ILIGAN City ― In the Mindanao Power Summit held late last week, the opposition who were in attendance circulated a petition opposing the sale of the remaining Agus-Pulangi complex here and in Bukidnon. to private companies or individuals.

Former city councilor Jose Zalsos who was present on the first day of the two-day summit last May 30 and 31 said that said opposition move was not talked about by the speakers, and said paper was circulated for signature among the attendees.

It was then learned that the said summit was initiated by the Chamber of Commerce Industry Foundation of Iligan, Inc. (CCIFII) led by its President, Reggie Punongbayan in partnership with the local government led by city Mayor Frederick Siao in cooperation with the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology with several Non-Goverment Organizations here and others throughout Mindanao with several officials in the national government in attendance and concerned citizens on the matter.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was the keynote speaker on the said matter held at the MSU-IIT gym, said Zalsos. He represented the Senate Committee being its Vice Chair as the Chair, Senator Pia Cayetano could not make it. Gatchalian then in his speech, among other things said that the sale of these Agus-Pulangi river complexes does not amount really to privatization. It is only a PPP, he said, according to Zalsos, as ownership would still be with the government but the operation of said power industry will be by the private sector.

The move, to note is mandated under Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001. The said Act, mandated among others the sale to the private sector of the Agus-Pulangi hydro complex although those aforementioned complexes remain. In said act, independent power producers were also allowed to invest in the power industry.

It was then learned that said remaining complexes remained not yet sold to the private sector as then representative to the lone district Vicente Belmonte, Jr. made moves against it.

The said petition it was learned too will be submitted to the Power Summit in Manila, on June 8.