President Benigno Aquino III said on Tuesday, January 14 that he does not see the need to invoke his constitutional powers to avert a possible energy crisis. Speaking to reporters about the issue, the President clarified that the proposal to give the President ‘emergency powers’ was put up by members of Congress and was something he did not ask for. The proposal to grant Aquino emergency powers first surfaced after the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) raised the possibility of rotating blackouts, following the rise in power rates. Eastern Samar Rep and Aquino’s ally Ben Evardone suggested it, while Sen Antonio Trillanes filed a bill also on Tuesday seeking emergency powers for the President. By law, the President can temporarily direct the operation of any private utility or business affected with public interest (Art. XII, Sec. 7 of the 1987 Constitution). The power rate hike is a result of several factors, which include the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas power plant and the outages of several plants, partly due to Typhoon Yolanda.
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