Malacanang to coordinate closely with Congress regarding Aquino’s emergency powers

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini at the Mabini Shrine in Barangay Talaga, Tanauan City, Batangas on Wednesday (July 23). With the theme: “Mabini: Talino at Paninindigan,” the yearlong festivity aims to honor Mabini, the “Sublime Paralytic,” as the brains behind the Philippine revolution. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA– The Palace said it will coordinate closely with the members of Congress on the emergency powers wanted by the President to address the need of the energy sector.

“We will continue to work with our colleagues in the Senate and in the Lower House to make sure that everybody has a clear footing on what the President wants to do in terms of the emergency powers that he spoke of yesterday para malinaw po ang parameters nitong hinihinging emergency powers,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview on Saturday.

Valte was reacting to some statements saying the Palace may not be able to get the emergency powers needed by the President because Congress has other pressing issues to attend to like the national budget and the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

It was reported that Malacanang expects to have that authority for the President by the end of September.

Some quarters were saying that there must be actual shortage in the supply of electricity before the President is granted such powers.

But Valte told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that the President is not a person that gets spooked easily and when it comes to the concerns in the energy sector, he consults the energy secretary and other stakeholders to see the projections.

The Palace spokesperson also said that even Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla mentioned an impending energy shortage situation next year and the country must prepare for that.

A lot of the power plants run on hydropower, experts said, noting that as the summer season kicks in, the power supply will be depleted.

“So siguro mas mabuti na pong magpakasigurado tayo dahil mahirap na kapag nandiyan na ay doon pa lang gagalaw ang pamahalaan,” Valte said.

Another issue on the President’s emergency powers is sovereign guarantee, which became problematic in the past. Valte said that as the President asks for this kind of authority, there must be limitations.

“Just please be rest assured that the matter has been studied, and studied well, and that what the President is asking for has a very clear set of delineations and delimitations,” Valte added.