To Address Power Shortage: Enrile bats for comprehensive energy plan

CEBU, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile said that a comprehensive energy plan should be put in place to address not only the perennial power shortage in the country but also to boost Philippine export.

In a press statement sent to The FREEMAN, Enrile said that the high cost of power due to unstable source of energy is hurting the export enterprises because the prices of locally-made products are not competitive in the international market.

“Napakataas ng presyo ng kuryente,” said Enrile, who is running for reelection under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Cebu has been experiencing a series of brownouts since January owing to the insufficiency of power supply as several power plants here were shutdown either due to preventive maintenance or emergency shutdown.

Yesterday, the Visayan Electric Company Inc. said in an advisory that the National Grid Power Corporation experienced a supply shortage in the morning peak of 130 megawatts and 160 megawatts power deficiency in the evening peak.

“This is due to Visayas limited generation and no power import from Luzon,” says said VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera.

Enrile said that as a result of the series of brownouts, the country is relying on the contribution of some eight million Filipinos working abroad to keep the economy afloat.

The veteran legislator underscored the need to put together a reliable energy program to help revive the export industry, once the country’s main source of foreign exchange.

“Dapat talagang isulong na natin ‘yang programa sa kuryente dahil napakamahal naman talaga ng elektrisidad sa atin. Kailangan may stable source of energy tayo. Iyan ang pinagtutuunan natin ng pansin,” Enrile added.

Since last year, the senate president has been pushing for the approval of these proposals aimed at bringing down the cost of electricity for industrial, commercial and individual consumers.

Enrile filed Senate Bill 3147 or the Uniform Franchise Tax Act, and Senate Bill 3148 or the Electricity Rate Reduction Act, which are envisioned to give immediate relief to power consumers. The proposed measures are also designed to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) passed in 2001.

According to him, power rates would have been reduced by 23 centavos per kwh for household consumers and 5 centavos to 12 centavos per kwh for business establishments had the Lower House passed the said proposals. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/WAB