ILOILO City – After voting to reject the franchise application of Panay Electric Co. (PECO), Cong. Julienne Baronda assured the public she will remain vigilant and invoke the power of Congress to exercise its oversight function should MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) fail to deliver on its commitment of better and cheaper electricity.
“I looked at all angles before I made a stand,” said Baronda.
For his part, Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel said consumers were dissatisfied with PECO and the Committee on Legislative Franchises responded during its Sept. 11 hearing by not granting it a license to continue distributing electricity.
“PECO has not been providing good service. Electricity distribution is not the same as other businesses like a gasoline station or sari-sari store. This is more of service to the public. You have the responsibility to protect consumers’ welfare. PECO failed,” Pimentel said in an interview over DyFM Bombo Radyo Iloilo.
According to Baronda, her paramount consideration on this issue is the general welfare of her fellow Ilonggos.
A member of the committee, she stressed, “All distribution utility franchises are impressed with public interest, including RA 11212 [MORE Power’s franchise]” and that “utility franchises are for the benefit of the people. Hence, the outcome of this issue should benefit the city of Iloilo.”
Pimentel of Surigao del Sur underscored that Baronda was “instrumental for laying the foundation for the denial of PECO’s application.
He said the committee listened to Baronda who raised concerns and issues.
“I want also to put it on record that she voted for the denial of the application of PECO. She also played a role para hindi mabigyan ng franchise ang PECO,” Pimentel said.
Baronda disclosed she used to collaborate with the Cacho family who owns PECO in implementing housing initiatives for the Ilonggos years ago but stressed the welfare of the greater majority of the Ilonggos is more important than her friendships.
The congresswoman said she had dialogues with people in the barangays and most wailed against bad service, expensive power rates and erroneous billings, among other complaints.
She further underscored the fact that the people “through their elected representatives in the House and Senate have already spoken in the 17th Congress when they enacted RA 11212.”
PECO’s franchise expired on Jan. 18, 2019. Congress gave MORE Power the authority to distribute power in the city through RA 11212.
Baronda dismissed insinuations her stand was due to her membership with the National Unity Party which is reportedly supported by MORE Power owner businessman Enrique Razon.
“No one can dictate what I should do or say, only my people. Majority of the Ilonggos are fed up with the service of PECO. That’s what I have been hearing all this time. That’s what the Ilonggos have been telling me. I am their voice in the halls of Congress and what I did was to tell Congress what the Ilonggos think.”
Pimentel agreed with Baronda: “What we did was to protect the interest of the people. Hindi kami ang may gusto niyan. Ang may gusto niyan ang taongbayan. Gusto nila mas magandang serbisyo ng power company.”/PN
