Energy sector wars

President Arroyo’s dynamic duo – Energy Secretary Vincent Perez Jr. and National Transmission Corp. president and CEO Dr. Alan Ortiz, Ph.D. – just wound up a three-month continuing dialogue with major business groups all over the country which brought them to almost 30 cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

At the outset, the energy group’s primary goal was simply to inform businessmen about the Arroyo government’s 10-year however, turned out to be one major crusade against what Dr. Ortiz terms "a creeping culture of pessimism".

It is ironic that the President’s youthful energy officials should be at the forefront of the war against pessimism. But it was inevitable: the harbingers of pessimism seemed to have chosen the energy sector as the primary target of the campaign for collective despair. Secretary Perez once confided that he was dismayed to realize that some interests could actually profit from a sense of national hopelessness.

This is why at the start of every dialogue in a major regional capital, Dr. Ortiz would begin his remarks by underscoring that there is no power crisis in the country, and that a power shortage could happen only if there is no plan in place and no action is done today. But the point is there is a plan and action is being done today.

Several business leaders noted that Dr. Ortiz has been very passionate with his key messages. Among them: that there is much hope for the country’s energy supply since a plan is in place and action is being taken today; that the country must bat for affordable rather that "cheap" electricity since the interest of both consumers and investors must be balanced; and that government cannot ensure the sufficiency of energy supply without the support of the private sector.

Dr. Ortiz, however, has been most emphatic with his fourth point: that the power issue is apolitical and must remain as such. That electricity is for all, whether one is a Christian or Muslim or Lumad, would be one of the most memorable advocacy heard in the energy sector’s war against pessimism.

Secretary Perez and Dr. Ortiz had a whole arsenal to back them in this war: the Arroyo government has undoubtedly accomplished much despite the proliferation of power-related issues. No one can debate the fact that more barangays received electricity during the past three years than during the terms of other presidents combined.

To top it all, there has been no country-wide blackouts for the past 14 months now, thanks to Transco’s redundant backbone feature which prevents the occurrence of massive tripping. In addition, no other president has turned around more rural electric cooperatives from moribund to excellent within a short period of time.

Of course, the crowning glory of the latter accomplishment is Boracay. Years ago, this tourist haven suffered from numerous brownouts that made a living hell out of a paradise resort due to the political mess that ruined the operations of the local electric cooperative. Political will and decisiveness on the part of energy officials changed that.

We wish Secretary Perez and Dr. Ortiz all the best on their crusade. We are confident that optimism will win the day for the energy sector.

For comments, e-mail at [email protected]