QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — A party-list representative is asking the commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to resign due to numerous accusations of graft and corruption.
House Committee on Energy Senior Member and Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate is challenging the ERC commissioners to step down because of various irregularities involving the commission when he is investigating.
“One of the most controversial among these deals is the midnight deal on seven (7) power supply agreements (PSA) of Meralco-affiliated power generation companies which would largely benefit Meralco,” he said.
Zarate, who is investigating the alleged irregularities in the bidding for power contracts, pointed out that anomalies and issues of graft and corruption against ERC personnel resulted in the suicide of ERC Director Francisco Villa Jr.
He also said that due to the extension of the deadline requiring competitive bidding in the power supply agreements (PSA) of distribution utilities (DUs), the regulatory commission has failed to safeguard the welfare of its electricity consumers.
“As it is, they have failed to safeguard the welfare of electricity consumers and power rate hikes are not being stopped by the ERC,” Zarate said.
Zarate said Congress is now investigating the anomalies in the ERC, and is studying bills to replace the onerous Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
“The ERC should be manned by people with integrity and competence to protect consumers,” he said.
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