Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 4) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he will order a government takeover of the power distribution in Palawan amid reported energy woes on the island province.
Duterte called out a certain power operator during his speech at a National Task Force and Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-RTF ELCAC) event in Puerto Princesa, recalling how he “confronted” the firm three years ago due to the energy situation in the locality.
“Walang nangyari (nothing happened), so I will be discussing with [Energy] Secretary [Alfonso] Cusi. We will take over and i-distribute namin (we’ll distribute),” Duterte said. “You cannot claim exclusivity, you cannot claim private interest because itong ilaw (this light) is impressed with public good.”
“They wrote me a letter promising action that it will be improved,” he pointed out. “So kunin ko na lang (I’ll just take it). It is not a right, it is not a privilege. It’s a thing granted to you and government can take it anytime.”
Duterte added he will issue an order on the expropriation by “next week.”
The chief executive did not name the concerned operator. But in 2018, he issued a warning to the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) that the national government may be compelled to take over its facilities if power interruptions persist.
CNN Philippines has reached out to Cusi for more details on the matter.
