THE proposed privatization of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex has yet again been received with a resounding opposition as it is seen as something that will aggravate the problem of consumers on high power rates and does not even ensure that it will remedy the looming power crisis.
North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, who spoke at the forum on renewal sources of energy initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines here Thursday, said selling the Agus-Pulangi hydropower complex is an “ill-advised policy.”
“I am afraid, we are afraid, that because of this policy, Mindanao will suffer the fate of Luzon and Visayas where highly expensive electricity rates were imposed after the privatization of the assets of the National Power Corporation (Napocor),” she said.
The privatization of the facility is being seen as the way to remedy the need for an efficient source of power as the country gears for development.
“But if the development will only mean the increasing concentration of economic power into the hands of a few, and the further deprivation of the increasing number of citizens, most especially our own in Mindanao, then we in the local government, together with our local communities, will frustrate it,” the lady governor said.
She said that right now, Mindanao is enjoying cheaper power rates because of the Agus-Pulangi Complex—that supplies 55.38 percent of the power needs of Mindanao.
Psalm had been saying that the privatization of the complex is necessary as the facility is too difficult to maintain.
“The present administration seems to favor the privatization of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower plants in Mindanao to avert power crisis in the island. The political line apparently being supported by the Department of Energy is that the price of electricity being generated by hydro-power in Mindanao which is around P3 per kwh is too low,” she said.
“Colorally to this is that the DOE is saying that no one will invest in Mindanao because they will not be able to compete. So the DOE would have us believe that the true cost of power should go up in Mindanao to attract new investors,” she charged.
She said that the low power rate enjoyed in Mindanao is because the Agus-Pulangi complex is still a state-owned facility.
“The relatively cheaper power is the competitive edge of Mindanao. And if the present administration will push through with its plan, we are going to lose that advantage soon to the detriment of our economy and our people. This could further exacerbate the peace and security problem in the island,” she said.
“Transferring control of 55.38 percent of Mindanao’s power supply to private corporations and a few other conglomerates would pave the way for price manipulation and the consumers will suffer. We have already seen that in Luzon and the Visayas. Cross ownership is now the norm in the said regions where the owners of power generators have also stakes in the electric distribution sector,” she added.
Mendoza said that they are aggressively lobbying for the other Mindanao leaders to support the opposition to privatization of power utilities. [Kerima Bulan Navales]
