MANILA— Senate President Win Gatchalian has urged the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to impose stiff penalties on erring energy companies amid power interruptions and high electricity rates in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Speaking at a Senate hearing on a proposed measure amending the Oil Deregulation Law, Gatchalian called for concrete measures to address persistent power supply problems and rising electricity costs.

“Bukod sa brownout alerts, napakataas pa ng presyo ng kuryente sa Visayas at Mindanao. Hindi natin pwedeng palampasin ito, kailangan ng DOE ng kongkretong solusyon,” he said.

Gatchalian stressed that the two agencies must work together to protect consumers from inefficiencies and possible abuses in the energy market.

“Kung hindi nagpe-perform o nag-aabuso ang mga power generation players, kailangang patawan ng mabigat na penalty. Ang DOE bilang policymaker at ang ERC bilang regulator ay kailangang magtulungan. Sawang-sawa na ang taumbayan sa mataas na singil at brownout. Kaya patuloy naming kukulitin at babantayan ang DOE at ERC hangga’t hindi nareresolba ang krisis na ito,” he said.

The Senate chief also called on the DOE to regularly audit fuel pass-through charges amid continuing tensions in the Middle East, warning that energy companies should not exploit volatility in global oil prices to the detriment of consumers.

“Nakita natin na ang gobyerno naging inutil pagdating sa monitoring ng presyo at maging sa paglalagay ng tamang presyo na binabayaran ng ating mga consumers. Sa ganitong abnormal situation o krisis, hindi pwedeng manatiling inutil ang gobyerno. Dapat may kapangyarihan ang pamahalaan na protektahan ang mamamayan. Kung ang consumers natin ay naaabuso dahil abnormal ang sitwasyon, sa gobyerno lang sila tatakbo,” he added.

Gatchalian said regulatory intervention is necessary to ensure fair electricity pricing and hold energy industry players accountable for their performance.