Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to step up the use of renewable energy (RE) to address the power shortage looming over the country.

Hontiveros pointed out that RE offers greater variability, flexibility, sustainability, and the possibility for energy democracy to flourish in local communities.

“Taon-taon na lang problema ang blackouts at kakulangan ng suplay (Blackouts and lack of supply are yearly problems). Both of these agencies should step up and put an end to this energy crisis once and for all,” the senator said.

She added that DOE and NGCP should also provide a transparent power and rates outlook for the coming days and months following the unexpected power outages across Luzon and the Visayas due to the tripping of NGCP’s Bolo-Masinloc transmission lines.

Hontiveros urged both agencies to be honest about the real status of the power supply as millions of consumers were expecting them to do their jobs.

“Expectation vs. Reality. Dapat maging tapat ang DOE at NGCP tungkol sa kondisyon ng power supply at ano ang aasahan ng milyun-milyong konsyumer sa mga susunod na araw at buwan (The DOE and NGCP must be honest about the state of the power supply and what millions of consumers can expect in the coming days and months),” she said. (PNA)