Re-elected First District Representative Rene Lopez Relampagos admitted that the impending power shortage in the province is something that needs a determined action as its solution.

He vowed to help solve the withstanding energy problem of the province energy through legislation.

According to Relampagos, a long-term solution on the energy woes that Bohol has been experiencing is to finally make way for an independent power plant in the province that can provide its power requirements, following Bohol’s development track.

“In order for Bohol to fully achieve its goals, I find it necessary that we are able to supply our province with the electricity it needs.  As such, I am eyeing to create a legislation that will pave way for the province to finally have its own power supply.  Our dependence to other provinces for power has affected, and to some extent, impaired us,” the solon said.

Bohol currently sources its energy supply from Leyte. In 2013, a month after the Great Bohol Earthquake, Leyte was hit by supertyphoon Yolanda that damaged major power lines, putting Bohol in a major power outage that further crippled Bohol post-earthquake. Nearly three years after the tragedy, while the power supply is back and stabilized, Bohol still sources most of its energy needs from Leyte and from Northern Cebu.

The current scenario prompted Relampagos to consider legislation in addressing the problem.

“We are looking forward to a more developed province in the next years.  The opening of our international airport as well as our plans to bring the BPO industry here will open many opportunities for the people. Having our own electricity supply in the province will really help assure investors that electrical supply would be one of the things they do not have to worry about,” Relampagos remarked.

Relampagos is further considering harnessing clean renewable energy to power the province.

“We can always tap solar energy and wind energy to power the province. These energy sources will never deplete and are clean sources of energy compared to coal and fossil fuel.  Harnessing renewable energy sources will be a hallmark to our commitment of ensuring environmental protection and sustainability as we go along with our endeavors for economic development,” Relampagos said.

For Relampagos, power would greatly empower Bohol.

According to the re-elected representative, “Power means empowerment. It empowers people and opportunities. It is my vision, as a supplement to our economic development plans, that Bohol will be empowered through energy, through power.”