Aquino wants more gov't power to avert energy crisis

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno S. Aquino III will ask for additional powers from Congress to address a potential shortage in electricity next year.

In a speech at the launch of the Pagbilao III Power Plant project in Makati City, Aquino said he will formally ask Congress "very soon" for a joint resolution that will authorize the national government to contract an additional generating capacity.

Aquino said this will address the 300-megawatt (MW) projected deficit in 2015 and will produce another 300 MW in power reserves.

"Let me assure our partners from the private sector: Government intervention will be focused solely on addressing the projected shortage. We have no plans of intervening to distort the market or complicate the situation even further," Aquino said.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla had said the Philippines will need 9,011 MW in 2015, higher than this year's demand of 8,717 MW on the back of the projected growth in the economy.

Petilla warned that the Philippines will face rotating blackouts of two to three hours next summer with the looming power shortage.

He had also proposed the declaration of a state of emergency in the power sector invoking Section 71 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act to allow the government to tap additional capacity.