PBBM hopes for more renewable energy projects

By Charles Dantes and Macon Ramos-Araneta

FERDINAND Marcos Jr. remained hopeful for more renewable energy projects in the country as he led the inauguration of the 24.9-Megawatt Lake Mainit Hydro Power Plant in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte on Wednesday.

The President commended the development of hydropower site and dubbed the project as a "defining step" in securing the much-needed power supply in the region.

"As our power demand continues to increase, initiatives and projects, such as this, are most welcome as they help the country increase the energy supply [and] improve our energy mix by prioritizing the use of renewables," said Mr. Marcos in his speech.

The Lake Mainit hydroelectric run-ofriver power project is expected to power around 45,000 households in the province.

The project is also expected to help in the reduction of carbon footprint and improve air quality as hydroelectric power produces very low or zero carbon emissions during its electricity generation.

AT LEAST seven percent of Filipino households have an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) currently working abroad to help sustain the family, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The country has about 27 million households, according to the latestPhilippine Statistics Authority figures, translating to about 700,000 households with an OFW contributor.

The poll, conducted from March 26 to March 29, also said that 4% of Filipino adults are currently looking for work abroad as they want to help their families with their everyday living expenses.

The SWS also showed 74% of the households often receive money from an OFW, while 10% said they receive “sometimes,” 8 percent said “seldom,” and 9 percent said “never.”

According to the survey, Japan with 14% topped the list as the most cited country “where one aspires to work,” followed by Canada (13%), Saudi Arabia (11%), South Korea (11%), Australia (11%), and the United States of America (9%). The survey likewise showed that 13 percent of Filipino adults aspire to live abroad.

The Department of Migrant Workers said nearly two million OFWs are currently working abroad. Vito Barcelo

OFWs sustain 7% of country’s homes—SWS IN BRIEF

DSWD eyes help for ‘boy soldiers’

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development wants to provide the much-needed help of a child facility to save the so-called boy soldiers.

In an interview, Undersecretary for Inclusive Sustainable Peace Alan Tanjusay said children from impoverished families in conflictvulnerable areas can be easily recruited to join rebel groups in the mountains.

“Young boys could be easily persuaded or forced to join the armed groups,” he told the Manila Standard.

“We give psychosocial interventions, not only financial aid, to save boy soldiers,” he said. Rio N. Araja

DMW launches new OFW Pass

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) ) will kick off its modernization program with the forthcoming launch of a digital app containing the OFW Pass, the digital alternative to the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).

DMW secretary Susan Ople said the DMW mobile app which would be free of any cost, is now undergoing rigorous testing by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) prior to a formal launch.

“It will be a more convenient alternative to the OEC which comes in paper form and with a P100 fee,” Ople said.

“We acknowledge the help and support being provided by the DICT to make sure that our mobile app will be secure,” the secretary said. Vito Barcelo