President Marcos has called on Congress to work with the Executive branch in reviewing the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, Marcos made the call to determine if EPIRA is still applicable to the current energy situation.
“Binabalikan at binubusisi nating muli ang EPIRA upang malaman kung angkop pa ba ito sa ating kasalukuyang sitwasyon, o napapanahon na, na ito ay amyendahan (We are revisiting and restudying EPIRA in order to determine if it is still applicable to the current situation, or if it needs to be amended),” the President said in his 82-minute speech.
“Hinihiling ko sa Kongreso na pagtulungan na natin ito, alang-alang sa kapakanan ng mga Pilipino. Sa taas ng presyo ng kuryente sa bansa, nahihirapan hindi lamang ang mga negosyante — kung hindi lalo na ang taumbayan (I am asking the Congress to work with us, for the sake of the Filipino people. With the high prices of electricity, not only the businesses are suffering, but especially the people),” he added.
The President acknowledged the high price of electricity in the country, prompting the government to add more power infrastructures to energy cost.
Some of the projects he highlighted are: the proper and fair Lifeline Rate program for those in need, especially 4Ps beneficiaries, temporary suspension of FIT-ALL Tariff on electric bill, Anti-Bill Shock program, suspension of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, and the refund and elimination of excessive charging of consumers.
The President also reported the successful connection of power grids in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and the government’s efforts to address power outages and blackouts.