Businessmen back emergency powers for PNoy to solve power crisis

MANILA, Philippines - A group of businessmen has supported the call of some quarters to grant  President Benigno Aquino III emergency powers to address the looming power crisis in the country.

Jess Arranza of the Federation of Philippine Industries said businesses would not thrive and cease to operate without power.

"Ako ay sumasang-ayon sa pagbibigay ng emergency power. Hindi naman bagong imbento 'yan dahil nasa EPIRA ( Electric Power Industry Reform Act ) law  kailangan lang ang basbas ng lehislatura," Arranza told a media forum in Greenhills, San Juan City on Wednesday.

Arranza also called on businesses to run their generators and sell them to the government but not through the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

He said that there is assurance of an immediate revenue if these businesses sale the power via WESM.

Arranza said the power outage or shortage could have a grave effect on the industries, specially those that rely on electricity.

"Kung walang kuryente, anong negosyo papasok sa atin? Hindi lahat ng negosyo ay pwede sa generators," he said.

Meanwhile, Electricity consumer welfare group, Nasecor, also supports the giving of emergency powers to the President.

Nasecor president Pete Ilagan said President Aquino should exercise the emergency power which is a prerogative to find solutions to the power outages.

"He, however, should justify this to avoid driving away foreign investors," Ilagan said.