House panel to tackle Leviste solar power business issues on Jan. 26

The House committee on legislative franchises will tackle on January 26 alleged issues related to the franchise granted by Congress to Batangas 1st district Representative Leandro Leviste's solar power business.

Congress is scheduled to resume session on the this date—the last Monday of January—and the committee has a scheduled hearing on the same day.

"In the process of the hearing, I will put that on the 'other matters' because (on January) 26, (we have a) hearing," House Committee on Legislative Franchises Chair and Negros Occidental 4th district Representative Jeffrey Ferrer said in a phone interview Thursday.

"Ako naman magpe-preside eh. [I'd say,] Let's go to "other matters. Any? Any more? Any discussion on the 'other matters?' Somebody has to, well, 'Ano i-take up natin dito?' Ayan ang sabihin ko. 'So ito 'yung issue about franchise, about Leviste."

(I will be presiding. I'd say, let's go to 'other matters.' Any? Any more? Any discussion on other matters? Somebody has to, well, 'What will take up today?' That's what I would say. So this is about franchise, about Leviste.)

The chairperson himself said he wants the issue investigated, but emphasized proper procedure needs to be observed.

"First thing to do is somebody has to file a resolution or somebody has to have this privilege speech. And then after that, (they refer) to proper committees," Ferrer said.

"Gusto ko rin maimbestigahan (I also want it investigated). So that the people will know, the public will know what happened," he stated.

Among the issues that will be discussed, Ferrer said, "Are what went wrong? What happened? If there is a violation, the committee can review or kung may violation, ano 'yung penalty diyan (If there is a violation, the committee can review it, and in case of a violation, what is the penalty?)"

"If there are violations, we will terminate the franchise," he added.

Leviste to attend?

Asked if Leviste will be required to face the committee, Ferrer replied, "Well, kailangan. Kung sino ang representative in that corporation. If somebody wants to invite as resource person o i-invite siya, pwede because siya 'yung owner ng corporation."

(Well, he has to. Whoever is the representative of that corporation. If someone wants to invite him as a resource person, he can be invited because he's the owner of the corporation.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Act Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said the issues may be investigated as part of the House of Representatives' oversight function.

"Lehitimong tanong na dapat imbestigahan 'yung buong programa for renewable energy ng gobyerno, including 'yung mga pag-grant ng mga franchise kaugnay rito, yung mga incentives na binigay including 'yung mga so-called feed-in tariffs at iba pa para essentially suportahan ng gobyerno or i-incentivize 'yung pag-develop ng renewable energy. So in general, dapat naman talaga may oversight yan ng Kongreso," Tinio said in an online interview today, Thursday.

(A review of the government's whole renewable energy program, including those who were granted franchises related to this, is a legitimate concern. It should also look into incentives that were given, and the so-called feed-in tariffs, among others, to essentially support the government or incentivize the development of renewable energy. So, in general, Congress should really have oversight.)

Ready to 'expose'

Asked for his reaction, Leviste said, "That's good news. I look forward to expose what I know to any committee of Congress that would give me the opportunity to do so."

Leviste earlier said in a social media post that he would address the allegations when Congress resumes session on January 26.

Last Tuesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) disclosed some P24-billion in penalties to Leviste-founded company Solar Philippines after the termination of over 11,000 megawatts worth of contracts in the past two years for failure to deliver on its production commitments.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin had said the penalties include performance funds, along with contractual obligations or the supposed cost of the project, and the financial obligations or the training and development fund and other obligations in the contract.

She said the DOE has consistently sent notices and show cause orders, along with requests for Solar Philippines to renew its bonds, but to no avail.

Solar Philippines was found to have failed to deliver on its commitment to produce nearly 12 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity.

The DOE has said more than 1,300 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity currently assigned to Solar Philippines could become available to other energy companies if the former fails to meet its project deadlines.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said an investigation is ongoing into the alleged transfer and sale of Leviste's solar energy franchise, which he claimed lacked congressional approval.

Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) has said it invested in SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC), a company also founded by Leviste but separate from Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. (SPBC).

MGEN, meanwhile, denied buying shares from SPBC, the company granted a 25-year congressional franchise. — VDV, GMA Integrated News