President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. assured residents of Siquijor yesterday that measures are being undertaken to resolve the power crisis in the province.
The Philippine leader visited Siquijor to assess the power situation in the province.
He was accompanied by Energy Undersecretary Sharon Garin, National Electrification Administration chief Antonio Mariano Almeda, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, and Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jay Ruiz, among other officials.
“Andito kami dahil napakalaking problema ang dinadanas ng ating mga kababayan dito sa Siquijor, dahil nga sa kakulangan ng pag-provide ng kuryente ng power, at nagkaroon ng sitwasyon na napakahaba ng blackout,” Marcos Jr. said.
“Kung minsan, eh, ‘yung may ibang residences, may kuryente sila dalawang oras, limang oras lang sa isang araw. Kaya’t binago na namin ‘yun because the people — the victims of this situation — are they’re ordinary people of Siquijor, and they cannot go about their business,” the president said.
“‘Yun pa naman, Siquijor is growing so quickly at nagiging tourist destination na ang Siquijor. They are losing that opportunity to develop dahil nga dito sa kakulangan ng kuryente.”
Marcos had earlier ordered a thorough investigation into the island’s power provider, Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (Sipcor).
The ongoing power crisis in the province has prompted local authorities to declare a state of calamity in Siquijor.
He says among the short-term measures being implemented is the provision of two big generator sets from Palawan, which are due to arrive by Thursday morning, June 12.
“But this is a temporary solution. Kailangan natin makahanap ng permanent solution para ‘yung Sipcor, ay ‘yung kanilang commitment para mag-provide ng kuryente sa tao, to the cooperative. The cooperative is paying Sipcor properly, at we have to coordinate the different power. Sa ngayon, ay hindi talaga magawa,” he said.
Marcos said he is giving authorities six months to come up with a permanent solution to the island’s power problem.
“By six months from now, we will then impose whatever new arrangements that we have to do, so that six months from now, we do not have to resort to an emergency genset,” he said.
“Now we have to think about fuel supply, we have to think about the development of even the transmission lines, we also have to make sure that the machines — the generators — are working properly. Lahat ito kailangan natin maayos.”
“We have to do this. Sipcor has to live up to its commitments,” he stressed.
“Ang problema, mayroon na talagang permanent damage na nangyari sa sistema, kaya’t ‘yun, isa pa ‘yun, kailangan natin ayusin. Nagkaroon ng damage dahil hindi umaandar nang mabuti, kaya’t kailangan natin iresolba ‘yung problemang ‘yun.” (ABS-CBN News)