BAGUIO CITY – The so-called power block in the House of Representatives composed of party-kits lawmakers coming from the energy sector assured Filipinos that they will work for the passage of reforms in the energy sector that will translate to cheaper electricity rates and the development of communities hosting the operation of power generation plants.
Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA) Rep. Presley de Jesus said that one of the initiatives that the power block will be working on is the proposed amendment of Republic Act (RA) 9136 or the Electric Power Reform Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to warrant the eventual lowering of power rates in the country aside from ensuring the delivery of quality and reliable power to the countryside.
The power block is composed of party-list representatives from PHILRECA, Rural Electric Cooperatives Board of Directors Association (RECOBODA), Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) and Ako Padayon Pilipino who were able to get one seat each in the House during the May 13, 2019 mid-term elections.
De Jesus claimed that there is a need to also review the current sharing of the national wealth tax being paid by developers of the country’s natural resources considering that host communities are reportedly getting meagre shares despite playing host to the operation of power generation plants among other activities to exploit, develop and utilize the rich resources in different parts of the country.
RECOBODA Rep. Godofredo Guya supported the contention of de Jesus, asserting the need to review the present definition of host communities which is only confined in the peripheries of power plants thereby depriving watershed communities away from the power plants the chance to access funds for the preservation and protection of the environment that is the primary source of water running the hydro power plants along major river systems in the different parts of the country.
Guya claimed watershed communities of power generation plants also deserve to be given the equitable share from the national wealth taxes being paid by the companies to the government so that efforts to preserve and protect the environment will be guaranteed for the prolonged operation of the said facilities apart from possibly increasing the generated power to address the growing demand for clean energy around the country.
For his part, Ako Padayon Pilipino Rep. Adriano Ebcas disclosed that the 4 members of the power block decided to work out the allocation of more funds to bankroll the government’s sitio electrification program because energizing the countryside will translate to increased economic activities aside from improving the sources of livelihood in the remotest part of the country.
Ebcas agreed with the revelation of National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator that there is still a long way to go in the implementation of the government’s rural electrification program if meagre funds will be allotted for the said noble program, thus, the need to significantly increase the budget for energization so that people in the farthest part of the country will be able to enjoy the benefits of being provided with quality and reliable power.
3 of the 4 members of the power black were in the city to attend the National summit for linemen hosted by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO).
By HENT
