Capitol power substation probe indefinitely suspended

By Erly C. Garcia

The supposed hearings for the stalled power substation project of the provincial government has been indefinitely suspended due to technicality.

Vice Governor Roberto Armada, chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee of the whole tasked to investigate the controversy said the majority has asked for the deferment of the committee hearings because the committee lack internal rules.

The majority also questioned the short notice for the conduct of the hearings. It said the committee violated the required 36-hour prior notice.

The committee has supposedly scheduled marathon hearings for October 12 and 14.
“I apologize for the delay, I have no choice but bow to the wishes of the majority,” Armada lamented.

Armada, however, said that this is the first time that the lack of internal rules of the committee of the whole has been questioned.

He said the committee had eversince conducted legislative investigations yet such issue was not raised.

Armada cited the previous committee of the whole investigations on the controversial Kepco Coal Power Plant, Perimeter Boundary Ordinance and administrative cases on certain provincial officials, among others.

In the absence of the internal rules the committee traditionally use the widely accepted parliamentary procedures, Armada pointed.

“I believe this is their way of delaying the proceedings,” Armada said without elaborating.

“If this keeps on happening we are merely posing more questions than answers,” Armada said, adding “we will be depriving the  people of the truth.”

The legislative investigation aims to find out the reasons why the power substation remains inoperational after three years.

The provincial government has already spent close to 14 million pesos for the project deemed to save the provincial government P300,000 in monthly power bills.

Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. in earlier interview said the power substation is already complete and they are merely waiting for the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to grant them authority to connect with the nearby Philippine Foremost Milling Corp. in Rizal, La Paz.

The Philippine Foremost Milling Corp. has a power substation of their own and the provincial government would only make use of their lines going to the National Power Corporation (Napocor).

It was learned that Panay Electric Company (Peco) has petitioned ERC to block  Foremost Milling from operating a power substation claiming that they are the sole power distribution franchisee in the city.

The case is still pending with the ERC.

Armada, however, said the provincial government should have been spared in the legal issues ensuing among Foremost, Peco, and Napocor.

“As far as I can recall, when this project was presented to us (Sangguniang Panlalawigan) way back in 2002 nothing was said about the possible legal impediments on the project,” Armada said.

Armada said the provincial government would be in a disadvantaged position if it remains tied with the ongoing legal impediments not of its own making.

Armada also surmised that Tupas was ill-advised into approving the power substation project believing that it is for the betterment of the provincial government.

“We are also victims,” Armada said adding, “we in the Sanggunian were made to believe that there would be no hitches in putting up the power substation that's why majority had it approved.”