Bong Go: Address power outages
SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has expressed his concern over the reported power outages occurring in Luzon and other parts of the country, emphasizing the need for immediate action from the concerned agencies and highlighting the importance of a reliable and stable energy supply for the Filipino people.
In an ambush interview after aiding patients and frontliners at the Talavera General Hospital in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Go said that, if necessary, the Senate may conduct an inquiry to discuss the matter further.
In response to the recent blackouts and power outages, Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Grace Poe have filed pending resolutions calling for a Senate investigation into the matter.
“Alam n’yo, kaya nga po tayo may Department of Energy. As member po ng Committee on Energy, kung sakali mang mag-hearing po sa Senado, I’m willing to participate,” assured Go.
The senator also stressed that the current extreme temperatures, reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius or even more, pose a significant health risk, potentially leading to heat strokes and affecting the well-being of the population.
“Kaya nga po tayo may Department of Energy — isang departamentong nakatutok dapat dito kung saka-sakali mang magkakaroon ng shortage po sa kuryente lalung lalo na ngayong panahon ng tag-init at mayroon pang darating na El Niño,” said Go.
“Ngayon, ang init umaabot na ng 40 degrees Celsius, magdudulot po ito ng potential heat stroke, apektado po ang ating kalusugan dito,” he added.
Go also highlighted the fact that not everyone has the means to purchase generators, making it even more crucial for the government to be vigilant and proactive in addressing potential brownouts in various areas across the country.
Due to five power plants experiencing forced outages, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has declared a “red alert” for the Luzon Grid on May 8. As a result, Manila Electric Company has been instructed to implement rotational brownouts.
Meanwhile, the DOE issued a warning on Thursday, stating that there could be yellow alerts during the upcoming weeks due to limited power supply. A red alert signifies a complete lack of ancillary service or a generation deficiency, while a yellow alert indicates low reserves on the grid.
