A TELEVISION news reporter the other night was asking a weather bureau spokesman about climate change as a possible cause for the worst floods that hit Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon when Veco’s Ethel Taneo texted me about a blackout in Minglanilla, Naga, and other areas in the south.

Typhoon Ondoy brought hours of continuous rain into Metro Manila that caused floodwaters rising in even posh subdivisions. Even celebrities like Christine Reyes called television anchors as she begged for rescuers while perched at the roof of her plush residence. News from the Internet around 7 p.m. said nine were already listed dead.

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In Cebu, at least we only had intermittent thunderstorms. But a major power interconnection with southern Metro Cebu towns got damaged by still unknown reasons.

This got me into thinking about climate change and blackouts.

To help avert climate change, the world needs to cut down drastically on greenhouse gasses. Here in Cebu, environmentalists zeroed in on the possible carbon dioxide emissions from additional power plants.

However, stopping the construction of the plants spells more blackouts to come. The existing power plants in Naga and Toledo are so old, these need to be replaced soon. We could not also rely fully for base-load on geothermal power from Negros and Leyte because of capacity limitations of the underwater cables.

In my blog www.inbetweencolumns.wordpress.com, architect Eric Nacorda commented:

“We need to realize that our departure from fossil fuel dependency is not reliant on one single option but of several.

We shouldn’t expect solar-power technology to complete replace the diesel or coal powered plants.

In the short-term, we should look at alternative energy as a supplement. Perhaps, (we could set) a goal of 10 percent within the next five-eight years. Within 15 years, we should strive for 25 percent-30 percent and 50 percent in 25-30 years. Expecting a sudden change to alternate sources would only lead to frustration.”

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While we pursue the issue of who is to blame and punish for the purchase of the Balili underwater land, the current controversy had moved on to something more basic that I believe Cebuanos should eventually decide on.

Gov. Gwen Garcia and father Rep. Pablo Garcia are pursuing the sale to be able to carry out development plans that include the construction of an international port and a plant that seeks to convert garbage into electricity.

Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez, on the other hand, pushes for the trans-axial highway and locating the planned international port in Minglanilla.

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The various political camps took different tacks in wooing Cebu as the local media celebrated the just-concluded Press Freedom Week.

After a weekend visit before the celebration opened on Sept. 20, Sen. Chiz Escudero faced members of the local media during a forum for presidentiables at the Marcelo Fernan Cebu Press Center. Meanwhile, Defense Chief and administration bet Gilbert Teodoro visited Gov. Gwen Garcia at the Provincial Capitol.

San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, on the other hand, defended his father from charges hurled at the Senate floor when he dropped by Cebu City. Erap has since announced that he would pursue his quest to run again.

Meanwhile, Bogo Mayor Junnie Martinez has reportedly thrown his support for Sen. Noynoy Aquino although his allies, I was told, were for Chiz. Too bad Noynoy was not around during the Press Freedom Week celebration.

(Check out www.inbetweencolumns.wordpress.com)