Bongbong vows to end power outage problems in Bicol

Presidential candidate and former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. vowed to address power supply woes in the Bicol Region should he get elected in the May 2022 elections.

Marcos acknowledged that the issue of power supply has become a perennial problem in the entire region, saying the issue of electricity has been worsened by strong typhoons that cross the region each year.

“Ang laking epekto nito sa pang-araw-araw na ikinabubuhay ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi na nga sila komportable sa kanilang sariling tahanan at opisina, marami nang appliances tiyak ang sinira dahil sa walang katapusang brownout sa Bicolandia,” said Marcos, who has topped various pre-election surveys, in a statement.

(This has a huge effect on the daily life of the citizens. They are no longer comfortable with their homes and offices and I'm sure that a lot of appliances were also damaged because of the power outage in Bicol.)

Bicol is the bailiwick of Vice President Leni Robredo, a former Camarines Sur district representative who is also running for president in the 2022 elections, and Marcos' closest rival based in pre-election surveys.

Marcos said a long-term solution is needed to address the problem. He stressed the need to conduct studies on alternative renewable energy sources to ease the burden of the Filipinos, especially those who are in the provinces.

“Ang gagamitin natin is natural sources of energy. Hindi na tayo gagamit ng coal. Hindi gagamit ng fossil fuel. Kailangan meron tayong kapalit and the renewables ay available,” Marcos said.

(We will use natural sources of energy. We will no longer use coal and fossil fuel. We should have other sources of energy.)

Marcos also pointed out that the scarcity of electric energy in some areas is among the reasons why some investors are having second thoughts on investing in the country.

“This has been a constant sticking point with all of our investors, not only foreign investors but even the local investors. Kapag tinatanong mo 'yung mga negosyante na gustong magtayo ng planta, gustong magtayo ng manufacturing ‘yun ang inirereklamo nila," he said.

(When we ask investors, they complain about the problem with the electricity supply.)

"Sinasabi nila ang taas masyado ng kuryente nila, hindi kami maka-compete sa ibang lugar,” Marcos said.

(They are saying that their power rates are very high and that they could not compete with other areas.)  —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News