Press Release May 21, 2025 Gatchalian calls for inquiry into competitive landscape of power industry to ensure reliable, affordable supply Senator Win Gatchalian is calling for an inquiry into the competitive landscape of the Philippine power industry as part of efforts to ensure a reliable electricity supply and bring down costs. "Despite the mandate of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) and the Philippine Competition Act (PCA) to promote competition among industries, the power sector remains essentially controlled by major business groups and the cost of electricity in the country remains high," Gatchalian said as he filed Senate Resolution 1353. "Kung iilan lang ang kumokontrol sa industriya, paano natin masisiguro ang pinakamurang kuryente?" he added. The vice chairperson of the Senate Energy Committee pointed out that the current market share distribution and cross-ownership between generation companies, retail electricity suppliers, and distribution utilities could undermine consumer welfare as economic concentration is likely to stifle competition or manipulate the disciplines of free markets. He said the Philippines has the second highest residential rate among member economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at P11.32 per kilowatt-hour, or 40.4% higher than the ASEAN average of P6.75 per kWh. Gatchalian: Imbestigahan ang competitive landscape ng power industry para sa maaasahan, murang suplay ng kuryente Nanawagan si Senador Win Gatchalian ng imbestigasyon ukol sa competitive landscape ng power industry ng bansa bilang bahagi ng pagsisikap na matiyak ang maaasahang suplay ng kuryente at mapababa ang gastos. "Sa kabila ng mandato ng Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) at ng Philippine Competition Act (PCA) na isulong ang kompetisyon sa mga industriya, ang sektor ng kuryente ay nananatiling kontrolado ng mga pangunahing business groups kaya nananatiling mataas ang halaga ng kuryente sa bansa," sabi ni Gatchalian kasabay ng inihain niyang Senate Resolution 1353. "Kung iilan lang ang kumokontrol sa industriya, paano natin masisiguro ang pinakamurang kuryente?" pagdidiin niya. Sinabi ng vice chairperson ng Senate Energy Committee na ang kasalukuyang market share distribution at cross-ownership sa pagitan ng generation companies, retail electricity suppliers, at distribution utilities ay maaaring makaapekto sa kapakanan ng mga konsyumer dahil maaaring pigilan ng economic concentration ang kompetisyon o manipulahin ang mga panuntunan ng tinatawag na free market. Ang Pilipinas, aniya, ang may pangalawang pinakamataas na residential rate sa mga miyembrong ekonomiya ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations na may P11.32 kada kilowatt-hour (kWh) o 40.4% na mas mataas kaysa sa ASEAN average na P6.75 kada kWh. |
Thursday, June 12
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