Congress hesitant over granting PNoy 'emergency powers'
September 23, 2014 | 3:41pm
MANILA, Philippines - The Congress is yet to decide on what action to take regarding the possible power shortage in 2015.
During a press conference, Majority Floor Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II said that they are considering the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) as a solution to the power shortage rather than giving the President "emergency powers."
"Huwag naman ibigay ng as general as it is provided for in Section 71, kung hindi ngayon pa lang, ang nagiging challenge sa amin kaya hindi kaagad mai-file yung reso(lution) is ano ba talaga Kuya Eddie ang ipa-file namin? Is it emergency power - bahala na ang executive, as much as possible iyon ang ayaw namin na gawin," said Gonzales.
President Aquino recently requested the Congress to grant him emergency powers to deal with the possible power crisis.
Section 71 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Epira Law) states that "upon the determination by the President of the Philippines of an imminent shortage of the supply of electricity, Congress may authorize, through a joint resolution, the establishment of additional generating capacity under such terms and conditions as it may approve."
The ILP allows large commercial companies to to use their own generator sets during peak hours of the day to reduce supplied energy. A report said that some of the companies that signed the ILP agreement with Meralco are Megaworld, Ayala Land, Robinsons Land, Shangri-La Mall, SM Prime Holdings, Metro Gaisano and Waltermart.
Gonzales admitted the possibility of increase in electricity cost in case the power generated from the ILP gets leased or purchased.
"While anticipatedly tataas ang konsumo pag ginamit, pag ginamit lang naman, stand-by lang naman iyan, hindi naman nangangahulugan kung tataas ang babayaran mo na kuryente the whole of 2015," said Gonzales.
The Malampaya funds will be used as additional subsidy for the additional power contracts.
Gonzales said that they are to submit a joint resolution by Friday before the Congress takes a break.
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