Zamboanga solon: Bangsamoro law to adversely affect Mindanao power situation

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A Mindanao congressman said the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would greatly affect the energy situation of the region and the entire Mindanao.

City 1st district Rep. Celso Lobregat said he raised this observation in the deliberations on the budget for the Department of Energy (DoE), including its attached corporations and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Lobregat said the issue was raised by party-list Representative Neri Colmeras on the effects of the BBL on the energy situation in Mindanao.

Lobregat, who sits as member of the Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL in Congress, also presented the situation during a forum where members of the local cooperatives were alarmed over the possible effect on the power generation.

Lobregat said Mindanao has been enjoying lower power rates compared to Luzon and Visayas, citing more than 50 percent of its electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants served by Agus and Pulangui Hydroelectric Power plants.

He said the water used to run the Agus hydroelectric plants come from Lake Lanao and Agus 1 with a capacity of 80 megawatts is located in Marawi, while Agus 2 with a capacity of 200 megawatts is located in Saguiran, Lanao del Sur.

He said since the recent years the region has been suffering from intermittent brownouts lasting for six to eight hours because of the decreasing power generation and low water levels of Lake Lanao. These are worsened by the breakdown, repair and maintenance of the hydroelectric power plants.

The problem prompted the utilities and electric cooperatives to resort to acquiring the needed power supply from independent power producers, resulting to the more expensive electric rates. 

Lobregat said that with the proposed BBL, the power rate would even increase.

Lobregat said that under the BBL, the Bangsamoro government has exclusive powers to regulate power generation and transmission.

He said the Bangsamoro government's control of the power is stipulated under the House Bill 4994. Article 5 Section 3 Item 15 in the BBL says: “it shall have authority to regulate power generation, transmission, and distribution operating exclusively in the Bangsamoro and not connected to the national transmission grid… When power generation, transmission, and distribution facilities are connected to the national transmission grid, the Central Government and the Bangsamoro Government shall cooperate and coordinate through the intergovernmental relations mechanism.”

Lobregat added that the same section of the BBL also gives exclusive jurisdiction on inland waters such as lakes, where the Bangsamoro government ensures that communities where inland waters are located are given an equitable share from the revenues generated from utilization. 

“If Congress passes the law as is without amendments, the whole of Mindanao will be affected,” Lobregat said. 

“The entire Mindanao will be in the mercy of the Bangsamoro,” he said, citing the provisions in the BBL that grant of exclusive powers of the inland waters (Lake Lanao) where utilization of the waters will primarily benefit the Bangasamoro people. 

Lobregat disclosed that the DoE was not consulted by the government and the MILF peace panels regarding the use of the Lake Lanao and similarly, the ERC, the agency of government tasked to regulate power generation, transmission and distribution.

Lobregat  added that the draft Bangsamoro law will also have an implication on the request of President Benigno Aquino for additional power to address the current power crisis in Mindanao where two governments will decide on the issue.