Published August 6, 2017, 10:01 PM By Myrna M.
Velasco
A comprehensive audit on the
country’s power facilities had been the agenda set out by the Department of
Energy (DOE) on day one of the Duterte administration, but since no outcome had
been presented publicly on that, plans are being revived by Energy Secretary
Alfonso G. Cusi.
As a preliminary step, the energy
department had its three-day workshop to apprise stakeholders on how it shall
carry out “performance assessment and audit of the entire power supply chain.”
Notably, the audit framework issued
by the DOE last year had drawn some criticisms – because it reportedly delved
even on “inconsequential items” such as the salary of engineers working at the
power plants and the number of expatriate personnel in power generation
companies.
It raised questions among industry
stakeholders if the department was really that serious or even knowledgeable
and had the technical expertise in the operational audit of power plants – or
some officials and third party-engaged audit team might just be aiming at
employment prospects in power companies.
This time, Cusi is sounding off that
the department will take on “comprehensive performance assessment and audit on
the power generation, transmission and distribution system and facilities.”
The end goal, he said, would be to
draw “a better picture of the real state of the Philippine electricity
industry.”
When the audit plan was first
targeted, it was intended to help end the recurrent strike of supply tightening
in the system; but with “overcapacity” now as the sector’s “new normal,” the
prudent goal could be fixed on how capacity additions and facility upgrades or
expansions could then be planned accordingly.
“Our objective is to have a solid
foundation towards data-driven planning and decision-making,” the Energy chief
stressed.
This time, the department would
finally need to show determination on this audit drive, or it will ultimately
be losing credibility on the call for such initiatives.
During the workshop session led by
Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, the participants had been
oriented on the scope, parameters, processes, responsibilities and timelines on
the conduct of the proposed audit.
Such had been contained in the draft
guidelines made public by the DOE, but still subject to final inputs by
relevant industry stakeholders.
“Once finished, the proposed
guidelines will undergo focus group discussions with the electric power
industry participants,” the energy department said.
It must be culled that in the first
audit plan, it could have been completed over six months or as early as
December last year or early part of 2017.
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