PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Saturday said the national government is ready to address the power outages in Palawan by “expropriating” the franchises of the province’s power providers and offer these to other parties if they cannot solve the problem by year’s end.
“At this late in the day in our state of development, brownouts of 6 to 8 hours are not acceptable to me,” Mr. Duterte said in his remarks at the Subaraw Biodiversity Festival in Puerto Princesa on Saturday, Nov. 10.
He noted that he has “nothing against cooperatives” there because “they represented the pioneering spirit of the early years” of the province and “the entire Philippines.”
“Nothing personal, but I’ll give you towards the end of the year (to put in place) a new set up that can provide enough energy (for Palawan) to develop, operate and move,” he added.
Mr. Duterte then said he will tap other parties to resolve the province’s rotational power outages.
“You’ll have to upgrade your source of energy. If not I will find others with the financial capability. China is itching to get hold of development here. I will expropriate your franchise. I will buy it at a valuation that is fair to end this impasse,” he said.
The President said he will meet with the province’s governor and the mayor of Puerto Princesa to discuss the matter.
“I cannot understand why in this age we have electricity that is constantly interrupted,” he said.
“You can’t have six to eight hours (of power interruption) and say that you want tourism and economic development,” the President said. — Arjay L. Balinbin
