OPENING STATEMENT OF SEN. GRACE POE
Committee on Public Services
Hearing on the granting of franchise to operate as power distribution facilities
March 5, 2024

Good afternoon. The hearing of the Committee on Public Services is called to order. Today's agenda will focus on our pursuit to provide accessible, affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity for all, lalong lalo na sa gitna ng malawakan at dumadalas na brownout at power interruptions sa iba't ibang parte ng bansa na nagpapahirap sa ating mga kababayan.

Before us are three measures seeking the grant of legislative franchise to operate as power distribution utilities.

First is House Bill No. 6295 which seeks the grant of a franchise to Leyte II Electric Cooperative Inc. (LEYECO II), a triple-A-rated and multi-awarded electric cooperative. LEYECO II hopes to continue providing power service to the residents of Tacloban City, Babatngon and Palo in Leyte.

Second is House Bill No. 9154 which seeks the grant of a franchise to Romblon Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ROMELCO), also a triple-A-rated electric cooperative and a model for its renewable energy efforts. It is distributing power in Romblon's capital and Sibuyan Island under their unexpired NEA franchise. Meanwhile, its application shall cover the unserved island municipalities of Banton, Cocuera, and Concepcion.

Lastly, House Bill No. 9805, a measure borne out of public clamor for better power service in Negros Occidental. This measure seeks the grant of a franchise to Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC), a joint venture between Primelectric and the existing power distributor, Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), in efforts to rehabilitate and modernize the area's power distribution system and provide better power service to Negrenses.

Ang pagkakaroon ng prangkisa ay isang pribilehiyo. Kalakip nito ang malaking responsibilidad na magbigay serbisyo sa publiko. Samakatuwid, sa oras na hindi ito magampanan nang maayos ay maari itong bawiin.

This hearing will allow us to scrutinize these applications and ensure that a franchise is only granted to those qualified and responsible to provide their avowed public service.

Noon kasi pag may prangkisa na, relax na. Kahit na anong mangyari, magkagulo-gulo man sila dyan, basta ang franchise namin, 25 years. But this Congress and the past Congress, when I chaired Public Services we realize that we need to demand more from our franchise providers, for the service providers.

Ito nga ay isang pribilehiyo. So kung hindi mo ginagampanan, kung hindi mo pala kaya, eh dapat palitan o kaya ayusin nyo. Dapat ay reforms. Hindi naman pwede, katulad nyan, binigyan ka ng lisensya para magmaneho, pribilehiyo mo 'yun. Pero kung ang dami mong violations, karapatan din na tanggalin ang lisensya mo, 'di ba. Eh kaso hindi 'yon ang nangyari ng mga ilang dekada. Kaya nong tayo ay namuno ng Public Services, nakita natin, dahil nga sa reklamo ng marami nating mga kababayan, eh dapat naman masuklian nang tamang serbisyo ang mga prangkisa na ibibinigay sa inyo.

Sa ibang bansa nga ang prangkisa ay binabayaran, dito sa ating bansa ay binibigay ng gobyerno para matulungan kayo na magbigay ng serbisyo, at kapalit ay maayos na serbisyo naman sa ating mga kababayan.