Recurring shortages

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

In the midst of rotating blackouts brought about by massive power shortages and the rationing of water from dams and irrigation facilities because of the dry spell that has been punishing agricultural lands in country, the spokesperson of President Arroyo has revealed that she has opted to push for water and power conservation measures, as well as long-term projects, instead of exercising her emergency powers to address the spreading shortage of two vital necessities.

The ongoing drought, which is exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon this year, is expected to have a negative impact on the water supply of urban areas and the agricultural productivity of the affected areas.  The critical state of the supply of electric power is also expected to result in rotating blackouts during the peak hours.  In the Visayas, the general population has already been tolerating the negative effects of a well established power shortage problem way before the situation turned from bad to worse with the announcement of preventive maintenance activities on major power plants serving the area.

The gospel of conservation is a stopgap solution that could allow us to survive these critical shortages but these recurring problems are not supposed to become a part of Filipino living and it is the obligation of the government to have prepared for it before things got to where we are now.  Drought, while uncontrollable because it is dependent on the unpredictable moods of Mother Nature, will only bring a tropical nation to its knees if it is sorely unprepared for such eventualities.  On the other hand, the inadequacy of the power supply screams of incompetence from the people who should be responsible because it is something that can be predicted, planned and controlled. 

The people of this country will conserve water and electricity without being asked because they are already used to it and they have no other choice.  How many more administrations must we tolerate before such basic utilities can be provided efficiently by the government?*