House OKs P1,000 budget for ERC for 2018

In a surprise move, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a budget of only P1,000 for the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for 2018.

During the plenary deliberations, Zamboanga City Representative Celso Lobregat moved to sponsor the sum for the agency.

"I am here to sponsor the budget of the ERC and we are sponsoring the budget of P1,000 for the ERC for the year 2018," he said, without explaining or divulging the reason for his motion.

BUHAY party-list Representative Lito Atienza asked Lobregat if he was moving for the scrapping of the entire P365-million budget, to which Lobregat said, "No, I am moving for a P1,000 budget."

"The minority is very proud to be part of this motion. I second," Atienza said.

Atienza then moved for the approval of the amount.

Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro, who presided the deliberations, approved the motion since there was no objection from other congressmen.

"Any objection? The chair hears none. The motion is approved," Castro said.

Lobregat thanked the House members for the approval of the budget he sponsored.

In an ambush interview, Lobregat explained that it was Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who wanted a very low budget for the ERC for next year—P1, to be exact.

"Nag-meeting kami kay Speaker and 'yung ERC is riddled with a lot of controversies and problems. And at this point in time, sabi ni Speaker, mas mabuti kung bigyan sila ng P1," Lobregat told reporters.

"Ang problema sa P1, ang budget natin is by the thousands. So at least ang ni-sponsor ko, P1,000," he added.

The ERC was embroiled in controversy after the suicide of Director Francisco Jose Villa Jr. last November.

In one of his suicide notes, Villa revealed corruption in the agency, particularly regarding an audio visual presentation project.

In May, Malacañang suspended ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar over allegations of corruption.

ERC commissioners had earlier filed a complaint against Salazar before the Civil Service Commission for allegedly violating existing laws and rules on civil service.

Lobregat clarified that the approval of only P1,000 for the ERC next year will not necessary mean the agency's abolition.

"Hindi naman. Kasi actually kung i-abolish mo, talagang zero. At least P1,000 [ito]," he said.

"The internal problems of the ERC really have to be resolved. Kasi if you put money in that agency, e sayang lang kung walang patutunguhan. I think that will really send a strong message that the House of Representatives really wants to fix [the ERC]," he added.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate had earlier warned ERC officials that their proposed 2018 budget would be set aside if they fail to submit the documents on the Meralco-affiliated power sale agreements and the long-overdue Malampaya shutdown report in 2013. —KBK/BM, GMA News