President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to submit a position paper on his proposed joint venture between local government units and renewable energy providers to bring down the cost of power, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, October 25.
Lacson said Benitez discussed the proposal with the president during his visit to Negros on Sunday.
The president told Benitez to submit the position paper to the Energy Regulatory Commission, and get their comments if it is possible to have a joint venture, Lacson said.
“This joint venture will directly deal with the electric cooperatives to reduce electricity cost for consumers,” Lacson said.
Benitez said the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) does not allow producers to sell their power directly to users.
Marcos said whatever will be the opinion of the ERC on the matter would be the basis of an amendment to the EPIRA.*