By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The government has collected only P80 million from the P24-billion penalty imposed on the solar energy company of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, prompting renewed questions in Congress over efforts to recover the remaining amount.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin disclosed the collection during Wednesday’s House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Energy (DOE).
Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno asked Garin how much of the penalty imposed on Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. (SPPHI) had been recovered.
“P80 million, Mr. Chair,” Garin replied.
The DOE imposed the P24-billion penalty in January after finding that SPPHI failed to deliver the power capacity it had committed under more than 30 service contracts awarded by the government during the Duterte administration.
The amount recovered so far represents only a fraction of the penalty, leaving the government to pursue collection of the remaining balance.
Asked how the DOE would compel the company to settle the unpaid amount, Garin said the government had already turned to legal action.
She said a criminal complaint had been filed with the Department of Justice, while a separate civil case had been filed with the Office of the Solicitor General.
Diokno clarified whether the cases were also intended to recover around P14 billion in expired bonds linked to the company’s contracts.
Garin confirmed that the recovery of the expired bonds was also part of the government’s legal efforts.
The energy secretary also told lawmakers that SPPHI had not been blacklisted under a recently issued DOE circular aimed at holding power generation companies accountable for their contractual commitments.
The disclosure placed the government’s enforcement and collection efforts under scrutiny as the House reviews the DOE’s proposed 2027 budget.
For now, the government has recovered P80 million of the P24-billion penalty, while the remaining amount is being pursued through separate criminal and civil proceedings.
ia/xf
