House to conduct inquiry on emergency powers

Leaders of the House of Representatives filed a resolution on Friday seeking an inquiry in aid of legislation to be conducted by the Committee on Energy before giving President Benigno Aquino III emergency powers to avert an expected shortage of electricity in 2015.

 

Introduced by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and House Majority Floor Leader Mandaluyong Representative Neptali Gonzales II, House Resolution No. 1533 stated that the House of Representatives should be provided with "necessary, relevant, and sufficient information on the actual or projected requirements needed to ensure the energy requirements of the country" next year. 

 

Before he went abroad for official trips in Europe and the United States, Aquino sent a letter to Belmonte and Senate President Franklin Drilon asking the House and the Senate to pass a joint resolution authorizing him to establish additional generating capacity for the Luzon grid.

Aquino cited the Section 71—the Electric Power Crisis Provision—of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) as the basis for the Congress to grant him authorization. 

 

Section 71 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."

 

Drilon on Wednesday also filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry on granting emergency powers to the President.

The chairman of the Senate energy committee Senator Sergio Osmeña III has also said that he was not keen on giving emergency powers to Aquino since there are other options. 

"From what I hear, I am not amenable to that, and I will recommend to members of the committee that the alternative is much cheaper, less risk and better for the country," he said. —NB, GMA News