MANILA, Nov. 19 — Malacañang on Tuesday welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval of a resolution giving President Benigno S. Aquino III special authority to address the looming energy crisis next year.
In a press briefing at the Palace, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the House approval of the resolution is a step towards addressing the impending power shortage.
The government will now wait for the Senate to make a similar move, he added.
“Patuloy na gagawin ng ating pamahalaan sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa Kongreso ang lahat ng nararapat para maibsan ang maaaring maging epekto ng sitwasyong ‘yan sa darating na taon,” Coloma said.
“Siyempre ay ikinagagalak natin ‘yan (House resolution) at pinasasalamatan natin ang mga mambabatas na nagsagawa ng aksyon na ‘yan.”
The House Energy committee on Tuesday approved the measure giving President Aquino special powers to address the projected power shortage in Luzon next year.
Voting 19-1 with 1 abstention, the panel approved House Joint Resolution 21. The approval came barely a week after the filing of the bill authorizing the Palace to establish additional generating capacity for the Luzon grid through the Interruptible Load Program (ILP).
It is being projected that the country will experience power shortages in the summer of next year with the onset of the El Niño weather phenomenon that will affect the power-generating capacities of hydroelectric plants. (PCOO/PND (as)