Press Release
May 9, 2013

Bongbong Marcos says gov't should build more power plants

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. reiterated his call for the government to ensure adequate, dependable and cheaper supply of electricity in the country.

The senator aired this call following the massive blackout that hit Metro Manila and a large part of Luzon Wednesday after six power plants, with a combined output of 3,700 megawatts, all shut down.

Marcos expressed concern over the adverse effect of inadequate supply of electricity on the country's economy and the quality of life of the people.

"This is part of the problem why the poverty rates have been shown to have not improved. This is because the government has made no public investments in basic infrastructure, which we need for the economy to be more equitable," Marcos said.

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) earlier reported that the poverty level in the country in the first half of 2012 remained statistically unchanged since 2006: at 27.9 percent from 28.6 percent in the same period in 2009, and 28.8 percent in 2006.

"No economy can grow without the corresponding growth in power supply. This has been historically shown by every economy in the world since the beginning of electricity," Marcos added.

Marcos said the government should adopt a strategic long-term plan to address the ongoing power crisis in Mindanao and the power supply needs of the entire country as well by building more power plants.

"Kailangan nang magbuo ng strategic plan at sabihin na talagang bibigyan na ng pansin hindi lamang kung ano yung kakulangan ngayon kundi kung ano ang kakailanganin in the next 10 years in the next 15 years, in the next 20 years," Marcos stressed.

He noted that several years ago there were already obvious signs of the looming power crisis in Mindanao and yet the government scrambled only into action after the problem has blown in its face.

"This is symptomatic of what an economist described as the 'paralysis of decision-making' in the government," Marcos said.

News Latest News Feed