Palace urged to certify as priority Enrile's twin power measures

MANILA, Philippines - Supporters of the twin power measures of Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile are urging Malacañang to certify these as priority bills to ensure speedy deliberation, passage and enactment into law.

Business groups openly support Senate Bill 3148, in particular, which aims to reduce the royalties collected by government from indigenous energy sources from 60 percent to three percent of net proceeds from the sale of such energy sources to lower electricity rates.

In a statement, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Edgardo G. Lacson said they support the redirection of government share of royalty for the reduction in electricity rates to end-users as stipulated in SB 3148. If passed, PCCI also hopes to see an adequate percentage of the fund from the royalties supporting energy efficiency initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of business enterprises.

Accounting for about two-thirds of total Philippine exports, the Semiconductors and Electronics Industry in the Philippines (SEIPI) has also been asking government to reduce the royalties in indigenous energy sources, like the natural gas of Malampaya.

SEIPI president Ernie Santiago urged Malacanang to certify Enrile’s twin power bills as priority bills to ensure immediate passage.

“We hope that Malacanang and Congress will certify these proposed measures as priority bills so the power rates in the country will be lowered, thus making our industries more competitive against  neighboring Asian countries,” Santiago said. 

The Foreign Chambers of Commerce through its chairman, Petteri Makitalo, likewise supports measures that will bring down electricity rates in the country. Makitalo says, “Aside from bringing down taxes which only get passed on to consumers, government should also remove barriers to entry for those who wish to harness alternative sources of energy.”

At the consumer front, groups such as National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reform (Nasecore) and Gabriela Women’s Party have been calling for the removal of the excessive taxes on electricity to ease the burden of residential consumers.