The House Committee on Energy on Monday, May 24 approved a bill that would give the Joint Congressional Energy Commission (JCEC) a permanent status, removing in the process its expiration as a body exercising oversight functions on the energy sector.

In a committee hearing alternately presided over by Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) Partylist Rep. Presley de Jesus, and Pampanga 1st District Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, the House panel unanimously approved House Bill 9132 or the JCEC Expiration Act.

The House panel also unanimously adopted the amendments to the measure sought by Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) Partylist Rep. Sergio Dagooc who proposed that the PCEC be granted the power of oversight on the implementation of all laws relating to the energy sector, except the Biofuels Act of 2006 Among the laws identified by Dagooc were Republic Act No. 8479 or the Downstream Oil Deregulation Act of 1998 and the Oil Exploration and Development Act of 1972.

Dagooc said the Biofuels Act of 2006 will not be covered by HB 9132 because the law already provides for a specific oversight provision.

Dagooc, Arroyo and De Jesus are among the principal authors of HB 9132.

The energy committee is pushing for the swift passage of the bill to avert the expiration of the JCEC’s term on June 26. The JCEC was previously known as the Joint Congressional Power commission.

Authors of the measure said there is an urgent need to cancel the expiration date for the JCEC in order to allow regular review and “if needed”, move for the amendment of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).

The JCEC’s permanent status also allows the congressional body to exercise congressional oversight over a number of laws that included RA 11039 or the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund Act and the Murang Kuryente Act or RA 11371.

Various resources persons representing different government agencies and private firms and organizations did not interpose any objection the measure. In fact, all of them backed its immediate passage.

Energy Regulatory Commission Agnes Devanadera cited the JCEC as a body that “can effectively initiate collaboration among all parties” involved in energy sector.

Meralco’s Mark Anthony Delumen said oversight functions of Congress should “be without expiration period.” Sid Cacho of the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation backed the removal of the expiration of the life of JPEC, stressing that this would be beneficial to consumers.