Even if Occidental Mindoro’s power supply has been restored after it was affected by a three-day blackout that started last June 25, Senator Win Gatchalian is requesting a Senate investigation to solve the problem of power disruptions afflicting the province for some years now.
“When there is no negotiation, there is no kita among the people. Aaaring maapektuhan pati ang pagpasok sa paaralan ng mga mag-aaral kung magpapatuloy pa ito sa mga susunod na buwan. Have you considered the possibility that the situation in Occidental Mindoro is ganito-na lang palagi?” Gatsalian enquired.
“I’m hearing complaints from the residents. We must determine the cause of the province’s ongoing electricity issue “said he.
Gatchalian will submit a resolution asking the Senate to instruct the appropriate committee to launch an investigation in support of legislation on the subject, emphasizing the importance of supply reliability and power quality as well as the need to shield consumers from financial losses brought on by power outages.
The senator said that when he visited the province during the previous election season, he even personally experienced a power outage.
Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. (OMCPC), according to reports, stopped providing electricity to Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc. (OMECO) on June 25 last year since the power supply agreement between the two parties had already run out.
The power was restored last Monday. A power supply agreement (PSA) between OMECO and OMCPC has been granted provisional approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in order to address the power supply issue and put an end to the ongoing rotational outages.
Occidental Mindoro’s franchise region is serviced by OMECO, an electric cooperative with 240,887 connected households overall.
“Kung hindi mabibigyan ng solusyon ang problemang ito, mapag-iiwanan ang probinsya ng Occidental Mindoro. Malaking bagay ang pagkakaroon ng tuloy-tuloy na suplay ng kuryente, may pandemya man o wala. Isa itong dahilan sa mabilis na pag-unlad ng isang lugar o ng buong bansa.
Kung hindi sapat ang mga umiiral na batas para tugunan ang problema sa suplay at kalidad ng kuryente sa Occidental Mindoro o kahit saan pa mang lugar o probinsiya, maaari tayong magbalangkas ng mga bagong batas o reporma sa mga kasalukuyang batas,” Gatchalian said in justifying his call for an inquiry in aid of legislation.