07/06/2025
✅📄𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝟏𝟏𝟑𝟕: 𝐄𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 11373, a landmark legislative measure aimed at restructuring and empowering the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The bill, which amends key provisions of Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, is hailed as a major breakthrough in addressing systemic delays and inefficiencies in the regulation of the country’s power sector. The passage of this bill reflects the longstanding advocacy of APEC Partylist Assistant Minority Leader Sergio Dagooc and PhilRECA Partylist Deputy Minority Leader Presley De Jesus, who are both principal authors of the measure.
Rep. Dagooc emphasized that over 70 percent of the recurring issues in the power sector stem from delays in ERC processes. He noted that House Bill 11373 directly responds to this challenge by granting the ERC stronger regulatory powers, clearer authority, and a restructured organization that can act with greater speed and independence. “By removing the bottlenecks and empowering ERC to act efficiently, we are not only addressing long-standing operational gaps, but also protecting consumers and electric cooperatives from the burden of prolonged inaction.”
Echoing this sentiment, Rep. De Jesus described the measure as a crucial milestone for both power consumers and electric cooperatives. He said that the bill will lead to a more transparent, responsive, and accountable ERC—an institution that will be better equipped to carry out its mandate of fair rate-setting, market oversight, and consumer protection. “For years, we have been pushing for reforms that will genuinely benefit consumers at the grassroots level. With the passage of this bill, we are giving ERC the tools it needs to act decisively and fairly,” De Jesus said.
House Bill 11373 introduces a comprehensive reform package that enhances the ERC’s structural integrity, technical capacity, and regulatory efficiency. It reorganizes the commission to include more specialized members, institutes strict timelines for the resolution of applications such as Certificates of Compliance (COC) and power supply agreements, and formalizes summary and administrative proceedings to fast-track uncontentious regulatory matters. The measure also increases penalties for non-compliance and anti-competitive behavior and allows the ERC to retain a portion of its revenue to fund its operations and personnel development. It also establishes internal training programs to ensure ERC staff are aligned with international regulatory standards.
Rep. Dagooc underscored the importance of this legislation in improving the reliability, affordability, and fairness of electricity service across the country. He noted that empowering the ERC will lead to a better-governed energy sector, one that is responsive to the needs of both suppliers and end-users. Meanwhile, Rep. De Jesus reiterated the bill’s alignment with the advocacies of APEC and PhilRECA, both of which have consistently championed reforms aimed at serving the interests of electric consumers, particularly in rural and underserved areas, bringing the country closer to a reformed and modernized power regulatory framework that puts consumers first.
