its com‐ pletion. But still the main question is: “How are we going to begin?!”

Sir Basti said something in that meeting which made me realize that all we need is a leap of faith. “Anything is possible,” he said. “With all of you guys working together, anything is possible.”

p r o j e c t p o s s i b l e : Ruann, Di‐ a n n e , M a ’ a m Ethel and Donjie — for bearing with me with my demands and urgent requests.

Special thank you for Ruann who came up with “The Post” newsletter name. I know how hectic your schedules are but, hey guys, here’s our baby! We did this!

Enjoy!

I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you, dear readers, to write or email us with your comments, opinions, or any insights and ideas you wish to share. We will be screening each one and will publish here in this space the ones we feel will create an impact.

Lastly, I’d like to thank Sir Basti for initiat‐ ing this and for supporting us all the way.

You’re right, sir, anything is possible. This simple and humble newsletter is another testament to that truth. Anything is pos‐ sible for those who are driven by a pas‐ sion to do better every time.

He couldn’t have said it better.

I personally would like to thank my col‐ leagues, my co‐editors who made this

Canal Road corner Labitan St., Central Business District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone or Send an email: raymund.tamayo@aboitiz.com

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Raymund Tamayo editor in chief

(from left to right) Atty. Paterno Acabodello, VECO Chairman Erramon Aboitiz, CEMEX Asia President Jaime Ruiz de Haro, and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

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he Cebu‐Negros‐Panay (CNP) power grid will be given an extra boost with the completion of the CEMEX‐VECO substation, located at CEMEX’s APO Cement plant.

Owned by the Visayan Electric Company (VECO), the new substation will dispatch 10MW of electricity from the diesel‐powered plant, helping lessen power shortages within the CNP grid.

“Although our core business is the manufac‐ turing of top quality building materials, we offered to supply VECO with our excess gen‐

By Jasmine Nikki Paredes

eration capacity to help address the power situation in the province,” says Jaime Ruiz de Haro, CEMEX Asia President. “This is part of CEMEX’s continuing commit‐ ment to help sustain progress and development of Cebu.”

VECO Executive Vice President and COO Jimmy Aboitiz says, “this project is a milestone – a first in the history of VECO.” The single biggest customer of VECO, CEMEX is in a unique position in that it both buys and sells power.

The CEMEX Substation is the first VECO‐owned substation that directly synchro‐ nizes with a generating plant. It employs unique switching equipment on its feed‐ ers for easy load transfer from VECO to APO Power Plants, and vice versa. It also functions as both a distribution substation and a transmission substation and involves the jointing of new and old switch gears and the utilization of a 69kV grounding transformer.

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MEZ’s perimeter fencing project.

By Kim Khyber Anton Niño Ang

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he construction of a new Administra‐ tion Office for the Mactan EnerZone Corporation (MEZ) at the second floor of the iMEZ Building at Mactan Economic Processing Zone II in Basak, Lapu‐Lapu City, Cebu is now ongoing. It started last December 14, 2009 and is expected to be completed on May 2010. Mactan Ener‐ Zone’s admin personnel are hoping to move to the new facility by then.

It will also make it more accessible for the locators to do business and other transactions with the company as the building will also serve as its billing and

collection center.

The project, which was awarded to AA Masong Construction – the same con‐ tractor who handled the substation and admin building of BEZ – will provide the working area for MEZ’s admin staff, a conference room, a pantry, exclusive offices of the managers, and a wash‐ room. Design of the area is to have a dry wall with an acoustic and gypsum board ceiling.

Another project of MEZ is the Perimeter Fencing and Automatic Voltage Regulator Foundation project at its control room

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and substation. This project commenced last December 14, 2009 and covers an area of around eighty‐six square meters.

DSJP Construction handles the construc‐ tion with an almost all concrete‐hollow‐ block wall, and a portion of half cyclone.

Its foundation is solid reinforced con‐ crete.

This project aims to provide locators with a steady voltage for utilization through the use of the AVR, as well as to secure the MEZ perimeter. These last two pro‐ jects were completed last February 2, 2010.

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BEZ New Substation and Admin Building completed The new 25/33 MVA Substation and ad‐ ministration building of Balamban Ener‐ Zone Corporation (BEZ) at West Cebu Industrial Park in Buanoy, Balamban, Cebu was finally completed last October 2009, and was ready for full operations on January 2010.

Project Manager Danny Caro, together with Project Engineer Kim Khyber Anton Niño Ang and the rest of the project team members heaved comfortably in showing off the fruit of their hardwork for the past months.

The inauguration ceremony was held last November 6, 2009. It was attended by EnerZones’ outgoing EVP & COO Benja‐ min A. Cariaso, Jr., incoming SVP & COO Dante Pollescas, BEZ AVP‐General Man‐ ager Engr. Irwin Pagdalian, BEZ Admin & Finance Manager Ramny Guatelara, and all major officials of BEZ locators within the area including Tsuneishi Heavy Indus‐ tries’ (THI) President Shinji Watadani and Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc.’ (CIPDI) General Manager Ronald Allan Uy.

MEZ control

room expansion completed

The newly-built BEZ substation and admin building.

Mr. Watadani of the THI, Mr. Uy of CIPDI and Philippine Economic Zone Author‐ ity’s Enterprise Services Officer IV Joel S. Orbeta led the ribbon cutting to kick off the event. The blessing rites were led by Rev. Father Mateo L. Manija of the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish.

In his opening message, Engr. Pagdalian thanked all those who attended the event and was extra proud upon showing off the brand new facility that would aid the company in giving world‐class cus‐ tomer service.

Mactan EnerZone Corporation (MEZ) completed its control room expansion at Mactan Economic Processing Zone II in Basak, Lapu‐Lapu City, Cebu last October 2009. The building was already used be‐ ginning 2010.

The area of the expansion covered the previous serving grounds of the control room. It has now a space for warehouse, tool room for hotline tools, metering laboratory, reception area, and a quarter for substation engineers and linemen.

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Orbeta, during his talk, emphasized that BEZ had in fact made a big leap for all their locators and acknowledged that the company had been providing excellent service to them.

COO Pollescas, meanwhile, delivered the closing remarks. He congratulated every‐ one who contributed to the success of the construction.

Lunch followed with all the team mem‐ bers of BEZ and guests.

BEZ HR Specialist Ava‐Lou Perez emceed the program. –BY DIANNE IRIS UBASA The expansion was blessed in the after‐ noon of November 5, 2009. Rev Father Jaime Duero led the rites. It was at‐ tended by all MEZ teammates, together with the admin staff. Aboitiz EnerZones outgoing Chief Operating Officer Benja‐ min Cariaso, Jr., incoming COO Dante Pollescas, MEZ AVP and General Manager Irwin Pagdalian, and Admin & Finance Manager Ramny Guatelara also graced the occasion.

Pollescas and Pagdalian led the ribbon cutting. –BY DIANNE IRIS UBASA

DAVAO LIGHT Franchise Spared from Outages The sustained operations of Aboitiz‐ owned Davao Light & Power Company’s 40 MW Bajada Power Plant helped spare its customers from long power outages due to power supply shortage.

According to Rodger Velasco, DLPC VP for Engineering, the company resorted to only 30‐minute rotation outages. Other areas in Mindanao have been suffering from an average of three hour rotational brownouts.

Economic conditions within DLPC’s fran‐ chise area were not adversely affected, since the commercial and industrial ac‐ tivities of the province have not been disrupted by long‐term power outages.

The Mindanao Grid was informed of a red alert state last February 2010 due to a generation deficiency. Reduced capa‐ bilities of hydro‐electric plants, forced and planned outages plus fuel constraints were cited by National Grid Corporation’s Regional Corporate Communications Offi‐ cer Milfrance Capulong as reasons for the power supply shortage.

With the onset of the El Niño phenome‐ non, water elevation in Lake Lanao and Pulangi River went down to critical levels.

Both lakes drive the major hydro‐electric plant turbines in Agus and Pulangi.

Grid‐wide curtailment levels last Febru‐ ary went as high as 350‐MW. Through close coordination of DLPC's Systems

Operations Department and Bajada Power Plant engineers, rotating power outages were kept to the minimum.

Joseph Somozo, who runs a printing business in Panabo City, says he is happy that his business has not been disrupted by power interruptions. During the elec‐ tion campaign months, when orders for campaign materials are high, he hopes for reliable power.

Davao Light’s franchise area includes the whole of Davao City and Davao del Norte, areas in Panabo City; and, the neighboring municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Sto. Tomas. –BY ROSS LUGA

VECO assists SEZ on MRS Project Team members from the Visayan Elec‐ tric Company (VECO) assisted Subic En‐ erZone (SEZ) in improving its Meter Reading System (MRS).

the system automatically computed for the average consumption of the unread meters based on the new reading to fit the 30 to 31‐day service period require‐ ment. This is an improvement on the VECO team members who helped SEZ previous process where Billing and Col‐ were ISG‐BSD Manager Bryan Conejos, lection staff manually compute average and application developers Jelden consumptions and encode it for billing.

Comeros and Othello Cabigon.

Technical research started last October The new Auto‐Compute‐Average‐ 1, 2009 while the development of inter‐ Consumption feature of the system was faces was completed in October 6, 2009. put to good use when one of the meter readers was on sick leave during a The MRS’ pilot run was last November scheduled reading day. The books were 26, 2009. The new system was used on read the following day using the Psion, 11 books consisting of 989 out of 2,747 as compared before when unread me‐ active accounts. Meter reading records ters were read using pen and paper, were successfully transferred for billing. when it is past the scheduled reading The system was fully operational by De‐ date. cember 26, 2009. –BY YOLLY CAWAGAS Upon transmittal of the meter readings,

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Interior of DLPC’s 40MW Bajada Power Plant.

AEV VP for HR Nancy Lim talks about Goal Setting and Success Factors Systems to Aboitiz Power distribution utilities team leaders at the Grand Men Seng Hotel function room.

By Donjie Vertuoso

A

Mactan EnerZone Corporation (MEZ) and Balamban EnerZone Corporation (BEZ).

goal is defined as a set of performance or targets that need to be achieved in a given time. It is necessary for a business to set directions and measure performance in attain‐ ing the goals that was set and defined for the organization.

The workshop taught the participants to have a common un‐ derstanding of Goal Setting, the Success Factors Work Man‐ agement tool, Balanced Scorecards and to align individual goals to corporate goals and establish Business Rules for Suc‐ cess Factors.

The Aboitiz Power (AP) Distribution Utilities (DUs) did this ex‐

This is a good management tool that would help us focus on achieving our business objectives.

—Art Milan, SVP/COO, DLPC & CLPC

“This Goal Setting Program is a good management tool that would help us direct our focus on achieving our business objec‐ tives. These objectives are es‐ sential to attain and improve our bottom lines – engaged employees, happy customers and strong financial results,” DLPC and CLPC SVP/COO Art Milan said.

actly during its Goal‐Setting workshop for Success Factors held at Grand Men Seng Hotel last February 3, 2010.

The seminar was facilitated by Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) Vice President for Human Resources (HR) Nancy Lim and was assisted by Davao Light and Power Company’s (DLPC) HR Man‐ ager Champ Yared. It was attended by 33 team leaders from DLPC, Cotabato Light and Power Company (CLPC), Visayan Electric Company (VECO), Subic EnerZone Corporation (SEZ),

In closing, Ms. Lim shared her thoughts on a Jim Rohn maxim that says “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accom‐ plishments.” Indeed, it is true. Setting up a goal is easy, but achieving it usually entails a lot of challenges, and discipline spells the difference.

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By Jasmine Nikki Paredes

To help improve customer care of its power distribution units, Aboitiz Power Corporation launched the “Pearl” Project with VECO as its first stop.

What is the Pearl Project?

The Pearl Project is a gift of the Aboitiz Power Corporation (APC) to its member distribution utilities (DUs) to improve their existing Customer Care and Billing (CC&B) systems.

In partnership with Oracle, the world’s largest enterprise software company, APC launched the Pearl Project as the common platform for the Visayan Electric Company (VECO), Davao Light & Power Company (DLPC), Subic EnerZone Corpo‐ ration (SEZ), Balamban EnerZone Corpo‐ ration (BEZ), Mactan EnerZone Corpora‐

thousands of customers.

Last March 5, VECO became the first APC DU to go live using Oracle's CC&B. The rest of APC's subsidiaries will follow soon.

The project design, intended to accom‐ tion (MEZ), Cotabato Light & Power Com‐ modate six hundred thousand (600,000) pany (CLPC) and San Fernando Electric customers, can be configured to serve the company's expanding customer base.

Light and Power Company (SFELAPCO).

Oracle's CC&B system incorporates the world’s best practices in handling every aspect of utility customer information: service, meter reading, billing and relat‐ ing, payment, collection, field services and meter management. It is also flexible enough to handle future business re‐ quirements with minimal cost and risk, thus maximizing revenue, creating cost efficiencies and resiliently responding to market changes. It also involves a quick and easy upgrade that can accommodate

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Creating the Pearl from sand The various legacy systems of the DUs are not fully‐integrated systems. This less organized “archipelago” of applications made it difficult to quickly incorporate changes as the business model evolved, and required a lot of skilled resources just to perform maintenance or software upgrade activities. As APC foresaw a more challenging operating environment, a new approach was required to build the

foundation for tomorrow’s business sys‐ tems.

After a thorough evaluation and discus‐ sions with existing customers, Oracle’s CC&B was chosen as the platform for the future. It is scalable, easy to re‐configure and economical to maintain. While being the first in the Philippines, Oracle CC&B is already being used by power distribution companies in Canada, Australia, Brazil, Abu Dhabi, United States of America, China, New Zealand, and the United King‐ dom.

Oracle’s implementation methodology followed a well‐documented and struc‐ tured approach. This, together with APC’s bold decision to minimize customizations to the base product, was pivotal in ensur‐ ing that the aggressive cut‐over schedule of Pearl was met.

Initial Views on the Pearl As the system is rolled out to the other DUs, future changes to any of its business processes and parameters will only re‐ quire reconfiguration rather than pro‐ gramming changes. This will minimize the need for IT resources, enabling the or‐ ganization to be leaner and more effec‐ tive in delivering solutions sooner.

Nick Cuizon of the Accounts Receivable Department cites the advantages of Ora‐ cle's CC&B in VECO's disconnection or severance process. “The new CC&B indi‐ cates what our department does, or will do, with a customer's meter to prevent illegal activities on their part,” he said.

These reports are vital because of the company's “Visit‐first Policy”, which stipulates that VECO should only com‐ plete the severance process when it per‐ sonally visits the customer in his or her home.

SME Chad Ramos lauds the seam‐ lessness of the new CC&B in collecting ap‐ plications, bill‐ ings, and com‐ plaints of VECO customers. Me‐ ter Reading de‐ partment staff member Stephen Tan says Oracle's CC&B is better compared to the Legacy system. “At a glance, eve‐ rything can already be accessed,” said Tan, “there is no need to open all five systems [in Legacy] in order to gather customer data.” Ample training has helped him adapt to the new CC&B. “On our side, and in other departments as

time to address the gaps in the previ‐ ous system, espe‐ cially the incon‐ sistencies in customer data due to multiple systems. “Having just one system is actually more effi‐ cient,” said Ariel, “there are no redun‐ dancies when we encode and extract data.”

In the previous system, the Power Meter‐ ing Department (PMD) had to juggle with three sub‐systems namely Customer Master Inquiry (CMI), Standard Work Management (SWM) and Customer Ac‐ count Information System (CAIS). With Pearl, only SWM and CC&B are needed since CMI and CAIS have already been integrated with it.

BECAUSE OF THIS INTEGRATED SYSTEM,ERRORS CAN BE EASILY TRACKED AND CORRECTED.

“We can work faster,” said Laurie Alvarez of PMD. “Data in the CC&B can already be accessed in SWM, and vice‐versa. Because of this integrated sys‐ tem, errors can be well, Pearl has already been thoroughly easily tracked and corrected.” tested,” he concluded.

With Pearl, VECO strives to move the Call Center Department’s Jo Samson said company and its customers forward into that the new CC&B allows VECO's tellers the future. VECO is confident that it can and call center agents to easily access continue to handle aspects of utility cus‐ customer data. The number of programs tomer information in an efficient manner needed to accommodate customer que‐ with the launch of the new CC&B system. ries have also been downsized and The Pearl, geared towards a more inte‐ streamlined in the new CC&B. grated CC&B system, hopes to live up to For Ariel Sarta, data controller in the Bill‐ its prized name as the foundation for ing Department, Pearl was acquired in tomorrow's business systems.

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DLPC SVP Art Milan and 2GO Branch Manager Reena Bugayong (seated 2nd & 3rd from left) sign the MOA to govern the formal resumption of acceptance of Davao Light bill payments by all 2GO outlets.

By Ross Luga

A

boitiz companies Davao Light & Power Company (DLPC) and 2GO signed a Memorandum of Agreement last November 10, 2009 to formally resume the latter firm’s services of receiving elec‐ tric bill payments in behalf of the utility.

bill payments in all of their outlets lo‐ cated at their main office in Acoland Building, Sasa; Victoria Plaza; Gaisano Mall; Gaisano South City Mall; and SM City in September of 1998. The service was discontinued in 2007.

2GO outlets however, only accept full payments for both green and red bills even if payment is made after the dis‐ count due date has already expired.

Signatories to the MOA were Davao Lilght Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Art Milan and Aboitiz One Manager Reena Bugayong.

With the signing of the new MOA, start‐ ing November 16, 2009, 2GO resumes accepting electric bill payments daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, including Sundays except its Sasa outlet which only accepts payments Mondays through Sat‐

Other payment centers are listed at the back of the DLPC green bill. It also has collection offices in Ponciano, Rondez, and Panabo, and accredited collection offices in Toril and Calinan in Davao City, and Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte.

Milan said 2GO started accepting electric

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urdays, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

DAVAO LIGHT bares more payment options (ECPay) for the implementation of a nationwide, over‐the‐counter collection service.

In Davao Light’s franchise area alone, ECPay has two (2) prominent partners, Cebuana Lhuillier and RCPI. Both partners have a combined total of 33 collection outlets.

R e p r e s e n t i n g both companies during the MOA signing were DLPC SVP Art Milan (seated 2nd from right) and ECPay President RayECPay President, mund Jude Aguilar sign the MOA for the new payment scheme.

Raymund Jude G. Aguilar and DLPC Davao Light and Power Company has Vice Presicent Arturo M. Milan. embarked on a new and convenient bill

Nationwide, ECPay has over 3,500 out‐ lets. These will give Davao Light custom‐ ers and their loved ones more conven‐ ience in paying their electric bill, even when outside Mindanao.

payment scheme that can give customers better access to payment venues all over the country.

The new payment scheme was formal‐ ized with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between Davao Light and Electronics Commerce Payments, Inc.,

VECO’s ILP gains support Limited power supply in the Cebu‐Negros‐Panay grid has caused rampant power outages in the franchise area of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO). For months, Cebu has had rotational brownouts to stabilize the region’s power supply system.

One of VECO’s proactive solutions to this problem is the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), which was initiated and designed by VECO two years ago. This was in anticipation of the Visayan power supply shortage the company foresaw.

In 2009, the total power supply shortfall amounted to about six million kilowatt‐hours. Because of the ILP, VECO saved three million kilowatt‐hours. This allowed the company to minimize the rotational brownouts from two hours to just one hour.

The ILP taps participating customers to fully or partially de‐load by using their own generator sets, thus sparing other customers from being hit by rotational power outages.

Under the agreement, ECPay shall render payment collection services as an inde‐ pendent contractor. Transaction slips issued by the ECPay payment acceptance system will be accepted by Davao Light as the subscribers' proof of payment. To avail of the ECPay scheme, customers must present a valid electric bill.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is working on the proposed rules for a similar scheme to be implemented by other distribution utilities in the Philippines.

VECO’s ILP rules and regulations, which also details the compensation scheme for the participants of the scheme, was approved by ERC last June 2009. It has gathered 26 participating companies. Other distribution utilities throughout the Philippines are expected to follow Veco’s initiative.

The accredited outlets are located along the down town area of Davao City, in‐ cluding San Pedro, C. M. Recto, Lapu‐ Lapu and Agdao. Mall‐based outlets are situated inside Gaisano Mall and Victoria Plaza. In the northern part of the city, payment outlets can be found in Bu‐ hangin, Bajada, Sasa and Panacan.

Meanwhile, two (2) outlets are in Panabo City, particularly in Quirino St. and Mag‐ saysay St. –BY ROSS LUGA

Capitol Building is an active participant of the pro‐ gram.

Together with the public sector, through the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Man‐ daue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, both the government and the business community continue to keep the Cebuano community alight. –BY

ETHEL NATERA and JASMINE NIKKI PAREDES

“The ILP is an effective program that will help balance the supply and demand for electricity. It will help eliminate serious sup‐ ply shortfalls that can adversely affect the socio‐economic well‐ being of affected communities,” said ERC chairperson Zenaida G. Cruz‐Ducut.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has expressed enthusiasm for the program by meeting with power industry players and VECO’s big power consumers.

She encourages big power users, including those from the busi‐ ness sector, to fulfill their civic duties for the Cebuanos by joining the ILP. The Provincial

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ERC Commissioner Jose Reyes facilitates the Expository Hearing on the proposed rules for the Interruptible Load Program.

VECO EMERGENCY crew gains speed

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he overall performance of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) Emergency Crew has significantly im‐ proved thanks to the new E‐Crew motor‐ bikes. From an average Emergency Re‐ sponse Time (ERT) of 57.7% measured within an hour, statistics have risen to 80.9%.

the motorbike E‐Crew is dispatched to meet the needs of the customer.

“We want to let our customers know that we are ready to respond to their power problems at the least possible time,” said Distribution Services Department (DSD) Manager Armil Logarta.

E‐Crew members are tasked to check leaning or rotten poles and broken wires and mitigate other power‐related prob‐ lems. Motorbikes are utilized to meet the standards set by VECO, since they can easily maneuver through congested roads.

VECO is the second largest electric utility in the Philippines and serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay and Naga and four municipalities of the greater part of Metro Cebu ‐ Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla and San Fernando. Its fran‐ chise service covers an area of about 672 square kilometers with an estimated population of 1.73 million. –BY ETHEL NATERA

VECO has acquired additional motorbikes for its Emergency Crew. The VECO E‐ Crew is now equipped with three motor‐ bikes and an additional 4‐wheeler vehicle to ensure fast and reliable customer ser‐ vice.

The three motorbikes will work as a “striker”, or a support crew, running from the downtown area of Cebu to the far south or north, and vice versa.

Through the Trouble Call System, E‐Crew members are able to receive emergency service requests via Short Message Ser‐ vice (SMS). Each E‐Crew member is pro‐ vided with a map of the company's ser‐ vice area, which contains the coordinates of the approximate job location.

ERT is measured starting from the time an E‐Crew member is assigned and dis‐ patched by the E‐Crew control room.

Upon arriving in the problem area, he is given three hours to accomplish his task.

The 4‐wheeler vehicle is deployed if the job requires large or heavy equipment.

Inversely, if the 4‐wheeler vehicle has a full work load for a certain time of day,

VECO’s E-Crew motorcycle rider Francisco “Ico” Fernandez pose with his “unconventional” emergency vehicle.

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By Basti Lacson

S

ix companies in the same business in different parts of the country. Seven if we are to include San Fernando Elec‐ tric. While a lot of knowledge osmosis already happens between the Aboitiz‐ Power utilities, a common medium of regular communication could foment even greater cross‐pollination of ideas.

Even though the power distribution busi‐ ness model has not changed in more than 100 years, AboitizPower utilities are known for being responsible, innovative and reliable, so there is a lot of new things happening, big and small, which are worth transferring across the distri‐ bution units (DUs).

This is the idea behind The Post. A forum with a targeted audience who are eager to know what new things the other DUs are doing to improve internal and exter‐

nal practices.

We also liked the name because of all a “post” means to the business. It is stabil‐ ity, strength, ubiquity and has that

whether they will continue with their own publication or not.

As the quality of The Post improves with the publication team's learning curve, so

“Post” means stability, strength, ubiquity and has that unique trait of having to be climbed to get most of the work on it done. These attributes are representative of our DUs so it seemed the natural choice. unique trait of having to be climbed to get most of the work on it done. These attributes are representative of our DUs so it seemed the natural choice.

The Post is not necessarily meant to take the place of the DU‐specific publica‐ tions—such as Currents for Davao Light, Circuits for VECO, Connects for Cotabato Light, and the Flame for the EnerZones. It is an alternative, and it is up to the DU

20

will the desire to latch onto it as the sin‐ gular publication for the DUs. We would rather let this process take care of itself, as we are sure it will.

Many, many thanks to the team, led by Raymund, for getting this maiden issue off the drawing board and into the hands of our readers all over the country.

Keep it up!

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ROLL CALL: Meet the Aboi Distribution Group*...

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s an overview of the benefactors of this news magazine, The Post would like to give an account of AboitizPower’s different electric distribution utilities across the country. These companies are the ones being represented in this publication and here are a few fundamental facts we thought the readers should know.

Without further ado, here they are, meet the AboitizPower distribution group...

DAVAO LIGHT Davao Light & Power Company (DLPC) is the third largest power distribution utility in the Philippines. It’s franchise area covers Davao City, Panabo City, and the municipalities of Carmen, Santo Tomas, and Dujali in Davao del Norte.

DLPC was acquired by Don Ramon Aboitiz in July 1946, after World War II. Since then the company has been the sole electric utility operator in Davao City. Even after the organi‐ zation of electric cooperatives in 1974 when several private utilities were transformed into cooperatives by national policy, Davao Light continued its operations on account of its proven track record of experience, financial stability and efficiency.

It is the first in the Philippines to operate for its whole franchise an Automated Mapping and Facilities Management (AM/FM) System and, like most of the Aboitiz DUs, utilizes the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System, which allows monitoring of distribution facilities by remote control.

VISAYAN ELECTRIC Visayan Electric Company (VECO) is the sec‐ ond largest electric utility in the Philippines and serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Tali‐ say, and Naga and four municipalities of the greater part of Metro Cebu—Liloan, Consola‐ cion, Minglanilla, and San Fernando.

VECO was founded in 1905 by a group of Cebu businessmen. By 1918 the Escaño family acquired control and began expanding. The company was granted its legislative franchise under Act No. 3499 which was approved by the Philippine Legislature in 1928. The period of existence of the franchise was for 50 years.

This was extended for another 25 years by RA 6454 in 1972. In 2005, RA 9339 was signed extending its term for another 25 years. VECO is owned and managed by the Aboitiz Power Corporation and Vivant Corporation.

ABOITIZ POWER DISTRIBUTION UTILITIES STATISTICS (Data based on AboitizPower 2008 Annual Report stats)

peak demand in MW

NAME: DAVAO LIGHT & POWER COMPANY (DLPC) GWhs SOLD: 1,371 CONTRIBUTION (in Php): P831 mn CUSTOMERS SERVED: 257,101 SYSTEMS LOSS: 7.9%

peak demand in MW

NAME: VISAYAN ELECTRIC COMPANY (VECO) GWhs SOLD: 1,766 CONTRIBUTION (in Php): P317 mn CUSTOMERS SERVED: 296,003 SYSTEMS LOSS: 9.5%

peak demand in MW

NAME: COTABATO LIGHT & POWER COMPANY (CLPC) GWhs SOLD: 118 CONTRIBUTION (in Php): P53 mn CUSTOMERS SERVED: 28,927 SYSTEMS LOSS: 10.9%

22 *Note: Although San Fernando Electric Light & Power Company (SFELAPCO) is an AboitizPower distribution utility, it is not included in this feature bec

tizPower

Though a smaller company, it benchmarks world‐class standards in electric connection time and emergency response. About 51% of customers get power the same day they sign the service contract, and 38% the next day. It also has a stand by power plant capability that contributes 40 percent of peak demand.

SUBIC ENERZONE

VECO also utilizes various state‐of‐the‐art technologies in its operations to improve its efficiency and service. It also uses SCADA and also has a Geographical Information System (GIS) to map and manage its facilities.

Subic EnerZone Corporation (SEZ) is one of the newest Aboitiz power distribution invest‐ ments. It is a 100% owned Aboitiz distribution utility managing the power distribution sys‐ tem of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). The company was incorporated on

COTABATO LIGHT Cotabato Light & Power Company (CLPC) covers the city of Cotabato, and part of the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat (formerly Dinaig) and Sultan Kudarat, both in Maguin‐ danao.

The company was acquired by Don Ramon Aboitiz in 1938 and is one of the pioneering electric utilities of the Aboitiz group. CLPC serves with a customer‐to‐employee ratio of 410:1, a ratio at par with some of the world’s best utilities.

CLPC’s linkage with sister‐company DLPC al‐ lows it to immediately benefit from the lat‐ ter’s system developments. The company has a working AM/FM system and SCADA system in place. The company likewise shares the economies of bulk materials purchasing with DLPC and enjoys many other technological advantages of DLPC’s engineering team with‐ out duplication of overhead.

BALAMBAN ENERZONE Balamban EnerZone Corporation (BEZ) is also one of the newest Aboitiz power distribution investments together with Mactan EnerZone.

The company owns and operates the power distribution system of the West Cebu Indus‐ trial Park. The park is a special economic zone for light and heavy industries and is home to shipbuilding and ship repair facilities, con‐ struction companies, and gas plants.

AboitizPower pur‐ chased last March 2008 the 40% equity of Tsuneishi Holdings (Cebu) Inc. in BEZ which brought AP’s total equity to 100%.

AP previously acquired the 60% equity from its affiliate, Aboitizland Inc. through a shares swap agreement which was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission last January 2008.

THESE COMPANIES ARE THE ONES REPRESENTED IN THIS PUBLICATION. June 3, 2005 and started commercial opera‐ tions on October 25, 2005. Like DLPC, the company has a working AM/FM system and SCADA system in place.

SEZ’s authority to operate the Subic Bay Free‐ port Zone power distribution system was granted by the SBMA pursuant to the terms of RA 7227. As a company operating in the freeport, SEZ is not required to pay the regu‐ lar corporate income tax of 35% and instead pays a preferential tax of 5% on its gross in‐ come in lieu of all national and local taxes.

In December 2007, AboitizPower bought the 20% equity of Team Philippines Industrial

peak demand in MW

NAME: SUBIC ENERZONE CORPORATION (SEZ) GWhs SOLD: 298 CONTRIBUTION (in Php): P114 mn CUSTOMERS SERVED: 2,585 SYSTEMS LOSS: 3.2%

Power II Corporation (formerly Mirant Philip‐ pines) in SEZ for P92 million. Together with the 35% equity in SEZ of AP’s subsidiary DLPC, it brought AP’s total equity in SEZ to 100%.

MACTAN ENERZONE Mactan EnerZone Corporation (MEZ) is some‐ what a twin sister of BEZ, acquired at the same time in January 2008 through a shares swap agreement with Aboitizland Inc., which owns 100% of MEZ. MEZ owns and operates the power distribu‐ tion system of Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) 2.

peak demand in MW

NAME: BALAMBAN ENERZONE CORPORATION (BEZ) GWhs SOLD: 205 (w/ MEZ) CONTRIBUTION (in Php): P135 mn (w/ MEZ) CUSTOMERS SERVED: 102 (w/ MEZ) SYSTEMS LOSS: 1.5%

cause the company is not a part of this consolidated newsletter.

23

peak demand in MW

NAME: MACTAN ENERZONE CORPORATION (MEZ) GWhs SOLD: 205 (w/ BEZ) CONTRIBUTION (in Php): P135 mn (w/ BEZ) CUSTOMERS SERVED: 102 (w/ BEZ) SYSTEMS LOSS: 1.3%

THERE ARE HEROES IN OUR MIDST The remarkable true story of brand heroism of Subic EnerZone linemen Edgardo Geronimo and Kyle Credo.

By Raymund Tamayo

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black gauntlet snaps into place. A cape whips over a dark rubber back. A bat‐ shaped buckle locks. On the opposite end of the room, a silver‐throwing bird is chosen from a weapon’s array. Gloved hands lift a black eye mask. Tunic armor clicks shut, turn‐ ing to reveal the chest‐borne insignia of a robin. Two dark avengers stand suited, ready to take on the night…

That is fantasy.

This is reality.

EDGARDO GERONIMO

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It was a typical post‐Christmas evening. Subic EnerZone linemen Edgardo Geronimo and Kyle Credo were going business as usual, pa‐ trolling the highways of Subic Bay Freeport Zone as that swing shift’s emergency crew.

They glide through the urban metropolis re‐ sembling two mythical caped crusaders of comic book fame. Carrying the Subic Ener‐ Zone and Aboitiz brand essence of Passion for Better Ways, they were ready, willing, and driven to serve when called upon.

Then that call came. Yes, it wasn’t a bat signal lighting up the black sky, only a radio call from SEZ’s central control station, but these two men were as enthusiastic to save the day for the customer in need.

It was passion in motion.

It was a passion for service, a selfless dedica‐ tion.

It was a passion to carry an honorable name, a commitment to integrity.

By 11:00 pm, power has been restored. Every‐ one thought it was over. Just as the two line‐ men were getting ready to head off, the transformer supplying the neighborhood overheated. It took them another hour to work on the trans‐ former.

The customer was left in awe. He couldn’t believe that this kind of service still exist to‐ day. With so much gratitude, he wrote a let‐ ter to Subic EnerZone’s SVP & COO, express‐ ing his thanks and recounting the two line‐ men’s heroic tale that changed his perception of how a monopoly power utility should right‐ fully and dutifully serve its customers.

It was past midnight when everything was finally at peace. Mis‐ sion accomplished.

The linemen left ex‐ hausted but proud of what they did. They left happily, not know‐ ing that a sum of money was on their emergency vehicle’s

These linemen had undergone a tremendous ordeal, but never once let go of the values instilled in them. They had gone beyond all expectations and left a customer satisfied and amazed by the excellent service they had let him experience.

IT WAS A PASSION TO CARRY AN HONORABLE NAME, A COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY. In just under fifteen minutes they arrived at the scene met by an almost hopeless cus‐ tomer, at once going down to answer the concern. They found out that the house has a defective main breaker. The trouble was at the load side, meaning it was not Subic Ener‐ Zone’s responsibility as a power distributor anymore, it was the freeport’s maintenance crew that should do the work and solve the problem.

dashboard.

Driving off to feed themselves, the younger one abruptly noticed the cash. “Let’s give this back,” he said without hesitation. So they went back to the customer’s house and re‐ turned the money.

SEZ control station radios again, calling back the two linemen, telling them to pull out.

“That is not our responsibility any longer,” the voice on the radio announced. The older line‐ man answered and declined. “We are here and working on a temporary solution. We will stay,” he said refusing to leave.

They have personified Subic EnerZone’s promise of world‐class customer service, ex‐ cellence, perseverance, and honesty. They lived out the brand having etched their names in history as unsung heroes no more but an inspiration to many, for all time.

Edgardo Geronimo and Kyle Credo.

Brand Heroes.

This is a true story.

KYLE CREDO

It was a passion for excellence, a refusal to succumb to mediocrity.

After a few hours, the freeport’s maintenance crew arrived. Following some inspection, the maintenance people told the perturbed cus‐ tomer that they cannot do anything. “We don’t have a spare breaker,” one of them said and left. The customer felt angry and help‐ less.

But help hasn’t abandoned him yet. The two Subic EnerZone linemen continued to work and find a way — Never mind if it was dinner time. Never mind if it’s not their problem anymore. Never mind whose responsibility it was — For them, the most important thing right then and there was that they were serv‐ ing a customer in need. And they will not leave a customer until that need was satis‐ fied.

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(photos from L to R) Speakers Illiac Diaz, Jojo Feliciano, Atty. Jane Paredes, and the Aboitiz CorpCom group.

By Gerard Castillon

C

risis is inevitable, and how we handle it spells the difference.

At one point in a company’s operation, there will come a time that a crisis will arise and create a tremendous impact on its brand. It may directly or indirectly affect the company’s employees, cus‐ tomers, and the community in general.

How the company responds to the crisis will determine how it will affect its repu‐ tation. A correct response to a crisis will be crucial in managing the crisis at hand.

Now, the big question is…what to do when crisis arises? How to deal with the “critical” media people? Who are the key personnel at the frontline? All of these questions have been addressed during the 2009 CorpComm Continuing Educa‐ tion Series’ two‐day seminar workshop on Crisis Management: Planning and Exe‐ cution held last December 3‐4, 2009 at the Marco Polo Hotel in Cebu.

To open the seminar, Aboitiz Equity Ven‐ tures (AEV) Chief Reputation Officer Sebastian Lacson presented the Corpo‐ rate Communication Group Strategies for the year 2010 and onwards.

The first day was fully packed with crisis management tools and techniques.

Morning session was facilitated by the Director for Strategic Services of Weber Shandwick Worldwide, Jojo R. Feliciano.

He tackled the crisis management proper planning and execution from the basic crisis preparedness down to the crisis anatomy, stages of the crisis manage‐ ment and up to the best practices in han‐ dling crisis. Atty. Jane Paredes of Smart Communications Inc. kept the momen‐ tum alive on the afternoon session by showing her knowledge in managing cri‐ sis communication. Illac Diaz of Myshel‐ ter Foundation also shared his experi‐ ences in dealing with crises having been a member of the initial campaign group

26

of Barack Obama and various CSR pro‐ jects in the Philippines.

The second day was for case studies. It started with a message from SunStar Cebu’s Editor In Chief Atty. Pacheco Seares. He presented Crisis Communica‐ tion from the Media’s Viewpoint, stating that in some cases it’s the media that’s being misinterpreted.

The case presentations ‐ a mock press conference per group ‐ were intensified by the presence of media professionals like ABS‐CBN’s Leo Lastimosa, DYLA’s Jun Tagalog, SunStar’s Atty. Elias Espinosa, former media practitioner Atty. Bingo Gonzales and Freeman reporter Fred Languido.

The mock press conference served as an eye‐opener and learning experience for the participants. It also put value on the do’s and don’ts in an actual News Confer‐ ence.

S

ubic EnerZone Corporation (SEZ) joined the “Save my Bay” Beach Cleanup activity held from the Lighthouse Marina Resort beachfront down along the Moonbay Marina shoreline in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone last January 30.

The event was organized by the Lighthouse Marina Resort, the Moonbay Marina, International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR), and the Rotary Club of West Cubao under the leadership of club president and also Lighthouse president Jun Avecilla. The event was made possible thru the cooperation of the Subic Bay Met‐ ropolitan Authority (SBMA).

SEZ team members joined more than 700 students, teachers, government offi‐ cials, businessmen, media, celebrities, and freeport employees for this massive endeavor aimed to protect the natural splendor of the beaches of Subic Bay and to mitigate the impact of climate change.

“On behalf of Planet Earth, I would like to thank and congratulate everyone for participating in this humble effort to help clean up our planet,” said SBMA Chair‐ man (Ret.) Comm. Feliciano Salonga during his keynote message.

“I know it’s not very much of an effort when you come right down to it, but it’s a small step for man, and a giant leap for mankind,” he quipped, obviously refer‐ ring to the infamous Neil Armstrong quote which drew relaxed laughter and ap‐

27

plause from the crowd, knowing both the truth and the humor of what he said.

The activity started at around 7:00 am with a short program and briefing for participants.

Among those who participated in the clean up drive were people from the SBMA, Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce, Subic Coastal Devel‐ opment Co., People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), Subic Park Hotel, Mondrian Aura College, Pista sa Barrio, Re‐ gional Science High School, Brent Interna‐ tional School, Greater Subic Tourism Bureau, Vista Marina Resort, SBMA Human Resource, Subic Bayfront Hotel, and the SBMA Public Relations Department.

Ms. Philippine Water 2008 Marian Michelle Oblea together with former candidates of Ms. Earth also joined the said event. –BY RAYMUND TAMAYO

ABOITIZ launches RACE-TO-REDUCE CHALLENGE “Driven by our Passion for a Better World we launch today the Aboitiz Race‐to‐ Reduce Challenge.”

Thus said Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) President and Chief Executive Officer Erramon I. Aboitiz last March 8 in a video officially launching the conglomerate’s sustainability campaign called “Race‐to‐ Reduce Challenge.”

“this is where you all come in… each and everyone of you. A great start is to con‐ serve and reduce waste. We can do our share by reducing our consumption in energy, water and paper.”

“Sustainability seeks to enable the 3P balance: People, Profit, and our Planet— in everything we do,” Sir Montxu said in the video, emphasizing the need and importance of the program. “It is only in striking this balance can we bequeath a robust business that is sustainable and will last for generations.”

Another objective is to conserve on en‐ ergy, water and paper resources within the Aboitiz group.

“Clearly, something has to be done.

Clearly, we have to alter our self‐ destructive course we are heading to,” he again stressed.

He encouraged all team members of the Aboitiz group to heed the call, saying

Electric, water and paper consumptions must be submitted monthly for a period of six (6) months, the time period of the contest.

The categories and rewards at stake are: a.) Best in energy consumption reduc‐ tion—feature and recognition for the month, b.) Best in water consumption reduction—feature and recognition for the month, c.) Best in paper consumption reduction—feature and recognition for the month, and d.) Over‐all winner— exciting prizes and feature and recogni‐ tion for the month.

Aboitiz team members gathered together that day in their own corporate centers nationwide to hear Sir Montxu’s message on the significance of sustainability.

The Aboitiz Race‐to‐Reduce Challenge is a contest among Aboitiz corporate cen‐ ters to reduce their consumption in en‐ ergy, water and paper. The bigger aim of the campaign is to reduce carbon emis‐ sions within the group.

water bill for the month, and d.) paper consumption for the month (in reams of bond paper).

Percentage reduction per person will be the basis of computing for the winners.

Changes in consumption between the previous month and the current month

It is only in striking this balance can we bequeath a robust business that is sustainable and will last for generations.—EIA Any corporate center of any of the busi‐ ness groups of Aboitiz is eligible to join this contest.

Corporate centers are the main or cen‐ tral offices of the different business clus‐ ters in Aboitiz.

To enroll a corporate center, they must submit to the AEV Sustainability Team the following: a.) an entry form, b.) copy of electric bill for the month, c.) copy of

28

will be computed for each category.

Every percentage point reduction or in‐ crease will earn a point (+ if reduce, ‐ if increase).

The corpo‐ rate center with the highest points earned for per person reduc‐ tion will win. –

BY RAYMUND TAMAYO

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DLPC, city team up in 3 projects for education Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) and the City Government of Davao under Mayor Rodrigo Duterte signed a MOA last November 16, 2009 to jointly implement three projects to enhance quality of public education there.

The projects include: a science laboratory building with instruments and equipment; a 3‐classroom building for Mahayag High School; and one library hub at F. Busta‐ mante Central High School in Tibungco.

The science building is named after late Davao Light President Alfonso Y. Aboitiz. It was already formally turned over to the

VECO EVP & COO Jimmy Aboitiz (2nd from left) turns over the ceremonial key to Cebu City Vice Mayor Mike Rama, while Aboitiz Foundation trustee Romy Ronquillo looks on.

VECO turns over classrooms to Labangon Elementary School As part of Visayan Electric Com‐ pany's Adopt‐A‐School Project, the company financed the construction of a 3‐story, 3‐classroom building in Labangon Elementary School, Brgy Labangon, Cebu City. Each classroom can hold 50 students.

DLPC president Jimmy Aboitiz (left) present the ceremonial key to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (in striped shirt)

Department of Education Davao City Division.

In his message, Davao Light President Jimmy Aboitiz said that partnering with Davao City in projects for education is an honor. He said he was very much aware that quality education is a major advocacy of his late brother Alfonso and that it is a personal honor for him to continue such support especially with Davao City as its partner.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said that for the science lab building to be named after the late Al Aboitiz is one way of perpetuating the memory of the person who has done a lot for the city.

Davao City Schools Division superinten‐ dent Dr. Helen Paguican said she is thank‐ ful for the support of Davao Light. She said the laboratory is the first ever real science facility in the city, and perhaps in the Davao region. She added that the performance of both science teachers and students will vastly improve. –BY VIC SUMALINOG

The project is funded by the Aboitiz Foundation and VECO, together with the Department of Education. The Turn‐Over Ceremony was held last February 16, 2010. Facilitating the ribbon cutting were Aboitiz CRO Sebastian Lacson, Aboitiz Foundation

Trustee Romy Ronquillo, Cebu City Hall Education Consultant Joy Augus‐ tus Young, Cebu City Vice Mayor Mike Rama, VECO EVP‐COO Jimmy Aboitiz and Labangon Elementary School Principal Bernardita Ynclino.

ings, we are helping our community to reduce poverty. Thank you, VECO and Aboitiz. This [Adopt‐A‐School Project] is a demonstration of what we can do together.” said Vice Mayor Rama.

In her opening remarks, Ynclino expressed her sincerest gratitude to the benefactors. And, together with the Labangon Elementary School teachers, she also promised to take good care of the new classrooms.

“We feel very fortunate for this opportunity. Our hope and thrust is to build buildings every year for education within our franchise area, especially for the less fortunate,” Jimmy Aboitiz said. –BY JASMINE NIKKI PAREDES

“By constructing these school build‐

DAVAO LIGHT turns over

new school building in Mahayag

Davao Light and Power Company turned over last January 8 the 26th school building it has constructed and donated to the Department of Education. The 3‐ classroom facility is built at the Mahayag High School campus in Mahayag, Bunawan District.

The power firm’s project is also the 16th school build‐ ing constructed in Davao City. The others are built in its northern franchise area in Panabo City, Carmen, Dujali and Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte. The new 3‐ classroom, one‐storey structure costs roughly P1.8 million including its 150 armchairs. Of the total cost, the city government provided a counterpart fund of P375,000.

Davao Light’s Executive Vice President Manuel M. Orig, Chief Operating Officer Art Milan, and second district councilor Tomas Monteverde IV, who repre‐ sented Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, turned over the building to the Education officials and Mahayag Barangay Captain Romeo Baquirel.

From the DepEd to personally accept the new educa‐ tion facility were regional and city DepEd officials led

30

Congressman Vincent Garcia (3rd from left) and DLPC SVP Art Milan (3rd from right) during the ribbon cutting.

by Asst. Region XI director Fe delos Reyes and City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Helen D. Paguican.

The two officials in turn, handed over the ceremonial key of the building to F. Bustamante National High School principal Arlene Pernes and Mahayag School‐in‐ Charge Lydia Saranza. Mahayag High is an annex cam‐ pus of F. Bustamante.

The ceremony was witnessed by second district con‐ gressman Vincent Garcia and her sister lawyer Millene Garcia, Bunawan Parish Priest Jovilo Bongay who also blessed the new building, teachers, and other mem‐ bers of the community. –BY VIC SUMALINOG

By Anthony Bueno BETTER EDUCATION REQUIRES BETTER FACILITY. (photo inset) Power Generation Manager Jun Ticzon and HR/Comrel Officer Tata Nataño spearheaded the Cotabato Light team in the turnover of the newly refurbished classrooms at SKNHS represented by school principal Datu Karnain Mamadra.

I

t’s four‐in‐a‐row. Yes! A total of four classrooms were already refurbished and turned over by Cotabato Light and Aboitiz Foundation Inc (AFI) to the Sultan Kudarat National High School (SKNHS).

The school building renovation started in 2006 when it had its first two classrooms fully refurbished.

“These donations of Cotabato Light and Aboitiz Foundation are indeed of great help to our school, students, teachers and parents. We hope you will not get tired of helping especially those who are really in need. We are very thankful and we will cherish this.” says school principal Datu Karnain Mamadra.

This year, Cotabato Light and AFI had once again initiated the refurbishment of another two classrooms. Aside from the repair, they also provided 100 pieces of arm chairs and two sets of teacher’s desks with chairs.

Ticzon relayed the message of VP and Resident Manager Cris Ferolino to SKNHS officials and students. “As representa‐ tives of Cotabato Light and Aboitiz Foun‐ dation, We are very delighted in making a difference in the educational environ‐ ment of your school. We hope that you will take good care of it and for the stu‐ dents to be more inspired in making their schooling a better one. We are one with you for a better Mindanao ‐ and a good education will certainly be a big help.

Thank you!”

The turnover ceremony was done last December 16, 2009. It was facilitated by SKNHS officers with Cotabato Light repre‐ sentatives headed by Cotabato Light Power Generation Manager Jun Ticzon, Tata Nataño, Anthony Bueno, John Bu‐ losan, Donjie Vertuoso, Ramon Ar‐ conado, and Michelle Prudente.

“I’m also thanking my colleagues for do‐

31

ing a great job. They did their best in giv‐ ing this building a make‐over that most of us are proud of. I encourage the stu‐ dents of this school to pursue your dreams especially now that there are private entities and individuals who are willing to help. About your additional request to complete the repair of the remaining last two classrooms of this six‐ classroom building, we would be glad to forward it to Aboitiz Foundation for ap‐ proval and budget requirements next year,” Ticzon added.

These donations are manifestations of Cotabato Light and AFI to actively take part in helping and building the youth by providing better educational facilities that are inspirational and conducive for learning.

Indeed, the Aboitiz group is driven to serve and ready to make the difference in the life of Filipinos.

Rice for Lumads from DAVAO

LIGHT

Lumads or indigenous people in Toril, Marilog and Paquibato districts in Davao City were again recipi‐ ents of rice donations from Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) through the initiative of Philippine Army's Task Force Davao under its commanding officer Col. Oscar Lactao.

Dubbed as “Pinaskuhan Para sa Lumad”, the rice donation project was possible with support from the corporate sector in the city as well as some generous private individuals. One of the biggest company supporters of the project is Davao Light.

The company has donated an average of 50 sacks per year since the start of the Pinaskuhan sa Lumad project in 2004, bringing the total rice donation since 6 years ago to 300 sacks. This year’s rice do‐ nation was turned over last December 13 at the new TF‐Davao headquarters inside the Sta. Ana wharf compound.

DLPC SVP Art Milan (in yellow shirt) points to a specific area for the installation of round bars to support the hollow block piles of a duplex unit to be built by the volunteer builders.

Deputy Task Force Commander Maj. Jim Niembra, who received the rice in behalf of Col. Lactao, said the support has given the project a big boost. Niem‐ bra added the bigger the volume of rice given to the project allows Task Force Davao to increase the number of indigenous people beneficiaries of the food assistance.

Niembra also said the project is actually “bringing the Christmas gift and the giver to where the lu‐

Nine employees of Davao Light & Power Co. representing a cross section of its human resource base composed the first batch of volunteers to the Gawad Kalinga house building project at the GK Village in Mahayag, Bunawan District, Davao City. The initial build was done last Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24, respectively.

The nine employee‐volunteers include Senior Vice President Art Milan, Asst.

Vice Pres. Eduardo Tan, Accounting Manager Dave Bacalso, Comrel Man‐ ager Vic N. Sumalinog, Human Resource Dept. Supervisor Jay Ocubillo, Comrel Supervisor Fermin Edillon, Meter Tech‐ nician Engr. Jofrey Natividad, Procure‐ ment & Logistics staff Engr. Herbert Lariego,and Bajada Power Plant’s Jes‐ reel de Felix.

The Davao Light volunteers did actual gravel sorting, cement and sand mixing, manual hollow blocks hauling, piling,

putting the sucalo, rebars, etc., the blis‐ tering heat of the sun notwithstanding.

The volunteers committed to provide the manpower requirement in building one (1) unit duplex house with a total floor area of 60 sq. meters. The unit is semi‐concrete with iron roofing. When completed two families who were ear‐ lier identified and chosen by the Gawad Kalinga are expected to become the house beneficiaries.

The next week‐end schedules for the build are on Nov. 7 & 8; Nov. 14 and 15; and Nov. 21 and 22, 2009.

The subsequent volunteer groups from Davao Light will be led by the different tribes of the company’s Creating Future Organization (CFO) seminar partici‐ pants. They will be backed by volunteers both from the ranks, the supervisors and management sectors of the em‐ ployees. –BY VIC SUMALINOG

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DLPC ComRel Manager Vic Sumalinog (2nd from right) turns over the donation to TF Davao. mads are – the upland communities”. This way “a good number of our lumad brothers need not any‐ more be bothered going down to the lowlands and brave the strangeness of the city’s downtown just to have a share of the Christmas blessings”.

DLPC Corporate Community Relations Manager Vic Sumalinog said the company has been supporting “Pinaskuhan sa Lumad” from the very start. He added that this kind of project shows that the mili‐ tary is not around only for war but also to serve the people especially those in the uplands who are, admittedly, the most deprived of government’s social services delivery. –BY VIC SUMALINOG

computer was granted and we deliv‐ ered our promise. Cotabato Light and the Aboitiz group are grateful to help our policemen because we are one with you in promoting peace. We should work together for peace and development, and help each other to make our city a better place to live in.”

Nataño said.

CLPC’s Tata Nataño turns over the computer unit to police officer Yol Hilado.

COTABATO LIGHT donates computers On December 28, 2009 Cotabato Light and Power Company (CLPC), in coordi‐ nation with the Aboitiz Foundation Inc., donated a brand new computer set with printer to the PNP‐Cotabato City Police Precinct II. It was received by P/Insp. Yol Hilado and P/Insp. Noel Gutierrez in behalf of station commander P/Insp. Alden Panganiban who was out of town then.

HR/Comrel Officer Anna Lea Lee Na‐ taño led the CLPC team during the turnover.

“Your request to have a brand new

“Maraming salamat po ma’am! Sana po hindi kayo magsawa sa pagtulong sa ating kapulisan at sa ating mga kababayan,” Hilado said.

The deed of donation was signed by both parties to formally document the turnover and acceptance.

Meanwhile, last December 11, 2009, the company turned over another set of computer unit with printer to the Datu Usman Elementary School.

In a simple ceremony, Nataño and fellow officers facilitated the donation which was gratefully accepted by school principal Francisca Sabenicio, other school officers and faculty mem‐ bers. Also present were Cotabato Light IT head Reginald Gustilo, staff Re Perry Gallos and Branding Officer Donjie Vertuoso.

“Wow! Promise delivered. Thank you very much to Cotabato Light for this brand new computer. Malaking paki‐ nabang ito sa paaralan lalo na sa mga bata. Thank you!” Sabenicio said. –BY DONJIE VERTUOSO

VECO reaches out to Tinago It was indeed a very merry turnout for the residents of Barangay Tinago, Cebu City. Over a hundred kids huddled in excitement, awaiting the Christmas treats from employees of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO). As part of the company’s Kaibigan Outreach Program, they played Santa to the children of the barangay last Decem‐ ber 12, 2009.

They distributed over 200 packed lunches to the eager youngsters. Brgy.

Captain Domingo Lopez, also an em‐ ployee of VECO, was grateful for their support and generosity.

The children of Tinago wowed the crowd with two energetic dance num‐ bers. The crowd was also gifted with a musical performance by a former inmate. His song, an inspiring reflec‐ tion on the social ills plaguing our country, was well‐received by those in attendance.

Southern Mindanao campus director Delia Legaspino (3rd from right) symbolically accepts from DLPC ComRel manager Vic Sumalinog the computers.

DAVAO LIGHT turns over 10 computers to Philippine Science Aboitiz‐owned electric utility Davao Light & Power Co. turned over last October 23, 2009 10 units of brand new computers complete with periph‐ erals and 5 printers to the Philippine Science High School – Southern Mindanao campus in Mintal, Davao City.

The ceremony was timed with the scheduled regular gathering of parents, school officials, faculty, and students for the recognition of top perform‐ ing students and the giving out of the grades for a particular academic period.

The brand new computers and printers were received by Philippine Sci‐ ence High School Director Delia C. Legaspino. She was assisted by newly‐ assumed Parents Teachers Association (PTA) President Emil Florendo Lo, other PTA officers, and some school faculty members. Parents, students and guests witnessed the occasion. Davao Light Community Relations Manager Vic N. Sumalinog turned over the donations.

Early this year Ret. Gen. Isidro Lapena (PNP), who was then the outgoing president of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), approached Davao Light for possible assistance in providing additional units of computers for students’ use in acquiring and/or enhancing their ICT (information, com‐ munication, technology) skills.

Lapena said that while Philippine Science High School is reputed to be a premiere government secondary schools, its computer lab only has about thirty units being shared by over three hundred students.

VECO employees distribute packed lunches to the children of Brgy. Tinago.

Last 2008, Tinago was lauded as the “friendliest village of Cebu City”, giving refuge to children from all walks of life like the abandoned, abused, disabled and those in conflict with the law.

VECO employees capped off the pro‐ gram with a spur‐of‐the‐moment the Wonder Girls’ “Nobody” dance num‐ ber. With everybody joining in, the holiday spirit was kept alive and kick‐ ing. –BY JASMINE NIKKI PAREDES

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As in the case of all requests for computers Davao Light through its Com‐ munity Relations Department (Comrel) conducted validation visit. The information on the lack of computer units was confirmed. After further evaluation, and with an earlier approved budget for computer purchase from the Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., the management approved the request.

The donation was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by Davao Light and the Philippine Science High School last October 8, 2009. The MOA defines the duties and responsibilities of the donor and the school.

Executive Vice President Manuel M. Orig signed for the donor company while school director Legaspino signed for the donee. Florendo Lo, in‐ cumbent PTA president, and Mary Frances Resma, another PTA officer, signed as witnesses. –BY VIC SUMALINOG

ED’S NOTE: A definition of segue is any smooth, uninterrupted transi‐ tion from one element to another. That is the purpose of this section, to smooth out from the seriousness of company articles to any topic at all under the sun. In the next issues, we will feature here games, puz‐ zles, tips, poems, short stories, or any other write‐up which we hope will capture your interest and imagination. In here, we are free.

4. About how many people are added to the world’s population each year?

8. Hybrid vehicles use which two kinds of power?

A. 2 billion B. 1 million C. 90 million D. 300,000

1. The three balancing parts of sustainability are social equity, environmental health, and

D. hydrogen and helium

A. diesel and gasoline B. electricity and steam C. electricity and gasoline D. solar power and gasoline

5. How much of the world’s energy comes from hydrocarbon fuels (oil, natural gas, coal)?

A. energy B. efficiency C. economic prosperity D. electricity

9. What was the world’s average life expectancy in 1950? What is it today?

A. 80 percent B. 45 percent C. 100 percent D. 10 percent

2. A fuel cell combines hydrogen and _______ to produce electricity, heat, and water.

6. Which one of these is renewable?

A. gasoline B. ethanol C. coal D. oil

A. carbon B. oxygen C. chromium D. heat 3. Which of the following materials are NOT recyclable?

A. 47; 65 B. 55; 80 C. 65; 65 D. 80; 70 10. Which of these is a greenhouse gas?

A. carbon dioxide B. helium C. benzene D. oxygen

7. Hydrocarbons are chemicals that contain which two elements along with others?

A. hydrogen and gold B. hydrogen and carbon C. hydrogen and sodium

ANSWERS TO QUIZ: 1. C, 2. B, 3. A, 4. C, 5. A, 6. B, 7. B, 8. C, 9. A, 10. A

A. Latex Paint B. Glass C. Newspapers D. Aluminum Cans

See if you can find all the words we hid in our puzzle. Mark them by encircling whole words horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, forward and backward. Enjoy!

O L O W E L B A W E N E R Y V

P K E N A E C Q R G F S I K Y

R T N D O T A Y E N E R G Y L

K Y X I Q I E O A E F C T G R

V O Q N H Z T R R E Y A O E J

L Z U O Y T T A T E Q I S F T

U A R U O M E S L E D O N G Q

K A Z D B Y A R L U U U T V F

E Q U T R W A C C R P P C E N

M U L I A I Y N C T O O X E P

G H V F R C C E H A K M P Q I

E O N R E S S N O R Y X H Q P

W E Z R V S R E U S E R X E E

T P Y T I S R E V I D O I B Y

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R E P A P Q H Y F P N Z Q A G

RESOURCES REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE RETHINK RENEWABLE POPULATION WASTE ENERGY WATER PAPER AIR BIODIVERSITY

IN THE HOME LIGHTING 1.

FOR YOUR CAR 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Rid your car of unnecessary cargo. Avoid carrying items on your roof. Mileage will rise 2% for every 100 pounds removed from the vehicle.

Keep tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage by more than 3%.

Stop aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration and rapid braking all waste gas mileage by as much as 33% at highway speeds.

Clogged air filters can decrease gas mile‐ age by 10%. Just change it.

Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can im‐ prove your mileage by as much as 40%.

Use the manufacturer’s suggested grade of motor oil—save another 1‐2%.

Keep your car properly tuned up to im‐ prove gas mileage about 4%.

Wash ECO—use recycled water and bio‐ degradable wash solutions.

OTHER TIPS 1.

2.

A PC that is switched on constantly (24 hours/day, 365 days/year) uses around 1,753kWh each year.

Switching it off at the end of the day can save 1,168kWh each year.

When cooking, use lids on your pots and pans and as soon as it boils turn heat control to a low setting enough to maintain boiling temperature.

SAFETY TIPS Safety is everybody’s concern be‐ cause it directly or indirectly affects us and our loved ones. Most acci‐ dents arise from carelessness, negli‐ gence, and ignorance. So let us be careful, alert and informed. Here

2.

3.

4.

Open windows and use natural lighting whenever possible.

Switch off lights and other appliances when they are not in use. Even in stand by mode, energy is being used.

Use energy saving lamps. They can reduce energy consumption by 80%.

If possible, install lighting controls, such as daylight sensors or dimmers.

4.

5.

APPLIANCES 1.

2.

3.

Ensure refrigerator door seals are airtight so it does not use too much energy.

Defrost and clean out your refrigerator regularly.

Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered food releases mois‐ ture and makes the compressor work harder.

IN THE OFFICE 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than using large electric stoves or ovens.

When using an electric kettle, fill up only the required amount.

When buying appliances, look for ENERGY EFFICIENCY rating labels.

LAUNDRY 1.

2.

3.

Wash your clothes in cold water using cold‐ water detergents.

Wash full loads.

Air‐dry clothes rather than using a dryer.

TURN OFF before you TAKE OFF

Leaving the doors and windows open in an air conditioned room will increase electric consumption by 30‐35%. Please keep them closed.

The recommended temperature setting for an office cooling system is 25°C. For hot weather close window blinds to prevent entry of direct sunlight. This will make cooling system work less.

Make someone responsible for tracking electric bills and consumption patterns.

Get an ENERGY AUDIT performed. You can do this yourself, or for a more comprehensive analysis of your electricity consumption and equipment use, consult a professional.

are some safety tips for all of you:  Do the 5S. Good housekeeping  will keep away fire hazardous materials. Dispose flammable materials regularly.  Put flammable materials like gas, alcohol, and paint outside the  house.  Put matches out of children’s 35

reach.

Oil or gas lamps and candles should be kept away from cur‐ tains. Do not put where wind, children, or pets may topple them.

Regularly check electrical instal‐ lations and have it checked or repaired by a licensed electrician.

 Do not overload electrical cir‐ cuits by putting additional lights and appliances. When in doubt consult certified electrician.  Blown fuses should not be re‐ placed with coins, wires, or any metal.  Keep a record of fire department and local police phone numbers.

8.30pm Saturday March 27, 2010 See your world in a whole new light www.earthhour.org 36