Act with prudence, business group to GMA
By LEN VELASCO, Reporter
BUSINESSMEN in Mindanao are urging President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to act with extreme prudence as she exercises her reserved executive powers to solve the worsening power crisis in Mindanao.
Mr. Edwin Capili, vice president for Mindanao of the powerful Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said the declaration of Mindanao under the state of calamity has afforded the President extraordinary powers to ease the power crisis “but she [the President] must act with more prudence” to avoid excesses committed in the past.
During the recent launching of the 19th Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon) to be held in Cagayan de Oro on Sept. 17-18, 2010, Capili said the business sector in Mindanao is still awaiting for specific actions that the President may undertake.
PCCI chairman Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. however said that the problem has been exacerbated by the lack of government attention on the country’s power situation.
“In 2007, we already warned the government about the impending shortage of power by year 2011, and nothing has been done to avert the disaster,” Ortiz said.
Mr. Ralph Paguio, president of the host Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said among the major concerns that will be tackled by Minbizcon is the persisting power problem in Mindanao and the output will be presented to the next President.
“We are also very interested in government’s plans both for energy security and peace and order,” Paguio said.
But Cagayan de Oro Mayor Constantino Jaraula said the declaration of the state of calamity can solve the present power crisis only if good faith prevails in its implementation.
“The crisis has no political color, and let no politician play around,” Jaraula said.
Among the immediate measures implemented by President Arroyo after the declaration of the state of calamity included tapping private-sector cooperation, transferring a power barge from Luzon to Mindanao, and rescheduling the operations of industrial users to off-peak hours, or from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. importing equipment has been “ruled out since it would take too much time whereas action required to address the power problem in Mindanao is urgent.”
Business groups in Mindanao likewise turn their ire to the National Power Corp. (Napocor) and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm) for admitting they did nothing to prevent the power crisis in Mindanao despite warnings given as early as four years ago.
Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio said it is the inefficiency by concerned government agencies that made matter worst.
“The way we look at it, it’s not only El Niño but your inefficiency that has aggravated this power problem in Mindanao,” she said.
The two government agencies had included lack of funds for their failure to conduct maintenance work on the generation plants; and failure to plan and implement preemptive measures including the dredging of the Pulangi dam in Bukidnon.
But Custodio pointed out the two agencies could have filed petitions for increases in rates. “Why did you not do it?” Rommel Regacho, a Psalm representative, confirmed to the congressional hearing, headed by Rep. Mikey Arroyo, the Napocor statement that revenues were “not enough to cover the cost of operating the plants.”
Vicente Lao, president of the Mindanao Business Chamber and one of the key persons in the Mindanao Electric Power Alliance, also castigated the two agencies, bitterly asking, “It means you just allowed that lack of funds to let the power plants to deteriorate and let us suffer from where we are now?”
Added Lao, “Or is it because you just deliberately let it deteriorate because these plants would be sold anyway?” Regacho replied that Lao errs because on the contrary, “the government would not let [the plants] deteriorate but [would] increase its market value to be able to attract buyers.”
Lao also called attention to the data presented by Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes indicating water levels in hydroelectric projects show a drop way below critical levels. “And this would happen within the next 45 days which would still be in April. Can you ensure that there would be no problem of power during the elections?”
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