Lawmakers on Monday appealed to Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Agnes Devanadera to inhibit from the decision-making process on the alleged seven questionable power supply agreements filed before the body for “consumers’ welfare and protection.”
Representatives Sherwin Tugna of Cibac party-list and Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao made the appeal citing the need “to protect consumers” in the midst of rising prices of basic commodities.
“For propriety and for good governance, we in Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption Party-list strongly urges Chairwoman Devanedara to inhibit herself in making judgments about Meralco’s [Manila Electric Co.] petitions for hike and other related matters,” Tugna said.
“It is important to protect the welfare and interest of consumers, especially now that prices of basic commodity increases. That includes cost of electricity,” Tugna, chairperson of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, said.
Tugna made the call after Bayan Muna party-list group assailed the ERC chief for allegedly having done consultancy work in connection with one of the controversial PSAs, which were filed by generation companies (gencos) linked to Meralco.
As far as Baguilat is concerned: “Chair Devanadera has to be more transparent and honest about her previous consultancies and engagements particularly those that impact on his work as ERC chair.”
“If that report is true, then there is a conflict of interest between her personal engagement and her official mandate and this needs to be investigated,” Baguilat said. “At least for the moment until she can make sure that she clears her name of the alleged conflict of interest.”
The power deals involve the construction of coal-fired power plants by Meralco-affiliated gencos. These include Redondo Peninsula Energy Incorporated (which is applying for a 225-megawatt [MW] plant), Atimonan One Energy Incorporated (1,200 MW), St. Raphael power Generation Corporation (400 MW), Central Luzon Premiere Power Corporation (528 MW), Mariveles Power Generation Corporation (528 MW), Panay Energy Development Corporation (70 MW), and Global Luzon Energy Development Corporation (600 MW).
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate earlier filed House Resolution (HR) 566 seeking a congressional inquiry on the seven controversial power supply agreements (PSAs) that Meralco-affiliated generation companies (gencos) are applying for before the ERC.
The resolution was among the resolutions tackled during the previous hearings conducted by the joint panel on the PSAs dubbed as “sweetheart deals” between Meralco and the ERC since these were accepted after the five o’clock in the evening April 29, 2016 filing deadline had lapsed. Thus, the double standard. has claimed that the ERC bent its own rules to accommodate these PSAs, thus making them “sweetheart deals.”
He said the ERC allowed for the belated filing of the PSAs, which should have been lodged before the Commission on or before April 29, 2016.
Late last year, the Ombudsman slapped a one-year suspension on ERC Commissioners Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Alfredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpala-Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana for allowing the gencos to bypass the required bidding process for energy agreements.
