Congress Supports FVR on Power Projects

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MANILA, Philippines (UPI) -- Congressional leaders gave qualified
support Tuesday to granting President Fidel Ramos emergency powers to
solve a crippling energy crisis, but said any such move must carry
strict limitations.
Ramos, a retired general, said Monday he was considering the use of
emergency powers to deal with the crisis, which has mired his
government's efforts to spur lasting economic growth.
The use of presidential emergency powers is a sensitive issue in the
Philippines, which was subject to martial law under former president
Ferdinand Marcos from 1972 to 1981.
``We, the leaders of the rainbow coalition in the House of
Representatives, would be disposed to granting the president emergency
powers for a specified duration and subject to certain restrictions,''
House Speaker Jose de Venecia said.
But he said there would have to be ample provisions to ensure the
emergency powers would be used solely to solve the crisis, which has
inflicted blackouts of up to eight hours daily in greater Manila and
other major cities, costing business millions of dollars every month.
Senate President Edgardo Angara also voiced cautious support for the
idea and said the 23-member upper chamber would study the matter.
``If our president really needs unusual and extraordinary powers in
order to push through with these power projects, we will give him enough
authority,'' he said. ``But if the problem of the delay (of the power
projects) is because of lazy people in our bureaucracy...then we can
solve this without emergency power.''
Other influential senators were more wary of the idea.
``Emergency powers might send the wrong signals to both foreign and
local investors,'' said Senators Ernesto Meceda and Ernesto Herrera in a
joint statement.
De Venecia, a close Ramos ally, rejected their arguments.
``As a matter of fact, it will give a powerful signal to the
investors that the Philippines means business to solve the immediate
problem,'' he said.

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