BREAKFAST MEET. Rep. Ariel Hernandez of Anak Mindanao party-list meets with Archbishop Antonio Ledesma in the prelate’s residence in Cagayan de Oro City earlier this year. (Bong D. Fabe)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY–A Mindanawon congressman yesterday urged local government officials to initiate mitigation measures to the ongoing shortage of electricity on the island, stressing that officials of local government units (LGUs) have the power to do so.

Rep. Ariel Hernandez of the Anak Mindanao (AMIN) party-list explained that LGU officials, especially those in the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur, can do this by taking the lead in rehabilitating their watershed areas.

Bukidnon hosts the Pulangi hydro-power complexes of the Napocor, while Lanao del Sur hosts the Agus hydro-power complexes.

These two hydro-power complexes supply most of the electricity of the Mindanao grid.

“Local government officials are powerful because they control the purse of their respective localities and they have command responsibilities over their constituents. As such, they should take the lead in the rehabilitation of their watershed areas to prevent the long-term effect of the shortage of power we are now experiencing in Mindanao,” he said.

Aside from this, Hernandez also urged LGU officials to activate their respective watershed protection committees, as well as the multisectoral water-and-forest protection committees to strictly implement the laws, rules and regulations regarding the utilization of watershed, waterways and forest areas.

He noted that chairman Jesus Dureza of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has reported about the massive denudation of the watershed areas surrounding the Agus hydro-power complexes in Lanao del Sur.

Aside from this, the Regional Development Council of Northern Mindanao has reported that soil erosion has been observed in the watershed areas of Lake Lanao.

“This is very alarming. These, as well as that of Bukidnon, which surrounds the Pulangi hydro-power complexes, should be the target of a massive reforestation project of the LGUs and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR],” he said.

To be able to really implement these measures, Hernandez urged the DENR to take the lead in partnership with LGU officials, environmental groups and other concerned individuals and organizations, as well as the Catholic Church, to draw up a comprehensive watershed rehabilitation and management plan for Lake Lanao and Pulangi River.

“The LGUs can use the emergency funds for all these,” he said.

While these are being done, the Napocor should also start the badly needed dredging and desiltation processes of the Agus and Pulangi hydro-power complexes, Hernandez said. (Bong D. Fabe)

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