Here we go again

Ruffy Magbanua

WITH no intent whatsoever of  spoiling your day,  this bad news is definitely worth a penny to ponder. CNN Philippines: “NGCP can’t promise  blackout-free Mindanao.” Another banner story:  “NGCP warns of possible brownouts during polls.”

Well, well, here we go again.  The Chinese-controlled National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, lone operator of the country’s electric  transmission grid, is again singing a familiar tune  electric consumers are pretty fed up with, warning of possible power  blackouts in Mindanao.

And come to think of it. this NGCP-induced warning of possible blackout come election day–on May 9,  the very day the Filipino electorate will exercise their right of suffrage.

This is a classic case of déjà vu.  And so these queries: Why did NGCP  issue warnings at this time when this country is preparing for a nationwide electoral exercise? Does it help?  Or is this mind conditioning? Or worse, a game plan to rig the election results?

To hear from NGCP’s  spokesperson  Cynthia Alavanza  of possible blackouts in Mindanao  on election day  is mind-boggling,  and nothing but a PR strategy to condition the minds of the consumers.  This is an irresponsible  statement in the highest order.

Instead of assuring the public of uninterrupted supply of electricity before, during and after election day, this power firm, a creation  of Epira, has to resort to a threatening  announcement ahead of May 9.

A bad timing concocted from a super bad publicity stunt created by NGCP’s PR department led by  Alavanza.

Yes, Virginia, NGCP is at it again – issuing advisories on the possible occurrences of blackouts in Mindanao with one stupid excuse: unpaid  right-of-way claims.

The heck  with this alibi.  A seven-year old NGCP is still at it?  Clearing seven more right-of-way claims and worse, another six claims hang in the balance because of failed negotiations?

And as of press time, the privatized transmission firm is still at it, working over time with uncooperative claimants.  What if this so-called right-of-way negotiation is doomed?

These ROW claims should have been settled long, long time ago had it not been for the utter disregard (read: deliberate neglect) of NGCP’s social responsibility.

We have said this before and we say it again: the time has come to repeal the Epira.

As watchdog of good governance in the power sector, the Movement for a Blackout-Free Mindanao calls for the next members of Congress to place this concern on top of their agenda.

Of the five presidential aspirants, only Digong Duterte has the plain view of what is going on–and what is good–in Mindanao.

On top of his agenda to place Mindanao in the roadmap to lasting peace and development, power included, Duterte’s inevitable landslide victory is great manna for the people of this island, long forsaken and abused by Imperial Manila.

As convenor for an efficient and uninterrupted power supply, the Movement for a Blackout-Free Mindanao has already laid down its role in the Duterte administration.

The best is yet to come for Mindanao.

E-mail: ruffy44_ph2000@yahoo.com