By:
Melvin Gascon - Correspondent / 07:22 AM March 31, 2019
MANILA, Philippines —
Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao on Friday warned Energy Regulatory Commission
(ERC) chair Agnes Devanadera of more graft cases if she approved seven
allegedly questionable power supply contracts pending at the commission.
In a statement, the
lawmaker said the bloc would push through with filing the graft case it had
prepared since Devanadera assumed the post in 2017.
“We will pursue the case once Devanadera
maintains her position in endorsing the sweetheart deals,” Casilao said.
The Makabayan bloc in
the House of Representatives is opposing the approval by the ERC of seven power
supply agreements (PSAs) filed by power generation companies linked with Manila
Electric Co. (Meralco).
These included Atimonan
One Energy Inc. and Central Luzon Premiere Power Corp., both in Quezon
province, which are applying for a PSA for 1,200-megawatt (MW) and 528 MW
plants; Global Luzon Energy Development Corp. (600 MW) in La Union; Mariveles
Power Generation Corp. (528 MW) in Bataan; St. Raphael Power Generation Corp.
(400 MW) in Batangas; Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. (225 MW) in Zambales; and
Panay Energy Development Corp. (70 MW) in Iloilo province.
Last week, Bayan Muna
filed a petition at the Supreme Court seeking to nullify the PSAs.
The petition alleged
that Meralco negotiated contracts with its subsidiaries for electricity which
was “historically overpriced” by as much as 20 percent.
Prudent
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos
Zarate led a House inquiry on the PSAs at the 17th Congress where it was
revealed that the PSAs had been submitted to the ERC past deadline.
Bayan Muna said at
least P930 billion would be added to power rates during the 20- to 21-year
duration of the PSAs.
“I think the prudent
way now for the ERC to prove that there is no partiality is for these PSAs to
be subjected to the commission’s own rules,” Zarate said, reiterating calls to
subject the selection through a competitive process or a public bidding.
Casilao has questioned
the delay of ERC action on petitions against the proposed coal-fired plants.
“The delay is very
suspicious. It’s a possible administrative negligence,” said Casilao.
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