The congressional bicameral committee tackling President Aquino’s bid to address the anticipated power shortfall this summer was likely to approve the joint resolution on emergency powers today.
Liberal Party Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali of Oriental Mindoro, chairman of the House Committee on Energy, said the bicameral committee would reconcile the differences of the Senate and the House versions of the measure, as they set to resume deliberations today.
“Most likely, we will approve the resolution [today],” he said.
After approval, Umali said the bicameral version will be sent back to both houses of Congress for the legislators to ratify the measure prior to submission to the President.
Last week the bicameral committee failed to approve the joint resolution, after both houses expressed divergent views on the no-pass-on scheme and time frame of the special powers.
The Legislative chamber wanted the government primarily to use the so-called Interruptible Load Program (ILP) in generating additional power capacity.
However, the Senate said the adoption of the ILP would cost consumers P7 to P8 per kilowatt-hour more under its version of the emergency powers.
But the lower chamber pushed for the no-pass-on scheme in using the ILP, as it eyed tapping the Malampaya Funds for subsidy.
On the time frame, the Senate wanted the special powers extended until 2016, while the House of Representatives only wanted it operational from March to July.
Moreover, Umali said the House version of the proposed five-month emergency powers with no pass on provisions has the supported of no less than President Aquino.
“Dapat ito ay binabalikat at bigyan ng subsidiya sa pamamagitan ng Malampaya Fund dahil ito naman ay hindi kasalanan ng taumbayan at ang pinaka-importante dito, noong aming nakapanayam ang ating Pangulo, agreeable siya na saluhin ng gobyerno ito sa pamamagitan ng Malampaya. Kaya napakagandang pagpapakita ito na ang ating gobyerno ay nagtatrabaho para sa tao,” Umali said in a radio interview.
“The intention is not to burden the public with additional cost of electricity,” Umali, co-chairman of the Joint Congressional Power Commission, said.
Earlier, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., vowed to push for a no-pass-on scheme and limited special powers under the joint resolution. Belmonte, quoting DOE and the House version of the emergency powers proposal, said the projected power shortfall from March to July is 782MW.
Under the House Joint Resolution 21, the authority granted the President shall be valid from March 1, 2015 until July 31, 2015 to cover additional generating capacity required for theT period of the critical power shortage.
House Committee on Energy data showed there are 955 MW committed under the ILP.
Based on established protocols, the ILP is implemented during a red alerts when power reserves are minimal and upon notice of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the utilities telling ILP participants to deload from the grid.
The ILP is a voluntary program whereby businesses as malls and factories that have their own generators may be disconnected from the power grid in times of short supply. They may also sell any excess power they generate to power distributors.
Through the ILP, the aggregate demand for power from the system will be reduced to a more manageable level, helping ensure the availability of supply during the summer season.