Mindanao energy summit to push through despite bomb incident

MANILA, Philippines - Tomorrow’s Mindanao Energy Summit in Davao City will push through as scheduled despite yesterday’s bomb blast in Cotabato province, Malacañang said yesterday.

Speaking to reporters, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the national government will discuss and formulate solutions to the power situation in the region.

“The summit’s a go on Friday, that’s certain,” he said.

Lacierda said the government will conduct a thorough investigation to bring to justice those responsible for the bomb blast in Cotabato.

“Any act of violence against the civilian population is an act that is always condemnable and certainly we will look into the incident,” he said.

“We will investigate first... we will have to defer to (Interior) Secretary (Jesse) Robredo as to the status, and we will ask him if we can provide any assistance to those who were affected, injured and slain in that bombing incident... certainly we condemn the bombing.”

Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson, said preparations are being firmed up for the largest gathering of power industry stakeholders from all over Mindanao tomorrow.

“The Power Summit accords us the opportunity to discuss the real Mindanao power situation and the specific short to long-term measures that stakeholders wanted acted on jointly by the government and the industry players,” she said.

Based on latest confirmations around 300 to 350 delegates are expected to attend the event, she added.

Antonino said Aquino has sought proposed measures for resolving the Mindanao power problem and putting in place a long-term action plan that should form part of the shared consensus of the Mindanao stakeholders.

“This is being done for and by the Mindanaons who have a direct stake on the Mindanao power issue and what needs to be done, and the President will be there to see to it that the proposed measures are thoroughly studied and doables carried through,” she said.

Among those expected to take part in the one-day summit are heads and representatives of all electric cooperatives in Mindanao, distribution utilities, generation companies, governors and city mayors, Mindanao lawmakers, business and industry sectors, non-government organizations, civil society groups and consumer advocates.

– With Rhodina Villanueva