Senator Villanueva Confident in Meralco Franchise Renewal Before Election Break

MANILA – Senator Joel Villanueva expressed confidence on Thursday that the Senate will approve the Meralco franchise renewal bill before the 19th Congress takes a break or possibly even sooner. Speaking at the regular Kapihan sa Senado media forum, Villanueva stated that by Monday, January 20, the interpellations, debates, and amendment period would be completed. As the chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Services overseeing the Meralco franchise renewal, he anticipates the bill’s approval on second reading before the February recess. Villanueva dismissed concerns about potential obstacles, noting that no significant opposition has surfaced. He mentioned that Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Jinggoy Estrada have requested more information, but if satisfied, they would not need further interpellation. Most senators, according to Villanueva, are inclined to propose amendments rather than oppose the bill outright. He is optimistic about achieving third-reading approval within the 19th Congress, or before the Senate’s election recess on February 5. Villanueva believes the second reading could be completed by next week, and he wouldn’t be surprised if the process concludes before the break. He emphasized his dedication to ensuring the bill’s passage, highlighting the importance of dependable energy services. Following Senate scrutiny, Meralco implemented a rate reduction in January, lowering costs by PHP0.2189 per kilowatt-hour, resulting in savings of approximately PHP44 for residential consumers using 200 kilowatt-hours monthly. Villanueva credited this reduction to a thorough review of power generation costs, the primary factor in electricity rates. He also compared Meralco’s performance with other utilities, praising its reliability. Meralco reported a System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) of 1.19 interruptions per year and a System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) of 123 minutes, outperforming Davao Light and Power (525 SAIDI) and Panay Electric Company (1,978 SAIDI).