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The Philippines stands to benefit from ADB solar energy initiative

The Philippines stands to benefit from the Asian Development Bank’s Asia Solar Energy Initiative (ASEI), which aims to help build an impressive $9-billion, 3,000-megawatt portfolio of solar power in the region over the next three years.

According to the recent ASEI primer released by the ADB, the Manila-based lender reiterated intentions of including the Philippines on the list of countries where potential projects might be implemented next year, the second year of the program.

“The Philippines has in place some manufacturing capacity for solar panels and (there are) plans to use this to develop solar energy power generation, which has been identified as a future objective,” the ADB said.

To assist the Philippines, the Clean Technology Fund had allocated $400 million as early as November 2009 for the project (Investment Plan for Philippines), which was envisioned to include 100 MW of solar power generation.

Launched in May last year, the ASEI would make available a range of projects and knowledge sharing mechanisms to attract other development banks, commercial banks and the private sector to invest in these projects.

In addition to direct financing, ASEI would set a target of raising $500 million from donor countries to bring down the high up-front capital costs of investing in solar energy and design other innovative ways to attract private sector investment.

Based on the objectives of the ASEI, solar capacity in the Asia-Pacific region was expected to reach 1,000 MW by the end of 2011 and 3,000 megawatts by the end of its third year in May 2013.

“Today, Asia and the Pacific is characterized by very high rates of economic growth, far outpacing the global average, and continuing population growth. These two factors pose a formidable challenge to ensuring access to adequate and clean energy supplies at affordable prices, especially for the region’s national governments to meet their economies’ ever-increasing energy demands,” the ADB primer stated.

“These growing pressures, coupled with climate change and energy security considerations, are now driving the region to recognize and to promote national policies for solar energy applications amid the rapid decline in solar energy generation costs,” it explained.

Fortunately, large parts of Asia and the Pacific were said to be endowed with high levels of solar insolation and have significant solar energy generation potential for both large-scale grid and off-grid applications.

“As a decentralized form of energy, solar energy holds promise in providing power to the millions of people in the region with no access to traditional energy supplies. As an added and perhaps more important benefit, rapid and sustainable development of solar energy applications in the region is key to accelerating solar energy’s global march to achieving grid parity,” the ADB added.

An ADB study projected that energy demand for Asia and the Pacific would grow by an average of 2.4 percent until 2030, more than double the world’s average over the same period.

One of the biggest challenges confronting policymakers in the region is how to provide adequate, affordable access to clean energy for a large, growing population. Added to this are issues of energy security and pricing, especially for the poorest, as well as energy delivery, especially across diverse terrain and climate conditions, according to the ADB.

“These struggles present vast opportunities for solar energy development in the region. Solar energy also offers substantial solutions to help address the energy challenges confronting Asia and the Pacific,” the ADB said.

 

Philippines Worry: Washington's betrayal to the Philippines - might be repeated in Spratlys

While the tension in the West Philippine Sea / South China Sea is still on the peak, Philippine Government consider the 1950’s Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with America and pronounced their confidence that the United States will support if there is an attack will happen in the Philippine Territory. This is in connection of China’s renewed claim interest of the island and waters in the West Philippines.

US Embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thomson commented the issue saying the United States will not Support the Philippines for Spratly Issues. USA is out of the Issue. A statement that never terrified the Philippines to stand up and fight alone if there is any invasion will happen without America regardless of MDT agreement.

After a week, opposite from the statement of Rebecca Thomson, the US embassy for Manila Harry Thomas Jr. give another speech that assures the Philippines that the USA will support the country for whatever will happen. “I want to assure you – on all subjects, we in the United States are with the Philippines. The Philippines and the United States are strategic treaty allies. We are partners,” Thomas said at the launching of the US-supported National Renewable Energy Program in Makati City.

“We will continue to consult and work with each other on all issues, including the South China Sea and Spratly Islands,” Thomas said

In the past experienced, the Mutual Defense Treaty (MTD) failed already as the USA did not support the Philippines inspite of their promised and signed MDT agreement. When the Philippines sent troops to the North Borneo to take back the land which was turned over by Britain to Malaysia as a gift of their friendship and alliance instead of turning it over to the Philippines as the legal owner of the land (North Borneo), there is no America in fact, the US betrayed the Philippines by accepting the enemy to use the airbase in Manila. The British company in the past signed a lease contract with the Sultanate of Sulu (Philippines) and when the britain grant freedom to Malaysia as their colony, they included the North Borneo, an independent Sultanate Government which belongs to Sulu, Philippines. The USA gives 2 times warning to britain that the North Borneo is not belong to the crown treaty and must not be turn over to Malaysia because the land belongs to Sulu (Philippines)but Britain did not listen to the USA. America ended up to warning only without any action to support the Philippines and worst is they welcomed the enemy british forces to use their the airbase in Manila to fight back the Filipino troops.

Furthermore, the Filipino troops which sent to the North Borneo to take back the land gain no support from the USA inspite of the signed agreement and promises that the US will support the Philippines. The Britain sent their aid troop to Malaysia and used the American Airbase in Manila which American allowed them to use the airbase in the Philippine soil. According to most Filipinos it is a betrayal of America to the Philippines and they were right, the America betrayed the Philippines.

Filipino netizens agree with the statement of Rebecca Thomson saying that the Philippines must not count the USA if there is an invasion in the Philippine Waters. Adding recommendations that the Philippine government must stand alone as being independent country and must not depend on American. In purchasing weapon, the Philippines will not just rely on American Made weapon instead, Russian and Ukraine made are also reliable and more affordable. Also, not to consult America what weapons to be purchase because the USA will only give limit on what kind of weapon that would not level the capability to destroy enemy as what they have. In fact, China buildup their arm without the USA and China is ready to invade any country around them. It could be unfair if the Philippines will rely on the USA and when invasion will happen, there is no Washington power will show up but it’s just a promise which made to be broken and another possible betrayal again. Poor Philippines to rely on America if they will not really support the country. The past experienced is a wake up reminder to the Philippines to make the independence into reality. Stop depending USA, move forward and buildup your arm to protect your own territory.

After the USA saw the reaction of the Philippines for their doubtful stands to support the Philippines or not which not affect the courage of the Filipino, suddenly US embassy for Manila Harry Thomas Jr. Speak out and assured the Philippines that the US will support the country for whatever will happen, thinking that their alliance with the Philippines will totally lost as Filipinos lost their confidence with the US power, but do you think that the US will really support the Philippines or will make another betrayal as what they did before?

 

Cebu Pacific Air orders $3.8-Billion Dollar planes from Airbus

The Cebu City, Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) announced that they have ordered 30 new Airbus A321neo and 7 A320 aircraft. The order at list price is valued at approximately USD3.8 billion, the largest single aircraft order ever made by a Philippine carrier.

CEB turned into firm orders its existing options for 7 Airbus A320 aircraft, and has placed a new order for  thirty  (30) A321neo (New Engine Option) aircraft with options for a further  ten (10) A321neos. The

A321neos will be a first of its type to operate in the Philippines, being a larger and longer-haul version of the familiar Airbus A320.

The said orders for A320 and A321neo aircraft will be delivered between 2015 and 2021. These are on top of firm orders for 18 Airbus A320 aircraft to be delivered from the 2nd half of 2011 until 2014. This increases Cebu Pacific’s total firm orders of Airbus aircraft to 55.

 “Cebu Pacific has made the largest firm order for the Airbus A321neo aircraft in the world. These 220-seater aircraft will be a real ‘game changer’ for Cebu Pacific because the A321neo will have a much longer range. We will be able to serve cities in Australia, India and Northern Japan, places the A320 cannot reach,” said CEB CEO and President Lance Gokongwei.

“The aircraft will reduce our unit cost per seat to a level that cannot be achieved flying A320s. This means that Cebu Pacific will be able to offer even lower fares to our guests and be much more competitive with anyone flying less cost efficient aircraft. This will allow us to create highly skilled, highly paid airline jobs for Filipino pilots, cabin crew and airline staff,” added Gokongwei.

Cebu Pacific currently utilizes 33 brand-new aircraft, 25 of which are from the Airbus A320 family and 8 ATR turbo-prop aircraft. By 2021, CEB will more than double its fleet and triple its capacity.  

John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, said, "With the A321neo, Cebu Pacific will be able to fly more people further at significantly lower cost per seat than any other competing aircraft, and with less impact on the environment."

The A321neo is the largest model in the recently launched A320neo series. It incorporates new engines and large wing-tip devices called sharklets, allowing CEB to achieve 15% reduced fuel burn, and function on a lower operating cost.

The new engine types offered on the A320neo are CFM International’s LEAP-X and Pratt & Whitney’s

PurePower PW1100G. Cebu Pacific has not made an engine choice at this time.

Since its inception in 1996, the Philippines’ low-fare pioneer, CEB, had already flown 50 million passengers and counting. It broke local aviation records for passengers carried in a month in April and May of 2011, carrying more than 1 million passengers per month.

This year, CEB will carry more than 12 million passengers. It achieved a year-on-year growth of 19% in 2010.

 

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