Aquino emergency powers to cost govt P10 billion

THE government will need an additional budget of P4 billion to P10 billion should Congress decide to grant emergency powers to President Benigno Aquino 3rd to allow him to address a looming power crisis next year.

In an interview over radio station dzBB over the weekend, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Aquino would use the emergency powers to negotiate a contract for the acquisition or lease of additional generation capacity, estimated at around 300 megawatts.