Senator Win Gatchalian assailed energy officials’ apparent indifference in arresting any possibility of rotational brownouts during the election period next year, when the country’s estimated 60 million voters will exercise their right to choose their leaders in the national and local levels.
With less than two months before the scheduled 20-day Malampaya shutdown, Senator Win Gatchalian urged energy officials to ensure that there will be no power outages when the deep-water gas-to-power project goes on maintenance shutdown in October.
Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to direct other distribution utilities (DUs) to replicate the move taken by Meralco which decided to suspend all disconnection activities within its franchise area that are placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified Community Quarantine.
Finally, the country can soon boast of a cohesive all-in-one institution that will focus on technical know-how and enable the Philippines to keep up with technological innovations and energy and policy research, Senator Win Gatchalian said.
After 18 years and seven Congresses, the bill seeking to regulate the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry to ensure consumer welfare against illegally refilled and poor quality cylinders will finally be enacted into law.
With no less than President Duterte himself giving marching orders to concerned government agencies to ensure the full implementation of the streamlined permitting process provided under the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act, Senator Win Gatchalian said this shows the continuing commitment of the country’s Chief Executive to fight red tape.
Senator Win Gatchalian reiterated his call for the Department of Energy (DOE) to be transparent in its review of the sale of Shell Philippines Exploration BV’s (SPEX) entire stake in the Malampaya gas field project to Malampaya Energy XP Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Udenna Corporation owned by businessman Dennis Uy.
Senator Win Gatchalian said that the Senate Committee on Energy has been reviewing the performance of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and its compliance with its obligations under the constitution, the EPIRA, its franchise, and concession agreement.
Raising concerns over yellow and red alerts threatening the Luzon grid, Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to exercise its mandate to resolve the issues surrounding the impending shutdown of operations of three hydroelectric power plants in Benguet province.
