BAYAN Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Sunday warned that the blackout being experienced by residents of Occidental Mindoro may soon also happen in Oriental Mindoro if concerned agencies would not act very soon.
The fuel subsidy of P100 million since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for power suppliers has yet to be released by the National Power Corp.
“The power situation of the two provinces are the same; the only difference is that the power providers in Oriental Mindoro has not shut down yet but if the NPC and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) would not act immediately and release the fuel subsidy then a total black out in Oriental Mindoro may also happen in the near future,” he said.
“Just a few days ago, three power providers of the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (Ormeco) failed to secure fuel supply from suppliers inside and outside the province that amounts to a power deficit of at least 18 megawatts, which means more brown outs are in the offing for the province. If this continues then a black out is not far off,” he added.
He said a 15-megawatt power generator would P5 million per day to run but without the fuel subsidy from the NPC to be ordered by the ERC.
He lamented that the power providers cannot shoulder the costs anymore, and that the fuel suppliers do not want to release fuel until they are paid.