Rep. Lord Allan Velasco is chair of committee on energy in the House

As controversy erupts anew in Marinduque over alleged current attempts by Velasco's opponents to push a new shady pact with the Marinduque Electric Cooperative (MARELCO) and a new power producer, reminiscent of the deal gone awry back in 2005, now there's hope for the province.

It will be recalled that power outages in Marinduque have caused untold suffering, on and off, for nearly a decade now. A power producer back then failed to implement the contract signed in 2005, as the company allegedly went bankrupt and its financiers left the country. 

It was to introduce a new technology in power generation then that would whimsically harness wind energy potentials in the island province. It was to utilize Wind-Diesel Hybrid Technology to boost the electric power requirements of Marinduque, putting up a 15.7-mw hybrid wind-diesel plant with investments estimated at P677 million. 

But not a single kilowatt power was produced. Ganon lang.
Walang pinanagot. After alleged payment of hefty commission, "bahala na kayo sa buhay niyo!" The same dark scheme is apparently being tried again by unscrupulous elements, judging from local social media chatter lately.

Now Marinduquenos are pinning their hopes on this new and welcome development - with Congressman Velasco chosen as chair of the energy committee. 

Duterte allies get chairmanships of key House committees

DAVAO City Rep. Karlo Nograles led the allies of President Duterte who were chosen to head key committees in the House of Representatives.

Majority Leader Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas announced during the plenary session that Nograles is the next chairperson of the appropriations committee, the powerful House committee tasked to deliberate on the appropriations law or the national budget.

Nograles is a member of the National Unity Party which aligned itself with the ruling Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Congress has the power of the purse and constitutional duty to scrutinize the proposed national budget.

Former actress and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez was chosen to lead the committee on tourism.

Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco will chair the energy committee.

Palawan Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez is the next chair of the committee on legislative franchise.

San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora will chair the House contingent of the powerful committee on appointments.

They are all newly minted members of the PDP-Laban./ac/rga/Inquirer