Former senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has called on the national government to review the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) in order to mitigate the effects of the ongoing fuel crisis.
Ejercito noted that the continuing rise in the price of electricity and chronic power shortages outside of the country’s urban centers have resulted in calls to review and even repeal the EPIRA.
“It’s about time we review EPIRA. Kasi (because) EPIRA was passed in 2001. Sabi nila, pag na-privatize na yung mga NAPOCOR power plants, bababa ang presyo ng kuryente kasi magkakaroon ng competition (They said that if NAPOCOR power plants are privatized, the price of electricity would be lower because it would foster competition),” Ejercito said in a media briefing on Tuesday.
“Pagkapasa nung EPIRA, natuloy po yung pagprivatize ng NAPOCOR power plants. Pero yung pagbaba ng presyo, di natuloy (EPIRA was passed and NAPOCOR power plants were privatized eventually. But the expected lowering of price did not materialize),” he noted.
Ejercito, who is seeking a Senate comeback in the upcoming May 2022 elections, reiterated that a strong energy sector is vital to the Philippines’ industrialization.
Thus, he said, the government should also explore new renewable energy (RE) sources and reconsider the construction of nuclear power plants in the country.
“Kung merong geothermal, why not? Marami tayo niyan. Mas safe pa. Natural gas? Mas maganda kung makakadiscover tayo (If we can go geothermal, why not? We have a lot of that. It’s also safe. Natural gas? It would be beter if we are able to discover sources ourselves),” the former lawmaker pointed out.
“Paubos na rin ang Malampaya. Iyon ang priority natin (Our sources from Malampaya is also dwindling. So that should be our priority),” he said.
“Pero kung hindi (but if not), I think it’s about time that we reconsider (nuclear power), The whole world is going nuclear,” he added, but cautioned the government that safety shoul be a priority once these programs commence.