MANILA — The Department of Energy (DOE) has expressed openness to a congressional investigation into the recent widespread power outage affecting Panay Island and other areas in Western Visayas.
DOE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan stated that such an investigation is necessary to shed light on the incident.
“Bukas ang Kagawaran ng Enerhiya sa ganitong imbestigasyon para maliwanagan at mabigyan ng pansin ang mga sitwasyon na nangyayari,” he affirmed. Marasigan also reminded the public of a similar incident in April last year, emphasizing the importance of learning from past experiences.
“Gayunpaman po, patuloy ang pangangalap natin ng mga datos, hindi pa namin masabi kung sino at saan nagmula ang pagkakaroon ng outages sa Visayas. Kaya’t kung anuman po ang magiging imbestigasyon, bukas po ang Kagawaran ng Enerhiya,” he added.
Marasigan further noted that the DOE is actively monitoring the situation on the island in collaboration with distribution utilities, electricity generators, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. However, as of Thursday, the current power generation on Panay is insufficient to restore electricity to the entire island.
(El Amigo/MNM)
