MANILA, Philippines—Developing more geothermal energy sources would be the country's solution to persistent power outages, the United Opposition (UNO) said on Monday.

UNO president Jejomar Binay said Saturday's 10-hour blackout in the Visayas should compel the government to take concrete action in addressing the increasing electricity demands, as the problem could also turn away potential investors.

“Power is strategic to our economic development. The issue goes beyond blackouts but economic opportunities lost because of a short-sighted power policy,” he said in a statement.

Binay said the government should harness geothermal energy as the country was abundant in geothermal resources in Bicol, Eastern and Western Visayas, Southern Tagalog, the Socsksargen region and Central Mindanao.

“Next to the United States, the Philippines has the second highest geothermal power capacity in the world right now. And we have enough geothermal power on our islands to more than double our current capacity,” he said.

Iceland, he pointed out, should be emulated as it attracted investors like Google for its fully developed geothermal resources.

He added that the power crisis should not be used as an excuse to reopen the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant or consider nuclear energy.