Bigger plot seen in Mindanao power woes

DAVAO CITY—An independent senatorial candidate pinned the blame on Mindanao’s continuing crisis in electricity on government neglect of two hydropower facilities that he said are being left to rot to allow their sale at bargain prices.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, who is running for senator as an independent candidate, said in a statement that the Agus-Pulangui Hydropower systems in Mindanao are being neglected because government wants to sell them at rock-bottom prices.

“Government did not repair or rehabilitate the power plants because it planned to sell them anyway,” he said.

Although additional electricity supply came in the way of diesel-fed power barges, Casiño said this was done at the expense of consumers.

He said the government sold power barges 117 and 118 to the power firm Therma Marine Inc. (TMI), owned by the Aboitiz family, which was allowed to “drop existing supply contracts and jack up its prices beyond the reach of regular power distributors.”

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“A problem caused by privatization cannot be solved by more privatization and commercialization,” he said.

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“Government cannot escape from its obligation of providing cheap and stable power to the people of Mindanao,” said Casiño.

He said another blow to consumers in Mindanao is looming as the Department of Energy plans to adopt a market for power supply in Mindanao that is patterned after the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), where suppliers can sell electricity to bulk consumers but at often higher costs.

“Why should consumers shoulder this amount while power companies prosper?” he said.

Instead of selling the Agus-Pulangui Hydropower facilities, Casiño said the government should rehabilitate and operate these at their full capacity. Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao

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