With the current power problem, four Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidates pushed for the construction of non-hydro power plants in Mindanao that would serve as permanent backup energy sources in case of emergency situations like the brownouts triggered by the El Niño phenomenon.

Silvestre Bello III, a former justice secretary, said the rotating brownouts that occurred as long as eight hours in Mindanao should serve as a constant reminder to the government that the abundance of water supply in the country could not be relied on, what with the threat being posed by the drastic climate change.

“We have seen how the government was rendered helpless as these long brownouts gradually devastated the economy of Mindanao and its people. Let us correct this bad habit of engaging in cramming for quick-fix solution when we can craft long-term measures that would prevent the repeat of this incident in the future,” he said.

Broadcaster Rey Langit said that based on DoE records, Mindanao is highly dependent on hydroelectric-generated power supply, making it a hardly-hit area of the adverse effects of the dry spell.

“What made the dry spell effects even worse in terms of energy supply is that there are no short-term measures to address the power problem,” Langit said.

Atty. Raul Lambino said what made it difficult for the government to stabilize the power situation in Mindanao was because the damage had already been done and recommendations to declare the region under state of calamity came in a little too late.

“The people of Mindanao deserve a stabilized power supply like the one being enjoyed by the residents of Luzon and the Visayas,” said Bello.

For his part, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla said the setting up of permanent backup power plants maybe initiated and financed by the government or through a build-operate-transfer (BoT) scheme which had been proven to be an effective and efficient approach for good governance especially for public sector management.

“I am sure that private firms are more than willing to have its share of the solution to the problem because it is them that will certainly suffer the brunt of power outages,” Revilla concluded.

Meanwhile, congressmen from Mindanao urged President Arroyo, Secretary Reyes, to immediately call for a special session for the Congress to act on the power crisis.

During the public hearing of the House Committee on Energy, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez initiated the call by strongly suggesting it to Reyes. “She has to call first a special session for us to go into a quorum and solve the worsening power crisis immediately,” he said.

However, Reyes seemed doubtful on the suggestion considering that the solons might not convene since the Congress is in recess. “If the Congress can’t muster a quorum then that would be embarrassing. The ball is now in the hands of Congress,” he said.

Davao del Sur Rep. Mark Cagas, for his part, expressed support claiming that the worsening crisis is affecting the said province with areas having blackouts to more than five hours per day. “The problem is worsening by the day and so we are supporting this call because we want this solved now,” he said. (With reports from Mike U. Crismundo and Sarah Jane R. Hilomen)