Published May 24, 2021, 2:40 PM
The House Committee on Energy on Monday, May 24 approved a bill that would give the Joint Congressional Energy Commission (JCEC) a permanent status, removing in the process its expiration as a body exercising oversight functions on the energy sector.
In a committee hearing alternately presided over by Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) Partylist Rep. Presley de Jesus, and Pampanga 1st District Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, the House panel unanimously approved House Bill 9132 or the JCEC Expiration Act.
The House panel also unanimously adopted the amendments to the measure sought by Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) Partylist Rep. Sergio Dagooc who proposed that the PCEC be granted the power of oversight on the implementation of all laws relating to the energy sector, except the Biofuels Act of 2006 Among the laws identified by Dagooc were Republic Act No. 8479 or the Downstream Oil Deregulation Act of 1998