House committee OKs special session on power crisis (PIA)

PIA Press Release
2010/03/02

House committee OKs special session on power crisis

Manila (2 March) -- THE House energy committee approved on Monday a proposal calling for a special joint session of Congress for the sole purpose of granting President Arroyo additional powers exclusively to address the Mindanao power crisis.

The panel, headed by Lakas-Kampi-CMD Rep. Mikey Arroyo of Pampanga, approved the proposal on the motion of opposition Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro and seconded by Nacionalista Party Rep. Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla of Cavite.

Mindanao congressman, led by House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Simeon Datumanong also supported the proposal.

But Rep. Arroyo is cold to the proposals to grant the President additional powers in addressing the Mindanao power crisis saying that not only are there still enough remedies to resolve the issue, but the situation itself is not grave enough to necessitate such actions.

In pushing for the granting of emergency powers to Arroyo, Rodriguez involved Section 71 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), which states that "upon the determination by the President of the Philippines of an imminent shortage of the supply of electricity, Congress may authorize, through a joint resolution, the establishment of additional generating capacity under such terms and conditions as it may approve." (PIA)