By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed to work on addressing issues related to energy and water in his speech at the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) held at Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City, on Monday.

“Naririyan pa rin ang mga problema sa enerhiya na damang-dama ng bawat Pilipino, kagaya ng tatlong milyong kabahayan na wala pang kuryente, palagiang brownout, at ang mataas na presyo ng kuryente,” the President said, detailing the scope of the problem.

He, however, noted that out of the five million households that do not have access to electricity, 2.5 million gained connectivity to the power grid over the span of three years.

President Marcos announced that his administration will work on the completion of around 200 power generation facilities, with enough capacity to supply electricity to four million households, around 2,000 factories, or 7,000 offices and businesses.

“Hahabulin at tutuparin ng Department of Energy (DOE) at National Electrification Administration (NEA) ang nakatakdang dami ng mga kabahayang makakabitan ng kuryente ngayong taon hanggang 2028. Lalo na sa Quezon, sa Camarines Norte, sa Palawan, sa Masbate, sa Samar, sa Negros Occidental, sa Zamboanga del Sur,” the President declared.

“At sa pagtatapos ng 2028, dagdag na mahigit isang milyong kabahayan pa ang magkakaroon na rin ng kuryente, sa pamamagitan ng solar power home system,” the Chief Executive added.

He also announced the government’s reforms geared towards lowering the cost of electricity in the country; chief among them is DOE’s proposed Net Metering Program, which is awaiting approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The President likewise noted the expansion of the Lifeline Rate, whose coverage expands beyond members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to include families in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Listahanan, whose energy consumption falls within the guidelines of Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco) electricity rate subsidy program.

He also announced the government’s reforms geared towards lowering the cost of electricity in the country; chief among them is DOE’s proposed Net Metering Program, which is awaiting approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The President likewise noted the expansion of the Lifeline Rate, whose coverage expands beyond members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to include families in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Listahanan, whose energy consumption falls within the guidelines of Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco) electricity rate subsidy program.

The Chief Executive also lamented the power outage that significantly disrupted the lives and businesses of residents in the Visayan island province of Siquijor, which prompted a state of calamity declaration and urgent response from concerned authorities.

The Chief Executive also lamented the power outage that significantly disrupted the lives and businesses of residents in the Visayan island province of Siquijor, which prompted a state of calamity declaration and urgent response from concerned authorities.

“Sa ginawa nating imbestigasyon, ano ‘yong ating natuklasan? Mga expired na permit, sirang generator, na halatang napabayaan, kaya sunod-sunod na bumibigay; mabagal na aksyon, at kawalan ng maayos na sistema ng pagbili ng krudo at ng mga piyesa,” President Marcos said.

“Hindi na dapat ito maulit muli. limbestigahan ang naging kapabayaan dito, at ang iba pang mga katulad na kaso sa buong bansa. Dapat nilang ayusin ang pamamahala ng mga kumpanya ng kuryente, at ipag-utos ang pag-refund kung kinakailangan,” he added, vowing to hold those behind the Siquijor power disruption accountable.

On water problems

President Marcos likewise emphasized the importance of ensuring an adequate supply of potable water across the archipelago, especially in far-flung islands.

“Marami tayong mga malalaking proyekto na nakalatag para sa [bultuhang] supply [ng] malinis na tubig sa buong bansa,” the President said.

“Mayroon din tayong mga makabagong sistema upang salain ang tubig at gawin itong malinis para mainom, lalo na para doon sa mga taga-isla,” he added.

The Chief Executive, however, lamented the numerous complaints that he received about a major water services provider that has affected six million consumers across the country, directing the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to look into this pressing issue and hold those responsible for this conundrum accountable.

“Titiyakin ng LWUA na mailalagay na sa ayos ang serbisyo ng tubig ng milyon-milyon nating mga kababayan at gawing mas abot-kaya naman ang presyo,” President Marcos said.

“Higit sa lahat, titiyakin nating mapapanagot ang mga nagpabaya at nagkulang sa mahalagang serbisyong-publiko na ito,” the President declared.

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