Draw up comprehensive road map for Mindanao, PCCI urges Palace
President Benigno Aquino III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
One of the country’s largest business organizations on Thursday urged the Aquino administration to lay down a comprehensive road map aimed at solving the power crisis that is crippling Mindanao.
In a press statement, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) warned that failure to formulate a cohesive national policy to combat the shortage of electricity would have adverse effects on the island’s economic progress and, ultimately, determine the success or failure of peace talks with secessionist rebels.
“As strategically and correctly planned years before, lower power cost was the key driver in making businesses locate and thrive in Mindanao and would be a strong platform in achieving peace in the area,” PCCI president Miguel Varela said.
Warning in 2008
The group—which counts some 20,000 small and medium businesses and businessmen as members—said it had been warning about a looming power crisis in Mindanao since 2008 “and as late as 2011.”
“Concerned over the shortage of power supply and the increasing frequency of blackouts in Mindanao, the PCCI is calling on government to come up with integrated short- and long-term strategies to address the problem, ensure the growth potential and continued operation of enterprises and industries on the island, and avert serious unemployment and ‘lay offs,’” the group said.
From pocket power outages since last year, the electricity shortage has now spread to the entire island, with several cities and municipalities experiencing regular rotating brownouts lasting up to several hours a day.
The PCCI said it was critical that the situation be immediately “addressed with a blend of strategies uniquely crafted for the island in order to draw and move larger economic activities in that part of the country.”
To shore up the situation, the PCCI proposed the implementation of a formal rolling blackout or load shedding program with special and clear concern for areas where industries and major economic activities are located to avoid major lay offs. Daxim L. Lucas
