Energy bills among 18 measures passed by House
The House of Representatives has approved 18 priority measures, including those seeking to lower pump prices and convert residential waste into energy, a week before adjourning for the Holy Week.
Of those passed on third and final reading, House Bill (HB) No. 8469 or the proposed Oil Price Stabilization Act and House Bill No. 5714 or the Waste to Energy Bill seek to cushion the long-term impact of soaring global fuel prices triggered by the Middle East conflict.
HB 8469 seeks to allow President Marcos to temporarily suspend mandatory biofuel blending if blended fuel prices are at least 5 percent higher than pure fuel, thus easing pump prices.
HB 5714, on the other hand, seeks to establish a national energy policy and regulatory framework for facilities that convert nonrecyclable waste into energy, addressing waste management challenges as well as promoting renewable energy sources.
To address the spike in prices of petroleum products, the government should repeal the oil deregulation law and fully implement the Renewable Energy Act, according to Roland Simbulan, chair of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPeg).
Republic Act No. 8479, or the 1998 Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act, allowed oil companies to set prices of petroleum products and pass on their losses to consumers, Simbulan said.
“It’s almost automatic under the unregulated oil price structure under that law,” he said by phone on Saturday.
Another solution is “increasing the use” of Renewable Energy Act, which mandates the government to accelerate exploration and development of renewable energy resources including biomass, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and ocean energy sources, Simbulan said.
The other priority legislation passed on final reading by the House include:
- Resetting of the First Regular Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
- National Center for Geriatric Health
- Epira Amendments: ERC Strengthening
- Amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act
- Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Act
- Amendments to the National Building Code
- Blue Economy Act National Reintegration Bill
- Amendments to the Teachers Professionalization Act
- Extension of Estate Tax Amnesty Period
- Department of Water Resources Bill
- Amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law
- Travel Tax Abolition
- Digital Payments Act
- Amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act
