WITH almost everyone saying that they have the answer or quick-fix solution to bring down power rates in the country, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Tuesday encouraged everyone with an idea on how to bring down rates to submit their proposals to the quasijudicial regulatory body.

“We’re the only agency that should resolve rate issues. Whatever the good intentions of other government agencies are, they should submit it for a resolution,” Rodolfo Albano Jr. chairman of the ERC, told reporters in an interview.

The chief regulator said the Supreme Court says any lowering or increase in rates must be heard by the ERC. “Now I heard that if they take over management of the Manila Electric Co. [Meralco], they will lower power rates within its franchise area. Nevertheless I urge these proponents to come to the ERC right away to file their petition in order to effect price reductions instead of just posting their proposals in newspapers,” Albano said.

Whatever recommendations they will submit to the ERC, Albano assured them that they will look into it since they share the same efforts of hoping to bring down electricity prices.

Albano added that anyone who would wish or who has a proposal to bring down electricity rates will be welcome.

On the government’s plan to allocate P2 billion to subsidize lifeline-rate users, Albano said such proposal would be a welcome proposal, “but I cannot say if that’s viable.”

Albano said ERC also has to qualify that with the provisions of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, which states that the lifeline-rate customers are supposed to enjoy the subsidy for 10 years.

“But if the government is willing to assume that kind of subsidy, we will not stand to stop the subsidy to be given to the lifeliners, if in the event it will lower the cost of electricity for lifeliners,” said Albano.

The People Opposed to Warrantless Electricity Rates (Power) earlier said the supposed P2-billion subsidy allotted by the government for lifeline consumers of electricity is a mere juggling of taxpayers’ money with very limited results.

Engineer Ramon Ramirez, convenor of Power, said the P2-billion subsidy will be paid by consumers themselves since the amount will be taken from the value-added tax (VAT). Power noted that the VAT on oil is expected to reach P18 billion this year.

“The subsidy will be from the pockets of consumers themselves. It will be consumers subsidizing other consumers. It is limited in scope since it will only benefit Meralco customers. The subsidy is good for a limited time only, up to 10 months to one year,” Ramirez said.

He pointed out that it’s like getting something from one pocket and transferring it to the other.

Ramirez said the government benefits more from VAT than consumers do in the form of subsidies. Ramirez said the real issue is still the VAT on power and oil and how these charges have become too much of a burden for the consumers.

DAVAO CITY—The government began talking Monday with rice millers and traders, and inspecting warehouses here to ascertain reports that speculation jacked up prices of rice.

DAVAO CITY—Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Peter Favila  has appealed to the rich to allow the residents in depressed communities in Mindanao have the priority in the long queues for the cheaper Vietnam rice sold at National Food Authority retail outlets.

THE government is ready to tame unjustifiable price increases of cement and steel products by enticing new players to these industries through the grant of fiscal incentives, the Board of Investments (BOI) said.

Local industries are asking the government to oppose the new draft text for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) nonagricultural market-access (Nama) negotiations in which developing countries are being made to trim down their sensitive lists if they want to have smaller cuts in their bound tariff rates.

WITH almost everyone saying that they have the answer or quick-fix solution to bring down power rates in the country, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Tuesday encouraged everyone with an idea on how to bring down rates to submit their proposals to the quasijudicial regulatory body.

TERMINAL 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) will initially cater to domestic flights before it gradually shifts to become an international airport, the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) informed the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) the other day.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Learning from experience in his travel aboard in previous years, Lantaka Hotel by the Sea general manager Crisanto de la Cruz has initiated improvements by expanding the hotel amenities to suit the needs of its clientele both domestic and foreign guests.