U.S. WANT NOY TO PURSUE RENEWABLE ENERGY / NEGROS ENERGY POTENTIAL CITED
[PHOTO - Just like Mom's: President Aquino chats with Fordham University president Joseph McShane, S.J., after conferment of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree His mother, the late President Corazon C. Aquino, also received an honorary degree from Fordham in September 1986.]
MANILA, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 (MALAYA) BY IRMA ISIP - AMERICAN businessmen want to see the Philippines fully implement the Renewable Energy Act as they said this would generate investments in high-technology industries.
They also pressed for the harmonization of investment incentives and regulations.
The businessmen's sentiments were gathered during the meeting of President Aquino with senior US business executives at the Peninsula Hotel in New York on Monday.
A statement released by the US-Asean Business Council – which co-organized with the US Chamber of Commerce the roundtable with the President – said Aquino updated the US business community on the progress being made in improving the business climate, promoting effective governance, and enhancing competitiveness.
The statement said some possible avenues of collaboration include supporting the growth of the renewable energy sector, developing public private partnerships to support infrastructure development, and potential measures to enhance the competitiveness of the Philippines in high-tech industries.
"We are eager to hear more about the next steps planned for implementation of the renewable energy law, which will help attract more high-tech investment," said Tami Overby, vice president for Asia of the US Chamber of Commerce.
"President Aquino's administration continues to be responsive and engaged with US business," said Alexander Feldman, president of the US-Asean Business Council. Feldman said the Aquino administration's focus on transparency and good governance has already won investor confidence as demonstrated by increased US investment in the Philippines from companies such as AES, The Coca-Cola Co. and Procter & Gamble.
"We look forward to working with President Aquino and his administration to continue developing public-private partnerships and other initiatives that help to strengthen the Philippine economy and build platforms for sustained growth benefiting American companies and all Filipinos," Feldman said.
Overby said: "We appreciate the chance to continue our dialogue with President Aquino on building bilateral economic ties. The Aquino administration's willingness to regularly engage with US business helps build investor confidence in the economic reforms in place in the Philippines."
Among the executives who met Aquino were Glenn Jordan, president for Pacific Group, The Coca-Cola Co.; Margery Krauss, founder and chief executive officer, APCO Worldwide; Loida Nicolas Lewis, chairman, TLC Beatrice International; Miles Young, chief executive, Ogilvy and Mather; Bruce Tuchman, president, MGM Worldwide Networks; and Jay Collins, global co-head of the Public Sector Group at Citi.
Other companies represented included AES, Baker McKenzie, Cargill, Google, JP Morgan, McClarty Associates, Peregrine Development International, Pfizer, and Qualcomm.
Negros renewable energy potential cited BY GILBERT BAYORAN BACOLOD CITY –– Negros Occidental has the potential to become the renewable energy center of the Visayas if its nine sugar mills are retrofitted to produce electricity from biomass, Arthur Aguilar, president of Global Business Power Corp., said.
He said the potential is up to 200 megawatts of exportable clean energy.
Negros is connected to the Panay and Cebu grids, both energy-deficient areas.
Aguilar cited the potential for biogas as other power sources are facing difficulties.
The Northern Negros geothermal power plant in Bago City, for example, has been downsized from 40 MW to 5-10 MW because of inadequate steam deposits.
Negros Occidental is projected to have a power deficit of 93 MW by 2015.
Aguilar said sugar mills have been engaged in biomass co-generation for almost 100 years now. Their output, however, is mainly for their own use.
If sugar mills are fitted with high-pressure boilers, they could double their power output using the same amount of bagasse, the residue from milling sugar cane, Aguilar said.
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the hurdle to retrofitting the mills for power generation is the huge investments required.
Aguilar was here to provide a briefing on the power situation during the 20th Visayas Areas Business Conference and Expo.
He said if mini hydropower and wind power units are added to biomass in the renewable energy portfolio, Negros has the potential to produce 310 MW.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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