MANILA, Philippines – Inaprubahan nitong Lunes sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang isang panukalang batas na magpapaunlad sa natural gas industry na magpapasigla sa indigenous gas explorations at development ng liquified natural gas (LNG) infrastructures.
Umani ng 14 botong pumapabor ang Senate Bill No. 2793, tatlong negative votes at walang abstention.
Tumutol sa pagpasa ng panukala sina Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, at Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
Nakaliban naman sa oras ng botohan sa kritikal na panukala sina Senador Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Bong Revilla, at Mark Villar.
Sa pagpapaliwanag ng kanyang boto, sinabi ni Hontiveros na maaaring maliitin ang pnaukala ng “least-cost principle, na krusiyal sa paglalatad ng panangga sa consumer na Filipino laban sa hindi makatuwirang presyo.
“The bill proposed that the “domestic natural gas sector will be under no pressure at all to match their selling price with what is available from regional and global markets,” ayon kay Hontiveros.
Sa kabila dito, sinabi ni Hontiveros na kailangan bumili ang energy sector sa bansa ang lahat ng gagamitin nito na lilikhain ng sector at kahit sa pinakaepisyenteng balon.
“This abandonment of the ‘least cost’ principle may even affect, without categorically saying, the greatest potential of renewable energy to drive down electricity costs, especially when more and more investments are encouraged into this sector, rather than to another fossil industry which future is clearly defined in climate negotiations as a false solution and unsustainable,” paliwanag ni Hontiveros.
Tinutulan din ni Hontiveros ang “troubling provision” ng panukala hinggil sa cross-ownership matapos ibasura ni Senador Pia Cayetano, sponsor ng panukala angkanahyg suhestiyon na bigyan ng kapangyarihan ang Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) na tukuyin ang cross-ownership limits para sa LNG facilities.
“This bill, in its current form, could perpetuate past mistakes in our energy sector. I urge my fellow senators to carefully consider these concerns as we proceed with this important legislation,” aniya.
Tinutulan din ni Gatchalian ang panukala sanhi ng ilang probisyon na nagbibigay prayoridad sa indigenous natural gas kumpara sa conventional energy sources.
“This means that even if power from other conventional energy sources will have a lower bid in the wholesale electricity spot market than power from indigenous natural gas, the latter will still be prioritized. This will push up spot prices, thereby placing the burden of higher prices on consumers,” ayon kay Gatchalian.
Ikalawa, sinabi ni Gatchalian na nakapag-aalala ang kawalan ng competitive bidding o price discovery mechanisms para sa pagbili ng indigenous natural gas.
“Without this essential process, there is no concrete assurance that consumers will pay the lowest price, and investors will render the most efficient service,” aniya.
“A mandated offtake for indigenous gas without competitive bidding or price discovery, would allow indigenous gas suppliers to set prices without restriction, potentially resulting in higher costs passed on to consumers,” giit ng senador.
Sinabi pa ni Gatchalian na maaaring tumaas ang halaga ng kuryento dahil kailangan bumili ang consumer ng elektrisidad sa gas power plants na inaatasang bumili ng indigenous gas.
“Our responsibility to the Filipino people is to protect their interests and to act as guardians of consumer welfare. For these reasons, and with the goal of ensuring a fair and balanced energy market that puts consumers first, I cast my ‘no’ vote on this bill,” aniya.
Ngunit, pinabulaanan ni Cayetano, isponsor ng panukala bilang chairperson ng Senate energy committee, ang alalahanin ng kasamahan sa posibleng dagdag na gastusin sa consumer.
“To be very, very clear, we have price mechanisms. We have transparency. The law is very clear about fair and open access. Hindi po totoo na hindi po malalaman ang presyo. Hindi po totoo na ipipilit sa consumers ang mamahaling presyo. Ilang beses ko pong ipinakita sa chart sa ating mga kababayan at sa ating mga kasama na historically napakababa nga ng presyo ng indigenous gas,” ayon kay Cayetano.
“Kaya ‘wag po natin takutin ang ating mga kababayan na by prioritizing indigenous gas eh magmamahal. Hindi po totoo ‘yun. What I also like to emphasize na currently, ang mga power plants nag-ne-negotiate ng kung anong presyo nila na bibilhan ‘yung fuel supply nila. Wala hong bidding. So wala po akong pinapalitan hindi ko po tinatanggalan ng bidding kasi wala pong bidding sa level na ‘yun. Negotiated po yun. Those are supply agreements. Ganun pa rin. Same ang patakaran. Fair and open access to all the information available,” dagdag pa niya.
Habang nililinaw nito ang alalahanin ng kasamahan, pinandigan ni Cayetano na pawang “momentous step forward” ang panukala upang makapit ng bansa ang energy security at sustainable economic growth. Ernie Reyes
