Photo Release

Pacquiao questions legality of IEMOP as WESM operator: Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao questions the legality of the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines Inc. (IEMOP) as market operator of Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) during Thursday’s hybrid hearing of Finance Subcommittee E October 21, 2021, on the proposed 2022 budget of the Department of Energy (DOE). Pacquiao asked DOE why it allowed IEMOP to operate alongside with the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) even if Republic Act (RA) No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) only requires one operator. “I’m appealing to the committee to look into this issue before it approves the budget of the DOE. I’m not against providing the department its budget, but we need to demand accountability,” Pacquiao said. Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, for his part, maintained that the operation of IEMOP is in compliance with the EPIRA law. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)