Senatorial bet Chiz Escudero fields questions from the media in press conference with Gov. Albert Garcia at The Bunker. Photo by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY – Senatorial candidate Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Saturday enumerated set three conditions for him to favor the rehabilitation of the 620-megwatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in Morong town while also discussing other national concerns.
Escudero was in Balanga City and met with local officials led by Gov. Albert Garcia at The Bunker, seat of the provincial government.
The comebacking senator said that there are three things he wanted to see and proven before he approves the operation of the mothballed plant.
“Una, sumusunod ito sa itinatalaga ng batas at Saligang Batas na pwede talaga kabilang na ang mga batas sa kalikasan. Pangalawa, sumusunod ito sa regulasyon ng International Atomic Energy Agency ng United Nations dahil pumirma ang bansa sa isang treaty na nagsasabing pwede lamang magkaroon nito kapag susunod sa patakaran nila. Pangatlo, gusto kong makita na pumapayag ang lalawigan ng Bataan,” Escudero said.
He made it clear that any one of the three not complied with will mean his disapproval of the operation of BNPP.
“Dapat ang tatlong ito ay nandiyan, makikita at may patunay na talagang nag-comply at totoong pinapayagan ng mga kababayan natin sa Bataan. Hindi ko alam ang posisyon ng Bataan dito pero kung ano man ang posisyon nito ay dapat galangin at kung may talagang nanggigigil at gustong-gusto talaga at halimbawa ay ayaw ng Bataan, eh di sa probinsiya nila ito gawin at ilagay kung saan pumapayag sila,” Escudero said.
Oil price hike
On the oil price hike, the senatoriable said the war in Ukraine has something to do with the increase in the price of petroleum products.
“Nagkukulang ng supply dahil nag-iimbak ang iba’t ibang bansa. Nagtago ng kani-kanilang supply para magkaroon ng seguridad sa supply kaya umaakyat ang presyo,” Escudero said.
He said that government has no power to control the oil price and for him it would be better to repeal and review the oil deregulation law.
“Dapat lagyan ng probisyon na muling ibabalik ang OPSF o oil price stabilization fund para pwedeng maglagay ng price cap ang gobyerno kapag tumataas ang presyo,” he said.
“Kung bibigyan ng kapangyarihan ang gobyerno ay kaya nitong pababain ng P3 hanggang P8 kada litro. Magtatag din ng strategic petroleum reserve. Ito ay imbakan ng langis at kapag mura ang presyo ay bumili at kapag nagmahal ay ilabas at ibenta. Unahin ang ibang sector pangunahin na ang transport sector upang hindi magtaas ang bilihin na kasabay lagi ng pagtaas ng pamasahe at produktong petrolyo,” he said.
He said that this was being done in other countries and what government should do is to copy the best practices in these countries.
Farmers, fishers
On the farmers and fishermen, he said that studies showed that the present average age of those belonging to this sector is 58 and in two years these people providing food in our tables are already senior citizens.
“Kung hindi papakitain at papatunayan na pwedeng kumita ng sapat ang mangingisda at magsasaka ay tatanda at papanaw na lamang sila. Kung hindi lalagyan ng sapat na pondo ang agrikultura, hindi lalaki ang kita nila,” Escudero said.
He noted that farmers and fishermen in other countries are not poor and what is needed for the local fishermen and farmers to have enough income is for government to pour in funds to the agriculture sector.
“Ang budget ng Department of Agriculture ngayong 2022 ay P18 billion lamang kumpara sa budget ng Department of Public Works and Highways na P840 billion. Wala pa sa sampung pursyento ng budget ng DPWH ang budget ng DA kaya huwag nang magtaka kung bakit kalugmok-lugmok ang sitwasyon ng agrikultura dahil hindi naman nilalagyan ng pera,” Escudero said.
He shared that he wanted to hear from any presidentiable that once he or she wins, the agriculture department will be budgeted for P400-B in the first year and to increase to P800-B.
“Sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagbibigay at pag-allocate ng sapat na pondo ay tunay na mamo-modernize, mechanize at mapapatunayan na kayang kumita ng sapat sa pangangailangan ang isang pamilya ng magsasaka,” Escudero said.
“Huwag nang magtaka na number 1 at 2 na rice-exporting nation ang Vietnam at Thailand at ang Pilipinas ang number 1 importing country naman ng bigas sa buong mundo dahil hindi ginastusan ang agrikultura,” he added.
Breach
On the alleged security breach at the Commission on Elections, Escudero said: “Hindi ko nasusubaybayan ito pero ang mga bagong talagang opisyal ng Comelec ay inaasahan kong may gigil pa at bago lang sila at titingnan at aasikasuhin nila dapat iyan,” he said.
“Wala pang detalye ang sinasabing security breach ni Sen. Imee Marcos at nag-akusa pa lamang. Susubaybayan ko ito sa mga susunod pang araw kung ano na ba at kung gaano kalalim ang sinasabing security breach at ano ang paliwanag at sagot ng Comelec kaugnay sa bagay na ito,” he added.
He also explained his reason for running again for senator and no longer as governor: “Ang pangunahing rason kung bakit ako ay babalik ay dahil sa pandemya, dahil sa laki ng problemang kinakaharap ng bansa ngayon. Nais ko muling alukin ng aking nalalaman para makatulong sa bansa na muling makabangon. Kung hindi ko gagawin yon hindi ko yata kayang tingnan ang sarili ko sa salamin at harapin ang anak ko na hindi ko man lamang inalok ang aking sarili.”
