Gatchalian: DOE can’t blame public for “dramatizing” brownouts as threats of yellow, red alert persist

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday said the government cannot blame the public for “dramatizing” the power outages in Luzon as the threats of having yellow and red alerts in the country’s power supply still persist.

Gatchalian's statement came after Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a House energy committee  hearing that some individuals are dramatizing the issue and causing panic to the public.

The Energy chief dismissed the information that the recent brownouts in Luzon had lasted for ten or 11 hours in some areas, claiming, power outages only lasted for a maximum of three hours.

“The primary responsibility of the DOE is to assure the public that there will be constant supply of electricity at all times. One cannot blame the public of 'dramatizing the brownouts' if there are unending threats of yellow and red alert hanging on your head while the whole country is struggling to go back to normal,” Gatchalian, chair of the Senate energy panel, said in a text message shared to reporters.

He said Congress is looking for solutions, assuring the DOE that the Senate is ready to support the agency with the “powers” necessary to end the “perennial problem of brownouts.”

“Finger-pointing will not do the country any good. The last thing DOE wants is to end its term with a legacy of brownouts,” Gatchalian said.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III also said the DOE must explain the blackout that occurred in a subdivision in Marikina which lasted for 11 hours.

He said the power was out from 10 in the evening of Tuesday, June 1, to 9 in the morning of Wednesday, June 2.

“That is 11 hours long. Can DOE answer the following? 1. Did it really happen? 2. Why did it happen? (What caused it?) 3. Who is at fault or to blame for it?” Pimentel said in a separate text message.

On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also flagged the DOE for “shifting the blame” to private power companies for its failure to prevent the rotational brownouts.

"It's disappointing. Blame everyone except yourself. Where is accountability?" Drilon said.

"The move is an attempt to shift away the blame from the government, which, obviously, failed to prepare for these power outages over the last five years. The DOE is only using power plants as scapegoats for what happened. It's a cover-up. Blame-shifting won't solve the power crisis," he said.

The Senate minority chief said he will support any investigation into the looming power crisis in aid of legislation.

“This problem, if left unresolved, has far-reaching consequences on the welfare of our people and our investment and business climate," Drilon said.

Gatchalian previously filed a resolution seeking for an inquiry on the rotational brownouts in Luzon. The hearing will most likely be conducted next week

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday delivered a privilege speech hitting Cusi for allegedly prioritizing politics over his duties as Energy secretary.

At least three senators personally experienced power outages in their own homes. This forced them to go offline during the Senate session last Tuesday.—AOL, GMA News