President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the national government is focused on resolving electricity and water supply problems affecting communities and tourism, particularly in provinces like Siquijor and parts of Luzon and Visayas, instead of dwelling on blame.
Responding to mounting complaints from residents and stakeholders in Siquijor about unstable power supply, the president confirmed that the government has deployed two generators from Palawan to help stabilize electricity in the province. The generators are now operational.
“We even had to provide the fuel. The government advanced the fuel costs, even if technically, it’s not supposed to shoulder that,” Mr. Marcos said in his podcast.
“The important thing is that people don’t suffer. So, even if there were mistakes, that’s not the priority. Our priority is to deliver electricity to every home,” he added.
Residents in Siquijor, a province that heavily relies on tourism, have reported how the unreliable power supply has disrupted daily life and deterred visitors, threatening the local economy.
President Marcos emphasized that his administration’s approach is to “fix the problem, not the blame.”
“People always ask, ‘Who’s at fault?’ Fine, we’ll figure that out later. But first, let’s solve the problem,” he said.
When asked whether the poor service might warrant a review or possible revocation of the private sector provider’s contract in Siquijor, Marcos confirmed a review is already underway.
“Like any contract, if you’re non-compliant, that breaks the contract,” he said, signaling that service providers who fail to meet performance standards may face consequences.
In Luzon, the president also acknowledged concerns about inconsistent water supply, which he said are similarly tied to private sector providers.
He did not elaborate on specific solutions but assured that accountability measures are in motion.
The administration’s swift intervention in Siquijor, President Marcos said, is part of a broader policy to ensure essential services remain uninterrupted, particularly in areas where communities depend on them for economic survival.
