DOE asked to ensure stable power supply in BSKE election hotspots
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday, October 26 urged the Department of Energy (DOE) and all distribution utilities, such as the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), to ensure ample power supply in the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, particularly in areas declared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as election hotspots.
“Ayaw natin na ang kawalan ng kuryente sa mga lugar na kinikilalang mga election hotspots ay maging sanhi ng anumang hindi kanais-nais na pangyayari (We do not want the lack of electricity in areas recognized as election hotspots to cause any untoward incident),” Gatchalian said in a statement.
“Kailangang tiyakin ng DOE, lalo na ng mga distribution utilities na nangangasiwa ng kuryente sa mga malalayong probinsya, na walang anumang aberya pagdating ng halalan at bilangan (The DOE needs to make sure, especially the distribution utilities that administer electricity in remote provinces, that there are no glitches when it comes to elections and numbers),” the senator pointed out.
The lawmaker warned that any power interruption during the conduct of elections could raise concerns about peace and order, and possibly jeopardize the integrity of the polls.
“Ensuring the integrity and credibility of an election hinges on the availability of a dependable power supply,” the senator stated.
The Comelec earlier disclosed that the number of barangays classified under the red category has increased from 119 to 361.
Areas placed under the red category include those with suspected election-related incidents, security threats from terrorist groups or partisan armed groups employed by candidates, or areas declared under Comelec control.
Gatchalian also said the DOE needs to work closely with various players in the energy sector, particularly power generation, transmission, and distribution utilities operating in election hotspot areas to ensure a sufficient and reliable supply of electricity.
“A stable power supply is a crucial component in maintaining peace and order and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in more than 42,000 barangays in the country,” he stressed.