INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Citing an approximate P2 billion loss following the four-day blackout in Western Visayas, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas called on the government to hold accountable those behind the incident.
During the Senate committee on energy’s Wednesday hearing, Treñas said he is angered by all the suffering that his beloved Ilonggos and the rest of Western Visayas endured.
“We, Ilonngos, are known to be sweet and loving people, but these characteristics were challenged when the four-day blackout hit us,” said Treñas.
“Our local economy has suffered an estimated P500 million losses a day or P2 billion in four days. This is the second time that we suffered a long blackout and brownout. The last one happened in April 2023. We do not deserve this — no one deserves this,” he emphasized.
“As mayor of the Iloilo City and chairman of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council of Visayas — I am angry for the suffering of our beloved Ilonggos and the rest of Western Visayas,” said Treñas, adding that those accountable must pay for the mess.
“Otherwise we go home with this inquiry and nothing will happen,” he said.
Isolated case or a systemic mismanagement?’
Before the almost five-hour long hearing ended, Senator Risa Hontiveros posed a vital question: Can we characterize this recent incident as an isolated case of neglect or does this indicate systemic mismanagement?
Hontiveros raised this question, noting NGCP’s “failure” to take corrective action during the two-hour window as well as the grid failure that occurred in April last year.
Energy Undersecretary Sharon Garin said it’s possible that the widespread power outage would happen again.
“We have to consider that this is the second time already. This happened in 2023 and then it happened again, that’s why we are so worried that there will be a third time,” said Garin.
“I hope there will be none, [but] it’s possible that it will happen again unless we finish all the projects on time and then the corrective measures are done,” she added.