Senator Raffy Tulfo suggested to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that the government resume operations of the country’s electrical grid, in a meeting with the chief executive on Monday.
A news release from Tulfo’s office about the meeting with Marcos said the president agreed with the senator’s suggestion “as long as it is in the best interest of Filipinos.”
Philstar.com has asked press secretary Cheloy Garafil for comment.
Tulfo had proposed returning the operation of the transmission network to the government-owned and controlled National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), while its maintenance is left to the privately owned National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
TransCo operated the power grid from March 2003 until January 2009, when its operations and maintenance were transferred to NGCP, 40 percent of which is owned by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), while 60 The remaining percent is owned by a group of Filipino businessmen led by tycoons Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr.
Tulfo said that Chinese participation in the NGCP poses a serious threat to the country’s national security, considering the tensions between China and the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea.
Citing an intelligence report, Tulfo claimed that China has the ability to access the country’s national network and sabotage it.
He also stated that the manuals and instructions in NGCP plants on the operation of sensitive equipment are written in Chinese and there is no Filipino technician who knows how to operate it.
Although SGCC only owns 40 percent of NGCP, Tulfo said the shareholder agreement gives him the power to veto board resolutions of majority shareholders.
“In short, Chinese shareholders can do whatever they want when it comes to running the NGCP. This is the reason why our energy situation is unstable,” Tulfo said in a statement.
Tulfo told Marcos about the different alleged violations to the NGCP in his franchise agreement, such as not following the timely development and connectivity in the main network in various provinces.
The senator said these concerns and alleged lapses are reason enough for the government to cancel the NGCP’s concession.
Other senators, including senators JV Ejército and Risa Hontiveros, have also suggested that the government retake control of the network, citing the same concerns raised by Tulfo.
But Senator Francis Escudero warned against renationalizing properties previously owned by the government, saying it could discourage foreign investors from doing business in the country.
“The renationalization of previously sold state assets is a policy that the national government should be very careful about or should be more circumspect about, as it could send the wrong signal to existing and potential investors,” Escudero said in a statement.
Category: Philippines
