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Roxas seeks probe into Reyes' doomsday power crisis scenario


Alarmed over the “doomsday" power crisis scenario drawn by Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, an opposition senator filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the alleged power shortage situation in 2010. In filing Resolution 1375, Senator Manuel Roxas II said the Senate trade and commerce committee should look into the veracity of reports and determine the power supply situation of the country in order to come up with measures to protect consumers and Philippine industries. He said Reyes was quoted as saying, in his budget presentation before the House of Representatives that a power shortage might occur in the country next year and the committed power generation projects are expected to produce only 1,020 megawatts. Reyes said this is short of the required additional capacity of 4,100 megawatts and there might be a need to grant emergency powers to the President to address the problem. However, the Philippine Independent Power Producers Association disputed this. Association president Ernesto Pantangco pointed out that there would be enough power supply by next year. “Such claims (by Reyes) of a critical power supply situation are dangerous and conditions the mind of the people with an alarmist, doomsday scenario and further sends the wrong signals to private corporations and consumers, since power supply is a sensitive parameter for investors," the resolution read. In a press statement, Roxas said before giving any doomsday scenario, government officials should first find out the bottom line of the problem. “The problem is not the lack of emergency powers but bad governance," the senator said. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV

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