THE House Committee on Legislative Franchises approved on Tuesday a bill paving the way for the grant of a 25-year franchise for the national transmission system to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

PDP-Laban Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. of Makati City, committee vice chairman, said House Bill 3729 has been approved together with all the committee amendments. It is now ready for deliberations on the floor.

Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino Rep. Luis Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, one of the principal authors, said that by granting the franchise to NGCP, the government can shift to the private sector the burden of ensuring continuous maintenance of the national grid.

NGCP would have to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the entire transmission system.

Villafuerte said the present transmission grid is not only old, but also lacks the capability to transport all the available power being generated by the National Power Corp. and independent power producers.

“This inability to fully transmit total generated power has always been the excuse of various distribution utilities in increasing their rates,” he said.

Villafuerte and his coauthors—Speaker Prospero Nograles, Lakas Reps. Arthur Defensor and Neptali Gonzales Jr.—expressed confidence the private sector would run the transmission system efficiently; an efficiency that is seen to result in greater reliability, improved system security and maximum utilization of its potentials.

The NGCP is owned by Monte Oro, Calaca High Power Corp., and the State Grid Corp. of China. They won the bid for the management of the national power grid last year.

House panel endorses NGCP franchise

THE House Committee on Legislative Franchises approved on Tuesday a bill paving the way for the grant of a 25-year franchise for the national transmission system to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

GOVERNMENT Service Insurance System (GSIS) president Winston Garcia presented to Filipino business leaders his formula in bringing down the cost of electricity in areas covered by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

ELEVEN of the remaining 17 junior officers who are facing charges before a general court martial for their involvement in the July 2003 occupation of the Oakwood Premier Hotel in Makati City pleaded guilty Tuesday and said they are willing to face the consequences of their admission of guilt.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Kidnappers who seized a businessman last month freed their captive Monday night in this city.

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan advised all departing passengers using the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) terminals 1 and 2 to check-in earlier because the airline counters will be closed 20 minutes before the scheduled flights.

A BILL seeking to grant retiring government personnel with an automatic one-step promotion has been filed in the House of Representatives.

A MILITARY helicopter from the American hospital ship USNS Mercy was shot by still-unidentified armed men while it was flying over Cotabato City on Monday, the military said.