Lawmakers back MinDA demand for NGCP probe

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

TWO House representatives in Cagayan de Oro back up calls on Tuesday by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to investigate the claim of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) that Mindanao is facing power supply shortage due to deteriorating hydro plants in the region.

Representative Jose Benjamin “Benjo” Benaldo (1st district, Cagayan de Oro) said the NGCP’s assertion is “not a joke to the constituency” that could possibly erupt fear of economic concerns.

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Benaldo, an active campaigner for fair delivery of electricity services in Cagayan de Oro, said he was actually preparing for a “battle in Congress” in response to the demand of MinDA chairperson Lualhati Antonino to put the system operator under probe.

In his stint as city councilor over the last nine years, Benaldo has been very vocal in questioning the Department of Energy (DOE) and the distribution utilities (DUs) for laxity over issues hounding the energy sector.

Banaldo said the NGCP should have concrete data to support their “alarming statement.”

“If found true, they must present possible solutions to help in aiding the power shortage in Mindanao,” he said in a phone interview.

For his part, Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro), however, believed that indeed there is shortfall in the supply of power in the Mindanao grid but he said the House inquiry must be done to set things straight.

Rodriguez said the DOE should explain and formally announce this to public via House legislation, adding the Energy department must present measures to prevent feared power curtailment in Mindanao.

“We must find means in addressing the problem that we are about to face and the DOE must immediately respond before the situation gets worse,” he said.

Reports said the DOE would be compelled to ask the DUs including the electric cooperatives to buy much expensive power supply from other sources to continue provide electricity in the countryside.

Reports also said Pulangi and Agus hydro plants in Mindanao are still up for maintenance.