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CUC, Senate meet to discuss 80-MW project
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Posted on Mar 27 2000
Buoyed by renewed ties with the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes has expressed optimism over reinstatement of the mothballed 80-megawatt power plant — a move that has drawn support by new board officers.
His legislation, Senate Bill 12-19, forcing CUC to drop a plan to scale down the controversial project to 60-MW capacity is now pending before Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio who has until next week to sign or veto the proposal.
Mr. Reyes, along with Senate President Paul A. Manglona and Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez, met last Thursday with some board members of the government-owned utility corporation, except for ousted Chairperson Rosario M. Elameto.
Among those who attended the meeting was new Board Chair Jesus T. Guerrero who earlier has committed to implementing new policies and revamping CUC management in an effort to bridge differences with the Legislature and the community as a whole.
The CUC board officials, according to Mr. Reyes, had pledged to work closely with the Legislature to push critical projects, including the much delayed power plant, as well as retirement of over $100 million in debt incurred by the utility firm.
“The new leadership at CUC is now more open and ready to hold dialogue with us,” he said in an interview after the one-hour meeting. “Majority of the members are now supporting the bill.”
Mr. Reyes, who has criticized the board under Ms. Elameto’s leadership for acting haphazardly on the power project without consulting legislators, described the meeting as a “courtesy visit” to the Senate.
“I am glad that they all want to support a two-way dialogue with us so that we can reestablish our working relationship,” he added.
In a surprise election last March 16, majority of the seven-member CUC board booted out Ms. Elameto as chair after only eight months of leading the policy-making body. Her ouster was apparently a result of her stern position on the power project, which had angered some members of the Legislature.
She has, however, protested the board’s action which she claimed might be unconstitutional. The Attorney General’s Office has refused to step in to determine whether her removal from the top post is illegal.
