On Biofuel

We would like to ask the Sugar Regulatory Administration, to study, in cooperation with the member federations that compose the Sugar Alliance, the controversial issue of the Biofuels program that plans to have the sugar we produce made into ethanol.

The Biofuels Act was sponsored by then Rep., now Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Now, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said converting sugar to ethanol might endanger our food program when sugar can no longer be used as food.

We cannot have the answer until a thorough study is made by proper authorities. Here lies the future of Negros Occidental, a sugar producing province.

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This is what I know of any program that is intended to replace the use of fuel like gasoline. The oil industry is a moneyed giant with its limitless petro dollars. It can afford to shot down any plan to replace gasoline. Has one succeeded since? None.

We already have taxis running on liquefied petrol gas (LPG). And there has been talk of a Filipino inventing the use of water to run a car.

What happened to all of them?

Meanwhile, oil producing countries keep on jacking up the price of oil, making the most of what they can get in the face of their dwindling oil reserves.

We just hope that in this biofuel controversy, partisan politics must not be a part. It should be non-partisan.

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Many have asked me, why is Bishop Vicente Navarra insisting against geothermal exploration in the Canla-on Park.

They point out Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo wants to source all Iloilo electricity from the geothermal in Negros . It's unfair, the geothermal is in Negros island and Iloilo will use our natural resources while we suffer from a more costly electricity from coal-fired power plants?

I said, Bishop Navarra knows better. I know he is also for the benefit of the parishioners of the Bacolod Diocese.

Meanwhile, I was given a copy last Friday while in Bago of a Council Resolution dated Nov. 28, 2007 to “support the PNOC-EDC northern Negros geothermal plant as the source of power for Ceneco.”

It was sponsored by Councilor Victor Javellana and unanimously seconded and approved by a council presided over by Vice-Mayor Niko Yulo and approved by City Mayor Ramon Torres.

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Murcia under Mayor Sonny Coscolluela has also been promoting geothermal as it will be a big help to Murcia , third class municipality when Coscolluela took over and now a first class town.

The city council in Bacolod , too, spearheaded by Councilor Jocelle Batapa Sigue is working hard to have geothermal. PNOC-EDC officials have repeatedly said, they are willing to give it to Iloilo , if Negros does not need it.

The issue is very simple. Geothermal is a renewable clean energy. I met planter Remo Ramos yesterday at the NFSP in a meeting with the NFSP officials. Remo told me, geothermal is clean energy.

Geothermal goes in line with the government's program of the proposed Renewable Energy Act. And the energy is produced by the power of the geothermal while coal is bought from countries whose price keeps on going up.

Meanwhile, we insist, on the prodding of Ceneco consumers who are our readers, that Ceneco should now bring out in the open and discuss the provisions of the contract Ceneco signed with Kepco-Salcon.

A reader texted me, South Korea is the 11th biggest economy in the world. Its government will not permit its offshore companies to be embroiled in controversies like what is happening with Kepco now. Those who oppose the Ceneco-Kepco deal just write the South Korean President and its Congress and, I believe, they will act.

This was what happened in the ZTE deal. China President Hu Jintao was the one who ordered “Back out!” And they backed out.

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We would like to congratulate the newly elected officials of the Negros Press Club led by Cyrus Garde. Cyrus is an old hand in media whose members came in full force to support him.

This will make it easy for Cyrus to come up with many projects with many members supportive of him. What media men have hungered is the seminars on our improving the media trade. Cyrus can do it. And go on with the monthly socials.

He should also work that last year's souvenir program is issued before he is inducted. I got complaints from those who subscribed and paid.

This will make it easy for Cyrus to campaign again for ads.

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I met friends who said, if there are super ferries plying Bacolod and Manila in 14 hours, leaving Bacolod at 5 p.m. and debarking in Manila at 7 a.m. , many people will take the sea trip which is, besides being cheaper, is also enchanting and enjoyable.*

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