Poe to NEDA: Provide timely data to support PSA amendments

Sen. Grace Poe asked the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to submit the necessary data on the projected impact of the proposed amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) on covered industries such as power generation, transportation, broadcasting, and telecommunications.

"Liberalizing certain sectors is going through a hurdle because of national security concerns that we have to balance with economic concerns. If you're not going to make our argument strong enough by providing data, we might not be able to get what we want from here, which is the spirit of the law—liberalizing our economy," said Poe.

Poe raised that while NEDA is the lead agency assigned to the PSA, there has been feedback saying the agency's support to the crafting of the bill has been found wanting, particularly on research and data.

The senator asked the agency for information on how the Philippine economy and local sectors and industries will benefit from the passage of the bill.

"We will tackle the amendments by next week. If you're really serious about having a successful version of the bill passed, I think that you should give us projections for telcos, airlines, and shipping, especially the foreign ownership limits in all countries," Poe said.

The President certified as urgent the immediate passage of three measures that will boost the country's economic recovery in the pandemic, one of those being the PSA.

NEDA Sec. Karl Chua indicated that should the PSA be passed, there will be marked interest especially in the telecommunications and transport sectors, considering the huge gap between what the country can provide and how much it actually needs.

Poe asked NEDA to be at the forefront and take responsibility in ensuring that his agency delivers due contributions to the bill to protect the public's highest interest.

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[FILIPINO TRANSLATION]

Poe sa NEDA: Magbigay ng napapanahong datos para suportahan ang pag-amyenda ng PSA

Hiniling ni Sen. Grace Poe sa National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) na magsumite ng kinakailangang datos sa inaasahang epekto ng panukalang pag-amyenda ng Public Service Act (PSA) sa mga industriya tulad ng power generation, transportation, broadcasting at telecommunication.

"Liberalizing certain sectors is going through a hurdle because of national security concerns that we have to balance with economic concerns," sabi ni Poe.

"If you're not going to make our argument strong enough by providing data, we might not be able to get what we want from here, which is the spirit of the law—liberalizing our economy," dagdag pa nito.

Ayon kay Poe, bagama't ang NEDA ang lead agency na nakatalaga sa PSA, may ilang punang kulang ang suporta ng ahensiya sa pagbuo ng panukala, partikular sa pananaliksik at datos.

Tinanong ng senadora ang ahensiya kung paano magbebenepisyo ang ekonomiya at lokal na sektor at industriya sa pagpasa ng panukalang ito.

"We will tackle the amendments by next week. If you're really serious about having a successful version of the bill passed, I think that you should give us projections for telcos, airlines, and shipping, especially the foreign ownership limits in all countries," sabi ni Poe.

Nauna nang sinertipikahan ng Pangulo bilang urgent ang agarang pagpasa ng panukala na magpapalakas sa economic recovery ng bansa sa gitna ng pandemya, isa na doon ang PSA.

Naunang nagpahiwatig si NEDA Sec. Karl Chua na dapat ipasa ang PSA na magbubunsod ng interes sa sektor ng telekomunikasyon at transportasyon, lalo na't malaki ang agwat sa pagitan kung paano makakapagbigay at kung gaano kalaki ang aktuwal na pangangailangan ng bansa.

Hiniling din ni Poe sa NEDA na pangunahan at akuin ang responsibilidad sa pagtitiyak na maibibigay ng ahensiya ang kontribusyon nito para sa panukala upang maprotektahan ang interes ng publiko.