Manila Philippines — The lawmaker urged the government to implement the nationalization of power industries in the country to combat the energy crisis in the country.
According to House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro, this is in relation to the Luzon and Visayas grid being placed on red alert which resulted in a widespread power outages in the region.
According to Castro, it is said that due to the privatization of power industries, destabilization of the supply resulted in widespread brown outs and an increase in the electricity bills.
“Privatization destabilizes the power industry for consumers, leading to relentless power rate hikes and frequent brownouts. This results in cartels colluding on industry conditions, as seen in Luzon and Visayas where privatization has caused record-high power rates, setting a worrying precedent for Mindanao,” Rep. Castro stated.
The purpose of the proposal is to return to the government the control of the power industries is to have a stable supply and affordable electricity bill.
The lawmaker insists that in order to avoid possible power outages in the future, the rehabilitation and full operation of power plants in the country should be a priority of the government.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has also lifted the red alert status in Luzon and Visayas Grid, a week after raising the alarm due to the lack of electricity supply.
Senate Committee on Energy Vice Chair Senator Win Gatchalian wants to investigate the lack of electricity supply in the entire country because even