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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Unacceptable': Garin echoes call to probe Western Visayas power outage 

'Unacceptable': Garin echoes call to probe Western Visayas power outage 

Published Jan 4, 2024 10:43 am

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin has joined the call to investigate the widespread blackout on Panay Island.
  • The power outage began began on Jan. 2.

Better to import Sputnik-V than produce it locally --GarinIloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin

The call to investigate the massive power outage on Panay island is beginning to snowball in the House of Representatives.

This, after House Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin called for such in a statement Thursday afternoon, Jan. 4 and insisted that those responsible for the blackout should be held accountable.

According to Garin, the "unacceptable" blackout has caused a severe impact on lives and economic activities of locals.

As such, Garin stressed the need for urgent solutions to the problem to ensure consistent and reliable electricity supply for the public.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that on Jan. 2, power plants on Panay Island tripped, leading to a significant power outage.

The next day, Jan. 3, Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda, who is another House majority leader, prodded the chamber to look into the blackout.

Citing the need to hold entities accountable for failing to maintain a reliable power grid, Garin announced her intention to file a resolution to hold a House inquiry on the power outage.

The House of Representatives is still in the middle of its five-week holiday recess. However, House committees were allowed to convene for hearings should they find it necessary.

READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/3/ranking-solon-eyes-house-probe-on-western-visayas-power-outages-1

Among the areas affected by the blackout were Guimaras Island, Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, and Capiz.

Garin noted the detrimental effects of the sudden power loss on businesses like eateries as well as fish vendors whose perishable goods were lost as a result.

"Parang hindi magandang pagsalubong sa taong 2024 (This doesn't look like a good start to the year 2024," the lady lawmaker said.

Garin called on the Department of Energy (DOE) and the NGCP to promptly address and resolve the power situation in Western Visayas.

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Janette Garin Blackout Panay Island
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