Arroyo orders further study on solar power firm’s franchise

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants the proposed mega power franchise for a subsidiary of Solar Philippines subjected to further scrutiny, Rep. Lito Atienza of party-list group Buhay said yesterday.

“The Speaker has not lobbied for or against the bill (containing the proposed franchise). But she has given instructions for the House of Representatives to continue studying the issues involved and bring them out to the public,” Atienza said.            

House Bill 8179 seeks to authorize Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. (SPBC) “to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain distributable power technologies and mini-grid systems throughout the Philippines to improve access to sustainable energy.”

Sen. Loren Legarda’s son Leandro Leviste founded Solar Philippines.

Atienza, who served as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary when Arroyo was president, is one of several House members opposed to the proposed franchise grant to Leviste’s SPBC.            

Last Wednesday, Atienza and 14 colleagues filed House Resolution 2182, which urges the committee on rules to return HB 8179 to the committee on legislative franchises “for further deliberations.”

The former Manila mayor said Arroyo gave her directive for the measure to be further studied “due to objections from many members and the entire electric power industry.”

“We and the stakeholders were not given the opportunity to be heard. There were only two hearings held and the committee railroaded the approval of the bill,” he said.            

Another congressman opposed to the proposed Leviste franchise, Michael Romero of 1-Pacman, said HB 8179 “speedily coasted from filing to committee approval in a record period of nine session days between Aug. 6 and Sept. 3.”

He said it is clear from the language of the measure “that what is proposed to be granted to SPBC is a super franchise that would transform the corporation into a super monopoly, as it could go into generation, transmission as well as distribution and other areas of the electric power industry.”