One of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s pet measures on the local energy industry is moving forward in the House of Representatives.Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, senior vice chairman of the Committee on Energy, promised in a virtual hearing Friday to pass House Bill No.3031 once the technical working group carries out at least two meetings with the concerned stakeholders in the downstream natural gas sector.
Attending the hearing was Velasco’s co-author, Deputy Majority Leader and Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Wee Palma II. He explained to his colleagues the need for such measure, particularly how it relates to Presidential Decree No.87 or the Oil Exploration and Development Act of 1972. “In a way it is an amendment to PD 87 but it is in no way a repeal because PD 87 pertains to petroleum products in general,” he added.
“It has been our advocacy before na dapat transparent nga. After naglabas ang DoE ng Department Order na i-unbundle ‘yung pricing ng oil products, this was TRO’d by oil companies ,” he noted.