MANILA, Philippines - An earlier decision by the House of Representatives to drop moves to change the power reform law will not deter the Senate from pursuing its original plan.
Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, chairman of the subcommittee on Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) amendments, told a weekly forum Thursday that they would approve changes to Republic Act 9136 "for the sake of the consuming public."
Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" M. Arroyo (2nd district), committee on energy chairman, earlier said the House decided to shelve talks on its version of EPIRA changes since the industry has agreed to hasten the implementation of "open access."
The Energy Regulatory Commission is finalizing the so-called interim open access, which will allow major power users in economic zones to choose their power source.
This will fast track the EPIRAs requirement to allow open access only upon the sale of 70% of state-owned power assets. The government has so far sold 49.82%.
"We will go through the amendments. I will do my job for the people and if they [House] will not pass it [EPIRA amendments], then they will have to answer to the people," said Mr. Enrile in the weekly forum "Kapihan sa Senado."
Senate Bill 2121, introduced by Mr. Enrile, seeks to reduce the privatization requirement of National Power Corp.s assets to 50% from 70%.
The measure is pending approval on second reading when Congress opens its second regular sessions on July 28. Bernard U. Allauigan, BusinessWorld