President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has met with Bacolod executives to discuss the possible amendment of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to make use of renewable energy in an attempt to bring down cost of power.
Marcos brought the matter up after he was told by Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez that they were thinking of entering into joint venture agreements with solar power generators to enable them to buy the power at lower prices.
However, the existing EPIRA Law does not allow producers to sell to the users but could sell directly to the grid.
Marcos said Bacolod City should get the opinion of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
He said the opinion of the ERC on the matter could be the basis of an amendment to the EPIRA Law.
The amendment to the law is one of the priority legislative measures approved in the recent Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacañang.
EPIRA mandates the ERC to promote competition, encourage market development, ensure consumer choice and penalize abuse of market power in the electricity industry
The President was in Bacolod City on Sunday. Oct. 23, to attend several events including the culmination of the MassKara Ferstival.
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