00:00 A senator from the Energy Regulatory Commission is investigating the non-compliance of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines by-election of Nayomi Tiburcio.
00:10 The Senate Committee on Energy Vice Chair Senator Sherwin Gatchalian from the Energy Regulatory Commission is investigating the non-compliance of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines by-election of NGCP.
00:26 NGCP does not pay separate VAT, income tax, local tax and other taxes. All of these are included in their franchise tax.
00:38 But this tax is also passed by the consumer.
00:43 This was given by a resolution issued by the ERC in 2011.
00:50 The senator added that the resolution is illegal because it does not have a legal basis.
00:55 Our call to the ERC is to remove the pass-on of the franchise tax and answer it by NGCP because they are not paying a cent of VAT to our government.
01:09 We are the ones who are passing it.
01:11 If the franchise tax is banned to the end-user, consumers will save two cents per kilowatt hour.
01:20 Even if it's not that big, it's important that all businessmen pay their taxes.
01:26 Even if it's a big business or a small business, because you're earning, you should pay your taxes.
01:32 According to ERC Chair Mona Lisa Di Malanta, their deliberation has been in progress for a long time to change the first resolution of the ERC in 2011.
01:41 It should not be passed. That's why we were surprised and we should give the chance to study what was the decision,
01:50 what was the basis of the former commission when they allowed to pass it.
01:55 The ERC assured that their priority is the investigation that will be targeted after the next few weeks.
02:01 The Department of Energy also denied the issue to the ERC.
02:06 Let's wait for their decision, but I am sure that it is consistent with their duty to apply the law.
02:12 Naomi Tiburcio, for Maya.
