Group bucks giving PNoy emergency power

MANILA, Philippines - A religious group on Wednesday said it is opposing the proposal to grant emergency power to President Benigno Aquino III to address the power crisis in the country.

Association of Major Religious Superior of the Philippines Executive Secretary for Men Father Marlon Lacal said the government should revisit the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), considered by some as the culprit of the problem in power supply.

The prelate also scored the lack of preparation of the government in looking and tapping into alternative sources of power.

“Hindi kailangan ang emergency powers para kay Pnoy. We have already existing laws that would handle that matter, kailangan lang full implementation and then they have to look back sa EPIRA law, kasi yan yung isa sa dahilan kung bakit nagkaka-problema tayo.

"Walang necessary preparations at visioning ang pamahalaan, alam na nilang wala ng kagubatan wala ng source of water dapat maghanap sila ng alternative na pagkukunan ng kuryente at dapat pinaghahandaan yan," Lacal told Radyo Veritas.

He said the efforts being done by Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla to curb the worsening power situation are not enough.

“I think he's trying his best, but his best is not good enough," he added.

Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, meanwhile, reported that the power outage in the province has worsened from three-hour rotational brownouts last year to 12 hours this year.

“There is always brownout in Basilan, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Isabela city's business district. The blackout is from time to time... very problematic kami dito," Bishop Jumoad said.