MANILA, Philippines - House Speaker Prospero Nograles said Tuesday that congressmen are not likely to attend a special session just to tackle a bill that would grant President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo emergency powers to address the looming energy crisis.

“Congressmen are also busy in their districts [campaigning] for their political parties. If I call for a special session, I’ll have a quorum problem. I’ll need 136 warm bodies inside the plenary,” Nograles told ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda.

The House Speaker, who is also busy with his mayoralty bid in Davao City, said it would be impossible to convince 136 congressmen to attend a special session just to tackle the proposal of Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

Aside from the quorum problem, Nograles said he also thinks that the proposal for the imposition of emergency rule to address the looming power crisis in Mindanao is not necessary.

He added that the 1 to 2-hour brownouts in some southern provinces are yet not cause for alarm.

Nograles cited the emergency powers provided by Congress during the time of former President Fidel Ramos.

He said Congress was forced to provide emergency powers to Ramos because brownouts during his time lasted for more than 12 hours.

“As of now, I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said.

He added that Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes has enough powers to address the power crisis in Mindanao and other areas anticipated to experience more brownouts due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

Nograles said these powers are in the Electric Power Industry Reform (EPIRA) law.

The House speaker also said that if the problem in the supply of energy in Mindanao worsens, the government can implement “expensive” measures to address this.

“Expensive, but it can be solved by power barges,” Nograles said.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel said on Monday that Congress may not have enough time to discuss the proposal.

Pimentel said Congress returns for a 2-week session after the May 10 elections, but it would be spent on the canvassing of results of the presidential and vice-presidential elections.

The senator also raised concerns that emergency powers that may given by Congress to Mrs. Arroyo might be used for other purposes.

“Marami pa namang alternative remedies. Therefore, that may not necessarily be the immediate solution, lalo na kung kakalat sa ibang areas ‘yung emergency power na yon. That’s what I'm afraid of,” Pimentel said.