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UNTI-unting nabubunyag sa Kamara ang umano’y irregularidad sa National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), kabilang ang kabiguan ng naturang ahensya ibukas sa publiko ang common shares sa bisa ng initial public offering (IPO).
Paniwala ni Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, nilabag ng NGCP ang ilang probisyon sa prangkisang iginawad ng Kongreso. Partikular na tinukoy ni Fernandez ang Section 8 ng Republic Act 9511.
“Under Section 8, ang mandato po ng atin pong NGCP is to offer sa public yung atin pong share of stock at ito po ay within 10 years from the commencement of its operation,” wika ni Fernandez sa pagdinig ng House Committee on Legislative Franchises.
Pero pagkatapos aniya ng palugit na nakasaad sa prangkisa, hindi pa rin tumatalima ang naturang kumpanya — “At kung atin pong pag babasehan yung commencement ng inyo pong operation, nagsimula ng January 15, 2009 at ang inyong statutory deadline ay natapos noong Jan. 14, 2019,” dugtong ni Fernandez.
Aniya, walang “selective policy” sa implementasyon ng batas at hindi lang umano NGCP ang inoobliga magkaroon ng public offering.
“So bakit minamandato na tayo po ay mag-IPO? Kasi kung titingnan mo po Atty. (Lally) Mallari, halos lahat ng mga public utilities minamandato ‘yan na mag IPO tayo. I-share natin sa public yung ating pong pag-aari, ng atin pong entity dahil public utility ito,” paliwanag ng lider-kongresista.
“So the very rationale of our Constitution under Section 2 of Article 12 of the 1987, ay magkaroon ng equity ang ating mga mamamayan to be more transparent, more transparent, magkaroon tayo ng accountability,” dagdag pa niya.
“Most especially, ang atin pong transmission is a natural monopoly. Ang ibig sabihin po ay wala siyang kakumpetensya and that’s the reason why kung wala siyang kakumpetensya kailangan siya ng participation ng ating pong mga kababayan.”
“Did the NGCP meet the legal requirement for an IPO within the 10 years period that was mentioned in Section 8 of Republic Act 9511? Yes or No?”
Tugon naman ni Atty. Lally Mallari na tumatayong assistant general counsel ng NGCP –, “Your Honor, my legal position is yes.”
Ani Fernandez, unawa niya ang legal na posisyon ni Mallari.
“Para at least maging klaro po kasi ako ipaglalaban ko that you have violated Section 8 Republic Act 9511, but in your contention, in your statement a while ago, you have mentioned that in May 26, 2022 the order of the ERC was that NGCP was compliant with section 8.”
“But that was in contrast with the decision of the ERC on Mar. 10, 2021 when they rejected your motion for reconsideration when you filed a petition on November 13, 2018,” bulalas ni Fernandez, na chairman ng House Committee Public Order and Safety.
Kinumpirma ni Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Commissioner Ma. Agnes Maceda na naghain ng petisyon ang NGCP para i-extend ang deadline para sa public offering nito noong Nobyembre 2018. Gayunpaman, ito ay ibinasura ng ERC noong Mar. 3, 2020.
“NGCP is directed to commence immediately the process of public listing pursuant to RA 9511 and to fully comply with the same within six months from the (inaudible) of the decision,” ani Maceda.
“Second, NGCP is hereby directed to submit a compliance report showing its compliance with its public listing obligation within 30 days from the said compliance,” sabi pa niya.
Sa kabila ng direktiba ng ERC, nabigo ang NGCP na tumalima. Tinanong ni Fernandez si Maceda kung nagsumite ng compliance report ang NGCP, sa loob ng 30 araw pagkatapos ng utos gaya ng itinatakda ng panuntunan. Ayon kay Maceda, motion for reconsideration na lang ang inihain ng NGCP. (Romeo Allan Butuyan II)
