Arroyo scolds energy chief over inaccurate power assessment
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:01:00 05/20/2008
Filed Under: Electricity Production & Distribution
MANILA, Philippines -- Just like the rice situation, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants an accurate assessment of the power crisis to avoid creating panic among the public.
And for not doing this, as far as the situation in the Visayas region is concerned, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes got a scolding from the President in Tuesday's Cabinet meeting here.
The first to discuss the power situation in the region before Cabinet officials, representatives of local power producers, and executives of the Manila Electric Company, Reyes said that there was need to "avert a power supply shortage" in Cebu, Negros, and Panay Islands.
Arroyo corrected Reyes, saying there was instead a need to "have a buffer stock" of power.
"The required reserve is the buffer. ...just in case there is an outage. We don't want the people to panic," she told Reyes.
Arroyo also clarified to Reyes that among the three provinces, it was only in Panay where there was a shortage.
Going through Reyes' presentation, Arroyo said the island's demand was for 189 megawatts compared to the present 127.3 megawatts that the residents here were getting.
But the shortfall of 61.7 megawatts was partly being provided by Negros, which is supplying Panay with 55 megawatts, said Napocor president Cyril del Callar.
The balance of 6.7 megawatts could be provided by modular generator sets to be put up in Iloilo by the end of this month, said Callar.
"Excellent, so we've solved the problem. All we have to worry is the buffer," Arroyo said.
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