PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday, April 4, made an assurance that there would be an improvement in Palawan’s energy supply before the year ends as his administration addresses the province’s power concerns.

“I assure you that before the end of the year — there’sa reduced rotation in the number of hours and maybe lessening of the inconvenience,” President Duterte said during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally.

The President expressed his disappointment over red tape in the government that affects the approval of important state projects.

“I must admit that one of the reasons why I am pissed off to no end is really the way government moves. Napakatagal ho talaga. At minsan napakatagal because they purposely do it to commit graft and sometimes it is really circuitous thing, a very tedious process of getting the papers to the grid. There is always a monkey wrench,” he said.

The President brought with him Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to clarify things regarding Palawan’s energy problems, adding he is serious in fulfilling his promise of improving the poor energy situation in the province.

President Duterte explained that he would need a faster bureaucracy considering that he only has three years left in his term.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive also touched on the current situation in the West Philippine Sea, particularly the presence of multiple Chinese vessels near the Pag-asa Island.

The President appealed to China to maintain the status quo in the region, especially in Pag-asa Island.

Pag-asa Island belongs to the Kalayaan Island Group, which is an integral part of the Philippines.### PND