Palace to finalize contingency plan at Davao power summit

Business World Online
Posted on March 30, 2012 06:35:19 PM


MALACAÑANG is banking on a power summit in Davao in April to finalize the administration’s contingency plan to ease the power crisis in Mindanao, warning against local government officials taking an “obstructionist” stance as a solution will require the full cooperation of all stakeholders. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that there are already recommended solutions at the national government level, but that these will be rendered moot if met with resistance at the local government level.
To better convince the local government units (LGUs) of Mindanao, Interior and Local Secretary Jesse M. Robredo will be at the Davao summit, which is yet to be scheduled.


“Secretary Robredo will also be making sure that the local government units are also on board. It’s a situation in Mindanao where it requires the full cooperation of everyone, it will not help [for] one local official to be obstructionist in character,” Mr. Lacierda said at a Palace briefing on Friday.


“That’s the reason why we are urging all the stakeholders in Mindanao to cooperate because there is a solution -- it takes the cooperation not only of the people but also the local government officials in Mindanao,” he added.


He explained that Energy chief Jose Rene D. Almendras and Mindanao Development Authority administrator Luwalhati R. Antonino have already submitted to President Benigno S.C. Aquino III their proposed solutions, elements of which have been discussed in various media fora by the proponents.


“They have submitted their proposed solutions which will be reviewed by the President,” Mr. Lacierda said.


These solutions will be presented to the people of Mindanao at the summit, he noted, which is scheduled tentatively after the President returns from his Cambodia trip this April 3-4. -- Johanna D. Poblete