House joins program vs power crisis

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives enlisted Wednesday as the first government institution to participate in the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), a program aimed at mitigating a power crisis this year. 

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) president and chief executive officer Oscar Reyes signed an agreement where the House will contribute as much as three megawatts to the grid in case of a power shortfall this summer. 

“Lead by example,” Belmonte said in urging other government agencies to subscribe to the ILP. Also present during the signing was House energy committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali of Mindoro Occidental and Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla. 

Under the ILP scheme, large commercial and industrial establishments are asked to disconnect from the grid and use their own generators during tight power supply situations to free up additional capacity for small users like households.

The House in December approved Joint Resolution 21, which grants President Aquino special powers to address any power crisis. 

The House-approved HJR 21 identified mitigating or remedial measures, one of them being the ILP, on the looming power shortage and set a definite timetable from March until July 31 only.

Belmonte called on the Senate to approve the resolution to ensure a stable power supply this summer.

The Speaker reiterated, however, that the problems confronting the country’s power industry needed lasting and long-term solutions.

“The transformation of the power industry from a monolithic structure to one that is divided into different sectors with several industry players, calls for strong coordination and government regulation in promoting a level playing field as well as providing ample protection to consumer welfare,” he said.