THE House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a 1,000-peso budget for the Energy Regulatory Commission for 2018, an amount that practically closes down the agency.
It happened after Rep. Celso Lobregat moved to sponsor only P1,000 for the ERC during the plenary deliberations on the 2018 national budget, and Rep. Lito Atienza, a member of the minority, seconded his motion.
“I am here to sponsor the budget of the ERC and we are sponsoring the budget of P1,000 for the ERC for the year 2018,” Lobregat said.
He did not explain his motion, but the ERC earned the ire of lawmakers after its officials failed to submit documents in relation to the House’s probe into the ERC’s allegedly questionable approval of the power supply contracts signed by power distributor Manila Electric Co.
The joint House committees on good government and public accountability and on energy had been probing the alleged “sweetheart deals” between Meralco and its sister companies, and the ERC’s role in allowing Meralco to approve those.
The ERC proposed a P365-million budget for next year but the Budget Department approved only P350.9 million.
Presiding Speaker and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro approved Lobregat’s motion after he heard no objections from the other lawmakers.