Gatchalian scores PNOC for adding to PH power woes

Sen. Win Gatchalian —Senate PRIB

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has scored the alleged mismanagement of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) and its oil subsidiaries for their alleged failure to help address the country’s energy problems.

Gatchalian noted that PNOC was created in 1973 primarily to provide an adequate supply of petroleum products to meet requirements as well as promote the exploration and development of local petroleum sources.

The PNOC and its subsidiaries, however, have been unable to effectively conduct activities in line with their respective mandates, the senator said.

The lawmaker lamented that PNOC companies are “stuck in a quagmire,” citing the PNOC Renewables Corp. which has incurred P380 million in losses since 2013 while PNOC-Exploration Corp. failed to produce oil and gas outside of the Malampaya gas field.

PNOC’s targeted fuel relief program, which aims to aid the most vulnerable fuel-consuming sectors during periods of fuel supply disruption or high volatility in prices, has been “rendered useless” by the Pantawid Pasada Program, Gatchalian said.

The same fate has befallen PNOC’s strategic petroleum reserve which, Gatchalian said, was conceptualized as a strategic oil stockpile to ensure long-term stability and security of the oil supply in the country, according to the senator. —MELVIN GASCON

READ: Gatchalian vows Senate probe on power rate hike in Negros