Catanduanes News
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page
Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions
Gas Find At Recto Bank To Address Energy Woes
- Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/358623/gas-find-at-recto-bank-to-address-energy-woes
- By: MADEL R. SABATER
- Thursday, May 03, 2012
BATO, Catanduanes – President Benigno S. Aquino III yesterday said the Philippine government will exercise its rights at the Recto Bank, noting it would help the country in its goal towards energy sufficiency.
“We will exercise all of our rights,” the President assured.
Business conglomerate Manny V. Pangilinan had said the standoff between the Philippines and China may affect oil and gas explorations at the Recto Bank, which was discovered to contain more natural gas than the Malampaya natural gas field in Palawan.
The Malampaya natural gas field currently supplies about 40 percent of Luzon’s energy needs.
“There are realities, they’re a very big country economically, po¬litically, and even population-wise when there is no comparison with us. But that doesn’t change the fact that we believe we are in the right and we are obligated to fight for that which is right,” he stressed.
The President added there are other oil and gas finds within Philippine territory that would help the country in its goal towards energy sufficiency.
He said 66.8 percent of the country’s energy requirements are met by indigenous resources.
“But we expect that to increase as we go along,” he said.
President Aquino said the country continues to conduct a dialogue with China to resolve the territorial dispute, but insisted that the Recto Bank is part of Philippine territory.
“Sumama ‘yung problem sa Recto (Recto Bank became part of the problem) because of the nine dash theory that was espoused publicly in 2009,” he said.
“The UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) gives us, we believe, certain rights together with China who is also a signatory, amongst them the exclu¬sive economic zone. This is clearly within our exclusive economic zone. Recto (Bank) is about 150 kilome¬ters from Palawan, and China’s closest island or territory is Hainan at 570-plus kilometers. The UNCLOS gives us 200 miles which will not be equivalent to 500,” he stressed.
It can be recalled that a service contract owned by Pangilinan discovered that Recto Bank contains some 16.612 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Malacañang had said it is a welcome development, particularly to secure the energy needs of the country.
Japan finances upgrade of Philippine weather stations
- Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/35407/japan-finances-upgrade-of-philippine-weather-stations
- By: Jerry E. Esplanada
- Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Japan financed the modernization of the government’s meteorological radar stations in Catanduanes, Cagayan and Samar to the tune of 3.35 billion yen (about P1.77 billion), according to the Japanese Embassy.
Consul General Motohiko Kato, the embassy’s deputy chief of mission, is scheduled to attend Wednesday’s inauguration of the refurbished radar station in Virac, Catanduanes.
“The project, funded by a Japanese government grant amounting to 3.35 billion yen, aims to effectively prevent damages that tropical cyclones and other severe weather phenomena may cause by enhancing the weather monitoring and information dissemination capability of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,” the embassy said in a press statement.
It said the project included the “installation of meteorological data display and satellite data communication systems and the replacement of old meteorological radar systems in Virac, as well as in Aparri, Cagayan and Guiuan, Samar, with Doppler (S-band) radar systems.”
The embassy said “this project is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines, as well as consolidate the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.”
Last weekend, the embassy announced the release of an additional 600 million yen (about P315 million) in fresh development aid to the Philippines.
The grant will go to the rehabilitation of an undisclosed number of roads and other public infrastructure damaged by recent typhoons, the embassy said.