MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on Congress to work with the Executive branch in reviewing the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to determine if it’s 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,” the President said during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
“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,” he added.
The President acknowledged the high price of electricity in the country, prompting the government to add more power infrastructures to energy cost.
Importance was also given to consumer welfare, the President said, as he underlined the steps taken by the government to protect them.
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.
“Nireremedyuhan natin ang pangangailangan ng mga lugar na wala pang kuryente at madalas ma-brownout, sa pamamagitan ng microgrid at off-grid systems, at mga missionary small power utilities na sinusuportahan pa rin ng solar,” he said. (PND)
