Zubiri to Pimentel: Focus your anger on poverty, not me
CEBU, Philippines - Former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri who visited Cebu Friday lashed out at Senator Aquilino “Koko†Pimentel for hitting him everyday in his campaign sorties and speeches.
Zubiri asked Pimentel to instead show to the people what he has done since he assumed in the Senate.
“It seems that I am always on his mind everyday of the campaign. Why is that I’m his favorite topic in his speeches and conversations? Is it because he has no other achievements in the Senate to show except to pick on me?†Zubiri said.
Pimentel earlier criticized Zubiri on his platform of governance, particularly on providing free universal health care for every Filipino, similar to what his home province, Bukidnon, has been doing for more than ten years to the people.
Now, he is accusing Zubiri of not lifting a finger to solve the power shortfall in Mindanao.
“Sorry to disappoint the honorable senator, but for his enlightenment and information, I have taken steps even at the time when I was still a Congressman of Bukidnon to help ease the burden of the power crisis in Mindanao,†Zubiri said.
Zubiri authored Republic Act 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act which provides the entry of renewable energy projects not only in Mindanao but for the whole country.
As a result, CEPALCO in Cagayan de Oro has in its pipeline an additional 20-megawatt increase of its solar power capacity.
He also filed a resolution in the Senate calling for an investigation on the impending power crisis in Mindanao.
“It seems that the honorable senator is ignorant of his role as a legislator,†Zubiri said.
Zubiri was also the author of the Mindanao Development Authority or Republic Act 9996 which created an agency similar to NEDA that paved the way for the creation of industries in Mindanao including power generation, whose implementation lies within the executive department.
He also pointed out the 40 national laws including the Cooperative Code of the Philippines, Magna Carta for Homeowners, The New PAGIBIG Law, Rent Control Act, Renewable Energy Act, Biofuels Act and the Organic Agriculture Act as well as the hundreds of projects that were funded from his Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF.
“Finally, I’ve taken a stand since I was a Congressman all the way to the Senate to reject the sale and privatization of Agus and Pulangi hydropower facilities because of the very obvious reason that if these will be privatized, power rates in Mindanao would double,†Zubiri said.
According to Zubiri, it is so unfortunate that Pimentel chose to attack his track record of which he is quite proud of.
“In the interest of fairness, I would like to ask the good senator of what he has done in his two years in the Senate? Maybe it would be better to focus his anger towards the problems of poverty and under development as well as peace and order of Mindanao rather than petty and childish statements towards fellow candidates,†added Zubiri. (FREEMAN)
- Latest
