Some top NGCP officials miss House inquiry due to Chinese New Year

Some high-ranking officials of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) skipped Thursday’s House probe into the grid operator's performance due to Chinese New Year and commitments in China, an NGCP official said.

NGCP president and CEO Anthony Almeda made the response during the questioning of Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez as to why some top NGCP officials invited to the hearing—board chairman Zhu Guangchao and board directors Yao Yousheng, Wang Lijin, and  Liu Xinhua—were not around.

Filipino board directors Henry Sy Jr., Jose Pardo and Robert Coiyuto Jr. also did not attend the hearing.

“The Chinese board members are in Beijing for the Chinese New Year, while Mr. Sy is in the embassy,” Almeda told lawmakers during the House legislative franchise panel probe on NGCP performance.

Pressed by Fernandez on the date of the Chinese New Year, Almeda said, “On 29th [this month] and then I think they have a special meeting every year in January. I'm not so sure of the date because I don't keep track of the date.”

Coyiuto and Pardo, meanwhile, submitted medical certificates to the committee chaired by Parañaque Representative Gus Tambunting.

Asked by Quezon City Representative Franz Pumaren why the Chinese officials could not fly back to the Philippines for the hearing since Chinese New Year is not until January 29, NGCP director Paul Sagayo Jr. said it was because their corporation had an annual meeting yesterday, January 22.

The other Filipino board member of the NGCP is Francis Chua.

NGCP earlier maintained that it is compliant with the 40% foreign ownership limit.

But also on Thursday, Sagip party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta said NGCP should not be the main focus of the House inquiry given that power generation accounts for 52% of the electricity cost as against the 3% attributable to NGCP.

“The main purpose of the hearing is to lower the cost of electricity. The cost share of NGCP in the entire electric bill is only 3%; 52% is still in generation, and 25% is in distribution. If we are serious in focusing our attention on reducing electricity rates in the country, let’s focus on which area takes up the larger share,” Marcoleta said.

State-run Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta confirmed the 3% share of NGCP in power costs.

“The 3% from NGCP refers to wheeling charges. If you look at the entire bill on transmission charges, part of it is ancillary services. NGCP merely collects charges for ancillary services and passes them on to generation companies,” Dimalanta said. — BM, GMA Integrated News