MANNY PACQUIAO HITS MINDANAO BROWNOUTS; SUPPORTS HYDROPOWER GENERATION PLAN

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who is running for his second term as Congressman of the lone district of Saranggani unopposed, has expressed dismay at the long brownouts suffered by people in his province and other parts of Mindanao and said unless addressed this will stunt the growth of the island.

During dinner in his mansion in Dadiangas Heights in General Santos City, Tuesday Manny told me that he blames government for not projecting the power requirement of Mindanao in relation to its economic growth.

“Here in Gen. Santos City for example, why did the local government unit fail to anticipate that with the entry of the big shopping malls like Robinson and SM, the power requirement would tremendously increase?”, he asked.

While there is a Coal Powered Generation Plant being constructed in Maasin, Saranggani now, Cong. Pacquiao said it will take at least two more years before it could be operational.

“In the meantime, anong gagawin natin (what do we do?)?” the congressman asked.

When I shared with him my plan of action in addressing the brownout right after the elections which would include the immediate dispatch of a power barge and the long-term plan of the provincial government of North Cotabato building its own hydropower facilities, Congressman Pacquiao immediately expressed his approval.

“Dapat ganyan ang pananaw natin. Merong short term at merong long-term solutions,” Manny said.

He said he favored hydropower over coal-powered generation plants which he believes pose a risk to the fishing industry around Saranggani Bay.

“Hydropower generation is more sustainable and less destructive to the environment,” he said.

“Go ahead with your plan, I will support you in every way I could,” were the parting and comforting words of Manny Pacquiao addressed to me before I left his posh mansion at about 1 a.m. Wednesday.