APRI capacitates Tiwi LGU officials through ER 1-94 Clinic
Leaders of Change and Progress. Led by Tiwi Mayor Jaime Villanueva, officials of APRI’s host barangays and focal persons of the Local Government Unit of Tiwi posed for a group photo during the ER 1-94 Clinic last February 12 at APRI admin office.
AP Renewables Inc. (APRI) together with the ER1-94 Desk of Aboitiz Power (AP), facilitated a one-day refresher training for its host communities through an event called the ER 1-94 Clinic last February 12 at Tiwi Geothermal Powerplant Conference Room, Tiwi, Albay. The refresher allows the host communities of APRI to be acquainted with the latest government rulings, circulars and policies concerning the utilization and liquidation of ER 1-94 funds. A total of 39 participated in the clinic which includes none the less the mayor of the town of Tiwi Hon. Jaime Villanueva and so are the leaders and treasurers of the 16 host barangays (Bagumbayan, Bariis, Belen, Biyong, Cale, Cararayan, Joroan, Libjo, Libtong, Lourdes, Maynonong, Naga, Nagas, Putsan, San Bernarda, Sugod) of APRI. As the community benefits of ER 1-94 extends up to the provincial and regional level, representatives from the Provincial Government of Albay and NEDA Region V also attended the said clinic.
What is ER 1-94?
Energy Regulation 1-94 or ER 1-94 was enacted by the National Government through the Department of Energy (DOE), to ensure that communities hosting power generation facilities will rightfully receive a fair share of the proceeds from the genco’s electric sales. GenCos are required to donate one centavo per kilowatt-hour sold (P0.0.1/kWh) to the ER 1-94 Fund. These funds can be accessed by the barangay, municipal, provincial and regional government units and will be useful in the creation of developmental projects that are aligned to Development and Livelihood Fund (DLF) and in the Reforestation, Watershed Management, Health and Environment Enhancement Fund (RWMHEEF). The Electrification Fund (EF) on the other hand, is available for power distribution utilities to access when they undertake electrification projects from areas currently lacking electricity supply. Some of the tangible projects that the LGUs can implement under these fund types include Livelihood and Community Development, Reforestation, Watershed Management and Climate Change Resiliency, Health Service Enhancement, Public Service facilities and AgroForestry.
Tiwi Municipal Mayor Jaime Villanueva told the barangay officials “Siguraduhin ninyong magagamit ang ER 1-94 funds sa mga proyektong makakatulong sa inyong barangay.”
Naga Brgy. Captain Delia Cobilla stressed the importance of the program for their constituents. She said, “ER 1-94 is a big help to all the host beneficiaries that can augment their funds in addressing the needs of the community. This activity enables us to further obtain knowledge on our ER funds.”
Transparency
With the overwhelming information, requirements, and processes, the clinic was able to give the end-to-end process of proposing and completing the projects. This initiative is to promote transparency between APRI, the government and the communities where APRI operates. This was further enhanced through the development of an online system called the Project AURISH (aka Automated Robot Inquiry System for Host Beneficiaries). This one-stop transactional website that is available 24/7 will help the LGUs monitor the status of their compliances to DOE.
“We made a promise not only to advance our business, but also our communities. To do this, we believe that transparency and open communication is a key tool in the achievement of mutual trust, sustainable growth and shared prosperity. ” said APRI Vice President for Corporate Services, Leonardo Robel, Jr.
“Hopefully, through the successful project implementation of our host LGUs, we help in uplifting the lives of many beneficiaries,” he added.
Meanwhile, NEDA Region V was also invited in the activity to present the positive impact to the economy that the ER 1-94 could potentially do. Its Office Senior Economic Development Specialist, Ester Barria highlighted, “It is a very productive orientation regarding the ER funds. We hope to have a similar orientation in the Regional Development Council (RDC) and even to other non-host LGUs for their information. We look forward to more collaborations with APRI for the development of the host communities and the whole Bicol Region as well.”
The improved Project AURISH 2.0 version will have its website orientation and demonstration session by the second quarter of the year in Tiwi and MakBan Geothermal Power Plants of APRI.
