Press Statement Power to the People Coalition December 15, 2014 Power to the People Coalition calls for continues Resistance against Aquino’s emergency power The passage of joint house resolution 21 giving President Aquino emergency power during the time that the country is hit by typhoon Ruby is an utter disrespect and disregard of people’s rights. Like thieves in the night, members of the lower house passed the resolution which has been the subject of controversy for the past few months .To this date , Secretary Petilla and even Malacang miserably failed to justify the need for such power using Section 71 of EPIRA as its legal shield. This will lead us to doubt of the real intention for the emergency power. The DOE even admitted that the emergency power will not ensure that there will be no power rate hike next year. One thing is clear though it .Private corporations generating power supply for their needs and will be mobilized in the Interruptible Load Program of the government will benefit from this emergency power It is not surprising why the likes of Henry Sy of SM is eager and willing to participate in the said program. The governments solution to resolve the power crisis means pushing for its pending and new coal power plants projects that face legal and popular opposition, particularly from impacted communities. Therefore, we continue to assert that the proposed measures will only benefit corporate interest and will further violate human rights of the people and destroy the environment. There is no long-term solution to the perennial power supply crisis and the unending rise in power costs other than for Government to repeal EPIRA, junk the privatization regime, and put under public control the power industry. A decisive component of this is to restore to Government its planning and regulatory powers apart from restructuring ownership of power generation, transmission and distribution in favor of the State and the public. The Power to the People coalition will never stop and will continue to campaign against this dangerous and destructive emergency power measures of the government. The people needs to be vigilant and active in stopping any measure that will lead to their harm and the betrayal of their interest and sovereign will. They should oppose any emergency measure that will ram through dirty and harmful energy projects like the new coal power plants, destroy the environment and exacerbate our climate crisis. We will welcome the year 2015 with continued protest actions if the government will remain intransigent and ride roughshod over the people’s rights and interests and ignore the snowballing public demand for the scrapping of the emergency power and the repeal of EPIRA. Let this be a warning and a notice to this power hungry administration. NO TO EMERGENCY POWER! REPEAL EPIRA NOW! No TO COAL ! YES TO RENEWABLE ENERGY! (30)
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 04:57:16 +0000
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