PNoy formally seeks emergency powers to avert energy crisis

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III has formally asked Congress for additional powers to avert the looming shortage of energy supply next year.

In his letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Aquino sought for the immediate enactment of a joint resolution authorizing him to establish additional generating capacity.

"This authority is needed in order to address the imminent shortage of electric power for the summer of 2015 in Luzon," Aquino said in his letter, which was shown on television reports.

Aquino invoked Section 71 of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, which allows the government to "contract" additional generating capacity under terms and conditions to be approved by Congress.

He cited the projection of the Department of Energy of a "critical electricity situation" in the summer of 2015 due to the expected effects of the El Nino phenomenon and the scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas facility, among other things.

Aquino said the looming power shortage will threaten the country's economy and Filipinos.

PNoy ally asks: What's the price tag?

Meanwhile, Senator Francis Escudero is asking Malacañang to "attach the price tag" to the emergency powers that the President is seeking from Congress.

"What's the cost to taxpayers of this measure?" asked Escudero, chairman of the Senate finance committee, stressing that the powers the government is seeking is "basically the authority to enter into purchase agreements with private power producers."

"Even if power contracted by the government will eventually be sold to distributors, and thus the acquisition cost will be recouped, we still would like to know the costs involved," the senator said.