PINUNA ni Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez ang umano’y paglabag ng National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) sa prangkisa nito, matapos mabigong buksan sa publiko ang hindi bababa sa 20 porsyento ng shares nito.

Sa ginanap na pagdinig ng House committee on legislative franchises, sinabi ni Fernandez na hindi nasunod ng NGCP ang Section 8 ng Republic Act (RA) No. 9511.

“Under Section 8, ang mandato po ng atin pong NGCP is to offer sa public ‘yung atin pong share of stock at ito po ay within 10 years from the commencement of its operation. At kung atin pong pagbabasehan ‘yung commencement ng inyo pong operation, nagsimula ng January 15, 2009, at ang inyong statutory deadline ay natapos noong Jan. 14, 2019,” sabi ni Fernandez kay Lally Mallari ng NGCP.

Punto pa ni Fernandez, hindi lang naman NGCP ang inoobliga na magkaroon ng public offering.

“So bakit minamandato na tayo po ay mag-IPO? Kasi kung titingnan mo po Atty. Mallari, halos lahat ng mga public utilities minamandato ‘yan na mag-IPO tayo. I-share natin sa public ‘yung ating pong pag-aari ng atin pong entity dahil public utility ito,” sabi ni Fernandez.

“The very rationale of our Constitution under Section 2 of Article 12 of the 1987 ay magkaroon ng equity ang ating mga mamamayan to be more transparent, magkaroon tayo ng accountability,” dagdag pa niya.

“Most especially, ang atin pong transmission is a natural monopoly. Ang ibig sabihin po ay wala siyang kakumpetensya and that’s the reason why kung wala siyang kakumpetensya kailangan siya ng participation ng ating pong mga kababayan,” aniya.

Tanong ni Fernandez kay Mallari, “Did the NGCP meet the legal requirement for an IPO within the 10 years period that was mentioned in Section 8 of Republic Act 9511? Yes or no?”

Tugon naman ni Mallari, “Your honor, my legal position is yes.”

Sinabi ni Fernandez na naiintindihan niya kung ito ang legal na posisyon ni Mallari, ngunit tanong pa niya, “Para at least maging klaro po, kasi ako ipaglalaban ko that you have violated Section 8, Republic Act 9511, but in your contention, in your statement a while ago, you have mentioned that in May 26, 2022, the order of the ERC was that NGCP was compliant with Section 8.”

“But that was in contrast with the decision of the ERC on March 10, 2021, when they rejected your motion for reconsideration when you filed a petition on November 13, 2018,” aniya.

Kinumpirma ni Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Commissioner Ma. Agnes Maceda na naghain ng petisyon ang NGCP para i-extend ang deadline para sa public offering nito noong Nobyembre 2018. Gayunpaman, ito ay ibinasura ng ERC noong Marso 3, 2020.

“NGCP is directed to commence immediately the process of public listing pursuant to RA 9511 and to fully comply with the same within six months from…of the decision,” ani Maceda.

“Second, NGCP is hereby directed to submit a compliance report showing its compliance with its public listing obligation within 30 days from the said compliance,” sabi pa niya.

Sa kabila ng direktiba ng ERC, nabigo ang NGCP na tumalima.

Tinanong ni Fernandez si Maceda kung nagsumite ng compliance report ang NGCP sa loob ng 30 araw pagkatapos ng utos gaya ng itinatakda ng panuntunan.

Ayon kay Maceda, motion for reconsideration na lang ang inihain ng NGCP.