Palace welcomes private sector assistance in addressing energy sector concerns

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MANILA — Malacanang welcomed the proposal of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) which offered its assistance in addressing the country’s energy concerns.

The FPI said it is ready to assist the government in fixing the country’s problems with regards to the supply of electricity.

The organization offered to lend the government it’s generating capacities to address the impending power shortage next year.

“That’s a very welcome proposal and expression of support from that particular federation and we are quite certain that Secretary Petilla and the rest of DOE will be coordinating with them to see what they can do to help, now that they’ve expressed na handa po silang tumulong,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.

With regards to proposals to use renewable energy to solve the country’s energy woes, Valte said those are all good suggestions but the concern is cost in carrying out such projects.

Although the use of solar energy as well as wind power is gaining traction, Valte said such sources of renewable energy is too costly for companies and ordinary consumers.

Hydroelectric power plants and coal powered plants are still the preferred sources of power because these are cheaper, she said.

In his state of the nation address (SONA) this week, President Aquino said he has instructed Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla to coordinate with Congress, power generators, consumers and other stakeholders to address the concerns in the energy sector.

Petilla announced recently that the country may experience shortage in the supply of energy in the summer of 2015.