Transcript of Interview of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon

Q: On emergency power

SPFMD: We will be awaiting the report of the Senate Committee on Energy and we will prioritize the report if it is submitted to the plenary. We are about to finish the debates on the budget. Once the committee report is in, we will give it the highest priority.

Q: Ang ibig sabihin noon once the committee report comes in, pwede ninyo siyang masingit sa plenary?

SPFMD: Yes, we will give it the priority. Matatapos na po ang aming debate sa budget at maaprubahan na ito on second and third reading itong linggong ito. Kung maisumite ng Committee on Energy ng Senado na pinamumunuan ni Senator Serge Osmena ang report sa senado, kaagad naming itong ika-calendar for debates. In any case, the most controversial portion of the emergency powers - the authority to purchase capacity - is no longer there. It is less contentious dahil hindi na po tayo nangangailangan ng authority para bumili ng additional capacity. Ang pinag-uusapan na lang siguro ay kung paano natin papaigtingin ang tinawatag nating Interruptible Load Program para sa ganoon ay maabangan natin at mapigil yung brownouts next summer. According to the DOE, we will have shortages only of about 31 MW, if I recall correctly, and that can be handled adequately by the ILP.

Q: At this point, it really depends on Senator Osmena as chair of the Committee on Energy?

SPFMD: That's correct. We cannot take it up in plenary unless a committee report is submitted.