Makati City Mayor Abby Binay (left), former senator Manny Pacquiao (Mayor Binay's office, MANILA BULLETIN)

CARMEN, Davao del Norte--Mindanao has long been known for its power supply problems--a fact acknowledged by administration senatorial candidates Makati City Mayor Abby Binay and former senator Manny Pacquiao.

Binay and Pacquiao offered solutions to the region's power woes during the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate's press conference here.

“I think there is a an opportunity for renewable energy (RE)—yun kasi ang aking adbokasiya (because this is my advocacy),” Binay said in a press conference here.

Binay said that so far, RE sources like solar, hydroelectric and biomass make up only a small percentage of Mindanao’s power capacity.

She said solar and biomass make up only two percent of the capacity mix, as well as biomass and hydroelectric energy.

“And those are untapped potential that Mindanao can be a source of solution to the demand for power,” noted the Makati mayor.

Binay also said solar energy could address the lingering problem of electricity in last-mile schools.

Pacquiao, for his part, offered a bolder approach--nuclear energy for his home region of Mindanao.

The boxing icon-turned-politician said during the same presser that unreliable power was a major obstacle to economic growth. He said it discourages investors from setting up businesses in the Philippines.

“That’s our number one problem—power supply. Investors hesitate to come in because of it. Frequent brownouts are a big disadvantage to businesses,” Pacquiao said in mixed Filipino and English.

To address this, Pacquiao advocated for the revival and establishment of nuclear power plants, as he cited the example of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

“If we continue at this slow pace, our country’s development will be even slower than a turtle’s,” he remarked. He pointed out that progressive nations prioritize stable and sufficient power supply.