Section 2Sec./Art. 2

Term of the Joint Congressional Energy Commission. -Section 62 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the "Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 62.Joint Congressional Energy Commission. -

"x x x

"The Energy Commission shall adopt its internal rules of procedures; conduct hearings and receive testimonies, reports and technical advice; invite or summon bysubpoena ad testificandumany public official, private citizen or any other person to testify before it, or require any person bysubpoena duces tecumto produce before it such records, reports, documents or other materials as it may require; and generally require all the powers necessary to attain the purposes for which it is created. The Energy Commission shall be assisted by a secretariat to be composed of personnel who may be seconded from the Senate and the House of Representatives and may retain consultants.

The secretariat shall be headed by an executive director who has sufficient background and competence on the policies and issued relating to electricity industry reforms as provided in this Act. To carry out its powers and functions, the initial sum of Twenty-five million pesos (P25,000,000.000) shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Senate. Thereafter, such amount necessary for its continued operation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act."