Chinese company tapped to solve Palawan’s power problems

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY— President Duterte announced on Thursday that the national government had tapped a Chinese company to solve the current power problems in Palawan, following up on his earlier threat to abolish the local consumer cooperative which holds the electric distribution franchise in the province.

The President said the company, Shanghai Electric, a subsidiary of the Beijing-based Power Corp. China, was coordinating with the Department of Energy on a study that would be completed by the end of the year.

“Shanghai Electric will be completing its studies toward the end of the year,” Duterte said in a speech here.

Officials of Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco), reacting to the statement, said they had no formal engagement with the Chinese company mentioned by the President.

Duterte, during his visit here in December, threatened to “expropriate” Paleco and transfer its franchise to a private company. —REPORTS FROM REDEMPTO D. ANDA AND DELFIN T. MALLARI JR.