Congress to tackle important bills when session resumes

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives is ready to initiate possible and necessary legislative reforms to rid policies and laws governing the power and oil industries of existing intrinsic flaws that tend to undermine national interest.

"This is our constitutional duty," Speaker Prospero Nograles said as Congress resumes sessions Monday after a three-week respite.

The House leader laid down the list of legislative already in their advance stages in the legislative mill, bannered by the proposed P1.541 trillion national budget for 2010.

In the wake of disturbing pricing puzzle in the oil and power industries, Nograles has mobilized the various congressional committees to fast tract the different measures still in their wings for proper disposition.

"The Committee on Energy chaired by Rep. Mikey Arroyo and the House Ways and Means panel led by Rep. Exequiel Javier are on top of these things and we have been in constant consultations even during the break. I have also been regularly briefed by Appropriations Chairman relative to the GAA," Nograles said.

Among the vital measures that that need to be fast tracked are:

1. HB Nos. 1628, 1936 and 2931 - "An Act Ordaining the Development of the Downstream Natural Gas industry, consolidating for the purpose all laws relating to the transmission, distribution and supply of natural gas and for other purposes."
* Consolidated/substitute bills is being molded by the energy and appropriations committees chaired by Reps. Macapagal-Arroyo and Junie Cua, respectively
* Principal authors included Reps. Aurelio D. Gonzales, Jr., Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo and Salvador Escudero, III
2. HB 6207, 6398 and 6646 - "An Act directing the reduction of electricity rates through the utilization of the government share in the discovery, exploration, development and/or production of indigenous sources of energy for the purpose of lowering the43 cost of electricity," authored by Reps. Salvacion Ponce-Enrile, Jonathan dela Cruz, Monico Puentevella and Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David.
* The bills intend to lower electricity rates by lowering or removing such government shares/royalty in the exploration, development and production of these indigenous energy resources.
3. HB Nos. 346, 592, 1320, 1724, 3029, 3030, 4262 and 4890 - "An Act amending Republic Act No. 8479, otherwise known as the 'Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act.'"
* The original separate bills were authored by Dep. Speaker Eric Singson, Reps. Joseph Emilio Abaya, Danilo Suarez, Liza Maza, Luzviminda Ilagan, Saturnino Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño, Rufus Rodriguez and Narciso Santiago III.
* The proposals are now being consolidated by the committee on energy chaired by Rep. M. Arroyo. The objective is to increase competition at the retail level and strengthen the power of the Department of Energy.
* Arroyo said the retail industry has to be freed from the influence of big oil companies which own most of the retail outlets all over the country.
* "It seeks to ensure transparency in the pricing of oil products by expanding the powers of the Department of Energy so it may effectively carry out its mandate to inform and protect the public from any illicit practices in the industry," the authors said.
4. HB Nos. 6208, 6351 and 6490 - "An Act imposing a uniform franchise tax on distribution utilities enjoying legislative franchise in lieu of any and all taxes collected by the government with the end view of reducing the cost of electricity," authored by Reps. Salvacion Ponce-Enrile, Monico Puentevella and Dato M. Arroyo.
* The proposals are now being consolidated by the Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Rep. Exequiel Javier.
* The bill seeks to impose the three percent franchise tax on the gross distribution income derived by electric distribution utilities under the Distribution Utility's legislative franchise.
* As proposed, the franchise tax shall be in lieu of all taxes, such as income tax, VAT, business tax, licenses, and all other fees and charges of any kind and nature or description levied by any government authority, both national and local.

The various House committees, Nograles said, will pursue vital reforms along priorities like, infrastructure development, taxation and tax collection, labor and OFW workers' welfare, BSP and finance reforms and other vital socio-economic initiatives. (Gil Bugaoisan)