by RG Alama

Davao City (12 March) -- Visiting Presidential candidates bared their respective solutions to the growing energy crisis in Mindanao during the Panaghisgut-hisgut: The 2010 Presidential Forum held last March 9 at the covered court of the Ateneo de Davao college campus.

JC delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran party bared that short term solutions would be utilizing power barges and modular generator sets, while long-term goals would be developing more renewable sources of energy.

Senator Richard Gordon, another presidential aspirant said that the problem was due to lack of anticipation of the looming problem. He is keen on exploring nuclear energy as he said that the country's neighbors are already using it.

Senator Jamby Madrigal said that large dams are no longer as efficient in producing power, one of the solutions she said is constructing small hydro-electric power plants.

She promised that if elected the budget allocated for debt servicing will be spent on Mindanao, protecting watersheds and into developing alternate power sources in Mindanao.

Environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, said one of the short-term goals is achieving energy efficiency, utilizing power barges and the establishment of a smart grid which are used in developed coutries.

Smart grid allows households or establishments to produce their own power and where the electricity they can produce, the power firm will pay them for it.

Perlas also said that he will try to increase production of geothermal energy in the country, which has potential of producing 2,500 megawatts of power.

Former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, said that he will increase generating capacity like power barges and allowing firms to import tax-free power generating equipment.

He said that there must be an increase in the investments on renewable and alternate sources of power which must be balance with other sources of energy.

Another Teodoro proposal is to increase water catchments that would include hydropower requirements.

Eddie Villanueva's proposal is the restoration of a regulatory policy in the oil industry particularly in the downstream industries. He also said that he will support Filipino scientists and inventors into looking for alternative energy.

Villanueva said that Filipino scientists have the competence but are not given the breaks in pursuing alternative energy.

Presidential candidates Noynoy Aquino, Manuel Villar and Joseph Estrada were absent in the forum which was organized by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Davao University with the support of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., the Mindanao Business Council, the Southern Philippines Tourism Council, and the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants.