A LAWMAKER is blaming the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the daily 20-hour brownouts in Occidental Mindoro, citing the agency’s alleged failure to act on the National Power Corporation’s (Napocor) request to adjust power rates to reflect the true cost of electricity.

Romblon Lone District Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said the Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. (Omeco) has not been able to supply enough power due to Napocor’s unpaid subsidies.

“Todate, ERC has not approved Napocor’s request, so that the national government could stop coughing money,” he said.

The solon stressed that power costs have been rising since last year, particularly due to the increase in fuel costs to P60 from P30 per liter.

Occidental Mindoro, with a population of 530,000, has been grappling with 20-hour brownouts for more than a month now after its power supplier, Omeco has not been able to supply sufficient electricity.

The Development Budget Coordinating Council (DBCC) earlier approved only a P5 billion loan to pay for Napocor-owned power plants or those that are not connected to the grid.

Madrona warned that ERC’s failure to address issues that led to daily brownouts could spill over to other small islands being serviced by Small Island Power Utilities Group. These include Palawan, Mindoro, Masbate, Romblon, and Catanduanes.

“This man-made disaster is not only a source of inconvenience and irritation but will also adversely affect businesses especially tourism which is one of the main sources of livelihood in these island-provinces,” he stressed.

In a hearing at the House of Representatives last month, Omeco president Eleanor Costibolo said the brownouts were caused by alleged red tape in ERC which prevented them from paying Omeco’s suppliers.

“The subsidy is the root of all problems. That’s why if you’ll ask me now what can be done, we can enter an emergency power procurement,” Costibolo said during the hearing, adding that it was not due to mismanagement on the part of the cooperative.

House Resolution (HR) No. 34, authored by Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela, called for an investigation into the power problems in the island.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco