Manila, Philippines- Muling iginiit ng mga kinatawan ng National Grid Corporation of Philippines na kontrolado ng mga Pinoy ay hindi ng kanilang partners mula sa State Grid Corporation of China ang kanilang operasyon.
Sa pagdinig ng Senate energy committee na pinamumunuan ni Sen. Raffy Tulfo, sinabi ni NGCP Corporate Communications Head, Atty. Cynthia Alabanza na apat lang sa 10 board members ang Chinese habang ang iba pang mga empleyado at staff ay pawang Filipino.
Kinwestyon ng komite kung ang China-based corporation, na nagmamay-ari ng 40% ng NGCP, ay kayang makapag-derail ng operasyon base sa kanilang posisyon sa board.
Sinabi nina Sen. Tulfo at Sherwin Gatchalian na may ilang probisyon sa by-laws ng NGCP na nagbabawal sa board na mag-convene nang walang presensya ng sinoman sa Chinese stakeholders.
Sinabi ni Alabanza na ang probisyon ay simpleng courtesy sa partners na pwedeng igiit nang makalawang beses at lahat ng Filipino board pa rin ang may kontrol sa operasyon.
“As regards the concerns raised by Senators Gatchalian and Tulfo on the ability of the Chinese shareholders to defeat the will of the Filipino Board, this fear is not only speculative, it is without basis. At best, the minority shareholders can delay convening the board, but the board cannot be held hostage indefinitely. Any urgent matter that needs immediate attention can be decided on by the President and CEO, a Filipino. If needed, this may later be ratified by the board,” aniya pa.
Binigyan-diin pa ng NGCP na ang 40% stake ng SGCC ay naaayon sa batas at kinakailnagan dahil walang ibang local bidders ang Pilipinas na may kakayahang tumugon sa technical requirements na kailangan ng NGCP.
Matatandaan na hinawakan ng NGCP ang operation mula sa National Transmission Corporation nang isapribado ng gobyerno ang grid operations.
Lumahok ang SGCC ay nanalo sa bidding para maging foreign technical partner na may karanasan at expertise na kailangan ng Electric Power Industry Reform Act.
“Our foreign technical experts in the past were engaged by NGCP in full compliance with all [Philippine] laws. They provided technical assistance and advice. None of them was an ‘executive’ or ‘managing’ officer of the company,” giit ni Alabanza.
Inakusahan din ni Sen. Tulfo ang NGCP ng “underspending” o hindi paglalan ng sapat na budget para sa service improvements.
Agad namang tumugon ang NGCP na nag-invest sil ang mahigit P300B simula noong 2009.
“We remain committed to addressing all energy industry challenges, insofar as transmission is concerned, and we continue to pledge our cooperation and devotion to finding holistic and long-term solutions,” pagtatapos ni Alabanza. RNT
