Press Release
February 22, 2010

LOREN: SOLUTION TO POWER CRISIS BEGINS
AT HOME, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES

Senator Loren Legarda appealed to households to "conserve more, consume less" in order to ease the worsening power crisis in the country, especially in Mindanao.

The National Grid Corp. (NGCP) has placed Mindanao under "red alert" as the power situation continues to worsen. This is due to the recent dry spell which has reduced the capability of Mindanao's hydropower sources to generate energy.

The NGCP has announced that contingency reserve is zero due to generation deficiency caused by reduced capabilities from two hydro power plants, the Agus Hydro with 50 percent reduction and the Pulangi hydro electric power plant with 75 percent reduction.

"At the personal household level, my appeal is to conserve more and consume less. We should use power saving lights and appliances, save water, and use solar-run systems," said Loren, chair of the Senate Climate Change Committee.

Loren added, "At the national government level we should expand and strengthen alternative sources of energy like geothermal, hydro, wind, and ocean convection. In the long run, this will reduce our reliance on fossil fuel."

The Philippines is already the second biggest geothermal energy producer, and has a huge potential for renewable energy generation.

"This is the most critical time to explore our alternative sources of fuel and energy. We are always at the mercy of world oil price fluctuations, and with the onset of climate change, we are even more pressed for power sources," she said.

Loren said, "Renewable energy expansion will help solve our energy problems. It's an important step we must take in order to harness and develop the abundant alternative energy resources that our country possesses."

Loren also reiterated her call to the COMELEC to adopt measures to ensure that despite blackouts, elections will be uninterrupted.

"Since the NAPOCOR can program these blackouts, it follows that it is within the NAPOCOR's power and control to schedule power outages. The COMELEC must consult with the NAPOCOR to ensure that blackouts will not occur on Election Day. COMELEC should warn NAPOCOR that scheduling power outages during Election Day is tantamount to sabotage of the holding of elections and NAPOCOR officials must answer for their action in a court of law," she said.

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