MANILA, Philippines - Congress begins today its six-week Lenten break after failing to approve a joint resolution granting President Aquino emergency powers to deal with a projected electricity shortage in Luzon this summer.
The Senate and House of Representatives conference committee on the proposed joint resolution did not agree to have a third meeting this week to break a deadlock on the measure.
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, the minority’s representative in the House contingent in the bicameral conference, yesterday said contingent members held a caucus on Tuesday but voted to stick to their chamber’s version of the resolution, which is different from that of the Senate.
“Our team was insisting on the no-pass on cost to consumers and limiting the exercise of special powers from this month to July this year, when a shortage is projected,” he said.
On the other hand, senators want the consumer to shoulder any cost involved and to extend the validity of emergency authority up to July next year, he said.
Albano pointed out that despite the failure of Congress to ratify the joint resolution, the so-called interruptible load program (ILP), which the measure would have empowered the President to carry out, would kick in starting this month whenever there is tight supply.
Registered participants under the ILP would be disconnected from the Luzon power grid and would have to use their own generators in cases of “red alert” or tight supply, which would happen if demand picks up or a power plant suddenly breaks down.
The goal is to give whatever supply is available in the grid to household users and avert rotating blackouts.
ILP participants would be given reasonable reimbursement as determined by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
Albano said the ERC, Department of Energy, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, Meralco and other concerned state agencies and private stakeholders would implement the program.
However, with the failure of Congress to approve the joint resolution, consumers would now have to pay for the cost of the program, instead of it being taken from the Malamapaya Fund as the House had proposed, said Albano.
In effect, senators got what they wanted, he said.
Senate energy committee chairman Sergio Osmeña III has said they wanted consumers to bear the cost of ILP, as this is the policy under the law.
Disturbing the policy would not be good for investments, Osmeña said.
Philstar
