DOE, ERC policies must be checked, too amid high costs, brownouts

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MANILA, Philippines — Instead of putting the blame on the grid operator alone, two lawmakers have suggested checking and reviewing the policies of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in terms of rising power costs and supply interruptions.

During the joint hearing of the House of Representatives’ committee on energy and committee on legislative franchises regarding the May 13 power interruptions, Apec party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc urged lawmakers to also focus on the “technical, regulatory, and financial issues” affecting the power industry instead of immediately putting the blame on other players.

Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez, chairperson of the committee on energy, said that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines must not be blamed immediately.

“So dapat hindi sisihin ang NGCP (So NGCP must not be blamed),” Alvarez said during the hearing on Tuesday.