In counter-Sona, JV Ejercito bewails lack of energy plan

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The country’s economic gains would go to waste if President Aquino fails to avert the power crisis in 2015, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said Monday, bewailing the apparent lack of an action plan to address this.

In a privilege speech, Ejercito demanded to know if the administration had a “comprehensive energy plan.”

He said the plan should include possible sources of energy, a review of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) with the view of authorizing the government to build new plants, and a course of action on the Marcos-era Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

Ejercito said he was willing to grant Aquino emergency powers if these came with a long-term solution to address the looming crisis.

“It’s odd that the President did not mention in his Sona any plan to address the crisis that threatens our economy and livelihood,” Ejercito said in his speech commenting on the President’s July 28 State of the Nation Address.

“Could it be that the reports reaching the President were inaccurate, lacking or spun to make them look good? Could it be that our secretaries tell the real score only when the problem worsens?” he said.

During interpellation by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, Ejercito agreed that the country’s economic gains would “go down the drain” if the President failed to stave off the energy crisis.

But Ejercito’s counter-Sona apparently did not have the blessing of the minority bloc even as Sen. Vicente Sotto III said he himself did not deliver one because he did not think it was necessary.

Ejercito, however, said that he consulted detained Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile before drafting his speech.

He also called attention to the rotating brownouts in parts of Mindanao and said that investors would skip the region unless the power supply became stable.

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla had proposed that the President declare a state of emergency in view of an anticipated power supply problem in the first quarter of 2015.

Petilla asked President Aquino to invoke Section 71 of the Epira, which authorizes the Chief Executive to ask Congress for authority to establish additional generating capacity upon the determination of an imminent shortage of power supply.

In his speech, Ejercito tackled a host of other issues, including the rising prices of basic commodities, food self-sufficiency, smuggling, the antipoverty conditional cash transfer program, unemployment and rising criminality.

“Don’t get the notion that I’m casting doubts on your capacity,” he said, addressing the President. “Our countrymen only want to bring to your attention the true state of the nation. As they say, ‘It’s lonely to be on top,’ and it appears your people tell you only the good stuff.”