Solons dismayed as no power crisis solution mentioned in SONA

MANILA, Philippines - Several legislators were disappointed with the president's fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) as he did not mention any possible solution to the current power crisis.

In his SONA last July 28, the president merely warned the public that the coming El Niño season could raise the energy demand.

He also said he has tasked Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla to coordinate with the Joint Congressional Power Commission, the Energy Regulatory Commission, members of industry, and, most importantly, the consumers, to increase the government’s capacity to respond to the energy power problem.

Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia said while increasing power capacity is the solution to the situation, the SONA should have focused on problems that are blocking its realization.

“Increasing power capacity is the solution. However, it is in the realization of such an increase that is the problem. Bureaucratic red tape resulting in the delay of power plant construction and, consequently, the loss of interest by potential IPP (independent power producers) investors- these are the issues that must be forcefully addressed,” Garcia said.

Garcia said luckily for Cebu, there are no brownouts nor a looming power shortage or crisis because during her term as governor, she helped lay down the foundation for a stable power supply.

“That was because when I was governor, I actively supported the construction of power plants, even if it meant contending with an equally active opposition. As a result, we increased capacity not just to Cebu but the grid (Cebu-Panay-Negros) by over 600 megawatts,” said Garcia, a member of the House Committee on Energy and a vice chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education.

Abakada partylist Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz said the SONA did not pertain to any specific solution to the power problem.

De la Cruz said the president did not even mention about amending the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act” (EPIRA), which has been the clamor of  several legislators.

“There was nothing mentioned about the power crisis solution, and it’s a pity there is not even an effort to amend the EPIRA Law,” said Dela Cruz, a member of the independent minority bloc.

At least 11 bills are now pending at the Committee on Energy chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali seeking to amend Republic Act 9136, or athe “EPIRA Act of 2001.”

One of these proposals is House Bill (HB) 3847 filed by Dela Cruz seeking to protect and promote the rights and welfare of power consumers.

Aside from the EPIRA amendment, other bills pending in the Committee on Energy pertain to measures to address the impending power crisis, including HB 3743 or the “Electric Power Crisis Prevention Act of 2014” fand HB 3751 or the “Electric Power Crisis Act of 2014.”