Private sector representation in IPP review teams pushed

The teams that will renegotiate the contracts with independent power producers (IPPs) must include private sector representatives to ensure transparency, the leaders of a trade group said yesterday.

Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) chairman Raul T. Concepcion said he would recommend to the National Government that the IPP negotiating teams include at least one private sector representative each.

Without mentioning any specific individuals, Concepcion said the private sector representatives should be experts either in law, finance or technology. "That would allow a certain level of transparency in the negotiations," he said.

Per instructions of the President, the negotiating teams will be composed of representatives from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Department of Energy, and the Power Sector Asset and Liabilities Management (PSALM).

"Offhand, the private sector representatives could come from the acedeme and the business sector, and they should be respected in their own fields," Conception added.

Energy Secretary Vicente S. Perez said members of the negotiating teams are now being briefed on the terms of the contracts that they will review.

"We will come out with a plan or strategy for the negotiations next week. For now, the negotiating teams are undergoing education since they were not part of the review team," Perez said.