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‘MAKE UP YOUR MINDS’
Rep. Defensor: Energy woes must be resolved soon
 ‘DON’T DILLY-DALLY’ - Rep. Arthur Defensor Sr. (standing, center) stresses a point during the leaders’ roundtable discussion of the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council summit. With him are (from left) Iloilo Business Club president Antonio Jon, Msgr. Jose Marie Delgado of the Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary, Dr. Josette Biyo of the Philippine Science High School and Marissa Segovia of the Iloilo City Solid Waste Management Board. (FAA)
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By Francis Allan L. Angelo
HOUSE Majority Floor Leader Arthur Defensor Sr. urged community leaders to act and decide on the solution to the expensive and unstable power supply in Iloilo City.
Defensor, who represents the 3rd congressional district of Iloilo, said the Panay (power) grid “is one of the most expensive if not the most expensive grid in the entire country.”
“Electricity here is very expensive that’s why you cannot attract investors here. They’d rather go to Cebu, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas. But they will not go to Iloilo,” Defensor said.
Defensor was one of the discussants in the Leaders’ Roundtable of the
Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) leaders’
summit at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center Friday.
Defensor said Ilonggos must make a choice where to source cheap electricity.
“We have to make up our minds. Are we going to put up coal-fired power
plants to address these problems immediately?” he said referring to the
proposed coal plants in Iloilo City and Concepcion town.
Global Business Power Corp. is planning to put up a coal-fired power plant inside the property of Panay Power Corp.
DM Consunji Inc. is the proponent of the Concepcion plant.
The congressman also said statistics and real situations must be
presented as regards the perceived effects of coal-fired power plants.
“Please give us the statistics and tell us what is happening in the US
and Europe where they have coal-fired power plants. Is it possible to
put up plants that do not affect the health of inhabitants?” Defensor
said.
Instead of quarreling, Defensor urged all sectors to decide and act as regards the city and province’s power problems.
“Our biggest problem is power. Let us make up our minds on this. We
cannot afford to dilly-dally and quarrel on this or else it is useless
talking about investments.”
The MIGEDC summit was convened by Iloilo Mayor City Mayor Jerry Treñas
in cooperation with the Canadian Urban Institute, Department of
Interior and Local Government, AusAID, Canadian International
Development Agency, Local Governance Development Program and Coffey
International Development.
The summit, which is themed “The Power of One”, aims PROMOTE
sustainable development of Metro Iloilo and Guimaras by sharing the
recognized practices of Iloilo City, Guimaras and Metro Iloilo local
governments.
The affair also aims to foster sustainable partnerships with the
business sector, donor organizations and non-government organizations
in attracting investments for priority development projects and
recognize leadership excellence in Metro Iloilo and Guimaras.
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