Marcos: Solar energy is ‘quickest’ fix to Occidental Mindoro power crisis

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday that solar power would be the quickest fix to Occidental Mindoro’s power issues.

Occidental Mindoro has long battled power instability, with power outages reaching up to 20 hours per day in 2023. According to local leaders, the province has been running on emergency power supplies, which is more expensive for residents.

READ: Occidental Mindoro endures power crisis

When asked in an ambush interview what the fastest solution would be for the province, Marcos said it would be solar energy.

“Ang pinakamabilis, solar. Dahil ang solar, wala, basta’t kung mayroon kayong solar cell ay pwede nang gamitin kaagad ‘yun. Kailangan, so ‘yun talaga ang pinakamabilis,” said Marcos in Occidental Mindoro.

(The fastest is solar. Because of solar, as long as there is a solar cell, it can be used right away. It is needed, and that is what is the fastest.)

However, Marcos said that the long-term solution also involves other sources of energy, such as wind and hydroelectric.

During a situation briefing in the province on the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, Marcos said that the government is still studying the reasons behind the power instability plaguing the country, ruling out sabotage.

READ: Still not enough power for Luzon, says NGCP

The President said, however, that while there are still power outages, the situation is normalizing.

“Mayroong kaunting, ‘yung mga iba nag-power outage, pero ‘pagka-naayos natin ito, ‘pagka naayos natin ‘yung mga nag-trip na power plant at saka mga substation, eh babalik na naman tayo sa dati,” said Marcos.

(There are still some power outages, but we are fixing this. Once we fix the power plants and the substations that tripped, we will return to normal.)