FOR EMERGENCY POWERS
Golez: ‘Arroyo should admit existence of food, power crises’
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:08:00 06/06/2008
Filed Under: Emergency Planning, Oil & Gas - Downstream activities, Electricity Production & Distribution, Government, Consumer Issues, Congress, Politics
MANILA, Philippines -- A key opposition lawmaker is considering a proposal to grant President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo emergency powers on one condition -- that she publicly admit that the country is in the grip of food and energy crises.
"Personally, I am prepared to consider [the] proposal for emergency powers to solve [the] food and fuel crises, subject to Malacañang’s declaration that there is indeed a food crisis and energy crisis," Deputy Minority Leader Roilo Golez said in a text message.
"These must be two separate declarations, one for food, another for energy," he said.
The period of emergency, Golez said, must also be limited to, at most, six months "to enable government to acquire [the] necessary equipment, materials and supplies and complete [the] bids and awards process."
Third, he said, the administration and implementation of the emergency program must be in capable hands, noting what he called serious bipartisan doubts about Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes’ ability to run his department during normal times, more so in an emergency.
"He [Reyes] appears to be part of the problem to be solved," Golez said.
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