Marcos open to having another power provider in Siquijor
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is open to the possibility of having another electric provider in Siquijor amid the power crisis in the province.
In an ambush interview on Wednesday, Marcos was asked if it is possible for Siquijor to have another electric provider. This came after he directed an investigation into the operations of the Siquijor Island Power Cooperative (SIPCOR).
''Everything is on the table. We just have to examine what is the best solution. We have some very good ideas na. The NEA administrator is here and he has put out a framework on what we need to attend to, what would come first, etc. We will give you more detail after the detailed planning for that,'' he said.
According to Marcos, the government has six months to implement the short-term interventions to address the power crisis, including the use of generators. In that six months, he emphasized the need ''to repair damage that has been caused by the collapse of the power supply.''
''We have given ourselves a deadline of six months for the short-term solution. By six months from now, we will then impose whatever new arrangements that we have to do, so that six months from now, we do not have to resort to emergency genset,'' he said.
The President also said SIPCOR should live up to its commitments in providing electric supply in the province.
Meanwhile, Marcos said two generator sets would arrive in the province from Palawan to provide power supply to residents.
The provincial government of Siquijor through its Sangguniang Panlalawigan has declared a state of calamity due to the worsening power crisis.
The approved resolution will empower the provincial government of Siquijor to access its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF), specifically the Quick Response Fund (QRF), to implement immediate interventions.
Marcos inspected the SIPCOR power plant in Siquijor to address the recurring power interruptions in the province and to ramp up actions to address the power supply deficiencies.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
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