Improve energy supply, public transportation before rocket launch, says Robin Padilla

Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla delivered a Kontra-SONA on Tuesday where he appealed for the administration to prioritize programs targeted at improving electricity supply and public transportation instead of launching a rocket into space.

In his manifestation before the Senate plenary, Padilla called for the devolving of authority in energy development to local government units (LGUs) citing the persistent power outages in far-flung provinces in the Bicol Region.

“Bakit hindi po kami payagan na magkaroon ng autonomy, na bigyan kami ng kapangyarihan sa malalayong lugar, katulad ng pag-decentralize o pagdi-devolve ng ilang aspeto ng energy development?”, said Padilla.

(Why can’t the national government give autonomy to far-flung provinces in terms of power supply including decentralization or devolving of some aspects of energy development?)

Padilla also called for the streamlining of requirements for the establishing of power plants as well as the improvement of transportation in the country.

“Napag-usapan ang napakagandang plano, ‘yung rocket. Ako po natutuwa dyan dahil nung bata ako, ako ay taga-hanga…pangarap ‘yan ng bawat bansa pero sana ang kahilingan ko po, bago bayo makarating dyan, maayos muna ang transportasyon namin sa Bicol,” he added.

(Marcos mentioned the administration is eyeing to launch a rocket. I support that because that is a dream of every country but my hope is before we discuss that, we should implement programs enhancing transportation including one for the Bicol Region.)

The lawmaker said travel time to the Bicol Region from Metro Manila remains at 12 hours and pushed for projects that will ease transportation to the region, mentioning the bullet train as an option.

“Wala na ata kaming pag-asa yatang magkaroon ng train. Nung panahon ng nakaraang administration nagkaroon ng plano, nawala na naman po yan. Sana po mabigyan ng attention na bago mapunta sa rocket, magkaroon din tayo ng bullet train,” he added.

(We’re losing hope of having our own train system to Bicol. The previous administration had plans to build one but it was scrapped. We’re hoping that before we launch a rocket, we will have a bullet train.)

Padilla expressed support to the government’s plan to launch a rocket into space in 2027. He also backed the passage of the freedom of information bill and the proposed social media ban for minors. —RF, GMA News