Palace wants wider consultations on Epira amendments–Coloma

Business Mirror

26 Jan 2014 

 

Written by Butch Fernandez

MALACAÑANG wants wider consultations leading to a national consensus before endorsing remedial legislation amending the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) to address mounting consumer complaints over the skyrocketing power rates.

This was disclosed on Sunday by Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma amid renewed clamor by consumer advocates to repeal or introduce immediate reforms in the Epira.

“What the Palace wishes to see there is extensive consultation to get the view of the consumers as well as the major players in the power and energy sector,” Coloma said.

He explained that involvement of all the stakeholders is necessary so they can “present concrete proposals that will bring out a national consensus on what a new Epira would contain.”

The Palace official noted that the only aim of the original law embodying the existing Epira was to institute reforms, although it has been shown that its existing provisions are “inadequate” to deal with the present situation and could even present loopholes for abuse.

“That is why all stakeholders should prepare and the government will do what is necessary to provide an effective process for receiving suggestions for reforms to be embodied in a bill amending Epira,” Coloma said.

He affirmed the Palace is encouraging extensive debates to lead to an improved Epira.

“Toward this end, we hope to find a way to get the best suggestions for reforms from the engagements with key sectors, power industry players,  lawmakers and  pertinent agencies of the Executive branch,” he added, saying their inputs will be crucial to a new law embodying reforms in the power industry.    source