Published October 12, 2017, 10:01 PM
By Myrna M. Velasco
Following the Malacañang dismissal
of its highest official, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is now prodded
to work double time so it can clear up hundreds of backlog of rate-setting
cases and other petitions.
Senate Committee on Energy Chairman
Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who first advanced call on the Palace to step in into
resolving the ERC mess, expressed hope that “the decision of Malacañang will
finally put an end to the controversies which have called into question the
integrity of the ERC as an institution.”
He qualified that “the leadership
struggle at the ERC has also slowed down the Commission’s performance as
regulator of the power sector. Now that it has been resolved, the ERC should
work double time to resolve its backlog and take action on pending petitions
which have a critical effect on electricity rates and other power sector
matters.”
Nevertheless, he stressed that the
Malacanang decision must “serve as a warning to ERC officials – and public
servants as a whole – that this government is serious about cracking down on
corruption in all forms.”
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi,
for his part, has indicated that the Malacañang order on the ERC chief’s
removal from office “proves this administration’s meanness in its fight against
corruption and to put order at ERC.”
To enhance the capacity of officials
and key employees manning the ERC, a re-alignment of P15 million has been
instituted for their training and travel expenses, as part of the Commission’s
2018 budget.
“There’s P15 million of confidential
funds that we re-aligned for training and travel expenses, hopefully, that will
be of help to them (ERC),” Gatchalian said.
The amount earmarked is seen
providing temporary relief to the agency, while Congress still deliberates on a
measure intending to reinforce the regulatory body’s processes as well as its
system of administration.
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