Resolution on emergency powers may be passed today

MANILA, Philippines - Leaders of the House of Representatives expect the passage this afternoon of a proposed joint resolution seeking to grant President Aquino emergency powers to deal with the looming power shortage in Luzon next year.

Last week, Malacañang certified the proposed joint resolution as urgent.

Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said the certification from Aquino means that the House can approve proposed Joint Resolution 21 on second, and third and final reading in one plenary session only.

“I think there is only one more interpellator and we hope that the regular privilege hour will be set aside to give way for this very important measure (emergency powers),” he said.

Plenary sessions on Mondays are reserved for lawmakers who wish to deliver privilege speeches.

House committee on energy chairman and Joint Congressional Power Commission co-chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali sponsored and defended “the most cost-effective” resolution on the floor last week after holding some 10 public hearings and technical working groups.

The resolution seeks to authorize Aquino “to provide for the establishment of additional power generating capacity under Republic Act 9136, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, to effectively address the projected shortage of the supply of electricity in the Luzon grid from March to July 2015.”