Abalos vows swift action on brownouts, power costs, rice tariff

Benhur Abalos answers questions during a press conference.

MANILA, Philippines – Former Interior Secretary and senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos Jr. vowed to prioritize legislation aimed at addressing the country’s persistent brownouts, high electricity costs, irrigation support, and reforms to the Rice Tariffication Law if elected to the Senate.

Abalos said one of his first acts would be to conduct on-site Senate committee hearings in provinces struggling with daily brownouts, starting with Bicol, where residents have endured up to six hours of power outages each day.

Benhur Abalos receives warm welcome from Pangasinenses during his visit to Dagupan.

“Umiikot ako hindi lamang sa Bicol kundi sa marami pang lugar. At kinu-commit ko na pupuntahan natin yan para ipakita natin talaga na seryoso tayo na tapusin na ang problemang ito,” he said in an interview.

(I travel not only around Bicol but in many other places. And I commit that we will go there to show that we are serious about ending this problem.)

The Alyansa Para sa Pagbabago holds a rally in Dagupan.

Abalos agreed with observations that electricity-related hearings have often been limited to Metro Manila. He said that by conducting on-site hearings, the Senate would be better positioned to identify real, local solutions.

Solving the country’s chronic power problems, he said, would be a top priority within his first 100 days if elected.

He warned that high operating costs—driven in part by taxes on electricity—have discouraged investments and weakened local industries.

“How can we develop if something as basic as electricity, which is fundamental, we still cannot fix? Many of our countrymen are still not connected to the main electricity supply,” Abalos said.

He reiterated his call for the removal of the value-added tax (VAT) on electricity and on fuel used for power generation, describing the current layered taxation system as unsustainable.

“You have 12% VAT on generation, 12% on distribution, 12% on transmission — and then there’s system loss passed on to consumers. How can any country thrive like this?” he said.

“Kung magagawa po natin ito, bababa ang presyo ng kuryente, papasok ang negosyo, dadami ang trabaho at gagaan ho ang pagbabayad ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

Abalos pointed to his record as DILG secretary, where he expedited the construction of 26 stalled power transmission lines across the Visayas and Mindanao within six months.

“In six months, 26 transmission lines were completed because of proper coordination,” he said. “Itong permit at kasama rin of course itong imposition of overtax, dapat matapyasan ito, magbawasan ito o matanggal pa ito para bumaba ang kuryente. I commit to that.”

In addition to addressing power costs, Abalos pledged to push for amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which he said has harmed both farmers and consumers by restricting the role of the National Food Authority (NFA).

“Ang mga magsasaka, gusto nila ay magandang presyo ng palay. Ang publiko naman gusto ay ang magandang presyo ng bigas, mura at maganda ang kalidad. So paano mo pagsasamahin yan? Susuportahan mo magsasaka at susuportahan mo ang publiko,” he said.

He said that during a dialogue with farmers, there was broad support for changing the RTL.

“Amend the Rice Tariffication Law so that we can buy at a good price from farmers, immediately process it, and sell it to the public. You satisfy the public with affordable rice, and you satisfy the farmers with a fair price. That is the most important thing, and that is what we will do,” Abalos committed.

Abalos also emphasized the need to modernize and expand the country’s irrigation systems, saying that better infrastructure would allow farmers to achieve multiple harvests even during dry seasons.

“Kamukha ngayon, napainit ng panahon. Tagtuyot ngayon. But if we have a good irrigation system, makakailang harvest ka sa isang taon. It’s one of the key components dito sa agriculture,” he said.

He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to deliver reforms addressing electricity, rice supply, and farming support.

“I commit to this, just as I committed to electricity. I commit to the rice tariffication and, of course, to irrigation, because this is what I believe in. We must take care of this sector,” Abalos concluded.