A left-leaning party-list lawmaker yesterday once again urged Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to resign over his warning of massive power outages in Luzon next year due to a creeping electric supply crisis that began to grip the country in 2008.
    
Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglunsod slammed Reyes for his “mind-conditioning” statement on blackouts that would jeopardize the 2010 automated national elections.
   
“I ask Secretary Reyes again to resign and spare the public from the miseries and troubles that he may bring very soon.  His statements are meant to create panic and confusion,” said Maglunsod.
   
He noted Reyes’  failure to propose steps to address the power shortage problem.
   
“Why not discuss ways and means to avert such crisis which is crucial to the country’s electoral exercise next year?  It shows his incompetence to hold the energy portfolio,” said Mag- lunsod.
   
Citizens Battle Against Corruption Rep.  Joel Villanueva said the attitude of the government to the problem is very suspicious.
   
“Kaya nga siguro ang tamlay ng effort ng gobyerno na hanapan ng solusyon ang power problem at si Angie pa ang pina-head nila. Ang paghahanda na ginagawa nila against power crisis ay i-draft ang EO (Executive Order) ng emergency powers for PGMA (President Arroyo),” said Villanueva.
   
“Ito ay magbubukas ng pinto para sa maraming dayuhang kontrata at magmumudmod ng maraming kita at kick-back na magpapayaman sa iilang tapat na naman sa administrasyon. Paano si Juan (the people)?” he asked.
   
During his presentation last week of the P933.2 million proposed budget of DoE next year, Reyes told members of the House committee on appropriations the power problem might reach critical stage next year while the  economy is recovering.
   
Reyes said the power supply problem may affect Luzon by 2010, noting that Mindanao has been experiencing intermittent power blackouts since 2008 while the Visayas is currently experiencing occasional blackouts.
   
Politicians have been opposing the modernization of polls for fear that total failure of elections may arise from a power shortage, prompting lawmakers to endorse the need to pass a bill on succession that would avert possible military takeover in June 2010. 

Source: People's Journal by By: Ryan Ponce Pacpaco Septemebr 21, 2009