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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Sunday, January 22, 2017
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MANILA – Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian criticized the Department of Energy (DOE) for its failure to prepare and immediately respond to disaster-affected communities.
Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on energy, said the agency’s lack of protocol for disaster mitigation and preparedness caused long-term loss of electricity.
“The DOE is the overall guardian of the energy sector, and yet you are doing nothing to help electric cooperatives prepare for and respond to calamities,” Gatchalian said.
His statement was made during the committee hearing on Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1253, or the Electric Cooperatives Disaster Management Fund Act.
While director Cesar delaFuente of DOE said a circular on the guidelines for disaster preparation, management and rehabilitation in the sector had been issued last year, he admitted that it is currently being reviewed.
SBN 1253 seeks to provide disaster-affected electric cooperatives a financial assistance of P750 million to address the inability of power facilities in the area to undertake speedy restoration and rehabilitation of power.
“The funding can likewise be used by the cooperatives to adequately prepare for natural disasters, undertake a disaster vulnerability risk assessment, and create an emergency response plan,” the Gatchalian bill said./PN
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