'Build more power plants in Mindanao'

SENATORIAL candidate Ralph Recto proposes for the establishment of power plants or other alternative energy barges as temporary solution to the on-going power crisis in Mindanao.

Recto, who dropped by Cagayan de Oro City on Wednesday after attending the Kaamulan Festival in Malaybalay City, also suggested putting up a nuclear plant and more hydro plants in Cagayan de Oro to meet the energy demand and to prepare for possible disaster.

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“But those are long term solutions and Cagayan de Oro needs direct solutions so the people must come up with good ideas,” Recto said in a press conference held Wednesday at Dynasty Court Hotel.

Recto said he felt saddened with the power crisis in Mindanao because he is an “adopted Mindanawan” as he puts all the blame to Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes.

“A proposal to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to declare an energy crisis in Mindanao is the strategy of Reyes to manipulate the election. He must step down the soonest before anything worst will happen during election period. Unfortunately, we cannot wait much longer for him to step down so we must do something about it,” Recto said.

With the power crisis, Recto encouraged business establishments in the city such as hotels to invest in generator sets so they would not rely much on the government.

According to him, Cagayan de Oro plays an important role in the development of Mindanao as he encouraged promoting the city’s economy and give tourism a boost so more jobs will be given to the people.

Meanwhile, Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Norris Babiera believed that the power crisis in Mindanao is not artificial as doubted by some sectors and National Government officials.

Babiera said the power crisis is truly an adverse effects of the El Nino phenomenon.

“Maybe the government is at fault here for lack of explanation regarding this problem,” Babiera told Sun.Star Cagayan.

He agreed with the resolution of granting “special power” to Arroyo to address the crisis in Mindanao.

On Saturday, presidential candidate Richard Gordon said the power crisis in Mindanao is “artificial” and may be part of a sinister plot of the government as demanded for an explanation from the Arroyo administration.

“They have a lot of explaining to do,” Gordon told reporters during a press conference at VIP Hotel over the weekend.

Gordon stressed that a shortage of power is a threat to national security thus the government needs to be transparent. (Nicole J. Managbanag with reports from Annabelle L. Ricalde)