Miriam’s counsel
Observers are hoping that Angelo Reyes and Miriam D. Santiago would patch up whatever differences they may have. The newly named energy chief can benefit from the wisdom of the veteran senator—and their collaboration can help solve much of the woes besetting the energy sector.Unbeknown perhaps to many, Santiago was instrumental in the relatively successful stints of Reyes’s predecessors. For one, former energy secretary Vincent Perez derived immeasurable benefit from the counsel of Santiago—who chairs the Senate energy committee and is part of the Joint Congressional Power Commission.
She may not have the extensive technical know-how that would have given her the credentials of, say, Francisco Viray. However, Santiago is known to seriously study any subject matter that is of personal or professional interest to her. No doubt, she does her homework when it comes to her responsibilities as energy committee chair.
Sen. Miguel Zubiri took much of the credit for the Bio-fuels Act of 2006, but the former Bukidnon congressman must share the tribute with Santiago. After all, it was her guiding presence in the bicameral conference committee that did much to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the landmark legislation. It spoke well of the perfect combination of Santiago’s technical grasp and legislative prowess.
There are two major issues that the Department of Energy will have to deal with—if not now, then certainly in the very near future. On both issues the DOE will need a lot of Santiago’s support and counsel.
First is the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira). It appears the energy sector is uncertain about what to do with it—whether to amend it or let it stay the way it is. What makes a resolution of this issue urgent is the clamor for lower power rates. One side of the debate believes that Epira is responsible for the high cost of electricity in the country.
You can expect many politicians to jump into the fray and—in true populist fashion—champion cutting power costs willy-nilly but Santiago will likely take a more prudent tack. After all, she is a maverick and has no qualms about taking the unpopular side if she believes it to be the right choice.
Santiago could provide the voice of sobriety in this debate. Observers hope that Reyes, as the new DOE chief, would find it in the best interest of the energy sector to tap the senator’s help in dealing with this issue.
Then there is the matter of energy sufficiency. This issue was buried in the brouhaha over power rates, but the reality is that the energy sector has not fully addressed the problem. A power shortage still looms. The two islands that face the worst impact of this shortage are Cebu and Panay.
Who could be a better authority on power issues, especially those that affect her native island of Panay, than the Ilongga senator herself?
A disastrous power shortage could have hit Panay as early as three years ago. The island was short by 200 megawatts, but then-energy secretary Perez opted to work closely with two lawmakers from Iloilo, then-Senate President Franklin Drilon and Santiago.
Perez got the political support for the interim power supply solutions he needed. In the process, however, he was publicly scolded by Drilon. Perez opted to exercise humility and avoided a head-on clash with the then-Senate chief. Result: the quick resolution of the Panay power supply problem.
The problem is, there have been no additional capacities for Cebu and Panay since Perez, Santiago and Drilon collaborated on an interim solution. As the new DOE chief, Perez will have to find a more permanent solution to the shortage—not just in Panay but the rest of the country, too.
Industry insiders are hoping Santiago continues to work actively on the legislative requirements of the power sector. While constitutional law is her forte, she has nonetheless done much for energy legislation.
