Iloilo Gov. Defensor seeks accountability for damage caused by Panay blackout

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said Sunday they will demand public accountability for the damage caused by the widespread power outage in Panay Island.

Defensor affirmed this during a Super Radyo dzBB interview when asked if there are talks that damages will be pursued due to the massive effects of the power shutdown that lasted for four days in the whole island and its four provinces.

“Yes, we will examine our laws kasi there is always a way of exacting accountability lalo na kung public utility ang ating pinag-uusapan. Iba ang public utility sa ordinaryong korporasyon. We will pursue that,” the governor said.

(Yes, we will examine our laws because there is always a way of exacting accountability especially if we are talking about public utility. Public utility is different from an ordinary corporation. We will pursue damages.)

“Ang laki ng damage sa probinsya, sa household, sa mga lost opportunities, at tsaka negosyo ng ating mga kababayan. We will explore that—how do you exact public accountability on the part of the government,” the Iloilo official added.

(The damage to the province, to the households, to the lost opportunities, and also the businesses of our people is big. We will explore how we could exact public accountability on the part of the government.)

Defensor is invited as a resource person for a hearing of the House Committee on Energy on January 11 where he is expected to raise the issue.

Panay Island was hit by a massive power outage earlier this week due to a multiple tripping of power plants on the island.

Power returns to Panay

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Friday said the island power situation had returned to normal as affected power plants in Iloilo were working again.

The Department of Energy (DOE) blamed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for the power outage as it expressed support for a review of the grid operator’s congressional franchise.

Even President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday stressed that accountability lies with the NGCP given that the agency is tasked to ensure grid stability. The President said NGCP had time to prevent the massive power outage in Panay Island.

For its part, the NGCP stood by its position that the system prior to the multiple tripping was “normal” and that their actions “were undertaken within protocols.” 

“We firmly refute allegations suggesting that NGCP failed in its obligation to stabilize the transmission system,” the grid operator said in a statement.—RF, GMA Integrated News