Rep. Lord Allan Velasco of the lone district of Marinduque,
also the Chairperson of the House Committee on Energy, welcomes the news that
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed on Thursday, 8 August 2019, not just
one but two landmark legislation he has co-authored on energy policy: the
Murang Kuryente bill (now Republic Act no. 11361) and the Anti-obstruction of
Power lines bill (now Republic Act no. 11371).
The Murang Kuryente law aims to reduce the cost of
electricity bills down to the household level by allocating about Php208
billion from the net national government share of the Malampaya fund for the
payment of the stranded contract costs and stranded debts being levied on
consumers as part of the Universal Charge (UC).
On the other hand, the Anti-obstruction of Power Lines Act
seeks to prohibit the introduction of plants and structures within the
Right-of-Way (ROW) limit of power transmission lines to ensure uninterrupted
power supply.
Cong. Velasco says that the passage of the two energy laws
will help ensure lower cost and stable supply of electricity and will greatly
contribute in the country’s quest for reliable, sustainable, and affordable
energy supply.
