LKI 2020-055 PRESS STATEMENT
August 25, 2020
LABAN KONSYUMER GIVES RECOMMENDATIONS ON CONSUMER EMPOWERMENT IN THE 2018 -2040 PHILIPPINE ENERGY PLAN
LABAN KONSYUMER President Vic Dimagiba recently stated the group’s messages on the 2018 -2040 Philippine and “we want to highlight our points on the expensive Feed in Tariff or FIT , consumer representation in regulatory bodies and governing boards of power and energy entities , continuing Information and Education Campaign on energy efficiency and conservation, as well as the implementation of the Murang Kuryente Act.”
Laban Konsyumer Inc. acted as a Resource Person in the Public Consultation of the Energy Plan which was hosted and presided by DOE Usec. Atty. William B. Fuentabella saying “Thank you for the invitation and we respectfully submit our comments and recommendations to the 2018-2040 Philippine Energy Plan , presented in the suggested template.”
In the group’s COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DRAFT PHILIPPINE ENERGY PLAN ( PEP ) 2018-2040, Laban Konsyumer said that the government should enable “ consumer interest with greater choice at lower prices”, one of the consumers universal right taken from the United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protection or UNGCP, General Assembly Res 39/248 16 April 1985, expanded by the Economic and Social Council in Res. 1999/7 26 July 1999 and revised/adopted by the General Assembly in Res 70/186 22 December 2018.
Dimagiba hit the Energy Regulatory Commission Feed in Tariff Res 06, 2020 that adjusted higher FIT rates retroactive to 2016 , whereas the Ayala Energy Solar Energy in Vietnam and India are estimated to be paid only FIT of Php 2.00 and Php 1.50 pkwh.
Dimagiba lamented the consumers conundrum on the long delayed implementation of the Murang Kuryente Act, and it was disclosed in the Forum that only an amount of Php 4..0 Billion is “ allocated “ for 2021 to pay all the stranded debts and stranded contract debts , which consumers contiue to pay , despite the effectivity of the law. Whether the amount of Php 4 Billion allocated will be appropriated in the General Appropriation Law for 2021 is still an outstanding item, added Usec Fuentebella of DOE. Dimagiba’s Petition on the MKA remains pending in the Energy Regulatory Commission.
In the area of good governance , Laban Konsyumer proposed that recognized consumer organizations or groups should be appointed in regulatory implementing agencies as well as in the governing Boards of power agencies like NPC, PSALM. PEMC, NGCP, DUs and ECs.”
Laban Konsyumer proposed amendments to the Oil Deregulation Law or Republic Act No. 8479, such as the transfer to the Philippine Competiton Commission the mandate of the DOE and DOJ Task Force on enforcement and prosecution of illegal acts of price manipulations and other prohibited acts and the inclusion of DOE Circular on Unbundling of oil prices in the law and to repeal the existing DOE Pricing Formula.
The group also related “Energy Efficiency And Conservation Updates, suggesting that a regular and easy learning community based Information and Education Campaign and Program be integrated in the K to K-12 curricula.