MANILA, Philippines – Hindi pa nakakapagbigay ng konkretong plano ang Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) kaugnay sa plano nitong investments sa energy sector ng bansa.
Ito ang ibinahagi ni Senador Sherwin Gatchalian sa deliberasyon ng Senado sa panukalang badyet ng Department of Energy para sa 2025, matapos na sabihin ni Senador Imee Marcos na kailangan nang makialam ng pamahalaan dahil sa mga delay sa pagkumpleto ng interconnectivity projects sa electric grid sa ilalim ng National Grid Corporation.
“Is there any possibility for a more creative, out-of-the-box solution such as building the interconnection project ourselves in government though a government consortium led by the Maharlika Investment [Corporation] as they’ve announced time and again in the media together with TransCo [National Transmission Corporation], and once and for all finish this like other responsible government where critical infrastructures such as this are built and owned and operated by the government because they are so strategic and critical?” ani Marcos.
Sumang-ayon dito si Gatchalian at sinabing ang pamahalaan, “should take charge” ng interconnectivity projects kung hindi makakapagtayo ng private entity dahil sa kakulangan ng kapital dahil ito ay national at public interest.
“That is precisely also one of the reasons why Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) was also created, to go into critical infrastructure and to use public funds to build those infrastructures,” giit ni Gatchalian.
Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Marcos na walang konkretong plano sa kabila ng maagang anunsyo tungkol sa investment ng MIC sa energy sector.
“There [was] a plethora of media releases and we are very heartened that Maharlika Investment Corporation would in fact invest in power but it appears there is no concrete plan as yet,” ani Marcos.
Tugon naman dito ni Gatchalian: “No concrete plans yet. A lot of it are press releases and just talk, and negotiations.”
“So we’ll have to say it’s wishful thinking for now?” ani Marcos.
“You’re correct, it’s still very in its initial stage,” sagot ni Gatchalian.
Noong Mayo, matatandaan na sinabi ni MIC president at chief executive officer Rafael Consing Jr. na tinututukan ng wealth fund manager ang planong energy sector investments sa pagbuo ng transmission at distribution infrastructure ng off-grid islands ng bansa.
Anang MIC chief, ang island grid development ay bumubuo ng bahagi ng proposed P35-billion investment activities nito ngayong taon.
Noon ding Pebrero, sinabi ni Consing na nakatakdang magkaroon ng unang investment ang MIC sa pagtatapos ng taon sa renewable energy sector. RNT/JGC
