The Department of Energy supports a prompt lifting of the mandate suspending the payment of billions of pesos worth of electricity generated by companies charged with providing reserve power to the national grid.
This was learned from Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla at the Power Summit hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Makati where he said this was part of an holistic government approach to deal with the anticipated impact of the La Nina phenomenon.
The reserve system is powered by diesel and bunker fuel-fired generating companies who are owed P5.743 billion as of end-March this year but partially paid only P1.723 billion given the temporary suspension ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission in May.
Lotilla told the PCCI the reserve system is ideally available as and when needed but acknowledged this also happens if the suspension of payments were lifted soon.
The government has since adopted measures addressing the phenomenon such as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration baring the 69 percent chance for the disruption to begin in the July to September quarter.
La Niña increases the likelihood of above-normal rainfall in some areas of the country with adverse impacts like floods and landslides occurring in vulnerable areas and communities.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has mandated the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to equip local government units with updated geohazard maps and to conduct information, education and communication activities and for its regional directors to activate operation centers and assist in the conduct of pre-disaster risk assessments in close collaboration with the Office of Civil Defense regional offices.
The DENR also ordered the strict implementation of safety rules and regulations over large-scale mining operations and the creation of a multi-party monitoring teams from the MGB, LGUs, the operating mining company, the Environmental Management Bureau and others, to regularly conduct inspections checking on environment and safety measures in mining sites.
Mining companies are mandated to employ at least a full time safety engineer and safety inspector overseeing the implementation of safety measures.
