Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House quinta-committee (quinta-comm) isn't a one-trick pony.

The quinta-comm--also known as the Murang Pagkain Super-committee--will soon shift to hearings that will look for solutions to the high cost of electricity in the country, it's overall chairman Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda said.

This was bared Friday, Dec. 20 by Salceda in response to instructions given by no less than House Speaker Martin Romualdez for the super-committee to go after price excesses in the power sector next. 

"So, we will soon convene a Murang Kuryente Super-committee," said Salceda, an economist.

He said the panel will be taking up issues that have already a clear way forward. 

The includes the Energy Regulatory Commission's (ERC) finding of some ₱206 billion in disallowed public relations, advertising, and other expenses in the 2016-2020 period, when system operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) collected in excess of allowed annual revenues. 

The ERC released this finding late last year. "It’s time for action now," Salceda said.

In the distribution sector, when utilities collect in excess of allowed revenues, they usually refund the excess collections without much issue. The Bicol solon said the transmission sector, "should have no issue doing the same".

"Moving forward, the Speaker has also given instructions to study windfall taxes on excessive profits by power sector participants and plow such resources into consumer refunds and Pantawid Kuryente," Salceda said.

The quinta-comm has carried out three hearings so far, with all three mainly on the subject of the high cost of rice despite Malacañang's recent move of slashing rice import tariffs from 35 percent to 15 percent.

House means business

To show that the House means business with its murang kuryente (cheap electricity) thrust, the Salceda panel will reportedly hold its next hearing on Monday, Dec. 23--a day when most Filipinos are already settling in for the holidays.

But not the House members, apparently. During the final session day of the year last Dec. 18, the plenary favored a motion for any of the committees to hold a hearing during the month-long holiday recess when it is deemed necessary.

It was earlier this week when Romualdez revealed plans to expand the 300-plus strong chamber’s focus to other critical concerns such as energy costs and water supply. 

“We will not stop there. Mind you, once we solve that, or at least we get the process going in bringing down the price of basic food commodities, we will even look at other basic needs of the people like power or energy cost. We will look at water. We will look at the very basic needs of the people because we are the House of the People,” he said.