The bicameral conference committee on energy reconciled on Wednesday conflicting provisions of a bill seeking to provide electric cooperatives (ECs) a P750-million emergency and resiliency fund. During a hearing on Senate Bill 1461 and House Bill 7054, or the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund measures, the panel decided that the initial emergency fund for 2018 would come from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Fund, which has more than P7 billion for rehabilitation and restoration efforts. Under the reconciled measure, the fund shall be transferred to the National Electrification Administration (NEA), instead of going through the process of disbursing money from the NDRRMC. “Hindi nila ipapasa sa consumers ‘yung pondo na ‘yon…(They do not pass the fund on to consumers),” Gatchalian said. If the latter, the bill would be returned to the Senate with a corresponding veto message.

Source: Manila Times March 07, 2018 16:52 UTC