Participation of civil society in proposed power body pushed

The Arroyo administration is being urged to create a so-called Power Commission that will allow consumer advocacy and civil society groups to address the numerous problems of the power industry, a consumer group said yesterday.

In a concept paper submitted to Malacañang, the National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reform Inc. (Nasecore) said there is a need to set up such institution to protect the interests of the consumers.

"The concept of a Power Commission is a legitimate reaction to the lack of concern of the National Government in representing and protecting the interest of consumers. The perception of the Filipino people that its duly elected leaders and government functionaries are ‘friendly" with owners of power utilities had led them to believe that the latter cannot be trusted to protect consumers interests," Nasecore president Pete Ilagan said.

Ilagan said the Nasecore is asking the Arroyo administration to have a Power Commission created by the President, through the issuance of an Executive Order.

The commission, he said, should be mandated to evaluate the problems in the power industry and come up with concrete solutions which would be incorporated in the national policies of the government.

Based on the Nasecore’s recommendation, the commission may be subdivided or may have different sub-commissions to handle the following problems: 1. Meralco refund; 2. Purchased power adjustment issue; 3. Review of the IPP agreements of the National Power Corp.; 4. Review the IPP agreements of Meralco; 5. Creation/establishment of consumer cooperatives that will be engaged in generation and distribution businesses; and 6. Review of Meralco’s mega-franchise.

The sub-committees may be composed of the different members of consumer advocacy and civil society groups. Findings and recommendations must be made public and submitted to the President, Congress, Department of Energy and the National Economic and Development Authority.

"The government must always be transparent in all its activities so that the people will know the accountable officials involved. Advocacy and civil society groups should always assert that they will be included in the formulation, adoption and implementation of policies as it will have a bearing in our daily lives," the Nasecore head said.