Marcos on power infra: Others forgot about it, we’re catching up only now

Marcos on power infra: Others forgot about it, we’re catching up only now

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government is working to bring down the power rates.

In an ambush interview in Cotabato, Marcos was asked how the government is handling the country’s energy crisis.

“Mayroon kaming mga plano, mga strategy para hindi na magtaas ng presyo ng kuryente. At least for now, in this crisis time,” said Marcos.

(We have plans and strategies so that the electricity prices do not increase. At least for now, in this crisis time.)

READ: Higher electricity prices forecast until May

Marcos also reiterated that the ongoing electricity crisis is not manmade.

“No. It definitely is not an artificial crisis dahil talagang the power systems are overloaded. Ang naging consumption natin, biglang tumaas talaga because of the… dahil napakainit,” said Marcos.

(No. It definitely is not an artificial crisis because the power systems are overloaded. Our consumption suddenly went up really because of the… because it’s very hot.)

READ: Nationalization eyed to solve power crisis

Marcos said the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has been instructed to establish more transmission lines, as well as submarine cables.

“Matagal na dapat ginawa ito, pero nakaligtaan yata ng mga iba. Ngayon lang namin… ngayong lang tayo naghahabol,” said Marcos.

(This should have been done a long time ago. Others seem to have forgotten it. We have just… we are catching up only now.)