Foreign chambers get an earful from Enrile

Given no chance to read statement at power hearing

BY DENNIS GADIL

OFFICIALS of the Joint Foreign Chambers were grilled yesterday as senators took turns assailing them for opposing amendments to the Electric and Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, chair of the finance committee and senior member of the Joint Congressional Power Commission, again slammed the JFC for intervening in the country's affairs.

Enrile particularly lashed at Hubert D'Aboville, the group's spokesman and president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, for the JFC's "intrusion into the domain of policy."

He said it was "disrespectful" for the JFC to bring up matters on lawmaking in the Philippines to individuals like President Arroyo other than lawmakers themselves.

Enrile also told JFC to take their business elsewhere if they cannot respect their host country's institutions.

D'Aboville tried to explain their side but Enrile cut him off several times.

"Who are these legislators you are referring to as making 'unwarranted accusations' before the President?" Enrile asked D'Aboville.

He added: "You may be a Frenchman, but you cannot outthink a Filipino."

D'Aboville replied: "I know sir. My wife is a Filipina. I live it on a daily basis."

D'Aboville said their letter to President Arroyo "should not be misinterpreted" as they are only expressing their "opinion" as regards the amendment of Epira.

Sen. Joker Arroyo said that if JFC officials propose solutions on how to bring down power rates, the Senate is willing to listen.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chair of the energy panel, said JFC officials failed to identify the proposed amendments in the Epira which they oppose.

"Ang sagot nila lang nila ay wala dito ang mga technical consultants," she said.

Henry Schumacher, executive vice president of ECCP, said it was the first time he was "invited out" of the country.

D'Aboville said: "I have never been treated like this before."

The group, in its prepared statement which D'Aboville failed to read before senators, said their letter to President Arroyo was in line with their objective of fostering closer economic and business relations between their countries and the Philippines.

"In order to achieve an environment conducive to doing business and attracting new investment to the country, it is essential to have a competitive and stable business environment," the JFC said in a two-page statement.

"It is in this context that we have raised the concerns regarding the Philippine Power Sector and have reiterated the positions we have taken in meetings with the House leadership."

But JFC stressed the Epira law is better implemented fully than being subjected to premature amendments.

"The Epira law is a reform legislation that has no match in the region. Once fully implemented, it will create a competitive electricity market in the Philippines that should result in more efficiency and fair energy costs," the group said.

The group also said their foreign chambers came to the country to invest "because they saw a climate that honored contracts, was progressive, and clearly intending to create a level playing field where competition for the best price was the intention."

The JFC counts as members the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, Japanese and Korean chambers of commerce and the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc.