Published
July 25, 2018, 10:00 PM By Myrna M. Velasco
The five power projects
that were given 60-day ultimatum by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)
failed to submit their mandated environmental compliance certificates (ECCs),
the power industry regulator has revealed.
Instead, the
project-sponsor companies filed motions for reconsideration, but these are
still pending for action by the ERC.
“No ECCs submitted yet
but motions and manifestations for Commission resolution have been filed,” ERC
Spokesperson Floresinda B. Digal has noted.
The 60-day ultimatum
afforded by the industry regulator should have lapsed June 20 to June 25 this
year; and the deadlines were reckoned as to when the notices were served by the
ERC to specific projects.
Nevertheless, the reconsideration
plea of the power companies cannot be acted by the ERC given the fact that it
does not have a functioning Commission this time. That was following the
three-month suspension meted upon its top-level officials and the
non-appointment yet on replacements of former Commissioners Alfredo J. Non and
Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc.
The power projects
enforced on ECC submissions have been: Mariveles Power Generation Corporation
and Central Luzon Premiere Power Corporation of the San Miguel Energy group; Global
Luzon Energy Development Corporation of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation of
the Pangilinan group; Palm Concepcion Power Corporation of A. Brown Company,
Inc.; and Astronergy Development Mindanao, Inc. which is headed by businessman
Dennis Eala.
Of the five projects,
three are covered by the highly ticklish power supply agreements with Manila
Electric Company – the Mariveles, Central Luzon Premiere and Global Luzon
Energy power projects.
It was gathered that
several power project proponents also lodged their queries with the Department
of Energy-led Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC) as to which process
they shall be complying with in their ECC applications.
Such policy changes
being carried out by the government, they said, have been sowing confusion –
hence, it has been triggering some delays also on securing their respective
project permits.
Energy Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas asserted that they have been assessing how to address the ECC application system for the power projects – at least under the coordinated processes set forth under Executive Order No. 30.
Energy Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas asserted that they have been assessing how to address the ECC application system for the power projects – at least under the coordinated processes set forth under Executive Order No. 30.
He emphasized that to
harmonize government permitting procedures, they intend to rope in the ERC in
the entire chain of such processes, primarily for ventures that are applying
for “energy project of national significance” certifications.
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