Tulfo seeks probe into endless power outages, rising electricity costs
FILE PHOTO Sen. Raffy Tulfo vows to go after those behind brownouts in provinces
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Raffy Tulfo is seeking an inquiry on the repeated power outages and rising electricity costs in parts of the country.
Tulfo filed a Senate resolution directing the Senate committee on energy, which he chairs, to hold an inquiry in aid of legislation on the matter.
“Once and for all, I’ll find a solution to the perennial problem in terms of palaging nagkakaroon ng brownout sa kani-kanilang mga lugar at probinsya,” he said in a press conference at the Senate on Monday.
(It’s time to put an end to brownouts in the provinces and their areas once and for all.)
“So, hopefully, ‘pag ako po’y nagpatawag ng hearing in aid of legislation ma-address na po ‘yung mga problema tungkol dito at makahanap na po tayo ng tamang solusyon,” he added.
(So, hopefully, when I call for a hearing in aid of legislation, we will address these problems and find a solution.)
According to the senator, the panel will summon past officials of the Department of Energy, electric companies, and other concerned agencies to the hearing to share information.
“They could shed light kung bakit (why) during their watch, during their term, bakit hindi nabigyan ng solusyon ‘yung problema (why solutions to the problem were not given),” said Tulfo.
Aside from government agencies and firms, Tulfo said that local government units (LGUs) should have helped their constituents raise the issue to concerned authorities.
“Meron din dapat responsibilidad ang mga taga-LGU para tugunan ang problema ng kanilang constituents,” he said.
(LGUs should also be responsible for responding to their constituents’ problems.)
“Ngayon, sorry sa mga taga-LGU, maaaring wala silang pakialam dahil meron silang pambili ng generator. Pa’no naman ‘yung mga simpleng kababayan natin na walang pambili ng generator? Nagtitiyaga sa kandila,” the senator pointed out.
(Now, sorry to the LGUs. They may not care because they can buy a generator. What about our fellow Filipinos who do not have money for a generator? They are settling for candles.)
Earlier, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for a Senate inquiry into Occidental Mindoro’s power shortage.
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