Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon believes that energy security is key to the country’s economic development as he begins working with foreign investors on the possibility of bridging the Philippines’ gaps in power capacity.

Secretary Larry Gadon (PTV screenshot)

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Thursday, Jan. 11, the official discussed his main focus this year in building the country’s energy infrastructure.

“Hindi ka magkakaroon ng magandang economic development kung wala kang kuryente (You cannot have economic development without electricity),” he said, citing the lack of processing plants and cold-chain storage facilities in provinces because of power problems.

These provinces are then forced to sell their agricultural products quickly, Gadon added, lamenting that there are also no manufacturing plants there that generate jobs.

“Kasi ako mismo (Personally), I do not believe on dole outs. I shun dole outs,” he said.

“Kung maaari ay tulungan natin iyong mga Pilipino na magkaroon ng trabaho sapagkat iyong gusto maipatupad ng ating mahal na presidente (If possible, let us help Filipinos to have jobs because that’s what our beloved president would like),” he added.

Although the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) are the agencies directly responsible for energy security, Gadon shared that he had been involved “talking and meeting with a lot of foreign investors who are interested in putting up power plants.”

These power plants, even at only 10 to 20 megawatts capacity, “can really help in our poorest communities.”

“Kasi alam mo (Because you know) electricity that will translate to more jobs and more economic development or economic activities which means that it will generate jobs,” he said, adding that his job is to present Marcos with “ideas that should be implemented to combat poverty.”

Recently, Western Visayas was hit with massive and widespread power outage that caused the temporary suspension of classes and the closure of many businesses.

The government said it would impose sanctions on National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) after it was pointed as the culprit for the blackouts, and plans for Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) to invest in the grid corporation was floated.