Palace defends DOE's Garin amid energy challenges

Malacañang on Thursday defended Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin amid the energy challenges in the country brought about by the Middle East crisis.

''Marami po sa atin dito malamang hindi nakikita kung gaano po magtrabaho ang DOE. Halos malamang kung nakikita ninyo ang hitsura ngayon ni Secretary Sharon Garin mukhang wala na laging tulog sa pagtatrabaho,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a briefing.

(Many of us might not see how DOE works amid challenging times. If you'll see Secretary Sharon Garin, it seems she's no longer sleeping.) 

''So, hindi natin pupuwedeng i-judge ang DOE dahil sila po mismo ang sobra po ang pagtatrabaho. Kung lahat po ng ahensiya ng gobyerno ay nagtatrabaho, mas lalung-lalo na po si Secretary Sharon Garin ng DOE,'' she added.

(We can't judge the DOE as they are working very hard, especially Secretary Sharon Garin.) 

Earlier this month, Garin guaranteed that the Philippines has sufficient fuel reserves amid public concerns due to price volatility resulting from the Middle East tensions. 

Back then, Garin said domestic fuel reserves, including fuel retailers’ stockpile as well as incoming orders already in transit, would be good for the next 50 days.

On Tuesday, Senator Loren Legarda lambasted Garin’s absence in the first half of the Senate ad hoc committee’s hearing on how the government would respond to the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Later, Garin was able to face the ad hoc committee. She explained that the Philippines may face a severe fuel shortage in the next few months as a worst-case scenario, should the tensions in the Middle East further escalates. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News