Binay blasts Aquino admin’s failure to solve Mindanao power woes

LUGAIT, Misamis Oriental — Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday blasted the Aquino administration for its failure to address the power woes that resulted in power outages in Mindanao.

In a campaign rally at the covered court here, Binay said the administration has failed to fix the power shortage in Mindanao since it assumed power in 2010.

“Mga Mindanawon, lalong lalo na kayo na taga-rito sa Misamis Oriental, tama lamang na kayo ay magalit, tama lamang na kayo ay magtampo, magngitngit sa pamahalaang ito. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa natutugunan ang  problema (ng brown-out). Anong klaseng lider ang administrasyong ito?” Binay said.

Vice President Jejomar Binay blasts the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III for its failure to solve the power crisis in Mindanao. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net

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Binay said the Aquino administration did not even ask Congress to grant him emergency powers to solve the power woes in Mindanao.

But when Luzon expected a power shortage in 2015, Aquino asked Congress for emergency powers, which the legislature failed to give him anyway.

“Pinapakita lamang ng administrasyon na ito na kayo ay hindi pansinin. (Noong) 2010, nagbabrown-out na kayo, ni emergency powers, hindi humingi. Pero ang Luzon, wala pang brown-out, humihingi na agad ng emergency powers. Anong klaseng pagtingin sa inyo sa Mindanao?”

Binay said the administration also failed to address poverty in Mindanao even though the island province provides the food resources of the country.

“Kayo sa Mindanao, nagpapakain ng maraming pagkain sa buong Pilipinas. Pero bakit ngayon, kayo ay nabubuhay sa kahirapan? Anong klaseng administrasyon ito?” he said.

Binay was accompanied on stage by Misamis Oriental governor Bambi Emano.

In 2010, Binay won in the vice presidential race in Misamis Oriental with 280,486 votes of the 610,412 voters turn-out. Mar Roxas, meanwhile, got 190,558 votes.

In the Lugait municipality, Binay got 51.1 percent or 4,180 of votes, over Roxas’ 2,635 votes.

Mindanao suffers power shortages especially during the summer season because of thinning water supply. The island province is reliant on hydropower. JE