Power crisis may be artificial - Maza

In the Nacionalista Party (NP) sorties in Surigao City and Butuan City today, Makabayan-NP senatorial candidate Rep. Liza Maza assailed official proposals for Pres. Arroyo to use emergency powers to resolve the looming power crisis in Mindanao, after the House Committee on Energy yesterday endorsed in a hearing the proposal asking Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to declare a power crisis in Mindanao.

"It seems that the power crisis is being artificially staged to force a situation where emergency powers are invoked and transparency in biddings and negotiations can be foregone," Maza said.

Maza cited the statements from heads of electric cooperatives in Mindanao questioning reports on power shortages and reports that Aboitiz Power Corp. will be setting up coal-fired plants and hydropower plants in Mindanao.

Section 71 or the Energy Crisis Provision of EPIRA states that “Upon the determination by the President of the Philippines of an imminent shortage of the supply of electricity, Congress may authorize, through a joint resolution, the establishment of additional generating capacity under such terms and conditions as it may approve."

Emergency powers include the ability to enter into negotiated contracts, or those that do not have to pass through biddings because of the urgency of the situation.

"There is real fear also that the power crisis is being propped up to condition the scenario of brown-outs during elections. Is this a dry run for the eventual scenario of failure of elections?," Maza asked. ###