Vice governors to tackle power crisis during Oro meet

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

VICE governors are scheduled to meet in the city this month and tackle the power situation in Mindanao and elsewhere in the country.

Misamis Oriental Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez said the Vice Governors’ League would meet in the city on Aug. 14 until Aug. 16, and its members would look for ways to pu an end to the recurring problem of power supply shortage. Pelaez cpmplained about the rotating blackouts that have been crippling the city for two weeks now. This week, the provincial board’s session was disrupted due to a power interruption at the capitol.

“Kitang tanan ang nag-antus a rotating brownout which affects productivity of each worker in the government and private sectors. Economic activity is affected, it results in business losses every hour,” he said.

Pelaez said the League plans to discuss the problem with power industry players and stakeholders like the National Grid Corp. in the Philippines (NGCP), and look into moves for the privatization of the Agus-Pulangi hydroelectric power complex in Bukidnon, something being strongly opposed by the provincial board.

“We cannot allow the privatization of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex which is a major source of energy that generates as much as 982 megawatts. We also support the creation of Mindanao Power Corp. para magpabilin nga barato ang atong kuryente,” he said.

Pelaez said the League would also tackled the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and the K-to-12 program of the Department of Education (Deped).

Among those expected to grave the event are Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Rep. Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Rep. Edgardo Masongsong of ICare partylist, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, and Education Secretary Armin Luistro.