MANILA – Various Filipino groups and organizations have accused allies of President Aquino in Congress of railroading a resolution to grant him emergency power that would address a perceived electricity shortage in Luzon next year.
Among the groups that are opposed to Aquino’s emergency power include the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, Health Care without Harm, Greenpeace, EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, and Green Convergence which condemned the apparent move by lawmakers.
“In the guise of solving an artificial energy crisis, the suspension of related laws in House Joint Resolution 21 will not relieve us of our problems but exacerbate the Filipino people’s vulnerability by burying us deeper in economic, health, and environmental problems,” said Kathryn Leuch, energy policy campaigner of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice.
Merci Ferrer, of Health Care without Harm, also pointed out that instead of reinforcing policies that advance our rights and welfare, the resolution gives Aquino the right to bypass those policies.
She said it is unacceptable to grant Aquino emergency power that erodes the democratic processes as House Resolution 21 allegedly circumvents laws and trample on people’s rights to resist projects which are detrimental to them.
As mandated in the resolution, all national government agencies and local government units are authorized to suspend the operability of pertinent laws, rules, and regulations including, but not limited to mitigating measures adopted for the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the Biofuels Act, Clean Air Act, The Philippine Grid Code, The Philippine Distribution Code, which may affect the operation and transmission of the contracted generation capacities.
Reuben Muni, Greenpeace energy campaigner, said instead of prioritizing energy efficiency and renewable energy – as mandated by the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 – to ensure that the country’s energy needs are met through safe, clean and sustainable energy sources, “this government continues to give premium to dirty, polluting and unsustainable energy sources like coal-fired power plants and waste-to-energy incineration schemes.”
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte earlier said that the administration will coordinate closely with the members of Congress on the emergency powers that Aquino wanted to address the need of the energy sector.
“We will continue to work with our colleagues in the Senate and in the Lower House to make sure that everybody has a clear footing on what the President wants to do in terms of the emergency powers that he spoke of yesterday para malinaw po ang parameters nitong hinihinging emergency powers,” said.
She said that even Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla mentioned the impending energy shortage situation and the country must prepare for that.
“So siguro mas mabuti na pong magpakasigurado tayo dahil mahirap na kapag nandiyan na ay doon pa lang gagalaw ang pamahalaan,” Valte said. “Just please be rest assured that the matter has been studied, and studied well, and that what the President is asking for has a very clear set of delineations and delimitations.” (Mindanao Examiner)
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