"The doubt as to the role of China in the operations of the grid persists."
"The doubt as to the role of China in the operations of the grid persists."
Of all the worries that we have during this pandemic, the supply of power and water should be the least of them. However, there linger potential risks due to the national power grid ownership, which is relevant today since this public utility is relied on in addressing this national health crisis.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is a privately-owned company with a legislative franchise to operate, maintain, and develop the country’s power transmission network. This involves the transmission of high-voltage electricity through an interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, power substations and other power facilities. The NGCP, therefore, deals with an essential and crucial public service on a national level; this inevitably involves serious national security concerns.
When I was in Congress, we in the Minority bloc called for the nationalization of the NGCP to prevent external control and foreign intrusion over our power transmission network. At that time, we had active disputes with China over the West Philippine Sea. The NGCP is owned by a consortium composed of the State Grid Corporation of China, Monte Oro Grid Resources Corporation, and Calaca High Power Corporation. The State Grid Corporation of China holds a 40-percent share of the company. The Board of Directors includes three high ranking officials of the State Grid Corporation of China, and another Chinese national. This has already been questioned by the Senate as a violation of the Constitution. However, it has been long claimed that the NGCP is 100-percent controlled by Filipino entities. On paper, it may appear to be the case, but, regardless, the doubt as to the role of China in the operations of the grid persists. With the involvement of foreigners, speculation about the extent of their control over the management and operations of the NGCP cannot easily be dismissed.
The COVID-19 virus has already killed thousands globally. We cannot turn a blind eye on the fact that the first case of this disease came from Wuhan, China. There remains a mystery on China’s capability. With this scenario, I cannot rest on the idea that there may be threats not only to our supply and transmission of electricity but also to our national security given the current ownership and composition of the NGCP.
Perhaps, it is high time that we revisit this issue and settle this once and for all, to remove any cloud of uncertainty for our national welfare. I have proposed then and I am putting it forth again today, that we nationalize the NGCP and let the Filipinos take the reins. My highly esteemed wife, Rep. Aleta Suarez, refiled the bill proposing this exclusive Filipino ownership of the NGCP in the present Congress. We cannot deny that nationalizing the NGCP will give Filipinos more capability to assess and investigate the operations and performance of NGCP, especially in cases of recurring power interruptions, and most especially when it happens in the middle of a pandemic.
Several countries have been managing their power and water supply through government-owned public utilities. While this is possible, what is important is that the national grid ultimately falls into the hands and control of the Filipinos. In the midst of this COVID-19 crisis, we cannot be shortchanged of the services we deserve. We should be vigilant and mindful of other issues of national importance which might, sooner or later, hit us by surprise. Thus, I urge the national government to impose limitations on the ownership of the NGCP, grant them wholly to Filipinos alone, and initiate NGCP’s nationalization. Let us stand for our national autonomy in our public services.