PNoy asks Congress for emergency powers against looming power crisis

(Updated 1:13 p.m.) To head off an imminent power crisis early next year, President Benigno Aquino III is asking Congress for emergency powers that will allow the chief executive to make sure there will be ample supply of electricity by entering into contracts to raise the generating capacity and fill the projected power deficit.

 

In a letter to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate President Franklin Drilon, Aquino asked the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass a joint resolution authorizing him to establish additional generating capacity for the Luzon grid.

The letter was sent to Congress last Friday, a day before Aquino left for an official trip that will take him to Europe and the United States. 

The request has been referred to the House energy committee, Belmonte said in a text message to reporters Tuesday.

P6B needed

At the Senate, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla told the finance committee the government needs some P6 billion to generate additional capacity for the Luzon grid.

 

Aquino invoked Section 71 – the Electric Power Crisis Provision – of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) as the basis for Congress to grant him emergency powers.

 

“This authority is needed in order to address the imminent shortage of electric power for the summer of 2015 in Luzon,” he said.

 

Section 71 of the EPIRA states: "Upon determination by the President of the Philippines of an imminent shortage of the supply of electricity, Congress may authorize, through a joint resolution, the establishment of additional generating capacity."

 

Aquino said, “There is no gainsaying that the imminent electric power shortage during these months is a real threat to the country’s growing economy and the general welfare of the people.”

 

He noted that the speedy enactment of the joint resolution “will ensure the energy requirements of the country for this critical period – through a specific, focused and targeted acquisition of additional generating capacities for use during the limited periods of time of very tight energy supply.”