The resolution that was supposed to grant President Aquino III emergency powers to address the energy supply shortage this summer failed to win the approval of Congress. Reason: Lawmakers were deadlocked on the “no-pass on” provision which was intended to spare consumers from having to pay extra for the cost of power generation.
The House of Representatives and the Senate adjourned their session Wednesday for a Holy Week break without the approval of House Joint Resolution 21.
This developed as the House Independent Bloc led by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that the Department of Energy’s lack of foresight, planning and a comprehensive energy plan for the country has made the Filipino suffer from the high cost of electricity.
Romualdez lamented the Palace and energy officials’ “undeniable helplessness” to ably address the power problem in the country.
“Almost five years after the Aquino Administration, we have yet to hear Department of Energy (DOE) officials declare that the country now has enough power to keep it free from brownouts or shortages for years, especially areas which have had long-running energy crises like Mindanao,” Romualdez said.
“Instead of power supply sufficiency, what we continue to hear from the DOE are warnings of brownouts and power supply deficiency, plus solutions which will saddle the people with higher electricity costs,” Romualdez added.
The Leyte congressman said the emergency powers being sought by Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla for President Aquino III to deal with the supposed power crisis had been useless.
Romualdez pointed out that what the country needs is a “long-term and not a band aid solution” to the recurring power problem.
Oriental Mindor Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the House committee on energy, said members of the congressional bicameral committee have failed to reconcile the differences of their respective versions, particularly on who should shoulder the additional cost for the power supply to be incurred through the Interruptible Load Program (ILP).
“I have talked to my colleagues and the House leadership if we can bargain some provisions but the decision is final that we need to stand on our version,” Umali said.
Umali said the House would have to stand by its position on ‘no pass-on’ provision which the Senate, headed by Senator Serge Osmena opposed.
The House wanted a ‘no pass-on’ scheme by tapping Malampaya funds as subsidy for the power supply to be generated from the ILP.
But the Senate said that the ILP scheme would cost consumers between P7 to P8 per kilowatt hour – an amount that has to be charged to energy consumers.
Similarly, the House and the Senate failed to agree on the time frame on ‘special powers’ to be given to the President during the supposed power crisis in Luzon this summer: the Senate wanted it extended until July 2016 while the House said it should only last from March to July this year.
Since the bicameral conference committee of Congress failed to pass the HJR 21, Umali pointed out rules and regulations under the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), such as the pass-on provision will prevail.
Similarly, the ILP program of the government will continue provided that a significant cost will be charged to consumers during the crisis period.
The Department of Energy projected a power supply shortage of at least 700-745 megawatts due to higher demand during summer.