House eyes granting emergency powers to Aquino on Oct. 29
MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives energy committee chair on Thursday said the lower chamber aims to pass the joint resolution granting President Benigno Aquino III emergency powers on October 29.
“The energy committee will submit the report to the plenary on October 27 and it is expected to be approved on October 29 in the 3rd reading before the Congress All Saints’ Day break,” Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali, who co-chairs the Joint Congressional Power Commission, said.
Umali, however, said the chamber is still undecided on the solution to the power supply deficit.
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
President Benigno Aquino III has asked Congress to grant him the authority to contract additional capacity to address the looming power shortage during the summer, as granted to him under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).
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.
Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla had said the agency is expecting a 600 to 800 MW shortage for Luzon in 2015, and that the President must contract at least 300 MW of the total shortage.
The agency had said the thinning power supply may be due to the looming El Nino phenomenon, the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya power plant, increased or continuing outages of power plants, and the delay in commissioning of committed power projects.
The energy department had told the committee that at least P9 billion will be needed to purchase gensets and P6 billion to rent gensets.
Another option to resolve the power crisis is through the Interruptible Load Program (ILP).
Under the ILP, big industrial and commercial customers who have the ability to produce their own electricity through generating sets should cut off or reduce their supplied electricity, particularly during peak periods of the day, and instead use their own generator sets.
This is to give way for the other customers who may need the power than the commercial users. The businesses are also required to contribute their excess energy reserves. But the program is only voluntary, and thus government cannot compel businesses to participate.
Instead of immediately granting Aquino’s request, the leadership in the House of Representatives sought an inquiry in aid of legislation on the need to contract additional power.
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