Solution to the power problems experienced in Puerto Princesa City and Palawan lies on the hands of first and second district representatives Antonio Alvarez and Abraham Mitra, according to Albay representative Al Francis Bichara, vice-chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy.

“The solution to your power problems depends on the aggressiveness of your two congressmen because they are in the position to do something about it,” Bichara told the Palawan media after the inquiry conducted Nov. 14 at the Mendoza Park.

The Congress conducted a public hearing following a resolution jointly authored by Alvarez and Mitra directing the House’s energy committee to conduct an inquiry as to the power problems in the province.

According to the resolution, Palaweños “complain that Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco) supplies the most expensive and very unreliable supply of electricity compared to the rates and services rendered by other cooperatives in the country.”

Present were officials of Paleco, National Power Corporation (NPC), Delta P, and Palawan Power Generation, Inc.

“Your congressmen can lobby to the Committee on Appropriations so they can request for financial support to help Paleco,” Bichara said.

Paleco, being the power distributor, related during earlier inquiries that the generators they use were the ones they had since their establishment in 1972.

According to NPC, Palawan has an installed power capacity of 40 megawatts. Puerto Princesa and southern municipalities only have a 21-megawatt power demand, leaving extra 19 megawatts.

The problem was that Paleco lacks in financial matters, according to Bichara.

“Assuming that they are performing well does not mean it should stop improving its maintenance activities because lines and transformers need maintenance. Palawan Power said that there will be an additional power supply so there will be no more shortages,” he explained.