'Power crisis to hound LP bets in 2013 polls'

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  – Sen. Aquilino ”Koko” Pimentel III said yesterday the power crisis affecting Mindanao is an issue that will hound the candidates of President Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP) in the May 2013 elections.

Several parts of Mindanao are experiencing up to 12-hour blackouts due to the power curtailment by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

The shutdown of the Agus-Pulangi facility has worsened the power situation as the deficiency levels with available power placed at 880 megawatts as against the demand reaching more than 1,200MW.

“It will be a very big issue that will affect the LP in 2013. It is the way government responds to a problem that is the issue,” said Pimentel, president of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban party, which Vice President Jejomar Binay heads.

Pimentel said he was also dismayed by the solution to the existing power problem offered by the President – higher payment for power or suffer blackouts.

“It is because of the stand of the President that the LP would have to contend with the Mindanao power crisis issue in next year’s elections. It showed the lack of understanding of Mindanao and the problems of the island,” he said.