Duterte gives Palawan until year-end to resolve power outages

November 11, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte has tasked the local government of Palawan and its energy cooperative to resolve the prolonged power disruptions in the province until the end of this year.

In his speech in Puerto Princesa City on Saturday, Duterte said the national government is prepared to expropriate the energy franchises in the province and offer them to other operators if this is the only way to solve the problem.

"I hold nothing against cooperatives, they are pioneering spirits. But on the extreme, maybe, I'll give you about, towards the end of the year, a new setup that would provide energy, enough energy to run a place, and so that it can develop and it can operate, it can move," he said.

“You will have to upgrade your source of energy. Because if not, what will I do, I will really look for money. China, they are itching just to get hold of development here. I will expropriate your franchise. I’ll buy and valuation that is fair, just compensation, to end this impasse," he added.

He said that the "six to eight hours" power interruptions are “not acceptable”.

Duterte said that he would set a meeting with Palawan governor and Puerto Princesa mayor to fix the matter.

In a report, Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) blamed the brownouts to power line faults and problems in its independent power provider's generators.

Data from PALECO from January to November 2016 showed that the people experienced an average of over four power interruptions per day. Ella Dionisio/DMS