Raffy Tulfo seeks probe on ‘persistent, recurring’ power outages

Senator Raffy Tulfo filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the “persistent and recurring” power outages and rotational blackouts across the Philippines.

In his Senate Resolution 107, Tulfo - chair of the Senate Energy Committee - said that “chronic and recurring” power outages have been plaguing several parts of the country in the past two years.

He cited the rotational brownouts which occurred after a red alert status was raised in Luzon in June 2021.

Tulfo lamented that the situation had not changed after a year, with another power outage on the island in June 2022 due to technical issues.

The neophyte lawmaker was also concerned about power issues in Oriental Mindoro and Albay, citing reports of power and electric supply interruptions which Tulfo said were “pervasive almost every day in these provinces, thus, power outages were unreasonably becoming a way of life to their residents.”

"Vis-a-vis these power interruptions are raising power rates which have unjustly posed an additional burden to the people," Tulfo wrote.

The senator said the “most disturbing” case among all the regions suffering from power outages was the situation in Mindoro.

“[W]hereby Occidental Mindoro has been officially placed in a ‘state of power crisis’ in July 2022. Both Oriental and Occidental Mindoro have been enduring six to 14 hours of power outages every day since June 27 because of a shortage in power supply affecting over a million of its residents,” Tulfo wrote in his resolution.

Amid these power outages and rotational brownouts, the Senator said there was also a deluge of complaints on media and social media from consumers condemning unreasonable power rates.

"Electricity prices in the Philippines remain one of the highest in Southeast Asia and considered relatively high compared to global standards, at roughly $0.20 per kWh, a reality that consumer groups have consistently denounced," Tulfo said.

"These inexplicable power supply interruptions and power rate hikes
have caused enormous discomfort, disturbance, and inconvenience to the Filipino people, essentially robbing them of their Constitutional right to a quality life, not to mention the adverse effects of these energy problems to businesses and the resultant damage to their property," he added.

The lawmaker mentioned the demand of residents of Camarines Norte, Laoag City, Olongapo City for the authorities and electric cooperatives to explain the rising power rates amid the scarcity in supply.

Apart from this, Tulfo said numerous complaints regarding unfair electricity charges and power outages in Oriental Mindoro, Nueva Ecija, Northern Samar, Pampanga, Batangas, Negros, Quezon Province, South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Laguna, Zamboanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Isabela, Masbate, Aurora, Bicol, Southern Leyte and Davao Oriental were also raised in different social media platforms.

“There is an urgent need for an inquiry and to investigate these occurrences and complaints to find an immediate solution to an impending crisis and adopt necessary legislative measures that will provide long-term energy security, sufficiency, and stability to all Filipinos,” Tulfo said in his resolution.

"Hopefully, pag ako po'y nagpatawag ng [Energy Committee] hearing in aid of legislation, ma-address na po yung mga problema tungkol dito at makahanap na po tayo ng tamang solusyon," Tulfo said in an interview with reporters.

Tulfo said he would invite the officials from concerned agencies, including the former and current Department of Energy executives, as well as the officials of the local government units mentioned.

“We will also invite the governor, the congressman, and other government officials. For me, the local government unit shares a responsibility to quickly respond to the complaints of their constituents,” Tulfo said. — DVM, GMA News