Representatives of the Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty (SAGIP) Party-list introduced what they called “10 Power Bills” in the 19th Congress to alleviate poverty by addressing the country’s energy crisis.
SAGIP Party-list Reps. Rodante Marcoleta and Caroline Tanchay made true their promise to bring down the cost of electricity as a roadmap for increased economic and business activity that would generate jobs and lower the cost of basic commodities.
“The Power Bills offer a wide-range of solutions to the country’s pressing issues on energy, particularly in terms of efficiency, affordability, and development,” a statement from the group’s office said.
The lawmakers filed House Bill 160 or the System Loss Limitation Act of 2022, which limits the cap for system loss from 9.5 percent to one percent.
The proposed bill will prohibit distribution utilities from unduly passing the burden of shouldering losses to Filipino consumers.
“Passing too much burden of incurring these system losses to the consumers is not only unfair but also deters the power firm from prioritizing quality and reliable service, knowing that they can readily pass the charges on to the consumers,” the bill’s explanatory note said.
They also filed House Bill 161 or the VAT Exemption for Covered Electric Billing Act of 2022, which will exempt low-income households with a total monthly consumption of just 200 kWh from the 12 percent Value Added Tax imposed on all electric components.
This will amount to a discount of almost P240 per month for the covered households.
Marcoleta and Tanchay also sought for the amendment of the Oil Deregulation Act through House Bill 164 or an act that will protect consumers from arbitrary increases in prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is an essential in every Filipino household.
They also proposed to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) through the House Bill 174 or the Act Prohibiting Cross-Ownership as among Distribution Utilities and Generation Companies.
This will avoid monopoly by eliminating the allowance for cross-ownership in the EPIRA.
“The prohibition on any form of cross-ownership will remove the conflict of interest as among distribution utilities and generation companies, allowing a level playing field for all power stakeholders,” the bill said.
House Bill 172, on the other hand, sought to institutionalize the Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC), which was created by former President Duterte in 2017.
The authors said the bill will amplify the role of EICC in safeguarding energy projects amid the threats of a global energy crisis and “thinning energy resources on the national scale.”
To address the country’s thinning energy resources, the lawmakers also filed House Bill 173, which will provide an alternative source of natural gas and stop the country’s dependence on the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project.
The SAGIP party-list lawmakers also want the Marcos administration to invest in renewable energy projects.
They proposed House Bill 162 or the Green Energy Auction Act, House Bill 163 or the Laguna Bay Solar Park Development Act of 2022, House Bill 170 or the Enhancing the Implementation of the Net Metering System Act, and House Bill 171 or the Act Authorizing the Development of Idled and Unutilized AFP Real Estates for Potential Sites of Renewable Energy Projects to this regard.