Malacañang yesterday downplayed the issue of emergency powers that would be given to President Aquino as it maintained that the administration would be seeking concrete measures to minimize the impact of the power rate increase.
“The President has not discussed emergency powers with his Cabinet. His orders are still to find concrete solutions to minimize the impact of power rate hikes on the people, though the Supreme Court had temporarily stopped such an adjustment,” Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said in a radio interview.
He added that the Department of Energy met with representatives from power producers and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to discuss the matter.
“It is important for the players in the power industry to act in a manner consistent with the public welfare as their businesses are imbued with public interest.”
DECEPTIVE MOVE
Representatives of a militant party-list opposed the emergency powers proposal.
Bayan Muna Representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate said in a statement that their group would oppose “this deceptive move” to address the “induced crisis” hitting the country’s power industry.
“Bayan Muna will oppose this deceptive move because it is baseless and has an evil agenda. It plays into the ploy of the power cartel to divert public attention from the real issue which is the unprecedented and illegal power rate hike imposed by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and its cabal of suppliers,” Colmenares said./ Inquirer
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