THE SENATE finance committee approved on Wednesday the P474.38-million budget for controversial agency Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), but not before realigning a “confidential fund,” an item that was also in its 2017 allocation. In the course of the deliberations, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chair of the energy committee, pointed out the P15- million amount and said there is no reason for ERC to have a confidential fund. The amount was realigned to training and travel expenses. “The commissioners cannot explain bakit nagkaroon ng (why they have such) confidential fund in 2017. That wasn’t scrutinized,” Mr. Gatchalian said. He added that he will get more information from the Commission on Audit regarding last year’s confidential fund. ERC officer-in-charge Alfredo J. Non said “none of the commissioners had a hand in it.” The Senate finance committee also approved the P2.66-billion budget of the Department of Energy, but asked the agency for more information on the P500-million new funds that will be allocated for the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals. — Mario M. Banzon

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