Call to review EPIRA law revived in Senate
INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto revived calls for a review or repeal of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) after the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) decided to raise the cost of electricity this December.
“I think we should really review the EPIRA law, if not repeal it,” Sotto, an opposition member, told reporters on Wednesday.
“I-review ng mabuti para yang mga ganyang powers na meron ang ERC o mga private sectors e mapag-aralang mabuti. At nakita na natin ilang taon na yan, nakita natin ang epekto. Mabuti ba? Mukhang tama kami na mga ayaw bomoto na in favor ng EPIRA law noong araw,” he said.
(Let’s thoroughly review the powers of the ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission] or the private sectors so we can study it better. And we’ve seen the effect of it for several years now. Was it good? I think we’re right for not voting in favor of the EPIRA law)
Sotto is also backing the proposed inquiry by the Senate into Meralco’s imposition of what is considered biggest ever rate increase in the country.
The senator did not also rule out the alleged possible collusion among power plants that suspiciously shut down almost simultaneously last November that resulted in Meralco’s decision to buy more expensive supply from the spot market and then charge consumers
“When there’s smoke, there’s fire. So mas mabuting alamin natin, imbestigahan magkaroon ng inquiry para mas malinaw ang mga issues… (So it’s better that we find out, investigate to clear the issues), ” he said.
Sotto also believes that the increase is too high, saying this only proved him right when he voted against the EPIRA law.
“Masyadong mataas ,masyadong bigla. Mapalad na rin ako, hindi ko masyadong sinisi ang sarili kasi no ang boto ko sa EPIRA,” he said.
(It’s too high, it’s abrupt. But I’m still fortunate, I don’t blame myself much because I voted no on the EPIRA)
