Still no solution on power woes – Palace

CDN FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Despite proposals to give President Benigno Aquino III emergency powers, the Department of Energy (DOE) will still have to review the electricty situation in the country and submit a formal list of recommendations, Malacañang said Thursday.

“Upon instructions of the President, the DOE is now reviewing the projected demand and supply situation and the available options to meet this situation in Luzon in 2015; and upon submission of the same, the DOE will await further guidance of the President,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a televised briefing.

Coloma clarified that the study was still ongoing and that Aquino will announce his decision after everything is finalized.

No rate hike

The Secretary also assured the public that a rate increase would not be necessary since the need for additional power supply is only for a couple of months during the summer of 2015.

“Ngayon naman ay limited extent and limited duration lamang iyong ina-address ni Secretary (Jericho) Petilla at siya na mismo ang nagsasabi na base sa kanyang simulations, hindi naman ito inaasahang hahantong sa mas mataas na pagsingil,” he said.

(Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla is only addressing a limited extent and limited duration energy supply problem and it was him who said that based on simulations, there is no expected increase in electricity rates.)

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