Special powers for Noy now dim

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives and the Senate will not be able to approve the joint resolution granting President Aquino emergency powers to deal with a projected electricity shortage in Luzon this month up to July.

The bicameral conference committee on the resolution will no longer convene next week to reconcile the two chambers’ versions of the measure, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said yesterday.

“We have been advised by the Senate that the bicam will not reconvene unless the House agrees to the senators’ proposal to pass on to consumers whatever cost is involved in the exercise of such special powers,” he said.

Albano, a member of the House contingent in the bicam, said the House would stick to its proposal to charge the cost to the Malampaya Fund for the five-month duration of the expected shortage, instead of letting the public shoulder it.

The conference committee has met twice and has failed to resolve the contentious pass-on or no-pass-on issue.

“We will most likely adjourn next weekend for our Lenten break without approving the joint resolution. In that case, the interruptible load program (ILP), which is in place, will kick in. We hope it will avert rotating brownouts,” Albano said.

Under the program, participants like malls, factories and similar business establishments will be disconnected from the Luzon grid during tight supply situations and would use their generating sets. They will be compensated for producing their own electricity.

In a television interview yesterday, Senate energy committee chairman Sergio Osmeña III said he does not see Congress approving the joint resolution during its remaining sessions next week before its six-week Lenten break. – With Paolo Romero