MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Win Gatchalian has called on the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to strictly penalize non-performing stakeholders in the power sector to prevent unwarranted spikes in electricity costs.
Speaking during a recent Senate hearing regarding proposed amendments to the Oil Deregulation Law, Gatchalian raised serious concerns over persistent power outages plaguing the Visayas and Mindanao regions despite consumers bearing the burden of steep electricity tariffs.
He stressed that regulatory and policy authorities must take decisive action to safeguard the public from system inefficiencies and potential market exploitation.
“Aside from brownout alerts, electricity prices in the Visayas and Mindanao are also extremely high. We cannot let this pass; the DOE needs a concrete solution,” Gatchalian stated.
“If power generation players fail to perform or engage in abusive practices, they must be meted with heavy penalties. The DOE, as the policymaker, and the ERC, as the regulator, must work together,” he insisted, adding that the Senate will maintain strict oversight until the power crisis is addressed.
“The public is fed up with high electricity rates and brownouts. Therefore, we will continue to press and keep a close watch on the DOE and the ERC until this crisis is resolved.”
Furthermore, Gatchalian urged the DOE to consistently audit fuel pass-through charges, especially given ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
He noted that such measures are vital to prevent energy firms from unfairly capitalizing on global oil price fluctuations.
“We have seen the government prove ineffective when it comes to monitoring prices and ensuring that consumers pay fair rates. In such an abnormal situation—a crisis—the government cannot afford to remain ineffective,” he emphasized.
“It must possess the authority to protect its citizens. If consumers are being exploited due to these abnormal circumstances, the government is the only place they can turn to,” he concluded.