Published February 21, 2021, 7:41 PM
A partylist lawmaker has questioned the Commission on Audit for the long delayed release of the 2019 annual audit report for the Government Service Insurance System.
In a briefing conducted by GSIS officials for the House Committee on Public Accounts, Ako Padayon Pilipino Rep. Adriano A. Ebcas disclosed that COA has yet to publish the audit report even as the audit agency has started to release the 2020 annual audit report (AAR) of other government offices.
Chaired by Probinsyano Ako Partylist Rep. Jose “Bonito” C. Singson Jr., the public accounts panel has decided to conduct an inquiry into the financial status of GSIS, more particularly the condition of its investments, amid the declaration of officials that they are contemplating on raising the premium rate of members.
With 208 affirmative and zero negative votes, House Bill 8145 was approved on third and final reading.
Endorsed by the House Committee on Energy for immediate plenary approval, HB 8145 will amend Section 73 of Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.
Section 73 provides for social pricing mechanism called the lifeline rate for the benefit of marginalized electricity end users for ten years since RA 9136 was enacted in 2001.
Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, chairman of the energy panel, said the most recent amendment to RA 9136 puts an end to the lifeline rate this year.
HB 8145 consolidated four bills filed separately by six congressmen. The authors include Reps. Wesley Gatchalian (NPC, Valenzuela City); Godofredo Guya (RECOBODA Partylist); Presley de Jesus (Philreca); Adriano Ebcas (Ako Padayon Pilipino); Joy Tambunting (PDP-Laban, Paranaque City) and Sergio Dagooc (APEC Partylist)
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE)
House Bill 8145, a consolidation of four bills, was approved on second reading on the last day of regular session for 2020 on Wednesday.
The bill consolidated four legislative measures filed by Reps. Godofredo Guya (RECOBODA Partylist); Presley de Jesus (Philreca); Adriano Ebcas (Ako Padayon Pilipino) and Sergio Dagooc (APEC Partylist, among other authors.
Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, chairman of the House Committee on Energy, said HB 8145 seeks to amend Section 73 Republic Act NO. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).
Section 73 of the said law provides for social pricing mechanism called the lifelline rate for the benefit of marginalized end-users for ten years since the law was passed in 2001.