Former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has called on the government to make certain revisions to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and develop a tourist strategic plan to alleviate the country’s crippling power outages that affect the tourism industry.
In a report by the Mnaila Standard, Pimentel expressed concerns on energy issues that seem to be affecting tourist spots such as Siargao. Zubiri added that there should be a master plan for tourism, as these destinations have been bringing income to the country.
A part of this tourism plan involves guaranteeing the continuous supply of electricity not only to the residents in the area but also to the establishments in the industry.
While addressing the electricity issues impacting residents in tourist hotspots, Zubiri shared his experience in Siargao. He noted the island’s struggle with frequent power outages, mentioning that the resort where his family stayed had to run its generator from 10 PM to 7 AM due to power inconsistencies.
The former senate president added that islanders were obliged to pay high power rates amounting to Php 16 per kilowatt hour (kWh).
Zubiri stressed that unless the electrical crisis is addressed, the country will continue to face barriers to investment.
To this, Zubiri suggested that amendments to the EPIRA should be made not only to address the recurring power outages but also the increasing cost of electricity in the country.
