Malacañang seeks congress quorum on power crisis talks

Malacañang officials said Friday that they are consulting Congress leaders if a master quorum could be achieved should President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo call a special session on the Mindanao power crisis, inquirer.net reports.

"We're now consulting the President, and more especially the leaders of Congress on this. Only they can tell if they can muster quorum if a special session is called. Because if we call such a session, and only a few turn up, we'd only be embarrassed,'' deputy presidential spokesman Secretary Ricardo Saludo told dzMM.

Arroyo said Thursday that she is following recommendations from Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to declare a power crisis in order to be able to take emergency measures. Arroyo has yet to issue a proclamation on this.

The declaration of a power crisis would invoke Sec 71 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and enable enable state-run National Power Corp. to buy or lease modular generation sets to augment the island’s power supply.

Solons said that giving Arroyo emergency powers is next to impossible and government should find other remedies to solve the crisis, mb.com.ph reports.

“I still can’t detail what more powers they need for this short-term crisis which energy officials did not prepare for,” Speaker Prospero Nograles told the inquirer.net.

“Many of our senators are either running for re-election or are seeking other elective posts. This is the same case with our Congressmen so it would not be easy to hold a special session now even if the leaderships of both Houses of Congress are ready and willing to oblige. And even if there would be a quorum, it is very unlikely that Senators would simply agree to cloak the President with emergency powers to address the Mindanao power crisis. Just read the statements of the senators and you will already know that granting the President with emergency powers is close to impossible,” Nograles said.

The southern region of Mindanao is experiencing twelve-hour rotating blackouts due to power plants breakdowns and the low output of hydroelectric dams affected by the prolonged dry spell.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites