No clear sight on emergency power for President Aquino as congress recess

MANILA, March 18 – There is strong prospect that no additional power for President Benigno S.Aquino is in the offing to address the expected power shortage during the summer. The panel chairman of the House of Representatives committee on energy and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali expressed he had done his part but no one among the two houses of congress wanted to give in.

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Meanwhile, Senator Sergio Osmena III stood pat to senate version and had not schedule another Bicameral Conference committee as Congress go on a traditional Lenten break starting March 19 until May 3.

The House members are strongly pushing for the no-pass on scheme in using the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) as it is eyeing to tap the Malampaya funds as subsidy. The Senate said the adoption of the ILP scheme would cost consumers P7 to P8 per kilowatt-hour under its version of the emergency powers.

On the time frame, the Senate still wants the special powers to be extended until July 2016 while the House only wants it from March to July of this year. Both chambers want the government to mainly use the ILP in generating additional power capacity during these dry months. The non-passage of the measure, any increases of power rates will be shoulder by the end consumers under EPIRA Law. (PNA)

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