The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on Wednesday recommended that Mindanao be placed under a state of calamity as the power crisis continues to threaten the southern Philippine region.

NDCC chairman and Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo that he expects President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to immediately issue a presidential proclamation for the NDCC recommendation, because “she’s very concerned.”

Gonzales said the declaration would allow the government to use its calamity fund and give it “more freedom” in making “short-term solutions” for the ill-effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

Since February, portions of Mindanao has been suffering from frequent brownouts that normally last between five to eight hours, caused by a 700-Megawatt power shortage.

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Gonzales said officials from the national headuqarters of the Department of Energy are set to hold on Thursday a dialogue with power stakeholders in Mindanao to discuss different measures like the leasing of generator sets, the transfer of barges from Luzon to Mindanao, and the operation of companies during nighttime, among others.

Present in the NDCC meeting were Mindanao Development Authority chairman Jesus Dureza, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, Heath Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Defense Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina, Secretary Estrella Alabastro of the Department of Science and Technology, and Cecil Kristin O’Brien, assistant secretary of the Office of the Press Secretary.

Gonzales admitted that their decision to recommend declaring a state of calamity was brought about by Congress’ “failure” to hold a special session to tackle measures in cushioning the effects of El Niño.

In late February, Reyes submitted a recommendation to the President asking her to declare a power crisis in Mindanao.

Among the DOE’s recommendations for solving the Mindanao power crisis are the rental of 160-megawatt (MW) generator sets and the operation and maintenance of the Alsons Corp.’s 30-megawatt Iligan Diesel Power Plant 1.

The energy chief also recommended that the government enter into an operation and maintenance agreement with Alsons Corp. for the 70-megawatt Iligan Diesel Power Plant 2, and enter into a contract with Southern Philippines Power Corp. for another five megawatts of electricity.

On March 4, Mrs. Arroyo said he would be heeding Reyes’ recommendations.

Three days before that, on March 1, the House energy committee approved a proposal asking Mrs. Arroyo to declare a power crisis in Mindanao.

The motion proposed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez was unanimously approved, “recommend[ing] that the President act under Section 71 of the Epira [Electric Power Industry Reform Act] law and that she determine and declare that there is an acute and a present, actual shortage of electricity.”

It was the same motion that also asked the President to call Congress to a joint session.

But whether Congress would be able to have sufficient numbers to muster a quorum is another issue, as many incumbent legislators are running for reelection. In the Senate, four senators are running for president, while two are running for vice president. — with Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMANews.TV

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