House eyes October passage of resolution on Aquino emergency powers

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives is eyeing the passage of a joint resolution granting President Benigno Aquino III emergency powers by October.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali, energy committee chairperson, said the lower chamber, dominated by Aquino allies, would make sure that Aquino will be granted emergency powers.

“If the resolution is complicated, we will resort to extraordinary means to be able to respond to the President’s request,” Umali, a Liberal Party member, said.

“We are looking at October for the chamber to pass it,” he added.

He said the House would meet even during the recess from September to October so that they could pass the resolution by end of October.

For his part, majority floor leader Mandaluyong Representative Neptali Gonzales II said the chamber has yet to draft the joint resolution.

In his letter addressed to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Franklin Drilon dated September 12, President Aquino said he should be granted emergency powers in light of expected power outages during the summer season.

“In accordance with the… Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), I hereby seek the immediate enactment of a joint resolution authorizing the President to establish additional generating capacity,” the letter read.

He said the Department of Energy expects a “critical electricity situation” due to the El Nino phenomenon, the Malampaya turnaround, power outages and delays in the commissioning of committed power projects.

“There is no gainsaying that the imminent electric power shortage during these months is a real threat to the country’s growing economy and the general welfare of the people,” Aquino said.

“The speedy enactment of the joint resolution will ensure the energy requirements of the country for this critical period — through a specific, focused and targeted acquisition of additional generating capacities for use during the limited periods of time of very tight energy supply,” he said.

The president announced that he would be seeking authority to contract additional power to address the power shortage.

“Very soon, we will formally ask Congress for a joint resolution, that will authorize the national government to contract an additional generating capacity to address the 300-megawatt projected deficit, and, on top of that, to have sufficient regulating reserves equivalent to four percent of peak demand, for another 300 megawatts,” Aquino said.

Aquino in the letter said emergency powers were “needed in order to address the imminent shortage of electric power for the summer of 2015 in Luzon.”

“I look forward to a favorable response from both Houses,” Aquino said.

EPIRA allows emergency powers to the President “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,” Section 71 of the law reads.

Luzon is expected to be wracked by power shortages during the summer due to thinning power reserves.

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