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)