Economics - Mindanao business leaders seek new dialogue with Aquino on power crisis
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Business leaders in Mindanao want another dialogue with President Benigno S. C. Aquino, III hoping it would result in a comprehensive plan that would address the power crisis in Mindanao.
Ricardo C. Juliano, vice-president for Mindanao of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that this was the call of the business sector after it expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as the President’s "weak solutions" in solving the inadequacy of the electric supply of the region.
"We really hope that the President would listen to us, and to have a real dialogue," he told BusinessWorld.
The power summit in Davao City held last April 13, he said, did not produce any substantive solution noting what President did was to "impose" the government’s stand that stakeholders in Mindanao should pay more in order to stop the rotating blackout.
He said the business sector was dismayed about the changes of the summit’s program that they failed to directly talk to the President and give their suggestions. "We never had a dialogue that is honest and straight," he said.
Mr. Juliano, who was at this city to conduct a series of consultations for the upcoming Mindanao Business Conference in August, said business leaders are asking for the government to give them the real figures and details on the financial state and conditions of the hydroelectric plants.
"There’s a lack of transparency," he said, referring to the government’s presentation in justifying the sale of the Agus and Pulangi hydroelectric plants. Mr. Juliano said they were made to understand that the sale is necessary to pay the standing debt of the state-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) amounting to at least P900 billion.
He said the business sector is asking the government why after the sale of its assets in Luzon and the Visayas, Napocor still has a huge debt. "Who’s subsidizing, who?" he asked, pointing out that there was no proper disclosure on details of the debt.
"We asked for the executive department to put the Mindanao Development Authority on board whenever there is transaction in these power plants," Mr. Juliano said. There was negligence, he claimed, on why hydroelectric plants are left with no proper maintenance in years hence deteriorating its capacities in delivering power supply.
Ranking officials of the Department of Energy in Metro Manila could not be contacted immediately by phone on Friday to respond to Mr. Juliano’s statements. In previous interviews in Davao, however, Energy undersecretary Josefina Patricia M. Asirit said privatization of hydroelectric plants in Mindanao is currently not a priority of the government in solving the Mindanao power shortage explaining the matter is up for lawmakers in Congress to decide. -- Darwin T. Wee
"We really hope that the President would listen to us, and to have a real dialogue," he told BusinessWorld.
The power summit in Davao City held last April 13, he said, did not produce any substantive solution noting what President did was to "impose" the government’s stand that stakeholders in Mindanao should pay more in order to stop the rotating blackout.
He said the business sector was dismayed about the changes of the summit’s program that they failed to directly talk to the President and give their suggestions. "We never had a dialogue that is honest and straight," he said.
Mr. Juliano, who was at this city to conduct a series of consultations for the upcoming Mindanao Business Conference in August, said business leaders are asking for the government to give them the real figures and details on the financial state and conditions of the hydroelectric plants.
"There’s a lack of transparency," he said, referring to the government’s presentation in justifying the sale of the Agus and Pulangi hydroelectric plants. Mr. Juliano said they were made to understand that the sale is necessary to pay the standing debt of the state-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) amounting to at least P900 billion.
He said the business sector is asking the government why after the sale of its assets in Luzon and the Visayas, Napocor still has a huge debt. "Who’s subsidizing, who?" he asked, pointing out that there was no proper disclosure on details of the debt.
"We asked for the executive department to put the Mindanao Development Authority on board whenever there is transaction in these power plants," Mr. Juliano said. There was negligence, he claimed, on why hydroelectric plants are left with no proper maintenance in years hence deteriorating its capacities in delivering power supply.
Ranking officials of the Department of Energy in Metro Manila could not be contacted immediately by phone on Friday to respond to Mr. Juliano’s statements. In previous interviews in Davao, however, Energy undersecretary Josefina Patricia M. Asirit said privatization of hydroelectric plants in Mindanao is currently not a priority of the government in solving the Mindanao power shortage explaining the matter is up for lawmakers in Congress to decide. -- Darwin T. Wee
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I have actually experienced this "rotating brown-out" here in Davao City. And it was not really good. For me, as a student, it was such a hassle especially when I'm at school or when I am doing paperwork in front of a computer. I need to do things all over again and it takes a lot of time.
The only solution that the government thinks to solve this shortage is by buying electricity from the private sector. This would signal the increase of charges for electricity.
This would mean the our country is rich in resources and proof that we can be self-sufficient if we would develop it further. This means that we are a rich country, and with proper leadership, governance and set of laws, we could sustain on our own needs.
I would recommend to the President himself to explore more natural resources of electricity and not to resort to these kinds of solutions such as rotational brown-outs. Our own government should realize that our country is lush with natural resources and be open to development.
Personally, I would go for the proposed solution of the President to end such misery and for the private sectors' resources be used and not stocked or wasted. This "rotating brown-out" is a nuisance to business firms, and especially to students like me. This electricity shortage problem is a living proof that Mindanao is also booming in terms of development and urbanization. It will continue to be a nuisance to us citizens unless the other people of Mindanao are willing to pay higher electric bills and continue with our lives.
The only solution that the government thinks to solve this shortage is by buying electricity from the private sector. This would signal the increase of charges for electricity.
This would mean the our country is rich in resources and proof that we can be self-sufficient if we would develop it further. This means that we are a rich country, and with proper leadership, governance and set of laws, we could sustain on our own needs.
I would recommend to the President himself to explore more natural resources of electricity and not to resort to these kinds of solutions such as rotational brown-outs. Our own government should realize that our country is lush with natural resources and be open to development.
Personally, I would go for the proposed solution of the President to end such misery and for the private sectors' resources be used and not stocked or wasted. This "rotating brown-out" is a nuisance to business firms, and especially to students like me. This electricity shortage problem is a living proof that Mindanao is also booming in terms of development and urbanization. It will continue to be a nuisance to us citizens unless the other people of Mindanao are willing to pay higher electric bills and continue with our lives.
posted by jaydeen at
Sunday, April 22, 2012
1 Comments
