Energy conservation, SSS benefits discussed in IComNet forum

November 10, 2018 Provincial

LAGAWE, IFUGAO – Have you ever experienced rushing some work in your computer when there’s sudden power interruption? Probably you would have been pissed off and blame the electric cooperative for such untimely power outage.
There are two types of power outages – the scheduled and the unscheduled, Grace Ngatiyon of the Ifugao Electric Cooperative (IFELCO) explained during the recent Information Communication Network forum cum seminar workshop on communicating thru social media here organized by the Philippine Information Agency.
The scheduled power interruptions are those being done for maintenance purposes. On the other hand,  unscheduled power outages  are  caused by events  beyond the  control   of the  electric distribution utilities  like  winds, fallen trees  and  electric post  especially during typhoons, equipment problems,   and vehicles and even animals and trees  getting in contact with power lines, she said.
Ngatiyon also gave some pointers on energy conservation. To conserve electricity, gadgets and appliances must be unplugged when not in use.  People should   use energy efficient bulbs, appliances and gadgets to   lessen power consumption, she said.
Saj Luad of the Social Security System (SSS) –Solano Branch, meanwhile, discussed the benefits and privileges of members such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death and funeral,   among others.
He also explained the “Portability law” wherein employees who worked in the private sector and now working with the government can maintain membership with SSS and the GSIS at the same time provided the member continues to pay their contribution in order that he or she can avail the benefits and privileges.
The Department of Energy and the SSS have partnered with the PIA for the advocacy campaign and promotion of the E-Power Program and Kontribusyon Sulit na Sulit, respectively.  For this campaign, the DOE tapped the   different electric cooperatives as its partners particularly in the provinces.
The DOE is a government agency mandated to look into energy exploration, development, utilization, distribution and conservation to ensure a sustainable, stable, secure, sufficient and accessible energy in partnership with its stakeholders while the SSS is a state-run social insurance program in the Philippines that caters to workers in the private, professional and informal sectors. DBC, PIA Ifugao / ABN