The Makabayan bloc has appealed to the House of Representatives not to rush the renewal of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) franchise set to expire in 2028.
Rep. Arlene Brosas of party-list Gabriela asked House colleagues to carefully study the bills filed seeking immediate renewal of the franchise. She said doing so would allow time for Meralco to fully answer questions, issues, and controversies hounding the utility’s operations.
According to the lawmaker, 7.63 million Meralco subscribers have been suffering the burden of high power rates and unstable supply of electricity, especially in recent days when red and yellow alerts have been declared by transmission company National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.
She said Meralco’s mandate under Republic Act 9209, the law that granted the utility’s franchise, was to supply power without interruption and at least cost. The said law provides revocation of franchise for violations.
“Power rate increases are unabated and these have a major impact on Filipinos especially those who have very low pay… There’s always an excuse for the rate increases but the government is not doing anything to lower them,” Brosas said in Filipino.
“That’s why the government should not rush approval of Meralco’s franchise… Let’s study it first because only two committee hearings have been held and this has not been fully studied yet,” she added.
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises chaired by Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting is currently reviewing bills filed by Representatives Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay and Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City proposing to renew the Meralco franchise for another 25 years.
