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THE HOUSE of Representatives energy committee, headed by the President's son, has committed to initiate moves for a joint resolution that would authorize agencies of the Executive branch to purchase additional generating capacity for Mindanao.

Committee chairman Juan Miguel M. Arroyo of Pampanga (2nd district) said in a public hearing yesterday on Mindanao's power shortage that his group planned to write President Gloria M. Arroyo within the week to ask her to call for a special session so that Congress can approve the joint resolution.

Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes late last week cited the need to invoke section 71 of Republic Act 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), which states that "upon determination of the President of...an imminent shortage of supply of electricity, Congress may authorize, through a joint resolution" the government to contract new power capacity - a task EPIRA had left to the private sector.

However, Speaker Prospero C. Nograles reiterated his opposition yesterday, saying via text: "There is no need to call for a special session. Energy laws have enough powers to address the crisis and to act swiftly. The Executive department has enough powers on its own already."

Mr. Arroyo said Congress cannot move since it is currently on break until May 31. "Invoking section 71 of the EPIRA will speedily address the situation. In view of the rotating brownouts in Mindanao and the threat that the situation brings during the May 10 elections, we approve of giving the President those emergency powers, provided that there are specific conditions: there is a timeline for the declaration and bidding procedures are done in a transparent manner," he said at the sidelines of the hearing.

Mr. Reyes said in the hearing yesterday that such Congressional authority would clear the way for the government to lease modular generation sets for four months, estimating that this effort would cost a total of P5.5 billion.

Mr. Reyes said that since such generators are powered by diesel, which is more expensive than hydroelectric power which accounts for more than half of Mindanao's supply in normal conditions, the cost of electricity on the island could rise to as much as P14 per kilowatt hour from P2.83/kWh currently.

Mr. Reyes said that, should Congress fail to pass the joint resolution, the department will be left with few alternatives, including demand-side management.

Mylene C. Capongcol, Electric Power Industry Management Bureau director, said by phone yesterday that this measure entails reducing load supply, including via "rotating brownouts."