DUTERTE ORDERS ELECTRICITY WOES FIXED; THREATENS TO EXPROPRIATE POWER DISTRIBUTION

“Either you do it or I will do it for you. I will expropriate.” -PRRD

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte set a deadline for the local electric cooperative to shape up towards the end of the year or he will have its assets expropriated so that the people will have a better service.

The 6 to 8 hours of blackouts in Palawan is very unacceptable for him. “Kasi yung inyong sitwasyon dito, ‘yung inyong ilaw dito at this late day of the development of the country, may brownout kayo na 6 to 8 hours, that is not unacceptable to me,” he said. He said that there a lot of possible partners who can better the energy sector of the island but says that if the cooperative is providing good electricity for the city, then he will step out of the issue. “Marami yan sila, may partners.

Gusto ninyo? But I’m really trying to find out if it is justified. Because if it (coop) is providing good electricity. Kung gusto mo lang mag agaw ng negosyo, ah huwag naman. If it (coop) can provide everything that a City needs to develop, hindi ako makikialam.” President Duterte explained.

The president warned, “Either you do it or I will do it for you. I will expropriate.” President Duterte said that if the cooperative did not upgrade the energy source, he will look for someone to expropriate the franchise at a fair and well-compensated valuation; he even mentioned that China has a big interest to hold developments around the country. “Kasi pag hindi, ang gagawin ko maghahanap ako ng may pera talaga – China, nangangati ang kamay niyan just to get hold of developments here.

Kung meron kayo, I will expropriate your franchise. Bilihin ko yan at a valuation that is fair – just compensation. Kung ganun lang dito, to end this almost an impasse, i-expropriate ko yan, pabayaran ko yang cooperative then ipabigay ko sa mag operate na bago,” he said. He said he has nothing against the cooperative and appreciated that they are a “pioneering spirit” in Palawan. “I have nothing against cooperatives, they are a pioneering spirits.

Ngayon, on the extreme, maybe I will give you, walang personalan to trabaho lang talagaI’ll give about towards the end of the year (to have) a new set up that would provide enough energy so that it can operate and it can move. You have to upgrade your source of energy,” he said. The president emphasized that he wanted to talk to the governor and other officials about the said matter especially about the cases of blackouts within Palawan. “I’d like to talk to the governor, mag usap tayo, mag kape lang tayo, sir, sa opisina ko. Pag-usapan natin to. Hindi ko maano na hanggang ngayon at this end of time merong electricity tapos napuputol,” he added.

The president explained that if there is no enough money for the development of energy source and there are no solutions, then he will talk to the people that could really lend a help regarding the issue. “If there is not enough money, you have to bring in help. If there is no relief in sight, better begin to talk to the people who can help us,” said Pres. Duterte.