What’s INSIDE?
■ Read how AML Dagooc urges ERC to revisit OATS rules on... page 2
■ Energy committee in favor of power bloc bill honoring lineworkers on... page 3
■ Take a look at Rep Dagooc baring the impending power supply crisis to Katropa sa KAMARA interview on... page 3
■ Steps on Congressional Franchise Application... page 4
Leader
Sergio Dagooc of the Power Bloc speaks up on the plan of the National Power Corporation (NPC) to curtail the operating hours of the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) serving off-grid areas starting March 1 during a press conference last January 25.
According to Rep. Dagooc, the NPC issued a communication on January 4 to affected electric cooperatives under the SPUG areas informing them of their plan to decrease the operational hours of the power plants due to fuel supply shortage and delays in the payment of the Universal Cost for Missionary Electrification (UCME).
Based on NPC data, they would need
around 3.8 Billion more to pay for the fuel supply, on top of the 6.8 Billion budget allocated in the FY 2023 mandated by the General Appropriations Act.
On Monday, 23 January, the Power Bloc already filed House Resolution No. 707 to intervene and prevent the power supply crisis and aid the NPC to augment their budget allocation for fuel for FY 2023. As of writing, the Committee has yet to tackle the Resolution.
“Ang pakay namin ay para lang maiparating sa mga kinauukulan natin na yung kuryente ngayon, hindi na po luxury ‘yan, essential na po ‘yan. Kawawa naman po ‘yung mga maaapektuhan, kaya kailangan pong trabahuin ng ating pamahalaan at ng mga concerned government agencies na
masuplayan po ang pangangailangan sa kuryente,” Rep. Dagooc said.
Occidental Mindoro Representative Leody Tarriela, who also attended the press conference, made a plea on behalf of his constituents who are already suffering from the curtailed hours since last year.
“Ang sabi nga nila doon sa probinsya, maski mahal ang kuryente, basta mayroon, amenable sila. Because the most expensive electricity is no electricity at all,” Rep. Tarriela said.
Rep. Dagooc stressed that the proposed plan would potentially affect 22.5 million Filipino consumers from the different island provinces, 14 in Luzon, 10 in Visayas, and 8 in Mindanao.
“Ang pakay namin ay para lang maiparating sa mga kinauukulan natin na yung kuryente ngayon, hindi na po luxury ‘yan, essential na po ‘yan. ”
As the principal author, Sergio Dagooc delivered the sponsorship Day, Mandatory Insurance Coverage Lineman Training Academy of
The purpose families their
House Bill 2157 seeks Appreciation Day in honor of the from AML Dagooc’s previous stint House Bill 2158, on the and accident insurance benefits, reimbursement of actual medical
Party-List Representative Sergio Dagooc delivered a privilege speech on January 23 pushing for the review of the Open Access Transmission Service (OATS) Rules in reference to the rising cost of transmission charge paid to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the country’s transmission service provider.
Rep. Dagooc explained that under the OATS Rules, the computation of the transmission charge paid to the NGCP is based on the peak demand in a month.
“Ayon sa Open Access Transmission Service o OATS Rules, naka-base ang pagcompute ng transmission charge sa peak demand o pinakamataas na electricity demand sa loob ng isang buwan, kahit na nagkaroon ng maraming power interruptions o pagkaputol ng daloy ng kuryente sa NGCP lines sa bawat buwanang pagsingil o billing period,” the solon said.
NGCP is not even penalized for the frequent interruptions; and the electricity consumers are forced to pay for the inadequate services of NGCP at prices pegged on the peak demand; Kahit maraming kakulangan sa serbisyo, buo o mas tumataas pa ang singil ng NGCP sa ating mga electric bill.”
Rep. Dagooc cited the situation in the Mindanao area where people face regular power interruptions.
Ang pag-imbestiga at pagtuwid sa maling nakikita natin sa ating sektor, maging sa pribado man, ay nararapat ayusin at aksyunan para sa ikabubuti ng bawat isang konsumante ng kuryente na tapat na nagbabayad ng kanilang buwanang bayarin sa kuryente.
“Frequent interruptions in the transmission service still persist, specifically, in the areas of Northern Mindanao to Zamboanga Peninsula, wherein line congestion exists. Napakahaba na po ng linya na yan, ang planta ay nasa Northern Mindanao, at ang load ay nasa Zamboanga. Napakalayo kaya palaging may underfrequency at kumukurap-kurap na kuryente,” he explained.
Meanwhile, House Bill 2159 qualified lineworkers to construct, Lineman Training Academy. It address the increasing shortage
After a lengthy deliberation, Group to harmonize the provisions as the Chairperson. Previously both House Bill 2157 and House AML Dagooc is a member PHILRECA Party-List Representative electrification sector in Congress.
Rep. Dagooc then mentions the transmission service issues such as line congestion and frequent power interruptions faced by the NGCP, despite their P51.471 billion Maximum Allowable Revenue approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). According to the solon, the public gets the short end of the stick with NGCP’s “insufficient, unreliable, (and) poor” performance resulting in a higher cost of generation, which directly affects the transmission charge, as well.
“What’s worse, Mr. Speaker, is the grim reality that
In culmination, the solon calls on the ERC to review and revisit the OATS Rules, and ensure that, the services we render to the people are of the best quality; the rates duly imposed scrutinized to the highest standard, and fair for all parties involved, because according to him, “the Filipinos deserve nothing less”.
“Ang pag-imbestiga at pagtuwid sa maling nakikita natin sa ating sektor, maging sa pribado man, ay nararapat ayusin at aksyunan para sa ikabubuti ng bawat isang konsumante ng kuryente na tapat na nagbabayad ng kanilang buwanang bayarin sa kuryente,” the solon ended.
As a former cooperative Representation lineworkers they may electric shocks, performance
Energy approved on January 31 the measures filed by the Power the recognition of energy sector lineworkers. author, Assistant Minority Leader and APEC Party-List Representative sponsorship speeches for the proposed bills on Linemen Appreciation Coverage and Benefits for All Lineworkers, and the creation of the the Philippines.
to declare the First Monday of August Every Year as Linemen the contribution of lineworkers to the economy, drawing inspiration stint as a lineman at the early stage of his career. the other hand, entitles lineworkers, through their employers, life benefits, retirement benefits, mortuary assistance, disability benefits, and medical expenses in certain cases.
2159 aims to professionalize the lineworkers industry by producing construct, maintain, and operate the country’s power grid under the will provide training courses for aspiring lineworkers at no cost to of lineworkers.
deliberation, the Committee members moved to create a Technical Working provisions of the Lineman Training Academy measure with AML Dagooc approved during the 18th Congress on Third and Final Reading, House Bill 2158 were unanimously approved by the Committee. member of the Power Bloc, alongside Deputy Minority Leader and Representative Presley De Jesus, championing the interest of the rural Congress.
Party-List Representative Sergio Dagooc graced the Katropa sa Kamara interview on January 28 to call the attention of the national government and apprise the public on the impending power supply shortage to 32 island provinces scheduled on March 1.
In his opening statement, Rep. Dagooc reiterated the plea he earlier made during a press conference at the House of Representatives on the plight of the island provinces served by the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) which is responsible for providing power generation and its associated power delivery systems in offgrid areas or those not connected to the transmission system.
The solon cited Sec. 70 of RA 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), stating that the National Power Corporation shall perform the missionary electrification in areas deemed as “unviable” and “nonprofitable” through the SPUG, with the budget coming from the
General Appropriations Act and through the collection of the Universal Charge UCME on Missionary Electrification (UCME) set by the Energy Regulatory Commission. However, with the varying factors behind the surge in fuel prices, Rep. Dagooc states that the projected budget set by NPC for fuel has been insufficient, leaving NPC no option but to reduce operating hours, from 24 hours to 16 hours, 16 hours to 12 hours, and 12 hours to 8 hours.
Rep. Dagooc drew particular attention to the ‘economic implication’ of the crisis as this would direly affect an estimated 22.5 million population with the proposed cuts in power supply, which could result in unemployment and spur crime rates brought by unstable livelihoods.
Rep. Dagooc calls on the augmentation of NPC’s budget at the soonest possible time to avert the crisis.
Katropa sa Kamara is a radio program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Radio hosted by Terence Mordeno Grana.purpose of [this bill] is to secure the families of our lineworkers who risk their lives in line of duty. former lineman of an electric cooperative for nine years, this Representation understand the risks lineworkers go through every time fall from electric poles, suffer shocks, and other injuries in the performance of their jobs.
The bill is received by the Office of the President for its action. If approved, the franchise law is enacted. If there is no action after 30 days from receipt, the bill lapses into law. If vetoed, the bill is transmitted to the House.
The bill, approved by the House, is received by the Senate, and is referred to the Committee on Public Services. The bill then undergoes the same legislative process. Upon its Third Reading approval, a Conference Committee is formed, composed of Members from each House of Congress to reconcile differences on any provisions of the bill. Afterwhich, the Conference Committee then prepares a report to be signed by all the conferees and the Chairman.The signed report is then transmitted to the President.
The committee report with the substitute bill is transmitted to the Plenary and referred to the Committee on Rules for consideration on Second Reading. During this period, the bill will be read in the Plenary for sponsorship, debates, proposed amendments, and then approval.
After Second Reading, the bill will be read in the Plenary for Third Reading. On this stage, there will be a nominal voting for the approval of the bill. The approved bill is then transmitted to the Senate for its action.
The franchise bill undergoes a series of deliberations under the House Committee on Legislative Franchises. Once amended, a substitute bill is created. The committee then approves and releases a committee report.
Once a franchise bill is filed, concerned electric cooperative shall submit the documentary requirements to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises. For the complete list of requirements, go to: bit.ly/CFA_Requirements
