PNoy: Emergency Powers No Longer Viable

President Benigno Aquino III said on Tuesday that seeking emergency powers from the legislative was no longer a viable solution to the looming power crisis next year.

The president said having authority to contract generating plants for additional electricity reserves was no longer possible because the legislature has yet to pass the measure. PNoy said there is a need of six months to install these facilities to include all of the civil works attendant to it.

“Congress has not given us that power as of yet…. So that doesn’t seem to be an option at this point in time,” he said as quoted in GMA News Online report.

Last September, Aquino asked Congress for emergency powers that would give him authority to enter into contracts to raise the generating capacity and fill the projected power reserves deficit, adding that this was allowed under Section 71 or the Electric Power Crisis Provision under Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

Senate energy committee chairman Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, said last week that there was no longer time and a need for Aquino to be granted emergency powers.

Source: GMA News Online