Keynote Message: 22nd Founding Anniversary of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)
August 11, 2023KEYNOTE SPEECH OF SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
LOREN LEGARDA
22nd Founding Anniversary of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)
August 11, 2023
Isang mainit na pagbati sa inyong lahat!
Sa lahat ng mga bumubuo ng ERC, Happy 22nd Anniversary!
Four years ago — on August 15, 2019 – to be exact, ERC had its “coming of age celebration.” ERC was 18 years old then, and just like someone transitioning to adulthood, ERC was confronted with many challenges.
I recall the scathing attacks against ERC that grabbed the headlines then:
• House gives ERC a measly budget of P1,000 for 2018;
Red tape at ERC costing consumers P34 billion;
Palace orders ERC to implement suspension of 4 executives;
• ERC vows transparency on electricity rate, but website always down; and
• Laggard ERC sparks outages.
Today, I checked the headlines again and I am glad to note that the tide has turned:
US, ERC, DOE work to bring down power rates;
Energy regulator to flex police powers versus erring firms;
ERC vows ‘transparent, accountable’ power rates;
ERC begins reset process for power transmission rates;
ERC sets procurement guidelines;
ERC launches digital transformation framework;
Naiiba na po ang ihip hangin. ERC is now in the offensive. ERC is now in the driver’s seat.
At ang balita ko, ISO certified na ang ERC, may bagong website, at higit sa lahat, itataas na ang sahod ng mga kawani ng ERC!
Being a public servant is never easy.
Public service is not a pathway to a world of entitlement. It is an opportunity to practice the dictum of “giving one’s self to others.”
Sa pagkakataong ito ay hayaan ninyong bahagian ko kayo ng kapirasong sulyap sa aking pinagmulan bilang isang lingkod-bayan.
Ang aking pampublikong buhay ay nagsimula nang ako ay nakipagsapalaran bilang isang modelo sa mga patalastas.
Ang eksperimentong ito ay humantong sa mas mapanubok na mundo ng pamamahayag.
Dalawampung taon akong nag-ulat ng katotohanan sa bawa’t tahanan, pumasok sa investigative journalism, at gumawa ng mga dokumentaryo na naglantad sa mga isyu na bihirang bigyang-pansin o di kaya ay natabunan na sa limot. Kasama na po rito ang isyu ng supply at presyo ng kuryente.
My interest in public service was vastly influenced by my late mother Bessie Bautista, and her friends who are steeped in arts and culture like Vicente Manansala and H.R. Ocampo.
Their influences are etched in my endless curiosity over life, people and cultures, the environment, and even the intangibles.
Sa aking murang kaisipan ay naitatanong ko sa sarili ko kung ano ang kahulugan ng mga eksenang iginuhit nila – kasama na ang Madonna of the Slums (1950) ni Vicente Manansala at Hat Weavers (1940) ni H.R. Ocampo.
In my work as a journalist and legislator, the artworks of Manansala came into life.
Ang mangingisda na ginuhit ni Manansala ay may pamilya pala, na bagama’t may yaman na nakukuha sa dagat, ay kapos pa rin sa pagkain.
Ang tirahan na maliit na kanyang iginuhit ay hindi lang pala maliit, kundi wala rin tinatayuang lupa, datapwa’t kumakapit lamang sa gilid ng estero.
Lingid sa kaalaman ng marami, sinubukan ko rin ang maging televison DJ. Sa mga ka-henerasyon ko, marahil ay natatandaan niyo pa ang palabas na Discorama.
Maganda man ang sahod at malaki ang potensiyal ng pag-angat, minabuti ko na magpatuloy sa aking pag-aaral dahil na rin sa kagustuhan na mapabuti ang kakayahan sa journalism.
In 1998, I decided to cross over from being a journalist who reports on issues, to a legislator who provides solutions to the issues.
Bagama’t may ligaya sa pamamahayag, hindi na sapat para sa akin ang magdokumento lamang ng katotohanan.
Gusto ko nang maging parte ng solusyon.
Nasa murang edad na treinta’y otso nang ako ay unang nahalal, at nagkamit ng pinakamataas na boto sa magkasunod na termino.
Twenty-four years after, nandito pa rin ako, isa pa ring public servant — napupuri, napupuna, pero hindi bumibitiw.
I wish you all to draw some lessons from my life experience.
Your work, as regulators, is not beyond scrutiny, just as our work, as legislators are under the public lens all the time. The only difference between you and me is that the level of trust that the people place in us – legislators — is measured by the outcome of the elections.
This is not so in your case. You are not voted into office. You are appointed, and the public is left with no choice but to blindly place their trust in your hands. Because of this, transparency and accountability need to be vital features of your institutional character.
This brings me to a message I wish to impart to you all — Ang serbisyo publiko ay ang pinakamataas na uri ng paninilbihan. All your actions, as regulators, have consequences — Your work can only be meaningful for as long as it is rooted in integrity, honesty, and hard work.
In saying this, I have always been supportive of the work of ERC. In my previous positions as Senate Finance Committee Chair in the 16th and 17th Congress, I have listened to and granted your appeal for budgets that will allow you to deliver results. Senator Gatchalian has also been very supportive of ERC’s work.
As Senate President Pro Tempore, ERC continues to have my full support; but with the caveat that we also need to see the results.
I recognize that ERC, as an institution, needs to be strengthened. Your theme for this celebration – Innovation and Grit – aptly describes what you need, and what you have.
You need to embrace innovation in every work that you do. Status quo is not a choice.
In the 17th Congress, Republic Act No. 11293, otherwise known as the Philippine Innovation Act was adopted into law. I principally authored and, together with Senator Gatchalian, sponsored this measure. This law is anchored on the premise that strong governance, improved policy coherence, and a “whole-of-government approach” will allow innovation to unlock the potential of more inclusive, stronger growth. Innovation needs to be at the heart of ERC’s work.
Indeed, grit is important, considering the powerful and radical stakeholders that you serve; but grit, without innovation, will leave you groping for strategic outcomes.
The power sector urgently needs innovative processes and solutions. We may have the best laws, but the implementation needs to be vigorously pursued.
You can be assured of my continued support in the years to come, as I expect nothing less than responsive and timely service from the Commission.
In ending, hindi po lingid sa kaalaman ng marami na mayroon pong mga kawani ang ERC na higit nang dalawampu’t dalawang taon nang naninilbihan sa publiko. Ang iba po ay nagmula pa sa Energy Regulatory Board at sa iba’t ibang mga ahensiya.
Inaanyayahan ko po silang tumayo.
Bigyan natin sila ng masigabong palakpakan.
Bakas po ba sa kanilang mga mukha ang saya at “sense of fulfillment”? Nadarama po ba natin sa kanila ang pagnanasang patuloy pang manilbihan sa mga darating pang mga taon?
O, dama po ba natin ang pagnanasa nila — na mamuhay nang tahimik at malayo sa kumplikadong mundo ng regulator?
Mahirap po ang trabaho ng regulator. It is difficult to satisfy the conflicting interests of business and consumers. You find yourselves in “Damn if you do…damn if you don’t” situations all the time.
Ang ERC inspectors ay sumusuong sa mga panganib – humaharap sa malalaking alon para lamang mainspeksiyon ang isang plantang nakatayo sa isang off-grid area.
Ang inspectors ninyo ay naglalakad nang milya-milya at nanunulay sa mga pilapil para mainspeksiyon ang metro ng consumers.
Ito ang aking huling paalala – Lahat po tayo ay may pagkakataon na manilbihan. Kayo po ba ay naninilbihan o nagpapasilbi?
I am behind ERC in its journey to transformative governance. I am with you in your efforts to adopt innovative systems and more responsive, digital knowledge centers that will help you do your job.
I am behind you, in your efforts to strengthen ERC. Salamat po at mabuhay tayong lahat! Isang luntiang Pilipinas sa ating lahat!